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The crew was small and multi-functional. It was hard to get to know
the cook, Marco, or the captain, Ivor, as they spoke no English at all. It was Marin who had the role of interpreter,
cleaner, entertainer, guide and boss. During the week we would get used to his abrupt manner and complete lack of knowledge
of all things Croatian, other than which bar he recommended at each stop! He was really quite delightful and we enjoyed
teaching him that "pardon" was a better alternative to "WHAT!?"
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| The top deck - where we spent an awful lot of time! |
Marin (pronounced, he finally corrected us after three days, "Marine" with
a harsh "r") explained that the crew suggested we do the official itinerary backwards to avoid spending every night in port
with the other dozen or more boats also doing the same route. We readily agreed to this and set off towards Cres.
On the last day, Marin admitted that he has to do the route backwards all the time now as his girlfriends in each port expect
him on each particular night!
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| The harbour at Cres Town |
The sea was a little choppy on the first day and the sky was cloudy, which
had us a bit worried (and had Megan "spitting" over the side) for a while, but by the time we arrived in Cres, after a nap
on top deck, it was calm and sunny again. Cres looked just gorgeous as it came into view: the coast was lined with colourful
houses and the marina was full of yachts. We walked around the town during the early evening and then relaxed with good
beer at "Feral", the oddly-named restaurant recommended by Marin where I devoured my "moules et frites", despite the full
cooked lunch! After a few more pints we ventured into the little town's only "club" where we were persuaded to sing
kareoke! One track from Grease was quite enough for us, and some of the clientele too we noticed! The night was
so clear and warm that Jen, Karen and I lugged our matresses up onto the top deck and slept under the stars! It was
a lovely end to a great first day.
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| Cres Town |
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| The girls and Marin in Cres Town |
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Breakfast
was served each day at 8am – I made it every second day! Sunday was mediocre in terms of weather, but from Monday onwards we were to have glorious, cloudless, hot,
sunny days. Today’s task was to blow up the lilos. If only Jen had had a chance to actually use hers before it was blown off to lilo-heaven by a gust of wind! After lunch (fish and chips!), the sun finally came out and it was hot enough to tempt
me into the clear, blue sea when we anchored in a sheltered bay, especially after I got stung by a wasp who dared land on
my lilo. I then proceeded to provide much entertainment as I tried to get onto the lilo.
By the end of the week I would have the maneuver perfected. Also providing
entertainment was our new-found hobby of nudist-spotting – it wasn’t hard!
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| Michele and Gary |
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| An attempt at an arty photo in Losinj |
Tonight
we moored at Mali Losinj (“Mali Losheen”), on the island of Losinj, just south of Cres. We could have been
in a campervan the way we pulled up to the street and stepped off the boat onto the footpath of the busy tourist town. This one felt typically resort-like with palm trees and cafes lining the boardwalks.
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| Jen and Laura toasting a good week |
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| Pogled and the other Katarina boats in Losinj harbour |
This
evening I discovered the gelati – the fabulous local icecream delicacy which we would taste-test more than once during
the week! A group of about 14 of us gathered in a streetside café for a GnT before
dinner of, guess what, pizza! When someone spotted a flash of light I couldn’t
believe it could be lightening as the night was calm and warm. But it was, and
as we ate the lightening got brighter and faster. We were just thinking about
finishing up dinner when all of a sudden the wind and rain came out of nowhere. It
was quite extraordinary. I left money with a friend and rushed back to Pogled
to save the towels and bikinis off the washing line. We sat inside playing cards
and watching the lightening storm which was really quite impressive. It didn’t
last long though and half an hour later you would never have known there was a storm.
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