A wise man adapts himself to circumstances, as water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it.
—Chinese proverb
We arrived early at the Pearl of the Adriatic, as locals and travelers often call Dubrovnik. A change of port schedule was a stroke of luck: Since there were no cruise ships in the town, we had the city to ourselves. In the morning, while it wasn't too warm or too crowded, our guides took us through the fairy tale-looking town.
We walked down the wide street Stradun, the Old Town's main promenade, which is lined with cafes and ice cream parlors. We continued to the Franciscan monastery, the oldest in town, dating from the 14th century and housing one of the oldest European pharmacies. After the lovely stroll through the streets of Dubrovnik, it was time for a workout—a visit to the city walls. The scenic one-mile-long wall encircling the town might have been a challenge walk, but it was worth it for the view of the houses and churches within but also for the view of nearby Lokrum and the Adriatic Sea.
Since it was a very warm day, we were able to go swimming—a refreshing experience in view of Dubrovnik's Old Town. And when we thought there was nothing else that could add to our great day, we visited a 15th-century church to attend a private klapa concert to hear traditional a capella singers of Dalmatia.
