Dubrovnik: Overcrowded sure, but is it overrated?

Instead of discussing our itinerary for the beautiful city of Dubrovnik, the topic over breakfast was 'which breed of dog had the most potent farts'. Although the potency of these farts were impossible to compare at this point in time, Mother was very sure that Pepper (my Brother's Bullmastiff) whose farts she had remarked upon in the past as 'particularly evil', would win hands down in any dog-fart-Daz doorstep challenge.

Dubrovnik with its 40,000 population, lives off tourism. Although since 2019, only 3 big ships a day are permitted to dock to limit the tourism and overcrowding. It is the 3rd most visited city in Europe after Venice and Barcelona and the locals are selling their homes to foreigners for up to 20k euros per square metre.

It has 50 hotels, and 20 of them are 5 star and plus. The old town, pictured in the brochures and seen on every travel vlogger’s profile photo, has been protected by UNESCO since 1979. The run vines over the skeletal garages. Croatia has drinkable water thanks to the aqueducts from 12km away created in the 15th century.

There is an antiquated laundry system which involves pull ropes that hang over the alley stairs, from one window to another. The old saying in Dubrovnik is that 'Women who do laundry well will get married. Do it poorly and she'll be a lousy housewife.'

Dubrovnik is now famous for its involvement in the hit TV show Game of Thrones. The Jesuit Staircase, located near Gundulic Square in Old Town Dubrovnik, was used in Game of Thrones for the iconic scene known as the "Walk of Shame," featuring Cersei Lannister. I'm told the tourists replicate the scene constantly, which may or may not involve some nudity. (I'm sorry I've not seen it). The tour guide remarked, 'there's nothing the locals have not seen reimagined on these stairs.'

Dubrovnik has played host to 700 films in the last 100 years. Huge Indian groups come here after a Bollywood film was filmed here. (Again forgive me I don't know which film). The Star Wars franchise spent 40 days filming here and each resident on the street was paid 7k for the inconvenience. Dubrovnik was only on screen for 45 seconds.

My takeaway from Dubrovnik, was that it’s a city that has become a victim of its own success. The workers are fed up with tourists, and I don’t blame them. There must have been a tie when they had this beautiful city all to themselves. Sadly, now, everyone has a camera phone, everyone needs to be seen in their own photos with these incredible vistas behind them. Who can blame them.

Photo by Spencer Davis on Unsplash