Day 11--How we, Beyonce and Bill Gates chill in Croatia

Today we get on a Zodiac boat for a 13-hour tour of islands, caves and celebrity hangouts. 10 of us on an inflatable boat that is a cross between a mechanical bull and the log ride at Disneyland.  I am writing this on Day 12 and we are still sore and exhausted!

We join Captian Anthony and his first mate for our adventure.  But first, a brief geology lesson....During the Ice Age the level of the Adriatic was about 500 feet below where it is today!  The ice melted, the oceans rose.  Limestone, which is basically the skeletal remnants of everything that lived in the ocean for the last gazillion years, has been pushed up, pushed down, pulled up and pulled down for the same gazillion years.

You end up with layer after innumerable layer of this stuff that has been part of practically every building or idol or god for half a gazillion years.  What you see on the Dalmatian Coast is the raw material in all its beauty.

OK, two for one, that's us in the front, the gazillion-year-old limestone in the back.

The World Wildlife Fund has named this area of Croation the Adriatic Blue Corridor to identify and protect it.  Some highlights:

Ha, this gal asked Gloria to take her picture.  What she really wanted was a 'photo shoot'. 
After Gloria took several photos and had her check them, she was not happy and Gloria
needed to start over and take a bunch more.  Finally, she was satisfied!

Once these flowers mature, you get capers!

Since this used to be Yugoslavia there were numerous sniper nests around the
 harbors and indeed the island we were on has a submarine base and airfield.
 Not sure if they are still in place or open for business.

Limestone, by nature, is full of caverns.  With the water in the low 80's
 it was a great swim.  We passed on the cliff jump.

Another adventure was the Blue Cave.  Limestone to the surface but not below
allowing sunlight come through the water and into the cave.  Amazing, we
 have never seen anything like that before.

An amazing school of fish at the entrance to one cave, a gazillion of them!

OK, your wait is over.  This is where the world's glitterati come to chill.  Hvar Island.  We could spend only 15 minutes there.  So we didn't see Beyonce, Bill or Oprah.  But, this is how they arrive, amazing ocean going private yachts.  We didn't get a picture of the one with the helicopter on it!  (The boats to the left of this bad boy are 'normal' size.......