Korcula Island, Croatia

Relaxing on the island

10.09.2008 80 °F

Today we headed out of Dubrovnik to the island of Korcula. Outside the Pile gate we got on the bus to go to Port Gruz which only cost 20 kuna. The bus drops you off right outside the Jadrolinja ferry office. The ride was from 1000 to 1300 and cost 134 Kuna. We had a lunch of a couple of sandwiches, bag of chips and a coke on the boat.
We stepped off the ferry into chaos – people waiting for people, people trying to hawk their sobe….and of course we were one of the hunted. We spotted a girl with a sign but her room turned out to be kind of far away so we ended up following this little old lady who was very persistent that we needed to stay in HER room. It turned out to be in a great location and she chatted to us the entire way there, only part of which we understood. But she led us to a clean room with a bed and bathroom right next door for 250 kuna (about $50) so the transaction was soon made.
I had researched a company that did a night snorkeling tour and they responded that I didn't need reservations and would have a great time. However when we got to the tourist office we were told it was too cold and the guides were on a different island. That was disappointing but it left our evening open for the Moreska dance (200 kuna).
We strolled around town for awhile before deciding to put our bathing suits on and try out the water in a pebbly little piece of land right down from our sobe. We spent most of the afternoon relaxing and ready in the breeze off the Adriatic.
We eventually got hungry though and headed to Pabe pizza place for pizza and beer. The wait service was not so great but the pizza and atmosphere right by the water was. Curt got pizza with the smoked ham that is famous for the region and of course I whimped out with the four cheese pizza – but I ate every crumb of it.
Up next was the Moreska show and luckily the front row was still open. Locals perform the sword dance still with real swords while a collection of towns people, young and old, play their instruments in the band. The clanging of the swords goes with the music as the good king tries to rescue the queen from the bad king. The performers actually swing their swords very hard. One guy broke his sword and sparks could be seen flying from many of them. The performance was about 45 minutes but very entertaining. By the time the queen was saved all the guys were huffing and puffing.