Croatia Day Five

Suprisingly didnćt feel too seedy this morning. Made it up for breakfast which is more than can be said for the others.

Sara had kept in contact with James who was meant to be going on a day trip to Vis and the Blue Grotto which actually got called off because of lack of interest. So we decided that we would hire a boat and travel round to the group of islands which lie south of Hvar - the Pakleni islands. Cost of a little four person boat for the day (I think it was 6 horse power) was 350 kuna.

We had a brilliant day! First of all we travelled over to Palmizana, the main area on the island. Did some swimming and then had a great lunch at the restaurant, marred only by an infestation of wasps! We had many trials and errors on the boat, including having problems tying knots and accidentally untying other boats, having the shade come off and fall into the sea and having to turn back when the sea got a little rough. But we also saw donkeys, goats and lots of naked Germans! Stopped off to visit the chapel of St Klement which was a lovely stone church on the top of a hill. The walk up had loads and loads of cacti lining the path - have never seen so many in my life. Not sure whether they are being farmed a la the tequila place that Angus used to work on.

After a stone skimming competition on a beach (I was a distant fourth) we travelled back to Hvar Town. Met up for drinks at Carpe Diem, the cool bar in town and then headed off for dinner at a lovely place in an alley way. Had some great grilled chicken and spent quite a bit of time talking to the Croatian owner and his son who also worked there. The son, who is 15, starts school at 7.30 and has swimming and diving lessons in the sea!