It’s been five years since we were last in Zadar. Quite a lot has changed.

We were berthed in a new port outside of the town and had to get a bus into Zadar proper. We both walked over to the Monument to the Sun which is an array of 300 multi-layered glass plates level with the pavement of the waterfront and in the shape of a 22 metre diameter circle. Beneath the glass are photovoltaic solar modules with lighting elements which turn on at night, and produce a light show. It was designed by Croatian architect Nikola Bašić from Zadar. The solar cell arrays made a good strong foreground and the leading lines would draw the eye into the distance. It became PoD.

While I was there, Scamp was recording the weird ‘music’ created by The Sea Organ. The sea organ is an architectural sound-art object located near the Monument to the Sun. It’s and an experimental musical instrument, which plays music by way of sea waves and tubes located underneath a set of large marble steps. It always attracts a crowd of folk, eager to find inner meaning in its drones and trills.

We found a new water feature further along which seemed to attract a fair variety of bird life, crows, seagulls and the occasional sparrow. All finding somewhere to drink in such a dry land. Good to see something architecturally pleasing but with a purpose at the same time.

I stood watching a bloke who looked as if he was shaving outside, but it turned out he was putting on white makeup because he was a street artist. I got a few photos of him which I might post on Flickr later. We did glimpse him later in a picture frame looking like a marble bust. Very clever.

One final place to find and it was where Scamp was mugged by a tree stump five years ago. She had been photographing the boats in the marina, when she took a step back and tripped over the stump and grazed her knee and her hand. Unluckily for her I was well out of earshot, but luckily there were some kind folk who pattered up her cuts and made sure she could walk.

After a few wrong turnings, we did find the spot, but the tree stump had gone. It had been replaced with a new sapling which hopefully will be better behaved.

We walked back through the town and caught the bus back to the ship. Scamp went off for a swim in the splash pool and I started writing up the week’s blog posts.

Dinner tonight was in Sindhu and it was lovely. Great service, wonderful food and no rush. Just what we had enjoyed the last time we’d visited. Nice to know that their standards aren’t slipping, because P&O’s seem to be on the slide.

We couldn’t move after our Indian meal, so instead of dancing, we sat on the balcony with a G&T instead.

Tomorrow on to Koper.