But, the main thoroughfare can feel like walking through Times Square, and this isn’t even the busy season just yet. But you know how Central Park can feel like a retreat for New Yorkers? Lokrum Island is that for Dubrovnik. So, we took the ten minute ferry ride out to the island that overlooks this magical city.
The island was once home to an Abbey and a Monastery that helped to keep an eye out for the city over 1,000 years ago. It is said that Richard the Lionhearted landed on the island on his way back from the Crusades. Then, in the middle of the 19th century, a Habsburg bought the island and had his summer residence built there. He also imported peacocks to the island, which now teems with them. Peacocks were just about in every direction you could look and provided for a lot of entertainment and incredibly beautiful photo opportunities with ancient ruins surrounding them. We even spotted a mother peahen with her six chicks and watched as she gathered them up under her.
Also on the island in abundance were large rabbits. Everywhere. Why? I have no clue and my short internet searching has provided me with very few answers as well. They were not necessarily friendly, but they also did not shy away from the adoring fans that surrounded them. My favorite was watching the rabbits and the peacocks interact with one another, seemingly without much fuss on an island where there were absolutely no predators to bring them fear.
The island has plenty of space to roam - all around the outside of the island, up to the highest peak with views of the city, through the botanical gardens and amongst the ruins of the old monastery and palace. Rocks jet out from the land all around the forested island providing swimmers who so choose the opportunity to dip in the chilly water and sunbath on the warm rocks. The island even has its own small "Dead Sea," filled by an underwater canal from the sea. Because of this, the swimming hole is saltier than most areas.
I would not necessarily say that the island had a long list of attractions, unless you add watching the peacocks and the rabbits as a major attraction (which perhaps you should because we got an incredible amount of joy from it!), but a few hours out to the little island was a truly perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of this busy, port city.
Also on the island in abundance were large rabbits. Everywhere. Why? I have no clue and my short internet searching has provided me with very few answers as well. They were not necessarily friendly, but they also did not shy away from the adoring fans that surrounded them. My favorite was watching the rabbits and the peacocks interact with one another, seemingly without much fuss on an island where there were absolutely no predators to bring them fear.
The island has plenty of space to roam - all around the outside of the island, up to the highest peak with views of the city, through the botanical gardens and amongst the ruins of the old monastery and palace. Rocks jet out from the land all around the forested island providing swimmers who so choose the opportunity to dip in the chilly water and sunbath on the warm rocks. The island even has its own small "Dead Sea," filled by an underwater canal from the sea. Because of this, the swimming hole is saltier than most areas.
I would not necessarily say that the island had a long list of attractions, unless you add watching the peacocks and the rabbits as a major attraction (which perhaps you should because we got an incredible amount of joy from it!), but a few hours out to the little island was a truly perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of this busy, port city.
No comments:
Post a Comment