Sea Kayaking in Croatia

07.08.09
The turquoise blue water extending in all directions seemed like it was too perfect to be created by an accident of nature. Close to the shore the water was a clear enough to see the details of the near-shore floor perfectly, each rock outlined and distinct as if we were looking through a crystal blue magnifying glass. Further out from the shore the water became deeper and darker, but somehow still maintained its crystalline transparency. Our kayak rocked gently as the waves rolled under us from the open ocean to crash into the cliff walls lining the shoreline. We used our paddles to turn ourselves and follow the shoreline towards Dubrovnik. We passed sea caves, old castle walls, beaches with white sun umbrellas, and finally the fishing port of the Old City. We paddled out past the city walls towards a tree covered island, the sunshine streaming down as the waves crashed over the front of the kayak, spattering me with salty mist. Turning our kayak back towards shore we rode the waves in, racing the big swells as they came up behind us, until the waves caught our stern and carried us towards the tropical shore of Croatia.

Today was my sea kayaking trip. We were also supposed to snorkel, but that didn't happen because the waves were too "big" to get to the island; but it made for some fun kayaking! In the morning my friends and I went to a great local beach, rocky but good, where we read and laid in the sunshine. The rocks ended a few feet from the waterline and the sand began...it was perfect for swimming. I started reading Ovid's Metamorphoses, poems about ancient Roman mythology, and it's especially interesting to have Ovid (translated into English, of course) talk about places I've been. (Like when he's explaining Jove's (Zeus) palace and describes it like Palantine Hill (where the Roman governing/royal class lived.) Tonight we all went out for crepes...they were delicious! Among five of use we split a nutella/raspberry ice cream/cinnamon sugar/caramel, wild berries/honey/nuts, and snickers/nutella/whipped cream. We dined (desserted more like) al fresco in what looked like someones backyard, but was very quiet and lit by candles. It was the perfect bedtime snack.