Spring in Omis

The vines under our balcony are growing leaves, every day we can see less of the parking spaces below. This morning the sun was hot enough we had to change out of our pajamas into shorts to enjoy the morning outside. Clouds have begun to roll in, however, and we may see rain again by afternoon.

We are in Omis, Croatia, with a peek-a-boo view of the Adriatic and the Island of Brac over the neighboring apartment buildings and sailboat masts in the river. The town is surrounded by sea cliffs, rock faces dotted by foliage that becomes greener every day.

The old part of town is made of ancient stone block homes and a fortress; echos of the pirates that once lived here still ramble through. The midieval economy thrived on extracting fees for free passage through to ships traveling through the Adriatic, usually going to and from Venice. Several coffee shops, which double as bars, have tables spilled out into the squares and streets, people sip coffee and beer and talk. There is a back alley wine shop, of sorts. A hand scrawled sign on a wall points though a tunnel like covered walkway promising wine. An old man heard our voices and leaned out the door, offering samples.

We tasted wine poured from a pop bottle in a cup rinsed in the sink. It was actually better than most of the Croatian red wines we had tried from the grocery store, and we brought home wine in a plastic bottle labeled “Cola Fis.” There are three stands selling produce, fresh red strawberries and tomatoes, yellows of lemons and bananas, shades of orange and eggplant, and all sorts of green. We fill three bags to take home. The fish market is closed as we walk through town, the stainless steel tables washed and ready for tomorrow. Morning is for fresh fish, but also for school and work, we’ll have to leave the apartment early sometime.

The beach is pea gravel, with sand farther out. There is no surf, this channel between mainland and isle is calm. The water is clear and clean, the bottom is visible. Marlie gathers shells and ventures wearing her wetsuit. We packed hers, children’s sizes of full wetsuits are difficult to find, dive shops don’t always have them.

We’ll rest here a while. We have much to catch up, photos to post and stories to tell of where we have wandered so far. Schoolwork to do before we start to go again. We think it will be nice after moving each week. So, as spring arrives here, we see the world renewed. Finding rest ourselves, we will also be refreshed when summer sends us on our way.