Coys in Croatia: Phew! Leaving Split Unscathed

We were pleased that we had visited Split but for every moment that we were there, I was extremely nervous as to whether or not we would be lucky and leave the city without damage to our Avis hire car!

The fundamental problem was that our accommodation - the shoebox - was situated very close to the old part of the city where the streets are so narrow, you can barely walk side by side along them. This narrowness however doesn't stop people parking their cars and then other people trying to drive past them. It's a nightmare, clearly evidenced by my walking down the road where we were staying and noticing that every single car was scratched at the front, scraped at the back and in most cases dented along the side as well! You simply can't afford to take pride in your car if you live in this district but when it's a hire and Avis have blocked off £1,000 on your credit card for this type of eventuality, you are afraid, so very very afraid. But my fear proved unfounded and we escaped the city on a beautiful morning to take the coast road all the way to Zadar. Well that's what I thought!

No, we didn't go straight to Zadar but took a detour to Krka National Park which our Eyewitness Guide suggested was a highly recommended place to visit in Croatia. It was funny that several thousand people had the same idea as us! I am now convinced that every tourist in Croatia is following closely in our footsteps. Linda counsels me to keep calm and be in my own bubble but I hate crowds and there were certainly crowds in Krka. However, the counselling worked a treat and I was pleased that we made the effort because the waterfalls were definitely worth seeing. They are not quite on the scale or stature of Iguacu from the Argentinian side (name dropping I know) but you can't have everything.

And so back to the Dalmatian coast line and the remainder of our drive to Zadar on what was such a perfect day. Every twist and turn along the coast road brings a new and spectacular vista and it's hard to describe the beauty that unfolds before you. Island after island and the coastline are set against an Adriatic Sea of intoxicating blue. Add to that the shimmering light of a million diamonds on the sea and you still aren't paying full justice to what you are seeing!

Zadar proved a lovely contrast to Split. Quieter and seemingly more genteel. It was flat as well unlike every place we have visited to date which required a strong heart and a love of climbing and descending steps and hills. One thing Croatia isn't is flat but the Old Town in Zadar really, really is.

It's steeped in history, mainly Roman and for somebody who loves history like me, it's mind blowing to witness the numbers of Roman antiquities that are on open display around the town. For many years, Zadar must have been an archaeologists paradise and for me a place where I would love to snap my fingers and go time travelling backwards once more.

Rather less antiquated and certainly fascinating is the Sea Organ built into the quayside and which through a set of pipes produces musical chords naturally as waves push air up through them. Some of the sounds are quite haunting and the area is a meeting place for hundreds of people late in the day to watch the sunsets and listen to the music. We did speculate that it must be difficult for people living nearby to sleep with this racket carrying on all night!

We have enjoyed Zadar and our luck with Airbnb rentals continued here with possibly the best accommodation to date. Spacious, modern, well equipped and easy walking to the Old Town. Perfect.

Tonight , we pack up once again and in the morning head for Plitvice Lakes National Park, somewhere we have wanted to visit for many years. Next update from there.