On Sunday, we went up the coast to Zadar for the Wings for Life World Run. While participants were sent on a direct bus up, we took the slow bus. Aka we took the winding local streets. Aka it took us 4 hours to drive up 100 miles.
Some time between hours 2 and 3, I realized that while I was lugging around my fat camera, I forgot my memory card. So I was just carrying the added weight for fun. Forgive me for the iPhone photos below.
Zadar is known for having the “most beautiful sunset in the world.” It is also famous for its sea organ. And it was elected to be Europe’s Best Destination in 2016.
But to me, all that matters is this: it basically looks like a smaller Split. Tower and all. Same aesthetic, same stores. Slightly more laid-back atmosphere (but let’s be real, all of Dalmatia is pretty chill).
When we finally got there, what could we do, but get coffee. It seemed like everyone was out in the main square, listening to the announcements from the world run, mingling with friends and family, hanging out with coffee and cigarettes.
Eventually, I couldn’t stand it anymore, so a couple of us broke off and wandered around to the quiet streets in town. Like Split, Old Town Zadar is also on a peninsula, except a much smaller one. The waterfront wraps around the old town architecture and is really peaceful, with some sail boats lingering in the water.
After walking around the town, we found ourselves back at the main square. We grabbed pizza at a nearby pizzeria and then continued down one of the main streets until we got to the park (Perivoj kraljice Jelene Madijevke).
Again, the park is like Zadar’s (albeit tiny) nod to Marjan. A short flight of stairs up to a cafe (of course), and a peaceful view of the town.
My favorite part of Zadar was the western waterfront by the sea organs. What are sea organs? Well, I imagined it as a sunken organ…or maybe a really weirdly shaped coral that made organ sounds. But it is actually a man-made construction. Basically, they drilled holes in the ground and into the sides of the steps so that when the waves hit the steps and forced air up the holes, it would make a sound.
It sounds cool though. Kinda like whales crying. Just kidding! But it was a slightly dissonant echo, that sometimes got aggressive if a big gust of wind pushed a wave through.
And of course, we had to linger on the promenade for the sunset. Despite the fact that there was a lot of people in town from Wings For Life, the promenade was peaceful, everyone looking off into the distance as the wavering sun set into the glistening water. Most beautiful in the world? Who knows. But nevertheless, a short but sweet visit to another Dalmatian gem.
