We stayed in apartment C, which is the smallest of the 3 apartments. It still had a large bedroom and a living dining area that was more than adequate. The terrace outside is about 10 metres long and is about 1.5 metres wide, with access to the gardens at the front and side. Our views of the old town were somewhat blocked by the olive tree and other apartments, but we had a perfect view of Lokram and all the boats, big and small, which sailed past every moment of everyday.

On arrival, we were met by Bozo, the Technical Director, he is a character. He was a Civil Engineer and was in charge of rebuilding the city and surroundings after both the earthquake of 1979 and the war of 1991-1995. He edited a highly technical book about the renovation of the city. His son, Stijepo, is the Commercial Director and you will probably deal with him when you are booking.

Dubrovnik is glorious, it was 25 years since we had visited and we were also there shortly after the 1979 earthquake and I was surprised when Bozo showed me the damage it had caused. The walk from the apartments is exhilarating, the old city is in view all the way; the hills of Lapad and Babin Kuk are also clearly visible. The ominous presence of Mount Srd, looms over the city. The cable car, we had ridden to the mountain top in 1982, is no longer operational. It is had to come to terms with the fact that within a decade of our previous visit, the citizens if Dubrovnik were being shelled from there.

To get to the city you go down steps or you walk along the road and then you go down steps. No matter, it gives you an appetite. We usually went down the first set of steps; there are only about 160 of them. They bring you out across from Grand Villa Argentina. There are further steps down to the Excelsior, but there are over 190 of them. In evenings, we continued down the hill taking the sweeping, more gently sloping steps, which brought us out just along from Ploce gates.

Walking through the gates takes you into scenes of wonder and beauty, totally at odds with its recent past. The walls soar above you as you wind down past the old port and into the Stradun with its lofty Bell Tower. As you look along the Stradun, towards Pile gates, Sponza Palace is on your right. It is imperative that you visit the Memorial Room for the Dubrovnik Defenders. This was one of the most humbling experiences of my life; it is heartrending to think that such atrocities can be carried out in modern day Europe.

Enjoy Dubrovnik, we certainly did. We loved the pride of the Croats; their city is immaculate and they are genuinely happy to help you. Jump on the local buses; we visited Babin Kuk, but it was shut and our old hotel, from 1979, in Lapad, is sadly no longer there. Talk to the locals; they all speak English, but the odd hvala and dobro jutro goes down a treat.

We tried many excellent restaurants at night, our favourites were Hotel Orhan and Café Rosarj

We had glorious weather while were there, we walked the walls, drank and ate in the bars and restaurants, sailed around Lokram and sat in Buza bar, but our highlight was often sitting in our secluded terrace with a pivo and a kruskovac, in late afternoon, watching the world drift by peacefully.