Korcula Island, Croatia – 13 June 2018

The van departs on time at 7.35am on Wednesday 13 June. Today we are doing an island tour. Unfortunately there are already people on the bus when we are picked up so it’s to the second to last row I head. Let’s hope there’s not too much driving today!  We are the final pick up so are straight onto the “highway” north.

 

It’s an easy one hour drive to Ston, our first stop.

Ston is a salt-producing town about 50 km’s north of Dubrovnik. In 1333 a 5.5km wall (one of the longest in Europe) was built to protect Ston from its neighbours, it consisted of 40 towers and 5 forts. It’s still standing today and is very impressive!



The guide takes us on a quick walk through Ston then leaves us for 45 minutes at the salt factory.



We decide against going up the city walls and instead just wander around the small town.

  

Before heading to the van we stop for our daily fresh OJ. While it’s nowhere near as peaceful as yesterday’s stop its lovely just sitting here. The European’s sure know how to do a bar / cafe!

Susan and I are the last to get back on the van at 9.27am - we still had 3 minutes to spare.

As we depart Ston the sun and blue skew appears and many of the clouds disappear. Excellent! Let’s hope they remain all day.

 

The drive to Orebic where we take the ferry over to Korcula Island. This takes about an hour and a quarter, I manage to get a bit of shut eye along the way. Unfortunately the dark clouds seem to have arrived. Ooh please please please don’t rain!

It’s a short boat ride across to Korcula Island.

 

Korcula Island, on the Adriatic sea, is the sixth largest Adriatic island which has vineyards, olive groves and small villages. The main (biggest) village is Korcula town, which is a coastal citadel.

On arrival the guide takes us on a half hour tour of Korcula town then leaves us to explore ourselves. There are big rain drops falling, thankfully at the moment it’s not frequent. Long may that continue.

  
 

We decide lunch first today. As we wander along the promenade the thunder starts to announce its arrival. Seconds later I see lightening. We can see the rain coming towards us.



We need to find a restaurant and quick smart.

Literally as we ask to see a menu the heavens open. Right oh this is the place we’ll eat at! On sitting down the rain comes down even stronger.

Thank goodness for yummy pizza.



Just as it’s starting to clear the rain starts to return. We are enjoying just sitting watching the world go by when all of a sudden there is a loud bang. I scream! Honestly it could have been a gun it was so bloody loud. Alas no it was crazy thunder followed by lightening then the rain increases. This is far from pleasant. Such a huge change from yesterday’s hot sunny 33+ degrees day.


   

When the rain stops we wander around the town. It seems like less people are around than they were earlier which is nice.

  
   

The boat is late arriving so we take our time heading over to the port. It’s much nicer sitting here in the shade. The sea looks choppy, thank goodness it’s a quick trip across to the other side!!



We finally depart 10 minutes late. I had left it to the last minute to join the boat - wanted to minimize the time on the boat.

I was glad to be off the boat!! As we walk towards the van I notice lots of people on the beach.  Stoney beach isn’t my cup of tea but the water looks inviting.  Feeling a tad off I swap seats with the driver.

 

We drive about 20 minutes before stopping for photos over a bay and some islands. Great views!

 

From here it was a 15 minute drive to a very small village, where the population is 100 people. We stop here for some wine tasting at a super small winery.

I taste one white, two reds and 1 dessert wine before tasting two types of grappa. The walnut grappa was surprisingly good. Thanks but no purchases from me today.

 

Back into the van for a 45 minute drive to a restaurant, Bella Vista. As the name suggests the views are amazing of the bay below!

 

One of the reasons for this stop is to try the Oysters.  Yes please.

The sun is hot so we take a table directly in the door. The breeze flowing in is lovely! So nice to see the sun and blue sky again though.

I order 2 oysters - got to try them while in Croatia and especially when I saw lots of mussel and oyster farms around Ston.



We have 20 minutes here before we are back into the van “on the road again” driving back to Dubrovnik.  As we pass Ston the views of the city walls are impressive.



We pull into Dubrovnik old town at 6.10pm, after dropping off the annoying ladies we drive around to the north gate where we get out. They aren’t allowed to drop us at the Pile Gate before 8pm. No issue at all, I’m happy to get out and walk!!

All and all it’s been a lovely day to Korcula Island, we had thought it was going to be a beach day but alas not.  Perhaps next time.  Great to see more of Croatia!