Day 4 - Sibenik, three wineries I get up at 5 again to catch the sunrise as we cast off for our next destination, Sibenik.
I spot a couple dolphins. We are told this is very rare. In general, there is suprisingly little marine life here. Not even seaweed and only a few small fish (sardines?).
Back to the cabin to shower, then a buffet breakfast up at the salon.
The breakfast is same every day, and is pretty much the same as it was at the hotel. A buffet of cured meats, cheeses, olives/tomatoes, fruit and dessert. And unlimited wine, here. I do white in the mornings and switch to red in the afternoon/evening.
This trip being longer than I can afford to be away from work, I've brought work with me. I try the sun deck as the office but it's hard to concentrate, so I eventually retreat to my cabin. The drone of the engine is a bit annoying but my noise-canceling headphones fix that problem (they are also a game-changer on prop planes!). The ship has wifi and internet, so all is good.
There are long stretches away from shore but I come up every now and then to see if we are near anything scenic.
The entrance to Sibenik harbor is through a narrow channel guarded by a fortress. There are also fortifications on the hilltops above the city. This area is full of history, and history is full of war. Most recent one ended in 1995.
Once docked, on today's agenda is a tour of three wineries. A bus picks us up at the bus terminal just a few steps from the ship.
The first winery is a small family-run operation. The wines are very good, made from grape varieties that only grow here. Prosciutto and cheese snacks are served.
The next stop is a large-scale commercial operation, and the wine quality is a noticeable step down from the previous one. But, it's wine, it's there, I drink it. No snacks here.
Next and final stop of the day is about halfway between the first two in terms of both scale and quality. Apparently good wine requires care that doesn't scale too well. Or at least that's today's conclusion.
Back to the ship and then an evening walk up to the castle above the city. Need to walk off all the wine calories. It's hot during the day (upper 80's F) and evenings are still warm but more conducive to climbing hills.
By the time I reach the fortress its interior is closed for access, but the view of the city below is great.
I then make my way back down and reward myself for the effort with more wine.
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