Monday, May 14 – Zadar     Very very cold rainy weather caused a change in plans.  Our trip to the Plivitca waterfalls and lakes was postponed  and we traveled to Zadar, with plans to return to Plivitca on Tuesday.   

The 1.5 hour trip took over 2.5 hours, as high winds closed the express highway.   This gave us a chance to see much of the Croatian countryside.  We also saw the mountains become much rockier with less vegetation as we neared the Adriatic Sea.  Zadar dates back to the 9^th century and has incredible architecture from Roman to Austro-Hungarian.   Roman ruins can be found on display near the sea of the Old Town.  

St. Donat’s Church in the old town square was built in the 9^th from the stone pieces the Romans left behind.  Today it is a tourist shop and musical venue.   (See photo)  

The old and new Zadars are separated by a walking bridge (see photo) and here, as in Zagreb, the streets are filled with residents on foot and the restaurants share common gathering spots with tables, chairs, and if one is very lucky internet  access.     

The waterfront is breathtaking.  The Sea Organ (Morske Orgulje) was completed in2005.  Its marble steps hide pipes of various sizes.  The motion of the water up and down inside the pipes pushes on the air farther up, creating harmonious hums with a tempo set by the waves.  (Hopefully the evening taping will upload)   

The same artist, who completed the organ created a “Greeting to the Sun” installation.  As darkness falls, the installation wakes up creating a swirling colored light show for visitors.   (See photos)   

We stayed at the Rog Dogg guest house and Rose and I had the third floor guest room with complete kitchen and bath.  And – a spiral staircase to access it.   (See photo)  Our host, Slavko, greeted us with 2 liters of local beer in the refrigerators in each room.    

For the most part, the day in Zadar, was a quiet, coffee and good food filled day, with lots of walking and peeking into shops as well as being overcome with amazement at the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun after dark.   As our rooms were in an alley across from a very lively bar…we went to sleep (or tried to) with the sounds of local music and laughter filling our rooms.