Sun 23.May.2021
California
Images / Zadar, Croatia 2010 & 2013
Croatia seems to be creeping onto Americans' travel radar.
As the light grows at the
end of the Covid tunnel, airlines have announced direct flights from the U.S. to Dubrovnik!
It is only a matter of time before Split joins Dubrovnik on that travel radar.
Both of those dazzling cities are already chock full of European tourists. (In season, you
are likely to hear as much German as Croatian on the streets.)
If these two get packed to the breaking pont, what then?
Not to worry - Croatia's coast abounds with travel gems. One such is Zadar.
Capital of the medieval Croatian kingdom, and first victim of the fourth crusade,
(which went on to sack the Christian capital Constantinople.)
We approach Zadar from its offshore island Uglijan.
An ironic name for a
beautiful place!
In Zadar
The Sea Organ
Built into these steps is a wave-operated pipe organ! On a choppy day, it must sound like
the ents marching on Isengard. Even the calmest day produces slow gentle hoom...hom like mother
nature humming to you.
A popular hang-out, especially at sunset.
This restaurant looks so serious about "for customers only". "Entry code on your receipt."
And then I get my receipt, and the code turns out to be - you guessed it -
12345 !! (Any Spaceballs fan could have guessed that.)
At least it is easy to remember.
Ferries connect to Dubrovnik, Split, and Italy.
A pedestrian bridge connects the old town with the new, across the harbor.
If you are inconveniently far from the pedestrian bridge, this mini-ferry also does the
job.
A quiet little square in the pedestrianized old town.
Part of the Salute To the Sun, of which more soon. Another favorite sunset spot,
adjacent to the Sea Organ.