Adriatic Highway and Zadar

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Hey everybody, since the last time I did an update I made the 3 1/2 hour trek south from Pula to Zadar along the beautiful Adriatic Highway. This is a twisting two-lane road that hugs the coastline and offers stunning views along the entire route. Here are some photos I got along this portion of the highway.

This little car has been really good to me thus far, and it is very good on gas. Many thanks again to Klaus and Inge for letting me borrow it for such a long time!

I arrived in Zadar yesterday afternoon and after getting settled into my hostel I made my way to the old town to explore the sights and do some scouting for a good place to busk the next day. Zadar is another town that was controlled by the Roman Empire, and that is abundantly clear as you walk through the old town area.

The common area of my hostel, which is called the Lazy Monkey
The so-called “Land Gate” that leads into the old town part of Zadar
Roman ruins just lying around on the ground
Roman column
More ruins
Typical street in old town
Very smooth stone streets
Church of St. Donatus
More ruins
Another column
The western edge of old town is just one long beach
At the end of the beach is the “sea organ” where the moving water creates it’s own music
People relaxing at the sea organ

When I came back to the hostel in the evening, there was a barbeque going on, but I’d already eaten in town so I just had a few drinks and socialized with everybody while they ate. Later on in the evening, we all went to the sister hostel “Mellow Monkey” to join forces with them and at about 1 am a few of us went with the owner and jumped into the Adriatic from a cliff and swam at night. The water was great, and that was one of my best experiences of the trip so far!

Kicking it with the international crowd at the hostel. There were Germans, Dutch, Australian, English, and Canadians among others staying that night
Some people that apparently came in after the reception closed last night lol

This morning, I went to the beach for a couple hours and then got cleaned up and headed back to the old town to do some busking at a busy square that I had picked out yesterday. A German girl from the hostel, Natalie, caught a ride down with me and did some exploring while I played on the street. I did ok there – I had a lot of people listening and giving me thumbs up and smiles, but not a ton of people tipping. I wound up with about 15 euro worth of Kuna in a little over an hour. But I had a nice time and watching some of the kids dancing to my music was fun!

A video Natalie got of me playing a little Keith Whitley
All smiles behind the mic
First big rainstorm of my trip caused everybody to run inside at the hostel and for the owner to batton down the hatches
The calm before the storm

When we got back this evening, I just took it easy and rested up. I also booked my accommodations for the next three nights. Tomorrow I’ll be headed to an Airbnb in the next big town south of here called Sibenek. After that I’m back to a hostel for two nights in Split, which is another 3 hours south. I’m looking forward to seeing more of the coastal drive in the next couple days, to resting up and researching tomorrow, and to getting social again and playing some more music when I arrive in Split.

Talk to you guys soon!

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  1. Linda South

    The photos are gorgeous! I really liked the pics of the columns,very fascinating. Glad you are having a good time playing music and hearing that the people are very receptive.

  2. Elliott

    Living vicariously through you so keep up the good work! Pictures looks incredible, those stone streets and ruins are something else.

    1. admin

      It really is something else buddy! Hope you are well!!