Out to the islands

I honestly can't get enough of looking at these clear, clear water views, and the true colors just seem to be more intense in person. This was one last view from our hotel on Korcula , which we hated to leave. I know I say that a lot. But it seems better to be sorry to leave than anxious to go. However, after the bus load of Tiawanese arrived the night before, the calm of the place was quickly shattered! Before they came it was mostly Germans and Croatians who were a very quiet,laid back group. The Taiwanese were not quiet. They eventually calmed down by dinner time, but they were up early in the morning, out taking photos. Jim said " let's find out where they're going, and go someplace else."

We had decided to go to another island, Hvar( pronounced Hyar) which involved taking 3 ferries. It was almost a bit of a challenge. We arrived at each ferry with only minutes to spare, and finally got the system down ,with me buying the ticket while jim drove into the que. We thought we would possibly have time for lunch along the route, but there was never time to stop long enough for a sit down lunch, and there were no other options. So we had coffee on the ferry and subsisted on our nuts, Jaffa cakes and delicious tangerines I bought near the ticket office. 

For some reason, there is always an ambulance( or a couple) in the ferry line..maybe it is mandatory for them to have an ambulance on board. 

This couple was staying at our hotel. He seemed fun, having his wife take a photo of him sitting on the lap of the mermaid statue in the sea in front of the hotel.

We were the last car let on to the third ferry! Guess who was in the bus in front of us? Yes, the Taiwanese. Lol.Plus three more bus loads of Chinese, one of which didn't make it on to the ferry.

All aboard for Hvar! 

This island was very different from Korcula. Quite wild, with very few villages along the island. 

We went down a road and found this rental. Jim even walked down all the steps to find out they were not yet open. The view was spectacular.they suggested driving to Hvar, all the way at the end of the island. So that's what we did. First thing we needed was a place to stay, and as it happened, we were approached by a woman with an apt to rent. We thought we'd check around on our own first before committing.We went to a travel agent who showed us a beautiful apt up 1000 steep steps in the old town with a fabulous view 

But it was very inconvenient to get to in a car, and too many steps. So we went back to the first offer and were quite satisfied.

This was the view from our balcony

It was even prettier at sunset. 

Apartmani, or apartments are very plentiful in most towns and this being still the low season, it was quite easy to have our pick of places. They all have a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, for the price of a hotel room. This place was only about $30. Not bad for all that space plus a view .

Compared to the rest of the island, Hvar was bustling with tourists, but not overwhelmingly so. These little carts are seen buzzing about everywhere. I told jim I wanted one of them, they looked so fun to drive! I never saw much of anything being carried in them, though. 

We found a spot right by the water for dinner and enjoyed the constant stream of people passing by, many of them sailors just ashore from their big sailboats. Lots of boats in this lovely harbor! 

I watched as a group of young boys got perilously close to the waters edge, trying to collect marine life.

They finally reached a sea urchin , then poked at it and threw it back. Boys will be boys...

This was another fortified walled city and you can just see the wall at the top left of this photo.

I noticed the windows of this building in the main square as we went back to our car. I'll show more from Hvar in the next installment.