You may have noticed that the date in my blog does not necessarily jive with my entry date. That is due to the fact that once on the ship, I discovered that using the Internet is very difficult. I tried sending the blog on Tuesday, the day we boarded the ship but it just wouldn't go through. It doesn't help that I have so many pictures to load. So now I am writing the blog each day and will enter the pictures when I return home. Be sure to check it after June 10. We return on the 9th and I will update with pictures on the 10th. Don't know why the wifi is so poor even when we are in port.
We got up early this morning so we could have breakfast at 7:00 a.m. We pulled into Sibenik about 7:30 am, met our guide Laura at 8:00 and went into Sibenik to meet a local guide and have a tour of the old city. A high point of resistance to the Turk invasion, the coast all around Sibenik hides small once strongly fortified villages at the end of of tortuously winding inlets, and the islands opposite harbour elegant villas of noble families spared from the war. The city was estalished by Croatian princes between the 9th and 10th centuries. In the 1th century it became a rich merchant town trading with the Turks. Venice sent architects who left behind their imprint of the Christian West in the cathedral, churches, palaces and Renaissance works of art.
Sienik fell under attack in 1991 from the Yugoslav federal army, and was subject to shelling until its liberation by the Croatian Army in 1995. The city's aluminum industry, whichwas an important part of the regional economy, was shattered by the war. Today there are only about 41,000 residents and they survive on tourism. Most young people leave for better jobs elsewhere.
The cathedral of St. Jacob was the center point of our visit.The masterpiece was designed and sculpted by Juraj Dalmatinac in the 15th century. It's most unusual feature is the frieze of 71 heads on the exterior walls. These portraits in stone are expressions of ordinary 15th century Citizens. The church was completed in 1536.
From Sibenik we rode a bus to Krka National Park to view its amazing waterfalls. It was a pleasant diversion and so relaxing and the falls were spectacular! Our guides provided us with wine and cheese as a snack as we relaxed around the falls.
From the falls we rode for about and hour and 20 minutes to the town of Split. While we were in Sibenik, our ship moved down to Split where we would meet it later.
Map of Sibenik
Approaching Sibenik
Fortress above Sibenik
The Cathedral of St. Jacob
One of the 71 heads on the exterior walls
Cathedral of St. Jacob
The town square, center of socialization at one time
Former town hall, now a restaurant
Typical street in old town
Love the window boxes!
Krka Falls
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