The Heart of Croatia

by IZ

I strained my ears for the sound of waves gently washing over the rocky beach, but I heard none.  The sea was silent. The salty body of water simply slept in an undisturbed silence. It was as helpless as an infant, relying on the rocks deep down below to hold its up its limp body.  The only suggestion of movement was the small grey fish skimming the surface for nutrients and seaweed brought from the latest storm. The sun danced with the ripples as they continuously marched forward, getting smaller with each circular pattern outward, never quite making it to to the abandoned rock castles that dotted the crescent-shaped beach.  

The beach was different than others I had visited.  It was rocky, with no sand to bury your toes. Instead of palm trees, giant olive trees provided shade as they swayed in the gentle breeze that blew through their strong branches.  The lovely scenery was laid back on the stunning Adriatic Sea in a small town in Croatia. Its red tiled stone houses brought me a scene of home.

I slowly pulled myself up, dusting off all the little pebbles that had made a home on my legs, leaving little red marks.  My calves looked like they had a bad case of the chicken pox, only the dots went inward. I felt as if I was hobbling over the stretch of rocks as they moved below my feet, acting only half solid.  When I finally reached a large rock, I lay down and let my feet dangle into the glimmering Adriatic. The moment they made contact with the water they recoiled with the touch of its cool surface. Ignoring my senses I dove into the water, making a  splash followed by a much bigger ripple effect.

The sea may have seemed calm on the surface but down in the deep blue water under the glassy top it was filled with lively action.  The sun sliced through the surface like a kaleidoscope of turquoise and emerald green. I was in the world’s greatest theater, watching a stunning performance of acrobatic sea creatures.  Bright orange and ruby red crabs battled over a stip of slimy algae covered seaweed. Graceful turtles glided through the act with a stunningly rhythmic cadence. The great strong and powerful sea anemone caught baby fish in its trap of swaying velcro-like arms and legs.  Not only was it a breathtaking experience (literally, I had to swim to the surface multiple times to get more air) but it was the everyday lives of these little creatures.

I returned to the rocky beach once more and listened to the sound of crabs scuttling along the rocks and birds chirping off in the distance.  My mouth tasted of salt, but it was not unpleasant. It was more refreshing and cleansing than I remembered. I welcomed the warm sun to chase away my chills, filling me with warmth.  

I.Z.