Mljet Island, Croatia

Monday 31st October 2022
Well, I am sure you can guess what we tried to do last night. Our tax! Of course it was fraught with problems. Surprise, surprise. Hehehe!
1. – No phone signal in the National Park so we can’t get our password code for MyGov
2. – David’s Digital identity wouldn’t work without a code. I managed to set up a Digital identity.
3. – David’s efforts were a complete fail. I managed to get my tax done but can’t lodge it as I need David’s income.

This morning David made 2 or 3 trips 1km down the road to where you can get phone signal to try and sort out his tax log in again. Total fail. Oh well! We tried, obviously a little late. Time to go explore Mljet Island’s National Park.

We stayed in a lovely little apartment on the water at Saline last night. We woke to a beautiful sunny day and decided we would explore this part of the island by bike today. So Martina organised for bikes to be delivered to us at 9am this morning. Right on the dot, they arrived (100ku each, we think for the day but we are not sure). So of we go at about 10am on a bike for a welcome change.

We set off from Soline, it was a beautiful peaceful ride along the water’s edge on a bitumen road. Only wide enough for one car with the occasional passing bay along the way. This is the road we travelled in the dark last night. I really enjoyed being away from the crowds, the hustle and bustle of the city and back in nature. We arrived at Pristanište, paid our National Park fee of 70kn each (about 14AUD each) as the office was closed last night. Our fee included a boat ride to Sveta Marija Island (St Mary’s) which is a pretty little fairy tale islet featuring a picturesque Benedictine Monastery which once served as a creative hub for artists of various vocations. The ferry was just arriving so we hopped on and went to the island and enjoyed a little walk around seeing most of the things on offer. Then we hopped back on the ferry and did a little trip to the north western part of the large lake. It was very pretty and peaceful on the water, even more so because the boat was solar powered. So quiet. David managed to sort out his password for his tax so we will be able to get that done tonight. Yay!

We then hopped back on our bikes to contine our loop of the large lake. We headed on the edge of Mali Most (Small Lake) and made our way to Pomena. This was a tiny fishing town with many restaurants and cafes but unfortunately the season is over and most of them were closed. We went for a walk in search of a cafe but ended up at the fast food take away cafe. It worked out okay as we sat under a shelter on the water’s edge and enjoyed our first hamburger and chips since we left home. The fries were really good.

After a very filling lunch we rode to Sparožni rat where we went for a short hike and happened upon an old cannon in a shelter, anotherr shelter and a long tunnel. David went for a walk in to the tunnel and explored for a little bit. Then back on the bikes to complete the rest of our loop around the large lake. It was picturesque all day. We arrived back home about 3.30pm and had a rest this afternoon. Both of us actually had a sleep which was well needed. We had planned a hike about 4pm but we might do that tomorrow, maybe.

: A beautiful sunrise from the balcony of our apartment on the water’s edge of Soline..

: ..the water is crystal clear..

: ..I am not sure if David is photographing the beautiful flowers or framing his favourite drink with the beautiful flowers..

: ..As we set out on our 24km loop ride of the Large Lake, the colour of the water is amazing..

: ..a stop to enjoy the view of the pristine water..

: As we have perfect timing to meet the ferry going to St Mary’s Island..

: ..the Benedictine Monastery on ST Mary’s Island..

: ..a fisherman’s boat at the island..

: .. The beautiful church doors on St Mary’s Island..

: ..it is among the oldest church complexes in the Adriatic..

: ..This valuable monument of Croatia’s Romanesque culture belongs to the Diocese of Dubrovnik. Beautiful stained glass windows..

: ..a lovely view from the island..

: ..the Chapel of St John..

: ..the cemetery, always with beautiful flowers..

: ..the old steps up..

: ..to the stables..

: ..looking back to the church with its old stone walls..

: ..the crystal clear waters. And they have 3 more boats for transport to the island in the high season. At the moment there is only one boat and it is only running hourly from 9.30 to 3.30..

: ..looking over the beautiful waters to Mali Most (Small Lake) which is on the other side of the arched wall..

: ..a little lizard along the way..

: ..as he checks out David..

: ..and some orchids for you Bob..

: As we arrive at Pomena..

: ..we walk the waterside apartments and cafes looking for lunch..

: ..they have live fish/lobster tanks the size of little swimming pools along the foreshore, we are assuming for their restaurants so you can choose your live fish for dinner..

: ..it is so beautiful here..

: ..a lobster pot beside a fish tank pool or two..

: ..look at the beautiful clear waters..

: ..our lovely waterside cafe lunch break, Coca Cola again..

: ..a yummy burger and fries, today’s main meal..

: as we ride to the furthermost north western tip of the island..

: ..we come across a tunnel, I am not too keen to follow it..

: ..we hike some more and come to this tunnel..

: ..with an old cannon on tracks hiding in the entrance..

: ..to a tunnel that goes very deep into the hillside..

: ..we walk around the corner passed this lovely blue water..

: ..to another tunnel, no cannon this time but there was definitely one here as well once upon a time..

: ..and we think the two tunnels probably met up..

: ..looking out from the cannon hole with the trolley on its tracks..

: ..time to continue our loop..

: ..a quick rest as we near the end of the loop to enjoy the view across to St Mary’s island..

: ..Our home is on the far right across the water and the two fences in the water are to prevent the rubbish floating in from the sea on the southern winds in Autumn..