Hvar, Croatia & Cruising/Swim stop
The Panorama had remained at anchor throughout the night, in the harbor of a small community called Hvar. This well-known, though old and picturesque, Renaissance town is located on the west end of an island of the same name.
We heard from our local Croatian guide and our hosts in town that Hvar is one of the jewels of Croatia. The island is rugged and mountainous and much of the industry on the island revolves around agriculture and tourists! There are several mainstays on the island: lavender, wine, cheese and an extraordinarily lovely place to enjoy the growing, processing and sharing of these wares.
As our tenders brought us ashore we found ourselves surrounded in Renaissance architecture. Our first stop was the Franciscan monastery. Inside were many religious art treasures including a Black Madonna and a very unusual and well-preserved painting of the last supper. Outside in the back of the monastery there was a cypress tree that had obviously been drastically changed by man and weather, leaving in its 400-year life a very uncustomary shape of a giant umbrella hanging over a large patio that looked out to sea.
Our walk continued along the quay towards the center of the lower town. We passed the 16th century arsenal, the city Loggia, and the famous bell tower, which led into the main street of this ancient medieval town. The tiny street would barely hold three people walking shoulder to shoulder! Instead of the bustle of mediaeval life we found old restored palaces, interesting cisterns, and a myriad of very lovely restaurants all calling out for a last lunch on shore.
It was Sunday, and many locals were emerging from church and finding their way to the local cafes along the central square in the center of town in search of a good coffee and maybe a quiet Sunday meal. Many of us chose to find a table, and enjoy the same local tradition, either here or along one of the many quiet streets of Hvar.
As the heat began to rise, it was time to return to the Panorama for an afternoon of cruising. Our Expedition Leader had scheduled a stop for a last kayak and a swim in the Adriatic. The tenders brought us ashore and several brave souls took a last kayak out, exploring the rocky shore and with the clear visibility that all the deep aqua waters offered up. Swimmers were delighted with the warm waters and enjoyed one last relaxing swim before heading back to the Panorama and final packing.
As our ship sailed south towards Dubrovnik our Captain’s farewell cocktail party and dinner began an evening of celebration. We had spent the last ten days traveling through four different countries exploring the culture both past and present, along with exposure to national dress, food, music and customs. We had been welcomed in every port, and found in each unique place, whether it a known tourist destination or a small, peaceful and remote village, a world of both land and people worth the time to explore, broadening our views of this planet we all call home.
The Panorama had remained at anchor throughout the night, in the harbor of a small community called Hvar. This well-known, though old and picturesque, Renaissance town is located on the west end of an island of the same name.
We heard from our local Croatian guide and our hosts in town that Hvar is one of the jewels of Croatia. The island is rugged and mountainous and much of the industry on the island revolves around agriculture and tourists! There are several mainstays on the island: lavender, wine, cheese and an extraordinarily lovely place to enjoy the growing, processing and sharing of these wares.
As our tenders brought us ashore we found ourselves surrounded in Renaissance architecture. Our first stop was the Franciscan monastery. Inside were many religious art treasures including a Black Madonna and a very unusual and well-preserved painting of the last supper. Outside in the back of the monastery there was a cypress tree that had obviously been drastically changed by man and weather, leaving in its 400-year life a very uncustomary shape of a giant umbrella hanging over a large patio that looked out to sea.
Our walk continued along the quay towards the center of the lower town. We passed the 16th century arsenal, the city Loggia, and the famous bell tower, which led into the main street of this ancient medieval town. The tiny street would barely hold three people walking shoulder to shoulder! Instead of the bustle of mediaeval life we found old restored palaces, interesting cisterns, and a myriad of very lovely restaurants all calling out for a last lunch on shore.
It was Sunday, and many locals were emerging from church and finding their way to the local cafes along the central square in the center of town in search of a good coffee and maybe a quiet Sunday meal. Many of us chose to find a table, and enjoy the same local tradition, either here or along one of the many quiet streets of Hvar.
As the heat began to rise, it was time to return to the Panorama for an afternoon of cruising. Our Expedition Leader had scheduled a stop for a last kayak and a swim in the Adriatic. The tenders brought us ashore and several brave souls took a last kayak out, exploring the rocky shore and with the clear visibility that all the deep aqua waters offered up. Swimmers were delighted with the warm waters and enjoyed one last relaxing swim before heading back to the Panorama and final packing.
As our ship sailed south towards Dubrovnik our Captain’s farewell cocktail party and dinner began an evening of celebration. We had spent the last ten days traveling through four different countries exploring the culture both past and present, along with exposure to national dress, food, music and customs. We had been welcomed in every port, and found in each unique place, whether it a known tourist destination or a small, peaceful and remote village, a world of both land and people worth the time to explore, broadening our views of this planet we all call home.
