Armed Chromed Watch
In The Center Of The City, Just Within The Marina, The Sponza Palace Pays Tribute To The Handfuls Of Local Boys Who Paid The Final Sacrifice Protecting Their Town.
Like a phoenix Dubrovnik, the Athens of the Adriatic, has risen from virtual destruction after Slobodan Milosovic’s Serbian military devastated the town in 1991. Seventy percent of the houses suffered damage from the bombing. Even the ancient wall that surrounds the old town was pounded by the tank shelling. Yet today Dubrovnik is a traveller destination. The old city has been rebuilt. First class hotels are a feature of the hillside. This diamond of a town is a living commemorative to human resilience.
In the heart of the town, just inside the marina, the Sponza Palace pays tribute to the dozens of local boys who paid the ultimate sacrifice protecting their city. But twenty years back seems like the distant past. Now pizza and ice cream stands abound. The orange roofs of times past have been replaced. Travellers from Japan, Israel, Germany and China fill the primary street. And the fumes of fried fish are pervasive.
Dubrovnik is Croatia’s hydra-headed metropolis. It’s been devastated by visiting militaries and tremors and yet it survives, protected by the ancient parable of Saint Blaise, who vowed to conquer Ragusa’s (the first name of Dubrovnik) enemies. In the past, this town was a centre for students, artists and teachers. It seemed to be an ecumenical community different from the other settlements in the region. As a commercial center, it captured the interest of Venetian leaders who led attacks for decades against their rivals in the south Adriatic.
The 1.6-mile wall surrounding the city is an grand architectural wonder. For old holiday makers it is also a stress test. There are 335 steps going up and around this barrier. It is not the Great Wall of China, nor is it a walk in the park. On the way are forts and historic monuments to a past that gives the present meaning. Looking down one finds roofs being fixed, a sea lustrous with tiny vessels and enclosed basketball courts. The Croats are basketball crazy.
Several years gone Don Rumsfeld, previous secretary of defense, made reference to the 2 Europes : the old Western Europestolid, socialistic and lacking entrepreneurial drive, and an Eastern Europefilled with verve, and spotting the benefit of free markets and democratic govts. Croatia clearly falls into the second camp.
Dubrovnik is fresh, looking for a future that is like the U.S. Her glory days may be behind her, but it is interesting that Gloria Gaynor has been asked to perform in the beach wonderland. America beckons. Rumour has it that the Russian oligarchs have invested seriously in and around this city. It is a far better investment harbour than anywhere in Russia. Also, Russian oligarchs have a good sense of smell for American capitalism, and that capitalistic fervor is active in Dubrovnik’s economy.
It is too shortly to state if the Dalmatian coast will be the new French Riviera. However it is certainly not a unbelievable agenda. Dubrovnik is the center of the ideal scenario, not yet San Tropez ; not yet discovered by the flash and dash of the up to date jet set, although not yet far from discovery either. Always looking for new destinations, the visitor peregrines have found Dubrovnik. My suspicion is the glitterati will be on their way.
What they are going to find is an attractive beach resort with an extraordinary history that awakens a need to dig into the chapters of this passion-laden destination, writes tagza.com.
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