Lonely Roads and a Warm Welcome- Zadar to Zaton

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One last parting shot from last night in Zadar sunset. 

The following morning we get an early start as there is a chance of afternoon showers at our destination of Zaton. 

We pass through some lovely coastal towns before making a turn inland a bit. 


Most of the day is through teeny tiny hamlets in a landscape that has changed a bit. It is rockier and seems more arid.  I don’t think we passed a single bar/cafe the whole day. 

The excitement of the day was when a very large herd of sheep and goats is completely blocking our path.  The shepherd said we could go through and the two sheep dogs were nonplussed by our presence. Although the sheep parted a bit for us to slowly weave our way through, they too did not seem too bothered by us. We couldn’t believe we got to experience this! 


There were lots of ruins. The first one below had a story associated with it about the Templar Knights. 



Later in the ride the fields and hillsides were covered with ancient walls. I am not sure their purpose. 



Then we make the final plunge back to the sea and Zaton and find our way to our Airbnb.  The hosts greet us and before they show us the apartment the hostess gestures that we should sit down in their lovely garden. We do and she brings out glasses and her homemade rose liquor.  She shows us which rose in her garden it is made from. 



They join us for a toast and the start of a wonderful attempt at communication. 


 Lots of google translate and I think because of our enthusiasm about her liquor, she gets another one.  This one is made with cacao.  Wow!  That goes down nicely.  So off she goes to grab another, this one is from black olives.  Then why not one more, the final one is made from a service bush.  All are delicious and different.  


During our conversation we learn her sister lives in Fort Worth, Texas.  I ask why she moved to America and the answer is the war.  Geesh, a shocking reminder of the horror of hate and prejudice that happened in these parts not so very long ago.  We talk more and she tells us the history of some local things through her phones google translate.  With exasperation she hands me her phone which says, I wish I could talk English, I want to tell you everything!   

I had said my favorite liquor was the rose one so she hands me one more glass and says, “for later”.  Then she comes out with a small gift she said is for us to remember them. It is a refrigerator magnet that she made of the Sibenik cathedral.  This is the warmest, kindest welcome I have ever experienced.  

 After we cook dinner we explore the town a bit.  It is small and much quieter than most of the recent towns we have visited.  


The town is at the end of a very long inlet from the Adriatic.  We walked a long way but did not sight the sea.  Tomorrow’s ride will bring us back to the sea. 


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