"Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro" or “Freedom is not to be sold for all the riches in the world” is the message that is engraved on the doors of the Lovrijenac fortress. For centuries it was the stalwart defender of Dubrovnik’s freedom, and probably best describes the soul and atmosphere of this ancient Mediterranean city. Dubrovnik is a city of culture and arts, a never ending source of inspiration for artists who come as guests, from the summer festival that is a powerful symbol of its cultural identity to the many exhibitions, scenes, and theatrical and musical performances that run throughout the year. Dubrovnik is a town of big and small people – sailors, academics, artists, traders and a town of famous views, with the ancient city centre surrounded by its celebrated walls, full of cultural monuments and irreplaceable art and architecture that can be found in the centre. Dubrovnik is also a town of spirituality and liberalism, with 17 monasteries and churches, one of the oldest synagogues in Europe, a pharmacy from 1317 as well as a refuge. All of them make up the mosaic that is witness to its eternal liberal spirit and the freedom of its inhabitants. Finally, Dubrovnik is a city that should be discovered and enjoyed at a slow pace. Its gates are open to anyone, and whoever visits it for at least a moment, will understand why its inhabitants are so unwilling to leave it. Dubrovnik have it all.
The ladies need to be finished by Monday and Steph Gilmore wants to kick off at Supers. Like, right now. “Unfortunately, there’d only be a few of the girls who could handle it,” says Rip Curl team manager Garry Dunne, “We’ll have to move them to Lagido.” The wave the men are already refusing to surf? Really? Lagido is a ten minutes drive from Peniche. Sometimes when the waves are not quite right this could be an option. This day was the girls day. The women’s competition speeds through to the quarter-finals. Bruna Schmitz gets knocked out and lover Jeremy Flores curses the judges. It’s a race against the monstrous purple blob in the Atlantic that threatens to bring XXL-sized waves. Organisers need to get as much done as possible. Carissa Moore and Sally Fitzgibbons make the waves look better than they are. Carissa Moore was the girl of the day. Congratulations Carissa.
The weather is really lousy in Lisbon today. It is raining and windy. I had in my program a surfing weekend at Peniche, with some surf to myself, but also to get a glance at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal and see the action of the best from the best surfers in the world. But, after assessing the conditions at Supertubos, Belgas and Lagido, the ASP organization decided to call competition off for the day. Severe storm is expecting to move in throughout the day. Rip Curl Pro Portugal, are calling for a massive swell system to move into the region in the next 48 hours, with seas up to 20 feet (7 meters). Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 8am to assess conditions for a possible 8:30am start. Meanwhile, I feel like going in to the sun again, to the clear waters of Asia. Let’s go to the Perhentian Islands. The Perhentian Islands are a small group of beautiful, coral-fringed islands off the coast of northeastern Malaysia in the state of Terengganu, not far from the Thai border. The two main islands are Perhentian Besar ("Big Perhentian") and Perhentian Kecil ("Small Perhentian"). Kecil attracts more travellers as it has cheaper accommodation, while Besar is a little more expensive and caters more to families and those who want to avoid the backpacker party scene. The sea is extraordinary for snorkeling, diving or just swimming. It is a fantastic place to spend holidays and to discover a bit of the hidden Malaysia. Of course the sunset is always a high moment, even if you have to cross the all island to get to the other side, after all, we can’t have sunrise and sunset from the same side. Keep waiting for the good weather.
The Fontana di Trevi or Trevi Fountain is the most famous and arguably the most beautiful fountain in all of Rome. This impressive monument dominates the small Trevi square located in the Quirinale district, and it seams to attract millions of persons each day. I was impressed with the amount of tourist in such a small square, but even so, still so beautiful. The Trevi fountain is at the ending part of the Aqua Virgo, an aqueduct constructed in 19 BC. It brings water all the way from the Salone Springs (approx 20km from Rome) and supplies the fountains in the historic center of Rome with water. In 1732, Pope Clement XII commissioned Nicola Salvi to create a large fountain at the Trevi Square. A previous undertaking to build the fountain after a design by Bernini was halted a century earlier after the death of Pope Urban VIII. Salvi based his theatrical masterpiece on this design. Construction of the monumental baroque fountain was finally completed in 1762. The central figure of the fountain, in front of a large niche, is Neptune, god of the sea. He is riding a chariot in the shape of a shell, pulled by two sea horses. Each sea horse is guided by a Triton. One of the horses is calm and obedient, the other one restive. They symbolize the fluctuating moods of the sea. On the left hand side of Neptune is a statue representing Abundance, the statue on the right represents Salubrity. Above the sculptures are bas-reliefs, one of them shows Agrippa, the general who built the aqueduct that carries water to the fountain. Tossing a Coin? Why not? The water at the bottom of the fountain represents the sea. Legend has it you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the water. You should toss it over your shoulder with your back to the fountain. If you toss two you can even find a girlfriend or a boyfriend in Rome. Toss tree, maybe you married him/her.
