Family catch-up
12 July 2014 | Zadar
Dining with the family
After a week of wet and stormy weather which we spent mostly anchored in Muline on Ugljan island, we make our way 10 miles east to the city of Zadar. Damien, Simon & his girlfriend Noelia are flying into the airport here to join us on board. Damien wil spend the weekend with us, enroute back to Aust after two weeks work in Germnay & Switzerland. Simon & Noelia will spend the following week with us. We have phoned the marina right in the heart of town and they assured us we will get a berth, but must arrive early, as it is changeover day for all the charter boats. We duly arrive in front of the marina at 9.30 and as there is no-one to assist us, we phone again. We are told to wait for a guy in a red t-shirt who will help us. We spot him and to our dismay, he has his arms in the air crossed and is waving us away. We motor a little closer to explain that we were told to come in by the office, but he is emphatic that there is no room for us, with all the charter fleets returning. He's not sure what 'idiot' we have spoken to (his words) but shouts at us "very sorry-there is no room"! He recommends we try marina Borat a few miles away. It is a little out of town, but after a phone call to them, we have a berth for the night and are greeted by a friendly assistant to assist with berthing. It is close to a supermarket and we are able to stock up within easy walking distance of the marina.
As the family aren't arriving till late evening, we take a bike ride into town after lunch and check out the old town of Zadar. The entrance arches to the old town are surrounded by impressive Venetian carvings and we see many Roman ruins and some beautiful medieval churches. The cobbled walkways and paths remind us a little of the old city of Split, but it doesn't seem as touristy. There are many restaurants, souvenir shops and galleries, as well as, some high end shopping so it caters for eveyone! The highlight though is the Sea Organ and Sun Salutation on the waterfront. It was designed by a local architect and naturally is a real tourist attraction. The Sea Organ is a wall of stone stairs that run along the waterfront and descend into the sea. Set within the stairs is a system of pipes and whistles that let out sounds when the movement of the sea pushes air through it. It is quite amazing. Closeby is the Sun Salutation which is a large cirlcle of 22m made up of multilayers of glass panels similar to solar panels that are energised by the sun during the day and together with the wave energy that makes the Sea Organ sound, produces a light show at night. It is very clever and entertaining.
Our visitors arrive and we spend a very enjoyable weekend in the area before Damien has to catch his flight back home on the Monday. As a belated birthday present the boys take us out to a very nice Seafood restaurant overlooking the waterfront. As Damien & Simon are paying the bill they explain to the staff that it is their mum's birthday. They are told to sit back down at the table and something will be delivered. Within minutes a small round chocolate cake dwarfed by a large sparkler candle arrives at the table and everyone sings 'happy birthday' while Di pretends she's surprised and that today is actually her birthday!! Five spoons are provided and we all make short work of the cake!
Monday morning we are sad to see Damien go, but are able to do a quick drop off just inside the marina in town, before we are hurried on by staff!