Necropolis, wine-tasting and Dubrovnik

After leaving Mostar our first stop was Radimlja where we stopped to look at a necropolis from medieval Christian times. Some had the remains of carvings of animals and fruit but they had been so weathered over the years it was hard to tell.

Then we headed to Trebinje, going over a pass where only 2 weeks ago there had been serious fires and that road had been closed. We descended to fertile valley which once had been a huge area for crops during Tito’s time as there was water underground but now only a small part was cultivated. Fatima said there was no money in it now.

At Trebinje we visited a family-owned winery where we had risotto, cheese, tomatoes and olives to eat with the wines - 2 white, a rose, a red and a sweet liqueur. (Just a taste!) Fatima sang a soulful folk song - she has a lovely voice. Her sister is a singer in Vienna.

We continued to Hotel Adria in Dubrovnik. After an hour to freshen up we got a local #3 bus down into the old town where we paid €4 each for a local guide. She took us round some of the old town and told us the history of it. It was much bigger than I expected and had an Italian feel to it. It was really lovely though very busy (2 huge cruise ships and the guide said most of the old town is hotels, shops, restaurants and air B&B), so it’s a tourist mecca.

Fatima took us to a restaurant for our last meal together. On the way back in the bus I felt sick and sure enough once I got back I lost my lunch and dinner. It was all very sudden - I’m rarely sick.