Sibenik & Krka National Park, Croatia
The second day of our sail up the Dalmation Coast brought us to the bay of Sibenik, one of the most protected in the Adriatic Sea. With a cup of hot coffee in hand, we could enjoy the serene landscape of the nearby islands, slowly coming into light with the rising sun. The fortress of St. Nicolas, one of three protective triangular forts in the whole Mediterranean, greeted us in her full glory as the clouds scattered away, blown out by the powerful northern Bura wind.
We had an early start in order to be the first ones in the Krka National Park. Ante, our local guide, welcomed us with a warm smile. It would be modest to say that the visit to Krka was a lovely one; there were so many things one could enjoy! Some went straight for a swim in a newly reopened plateau just under the cascading waterfalls while others followed the guides for a walk through the park. From the watermills and the ethnographic exhibition to the mere walk down a single footpath winding through and around pools, trees, swifts of water and some amazing viewpoints, we barely had time to take it all in.
Many of us were busy discovering the possibilities of our cameras, sometimes even kneeling down with elbows in the dirt, focusing on the late summer flowers. The contrast of the various shades of green and the earthy tones reflecting in the water made for some really good shots. There were also the informative panels that gave an insight on the rich wildlife in the park, from reptiles to the birds we could hear in the trees, and some endemic species we could only have hoped to encounter.
After having the early morning in Krka Park to ourselves, we headed back towards Sibenik where Ante introduced us to the most interesting facts regarding the city. It is the first city founded by the Croats in the 11th century. Its cathedral is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, as a perfect representation of construction by simply placing the stone blocks into one another without any connecting material for the dome. The façade, like the 72 heads of local people, the rich Lion’s gate or the baptistery, are masterworks of Croatian masonry and sculpture by George of Dalmatia. We also went on a walk through a labyrinth of alleys of the Old Town. That was a good way to see that this city has much more hidden treasures than the socialistic buildings surrounding it would lead one to believe.
The sky had completely cleared so we could enjoy the afternoon sun on the decks with the sails open. With such a good day behind us, it seems that everyone is in a good mood. Hopefully tomorrow in Korcula will be as promising…
