Friday, 20 May, 2016 – Pag Island to Zadar to Trogir
Today after breakfast, we pack up the van to head out to the coast.
One thing I did not mention before was the rock walls that were prevalent in Pag Island and elsewhere around. There were blocks of land everywhere that were mostly empty but walled of by short fences of irregular rock fences. Maybe it was to keep the sheep in but there were thousands of blocks with nothing in them.
We then drive to the coastal town of Yardar. The experience there is similar to what we will encounter in most of the coastal towns – people everywhere, mostly tourists, lots of traffic chaos, slow moving and very little parking. The Dalmation Coast has become just too popular. Any way, our guide is waiting for us but we have to bypass her initally to find a parking place. Fortuneately, Andrew was able to do that. We start out with our walking tour of the town.
The fruit in the brandy is maraschino cherry. We were supposed to have had some the night before but the Hotel was out of it. We meet an old Croatian guy who claims to live very near to us in Kew, Victoria, Australia. We proceed on to the end of the old town.
We say goodbye to our guide and hop into the van to leave Zardar. Our next stop is in a small village where we will have lunch.
The restaurant is famous for all things Pig.
Some of the group called it the best goulash they had ever had. It was very good but to me it needed more paparika.
After lunch we proceed to a winery, Bibich. It is a small family run winery with nice people. We are given a tour before tastings.
We then drive to our final destination for today, the coastal town of Trogir. The arrival experience is pretty much the same as Zardar, beautiful town, lots of people, lots of traffic. Andrew is able to find a place to park so we unload and take the long walk to the Hotel. Normally the owner would be there to help us but was away elsewhere. Jan and I struggle on the narrow cobblestone streets and eventually we stop and wait for assistance.
Eventually Julie comes along and drags Jan’s big case and guides us to the Hotel which is on another side alley. The Hotel is a 14th century stone building. The room was very small but adequate.
Later we have dinner in a place down the road a ways.
The dinner was not a fixed menu which accounts for the variety of dishes shown. We are sitting outside and it is pouring rain but we are under a canopy and it is kind of neat watching the water pouring off of it, fortuneately not on us. When the meal ends, it has stopped raining and we head back to the Hotel.