Šibenik and Krka falls

After Tomaž sailed Heron to Skradin we stayed on the boat for couple of days. Weather was very changeable and windy and not so suitable for sailing, so we decided to do some hiking in vicinity of marina, and of course to do some boat projects. One day we drove to town of Šibenik, that has a very old and pretty centre. Some streets are unbelievably narrow.

There are plenty of old buildings...

...statues...

...and churches.

We were wondering if this addition to the house was a loo and Tomaž went to see if it had a hole in the floor. It didn't.

This is a nice garden in cafe where we had a really good ice cream.

Couldn't resist a cute kitty.

We climbed up to the fortress...

...from where there was a good view to another one on the next hill.

Architecture is really pretty and it is evident how Šibenik was an important and rich town in the past.

The next day we chose to go to the Krka river falls. There are ships that bring visitors to the falls, no other vessels are allowed beyond this bridge.

I was really struggling to choose photos for this post, it's such a magical place and most of the photos were great, although I took them with my mobile phone.

This is the only orchid that I saw.

The entrance fee is quite steep, but the place is gorgeous and really worth the visit. We made a good deal and bought a yearly ticket, that costs the same as three visit in low season or one and half visits in high season. No brainer, right?

These are remains of the first hydro power plant here, built more than 100 years ago, it started working just two days after the Niagara power plant was open. It made Šibenik the first town in the world with AC/DC power.

There is a circular path around the park with many great views and lots of plants and animals. The damselflies were shimmering in the sun like jewellery.

Frogs were very loud, probably they were mating.

It is so beautiful how water just flows over small waterfalls...

...and through the trees.

I guess half of the photos I took were of damselflies...

...and other half of the water. Other people were mostly taking selfies.

I just know we will use the yearly tickets often, just maybe not in high season, for me there were more than enough people there already on this day.

 

Heron update

Here are some news of Heron and us. 

First couple of photos are from winter, this is the surroundings of our home, in the evening just when the fog started to set.

We were feeding the birds again in winter, and here are my favourites, the cute Long-tailed tits (dolgorepke).

We spent some days on Heron already in March, we had lovely weather with almost summerly temperatures and beside boat projects we managed to make couple of walks in Mali Lošinj.

The flowers were already in bloom and there were many bees around.

We even made it to Veli Lošinj.

Next time we drove to Mali Lošinj was in beginning of April for couple of days. We managed to make a reservation in great little restaurant El Paso in the airport. We had a lovely meal, the best was their signature salad with different sorts of vegetables and fruit.

Lošinj was now in full bloom.

Marina Mali Lošinj was Herons home for last year. Lošinj is a beautiful island and marina staff is great, but marina is pretty unprotected from both Burja, NE wind as well as jugo, the SE wind, both produce waves even when light and staying on boat is pretty uncomfortable.

Tomaž braved jumping in the water, while our coppercoat boat anti-fouling works very well, it is not suitable for propeller. Hence the propeller gets overgrown with all kinds of creatures and needs to be cleaned regularly. 

For next year we got the berth in marina in Skradin near Šibenik. It is very protected and also very pretty, placed in beautiful surroundings. We were trying to get it for several years already and finally they had space for us. So after a couple of days, just before the weather turned, we said goodbye to all the nice people in marina and Tomaž sailed away, and I drove home. 

On the way I stopped near Vransko jezero (lake) on island Cres, mostly in hope of seeing some vultures that are living on Cres and are often seen around the lake. But all I saw were some goats and pretty views.

After couple of days sailing in bad weather and couple of days spent with friends Tomaz sailed Heron in marina in Skradin. I drove there on the same day. This is Heron in her berth. 

We have some great neighbours.

This is marina from the hill, in the back is the fjord to Šibenik and above it the highway bridge. Heron is moored more in the back of marina just couple of berths from the hill.

We climbed all the way up to the fortress on the hill...

...for even better view of Skradin.