A New Boat and a Private Beach

The Adriatic at 9AM

Today was just what I was looking for, a relaxing day of sun and surf. Well, very calm surf so more like just beautiful, crystal clear water. When Dundo Dominik has a plan, you have to be ready to go and follow. There's no lagging around (he's baffled by the idea of sleeping in) so we threw our stuff together, had a quick breakfast while he and Auntie Karen packed lunch for everyone, and then headed down to the dock. He was so proud to show off their new boat, named Karen =), which he purchased from Mato Kusalo.

We pushed off and cruised across the glassy water, astounded by how still the sea was at this hour of the morning. It was perfect for wakeboarding. The family, in searching earlier in their stay, found a great little cove which they made their private beach. They'd slowly cleared junk fro the shore and even made a little table from driftwood under a little tree so as to have a place to lay out the lunch spread.

We paused further up the shore to see another little town where some of the family originated from and then made our way to the beach. It's a picturesque cove with a broken down little shack possibly from war times. The water, like everywhere else, is clear glass that allows you to see to the ocean floor. We anchored, brought our supplies to the shore, and spent the morning exploring, snorkling, and lounging in the water.

Lunch was spread out on a cloth on a wood flat balanced on some rocks, under a tree for some shade. It consisted of the traditional Croatian bread (think really large sourdough round) cut into slices and used as an open face sandwich with slices of tomato, cheese, prosciutto or other meats, and an option of pieces of bacon, pate and accompanied by beer or iced tea. There's something so satisfying about sinking your teeth into this simple and fresh combination while seated in your bathing suit by the shore.

After our meal, we headed back into the water, the boys quietly exploring the water in the cove while us ladies sat along the shore with our legs submerged while we chatted and searched for sea glass for Auntie Karen's collection.

Uncle Dominik asked at one point, since Jason and I had our camera, if we would be willing to take action pictures of their boat. He wants a picture to put up somewhere. So he and Anton hopped in and did a few drive-bys with the rooster tail spraying high behind them while they waved each time they passed. We got a few great shots and he was really pleased with that.

After the excitement of the boat, everyone took Uncle Dominik's lead and took a nap in the sun. He was fast asleep, snoring away in a legless lounger nestled in the rocks. Once everyone had enough of the rays, we packed the boat back up and headed back out across the water. We asked if there was enough gas to stop off at the sandbar we'd visited 2 years ago before heading back to port and Uncle Dominik said yes.

This sandbar is unusual in Croatia partly because most beaches are rocky, not sandy, and this sandbar is a long shallow strip in the middle of the ocean. If you walk to the edges of it, the drop off is sudden and the water is incredibly cold. In fact, standing on one side of the bar, the water is warmer than the other side because two bodies of water collide there, which is probably how the sandbar came about in the first place.

On the main shore from the sandbar, there are always people there on windy days kitesurfing. So there will be billowy colored parachutes dotting the skyline. And on the sandbar, there are always a few small boats and skiffs parked to enjoy the sand and shallow water. We took a picture by the boat, holding the local paper from back home which Auntie Karen hoped would get us in the next issue. The rest of the time was spent walking the shore, playing in the water, and at one point, we goofed around with the camera, trying to catch Anton, Ayelet, and myself in mid-air above the water. If it's shot correctly, it can look like you've managed to miraculously leap out of very deep water.

We hopped back in the boat, only for Uncle Dominik to temporarily worry us that we actually didn't have as much gas as he'd originally thought. Fortunately, that wasn't the case and we got back to Ploce, where he could gas up the boat before we returned back to Bacina.

Getting back home, I finally realized how tired I was from being out in the sun all day. We all showered and relaxed for the evening. We also received a visit from Anton B. with an invitation for dinner with his family the next day after church. The family, aside from Jason and myself, would be attending church early in the morning to ask the priest's blessing for Anton and Ayelet to get married there next summer. Ayelet was concerned as to whether it would be an issue since she's not Catholic. For us, that meant a chance to sleep in. We took the opportunity to finally get a good night's sleep.