The Adriatic Sea conjures visions of sparkling, blue sea. And of course – sun! Also, being the northern “arm” of the Mediterranean, it evokes an exotic mix of European sophistication, with carefree holidaying, on what is the stretch of sea between the Italian and Balkan Peninsulas.
This story recounts the fun and good times our writer and a friend had on a small passenger boat (carrying 35 people) as they spent a week cruising the enticing Adriatic.
The weather was superb, apart from one day of rain and some wind on the first day. Docked at the wharf on the first night, the wind gusts managed to smash a cabin window! But nothing a bit of duct tape couldn’t fix. Ready for departure tomorrow.
In the morning, as we sailed out to sea, the beautifully clear water and the steep, rocky landscapes rising above small towns and villages provided a stunning backdrop as we followed the island-dotted coastline.
Day one included some land visits in Croatia. We explored Makarska, Stari Grad, Hvar, the famous Blue Cave at Porat, Komiza on Vis, Korcula, Mljet and of course, not to be missed, Dubrovnik.
The Blue Cave, aka The Grotto, was a spectacular experience. With its glowing blueness, best seen between 11.00 am and noon, when the sun’s rays pass through a small opening, lighting the water from the depths, turning it into an extraordinary translucent blue. We were lucky that the weather was good, allowing us entrance to this very popular site.
We toured several of the islands dotted along the shores – some housing old forts and castles, resplendent in their terracotta and red hues.
We spent time in Hvar Town on Hvar Island, known for being a tourist and party hub. The city is beautiful, but very expensive and very touristy. But we had a great night out at a great little bar in town, Kiva Bar Hvar, with a fun crowd and a good barman who looked after us.
Other activities we enjoyed included kayaking, sky biking, walking tours, biking around the National Park at Mljet, and off-road buggy driving. There were also plenty of opportunities to swim in the gorgeous freshness of the Adriatic Sea. During the summer, the temperatures can reach the high twenties.
The week’s cruise included daily breakfast and lunch, so in the evenings we were free to explore the plentiful onshore eating options. The food was delicious – we ate lots of octopus – and the servings were generous. We also drank copious amounts of Posip and Plavac wines.
Our fellow onboard travellers, making up the total of 35 passengers, were a great mix of types, and with plenty of time to relax, we were also able to enjoy their company.
When the cruise finished, we disembarked at Dubrovnik, where we bought tickets to a gig, Culture Club Revelin (a famous club in the walls of the old town), and had a few drinks at MILK in the old town, which was groovy.
The week had passed quickly, and now it was farewell to the sun and hello to a cooler London for a week.
Just a bit of inside info-smoking is still legal in bars in Croatia, so people were smoking in every place we went. As a Kiwi, it was a surreal, step-back-in-time experience.
Our MTR guest writer used Sail Croatia for his cruise trip
