CROATIA – MEMORIES OF LIFETIME….
Even though I was unable to get a visa for Slovenia, I was happy to start my Croatia Trip, from Zadar. However once I got off at the Zagreb Airport, Zadar was a 1 hour flight which is run by Croatian Airlines and the Zadar Airport had buses to the city center – which is located near the sea organ every 15 minutes. Only thing is you need to exchange your currency as they accept only in Croatian Kuna.
The driver was very helpful as he stopped the bus near my hostel. Boutique Hostel, was set on the main promenade called Kalelarga. However the big challenge was the uphill cobbled streets walk , like any other European street, was really steep, where my pranayam and other breathing techniques were tested, especially when I had a big suitcase to carry. Within few minutes I Boutique Hostel Forum, whose dormitories design is modern at the same time giving one the privacy of a single room. I arrived in the late afternoon. I was delighted to meet solo likeminded friends whose passion is travel. Elizabeth, from England coming from IT background who comes every summer only to Zadar to relax and rewind and Khadija from South of France who is working for a Pharmaceutical firm and had come to Zadar for the first time like me.
I was thrilled and overjoyed to visit the Sea Organ, which was just a 5 minute walk from the hostel. As we walked through the promenade which offered a magnificent view over the bay and a refreshing experience, we heard the magical chimes of the Sea organ, and heard the musical notes created by the waves of the Adriatic Sea when the water goes into the underwater pipes of the promenade. So I along with my two friends, went to the Sea Organ. This 70 meter long marble steps which descend in the Adriatic Sea, creates melodious rhythm by combination of waves and wind and little openings in the marble steps. This marvel was built by Architect Nikola Basic in the year 2005 and he was awarded the prize for European Public Space.
A few spaces from this mesmerizing phenomenon is another equally fascinating sight of the Sun Salutation, which is a LED and Solar Panel Circle which creates a very colourful sunset with all the planets and sun glowing with the LED, at Zadar. The setting of the sun in Zadar has left amazing impact that have not faded to this day. I felt blessed to have witnessed the most beautiful sunset in the world and experienced it in Zadar.
After the divine music, chords struck over dinner we realized that we three friends shared a common passion – travel and hence decided to be a little more adventurous, before joining the Cosmos Tour group and ventured the next day, to explore some offbeat destinations. Elizabeth recommended we explore Preko. So apart from the time tested destination, we three friends decided to explore this remote destinations that was equally awe-inspiring, tranquil and full of natural beauty.
The following morning, after having slept and rested, and enjoying the four course breakfast at Boutique Hostel, was happy to set foot in Preko Island – the hidden treasure. It is a small island and part of Uglijan, which was equally awe-inspiring, tranquil and full of natural beauty. We reached early morning to the ferry shuttle in Zadar and for a small sum of 36 kuna return ticket valid for a day decided to plunge to explore this hidden treasure. We reached there in 25 minutes and leisurely walked the beach. It was a pristine beach, crystal clear water and very serene and quiet environment. This beach amidst the Mediterranean waters, was pretty rugged, and powdery sand is replaced with small stones. But that still didn’t deter us taking a refreshing dip in the water. The population of the island was less than 1000. The tourist were also not more than 100 on that given day, and this even though, it was an offbeat destination it was one of the most relaxing and beautiful beaches I have visited so far.
Many of the residents had gone fishing in the morning before we arrived and some were lucky to get a fresh catch. It had scenic beauty and the silence of the ocean was a real bliss. Many of the villas we saw near the beach had created small apartments which could be rented. However there was just 1 small restaurant where we had lemonade as it was quite sunny and warm – around 34 degrees after a long walk of more than a mile.
From there we three friends went up the hill to Tvrdava S V Fortress. St. Nicholas’ Fortress (Croatian: Tvrđava Sv. Nikole). It is a fortress located in the town of Šibenik, one of the oldest native Croatian towns on the eastern shores of the Adriatic, in central Dalmatia, Croatia. It was included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list as part of “Venetian Works of Defence between 15th and 17th centuries: Stato da Terra – western Stato da mar” in 2017. After reconstruction works that lasted for two years, the fortress was open to visitors in June this year. It took a bus drive of about 1 hour and walk for another half an hour to reach the fortress. It is also one of the best examples of defense architecture, which is made up of bricks which will resist the cannon balls. From the top of the Fortress, one gets a breathtaking view of the picturesque Croatia.
Since the time I decided to go for this dream holiday, Croatia which was part of the Dalmatian coastline, I remembered one of my favourite movie – 101 Dalmatian and in that, there were two Dalmatian dogs, Pongo and Perdita and their “Twilight bark” and was hopeful of seeing Dalmatian breed. But saw none. The Dalmatian coastline is formed where the geology creates valleys parallel to the coast so that when sea level rises, a series of elongated islands remain offshore. Croatia has a 3600 miles glimmering coastline, where deep limestone cliffs arise spectacularly from the islands and it is sheer scenic beauty.
A MUST TRY :
Zagorski štrukli, is popular traditional Croatian dish served in very popular across the country, and is a bakery item which has different fillings from cheese, fruits, preserves – I just loved it, the sweet fillings as well of various fruits and preserves. Apart from this we had the Apple strudel and KRASS [chocolates] for deserts.
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Quintessential Indian 