Zadar - 2nd October

There is an early start today (as there is still packing to do) and we begin our trip with the exotic locations of Liverpool St Station and Stansted Airport. Our final piece of stress is making sure our bags make it past the strict Ryanair staff. It turns out that Dorota’s big backpack is slightly over the 15kg limit, but mine has a weight to spare, if not much room.   So a small repack later and we are through and onto the plane.  The flight itself is fairly relaxed for a Ryanair flight, as it is half full.

We land at Zadar airport, the smallest airport I’ve ever been to in Europe, one parking spot for the 737, and then we get the airport bus to the bus station in town. Our hotel is in the old town, so we decide to walk to it.  This isn’t as clever as it seems, because even though it is only a kilometre or so, it is very hot.  So after we reach the hotel and check in we head to the nearest bar for a drink.  As I always said it is only when I had my first drink that I relaxed and believed we were on holidays.

After that we walk around the old town, it is very pretty, especially the old Roman Forum square in the middle of town and the old church, Sveti Donatus (or the sweaty donut as Gavin Summers called it).  Beyond that is the true attraction of Zadar, the Sea Organ.  This is a very clever set of pipes that the sea laps into and make the strangest sounds.  It is very soothing, and we watch what is said to be the best sunset in Europe as the sun goes down over the islands.

Having done all that, we then look for somewhere to eat dinner.  This is not as easy as it sounds, but after a lot of walking eventually we find a very nice, if slightly expensive, place just around the corner from our hotel.  After that it is back to the initial bar we went to for a drink and their free Wi-Fi, and then it is back after a long day.