Orlando 40th Birthday Trip 2025 - PART 1
Updated: Jun 20, 2025
Staying in the picture postcard Old Town of Cavtat, exploring the City Walls of Dubrovnik and venturing across the border into Montenegro!
Captivating Cavtat
Almost a year since my Poland trip (how time flies!), it was time to take advantage of prolonged summer continental heat with a trip to Croatia for the first time. I had already booked a trip here for 2020, and of course that had to be cancelled, so this was highly anticipated.
The pandemic gave me a revised plan. Rather than staying in bustling Dubrovnik, I would be staying around a 40-min scenic bus trip (or boat) away in the picturesque, unspoilt coastal town of Cavtat (its name literally means ‘old town’, so it was right up my street!)
After the customary breakfast and a bit of a delay at Gatwick, I was well on my way with a smooth flight and a hostess with a good sense of humour keeping people in a fun spirit. After just under 2 and a half hours in the air, I landed at the mountainous, rugged landscape that surrounded Dubrovnik Airport.
I waited for virtually everyone to manoeuvre themselves in my way before I eventually got off, and joined a short shuttle bus to the main terminal. Passport control was smooth and as I was travelling light it was straight through baggage re-claim to meet my taxi transfer. A very easy, hassle-free service, where after a couple of minutes I found my driver wielding a sign with my name on, and it was off to Cavtat, to the refrains of Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” - of all the tracks to bring up happy holiday memories!
As is common when I do this trips, I had chosen another quirky location - a converted Franciscan Monastery, originally built in 1484! The Church had now resourcefully redesigned the interior with all the modernist edge of a regular hotel room, and there was even a courtyard area come kitchen for making a drink or food! After contacting the owner (or I think it was the daughter of the owner), I received my keys to this personal residence and was left to it for the rest of my holiday! Bliss!
The first evening was spent joining most of the local community in having a lovely stroll along Cavtat harbour, watching an amazing sunset over the Adriatic. I found a restaurant nearby late on and had a delicious homemade lasagne. Overall, I had some lovely meals on this trip (including Duck, Fish, Burger, Pasta and Croatian-style mixed grill), mainly along the promenade of restaurants in Cavtat, as it had such a lovely ambience about it, and there was something quite magical and romanticised about the place at night.
I spent most of my holiday here relaxing, having Ice Creams, and exploring the epic coastal paths from end to end, with vast views out to sea and a direct view of the City Walls of Dubrovnik (which, due to the jagged coastline, was actually an hour boat trip away). I visited the elevated church graveyard at the top of the hill, overlooking the sea, and I found myself thinking what a beautiful location for a final resting place.
For a real sense of living like a local and a laid-back pace of life, I would highly recommend Cavtat, a gem of the Adriatic and a paradise away in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Dubrovnik, which I’ll come to shortly!
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