The jet boat on Hvar
We are booked for the three caves tour today and emphatically declined the sedate boat in preference for the fancy torpedo (they are specially designed for these sorts of tours. It looks like a jetski on steroids.) We are the oldest on this trip but we have a great time. We explore the green cave first and this involves jumping off the boat and then hauling yourself back up onto it. No ladders here. It is Not so easy pulling yourself onto a rubber zodiac type boat I discover but the others help and I get better at it as the day goes on. Next is a swim in a little cove where we have lunch too. Those large pebble beaches are tricky to walk on but my tevas do the job brilliantly. Next it is a secret cave that you need to dive down a metre to swim into. I am not keen on small places and decline this one. Jan does it but gets a bit spooked when the cave fills up with other people. Next stop is along a rugged coastline jumping waves and wash and generally zig zagging around to a natural jacuzzi where the waves wash into a spot above the water line. I swim into this and then climb the cliff to jump off to return to the boat. Jan is not great on heights and is hesitant but with encouragement ( jump, jump, jump) from everyone she takes the plunge. Next stop the monk seal cave which is pitch black and a great pirate lair. They used to be monk seals but they have declined and now are only found in the north of Croatia. We do further exploration of the coastline and eventually get to Stavinia cove. This is so pretty as two cliffs jut out leaving a narrow passage only to the sea. It almost conceals a delightful pebble beach. Access can be had from the land down a steep path. We saw a lot of people walking up like busy ants. Now our last stop is the famous blue cave. It is highly controlled and we have to buy an extra ticket to gain access. It was pretty amazing. There is a underwater entrance that let's the sun in to illuminate the water in the cave. Now we are all weary after 8 hours in and on the water. We look rather bedraggled but happy and get ready for our farewell Hvar dinner.
Jan had seen a menu with poached peaches in lavender syrup with ice cream and has her heart set on it for dinner. It is at the Hotel Croatia round the point. We get a table where we can watch the sunset and order dinner hoping for a better experience than we have had so far in restaurants here. The waiter is very obliging and all is going well until Jan starts to feel unwell. Eventually she cancels her meal and goes back to the hotel. I stay to report on the peaches.
I have an absolutely delicious meal and great service which is a nice farewell to Hvar. Meanwhile when I return to the hotel Jan has thrown up in the garden on the way home and is tucked up in bed feeling awful. It is such a pity. I showed her a photo of the peaches. We pack in readiness for the next day departure to Korcula. The hotel is organising the ferry tickets for us as we were out on the tour and couldn't queue.
Next morning Jan is feeling somewhat better but over breakfast we discover we are on the early ferry instead of the late ferry. We are a bit disappointed as we wanted to shop around before leaving. As we go through the bill on check out we see that we have been charged double the cost for the ferry tickets. Jan gets assertive and says we were not told the extra cost, which is true and is not keen to pay it but when we are told it includes our luggage transfer to the ferry we decide to accept it. Her bag is quite awkward on the cobblestones as well as heavy.
Now we dash off to this Aladdin's cave of jewellery that we have glimpsed twice. Jan has her heart set on a couple of things and of course I am tempted too. I make my decision while Jan considers her various options. I pay and go to the ferry to make sure we are in line. Jan arrives with only a few minutes to spare and we are off to Karcula. Hvar was so lovely we can't imagine Korcula being able to top it.
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