Hey guys, greetings from Zadar, Croatia.
Yes, we are still in Croatia.
We are lingering here are as long as possible.
So we've finally reached the Dalmatian coast.
Zadar is our first stop.
It is just wonderful.
We're sort of visiting in the off-season and we're loving it.
Yeah.
The cooler temperatures, less crowds and just chilling out here has been so wonderful.
So yeah, we've only been here one day but we're already loving it.
So we're going to start filming and take you guys on a little bit of a tour and show you
some of the highlights.
Show you a bit of the food and yeah let's get started.
Let's check it out.
Our first stop was Queen Jelena Madijevka Park which has the distinction of being the
oldest public park in Croatia.
The park looks over the Land Gate which is the main entrance to the Old Town, so it seemed
like a good place to start our visit.
So we found a little park to visit directly behind from the 5 wells and it is so cool
here.
It is so quiet, so peaceful.
They have a whole bunch of benches where you can just sit down, relax, stroll the gardens.
There is also like a little restaurant or a cafe not too far from here so you can actually
hear some jazz music streaming over.
So yeah, it is a great little start to a fun day of sightseeing.
Okay, next stop.
Where are we?
Next up we are visiting 5 different wells.
Yeah.
And it would have been a really important source of water and it was also built by the
Venetians so it has a lot of history behind it.
Yeah, and these wells are almost like quintuplets.
Yes.
Identical.
Exactly.
There they are.
During the 16th century, the Venetians helped Zadar withstand the Turkish sieges by building
a large water cistern with five well (Trg 5 Bunara) heads, giving this square its name.
Among the ruins of the forum, you might notice there’s one particular Roman column that
still stands intact.
This one is called the shame post which during the Middle Ages was used to chain and humiliate
people who had committed small crimes.
Alright guys so our next stop here is the Roman Forum which basically feels like an
open air museum.
Like you can just walk around here and see old roman columns and like just stone blocks.
Pieces of old buildings really.
You can also see the foundations of old buildings right behind me.
So yeah, it is a pretty cool stop and this is located right in front of Saint Donatus
church (Crkva svetog Donata) which is right behind me.
It is a little bit bright but that is where we're heading next.
So we are now inside St. Donatus church if that is how it is pronounced.
It was 20 Kuna per person to come in here.
And this used to be a church but it is not used as one anymore.
So yeah, we kind of have like bare bones.
It is cool.
Like you can really enjoy the architecture and it is super echoey here because it is
empty.
But yeah, we'll take you on a full tour of the place.
The Church of St. Donatus sits in the middle of the Roman Forum and it dates back to the
beginning of the 9th century.
The church was built in the Byzantine-style in a circular shape, which may seem a bit
strange today, but that was typical of the early medieval construction in Dalmatia.
Over the years, this church has seen many uses from warehouse to museum, but these days
it hosts concerts where you can really enjoy its acoustics.
Climbing up to the next level.
We're going to continue to the Bell Tower which is just next door so that is our next
stop.
So if you're not claustrophobic and willing to climb 180 steps you can go to the top of
this tower which is exactly what we're going to do.
We're going to get some great views of Zadar.
Probably the best views in the city.
How much were the tickets?
They were 15 Kuna each.
15 Kuna so like about 2 Euros each.
Excellent.
Let's go.
Let's do it.
So I thought I'd be going up those narrow stairs the whole way but it was only just
for a small section.
Yeah.
We've got a much easier staircase.
There we go.
That looks manageable.
Very much so.
Off you go.
Located right next to St. Donatus, the bell tower is actually part of St Anastasija's
Cathedral (Katedrala sv.
Stošije).
Climbing this Romanesque bell tower is not for the faint of heart, especially once you
reach the spiralling metal staircase on the last floor, but if you make it, you are rewarded
with views of the town and the marina.
So I did not make it up.
That was too scary.
I'm normally not the brave one who goes to the top but you made it.
I somehow made it up.
How was it?
The last little section was a little terrifying.
Yes.
But it was amazing when you get up to the top.
Actually when you get up to the top the views are stunning and you don't have those screens
anymore.
Yeah.
And the other nice thing too is it doesn't feel that scary at the top because there is
just no way you could fall over.
Yeah, so all the shots you're going to be seeing those yes were taken by Sam.
So we are out by the water and our next attraction is the sea organ (Morske orgulje) and I remember
hearing about this place years ago.
Um, so it is pretty cool.
If you can see right behind me underneath those steps there is a whole bunch of pipes
that like run into the sea so as the waves come in it kind of creates this like orchestra.
So if you listen carefully it almost sounds like whales or like I don't know some mythical
sea creature.
Whales.
So it is pretty cool.
That mixing in with the sound of the waves and the sun is going down.
The sun is going down and we also have a nice breeze as well.
Yeah.
It is super relaxing.
Haha.
I know.
I don't want to get up.
Haha.
This is the best way to like wrap up a day of filming.
So it is time for actually lunch and dinner because it is the middle of the afternoon.
Yeah.
So we didn't really have a proper lunch today let's be honest.
We were just kind of snacking at home before we left.
Yeah.
And we've been filming most of the day so we've worked up an enormous appetite.
We are so ready to eat.
Oh yes.
So we have a favorite restaurant in the city.
Yeah.
This is going to be our third time going there.
Yeah.
I don't know the name.
I can't pronounce it but we'll let you know once we get there.
And yeah the food here is amazing.
We already know what we're going to get so we're all set.
Okay guys the food is finally here and no surprises here.
We've ordered the truffle gnocchi.
This is our third time having this dish and we have not grown tired of it.
It is so good.
So it comes in a cream sauce with truffles.
It is wonderful taken to a new level.
Yeah.
So you've got like the truffles in the sauce and then you have the real truffles on top
and then you have like the grated cheese.
It is just amazing.
This is so good that I could be having a really bad day and if I came here and had this that
would make it all better.
Yeah.
Haha.
Basically.
Okay so in we go for dish number two.
Yes.
What are we having?
So we are having black risotto and that comes with cuttlefish.
Cuttlefish.
And my gosh that ink is something else.
Look at that.
I'm leaving smears on the side.
You can see that.
I have never seen a cuttlefish in my life.
I have no idea what it looks like.
I feel like I should 'Google' it but maybe after the meal.
Let's not ruin it.
Oh my gosh it is so good.
Yeah, again it is really creamy and also the cuttlefish is so tender.
It almost melts in your mouth.
I thought it would be more chewy but it is not.
That amazing meal came to 32 Euros for two mains, two glasses or red wine, and two desserts.
The truffle gnocchi was our favourite truffle dish in Croatia, so this place is worth seeking
out.
Alright guys so next up we are walking towards the Adriatic Sea to go watch the sunset.
I sort of forgot to bring my sunglasses today of all days.
So I'm slightly blind at the moment because we're walking directly towards the sun.
But it should be beautiful.
I actually caught a little bit of the sunset yesterday from our kitchen window and my gosh
the colors are spectacular.
We had like pinks and blues and purples.
So yeah, almost there.
When it comes to sunset, there are quite a few spots to choose from:
We really enjoyed the pier right across from the Roman Forum, however, the Sea Organ is
another popular spot.
If you do go to the Sea Organ for sunset, you can also check out the Greeting to the
Sun (Pozdrav suncu), which is another unusual art installation.
It may not look like much during the day, but this solar-powered work of art lights
up in an array of colours once the sun goes down.
And lastly, we leave you with a few scenes of Zadar at night.
We hope you enjoyed this video and we’ll see you in the next one as we continue our
travels in Croatia.