Korcula

When the old city of Korčula (Cor-chu-la) was built, the narrow streets were arranged in a herringbone pattern to allow for free circulation of air and to protect against strong winds. Standing on a small promontory, the medieval squares, churches and palaces here have earned it the nickname “Little Dubrovnik”. The influence of Venetian stone masonry is obvious. And all of Korčula’s streets are stepped, with the notable exception of just one; the Street of Thoughts - where one did not have to worry about the stairs.

Today, the Old Town is a drawcard for tourists, with its Michelin starred restaurants, picturesque architecture and the rumoured birthplace of Venetian explorer, Marco Polo. We enjoyed meandering the cobbled-stone streets, poking around in little boutiques and a family dinner along the restaurant promenade of Petra Kanavelića.

Anchored off the nearby island of Badija for two nights, we had easy access to the town and amenities. But our anchor dragged in 27kts on the second afternoon, whilst the Captain was at the shops to restock the larder. It was up to First Mate Emily to drive us into the wind and away from other boats until a second pair of hands arrived. Thankfully Ben heeded the alarm on his phone, called in assistance from our friend Alec from m/v Gratitude, and chucked the shopping into the dinghy to race back and help. Before too long we had hauled anchor and reset on a flatter patch of sand at the back of the pack. A close call, but it was calmly managed. The best kind of lessons are the least expensive ones!

Before we departed we spent our final morning exploring the unpopulated Badija Island. Beyond the 14th century Franciscan monastery that dominates the foreshore, there is a small cafe open in the summer months. Whilst the adults grabbed a coffee and snack, the children delighted in feeding fruit to the local fallow deer that had calmly approached upon our arrival.

That afternoon we set off again and motored around to Pržina Cove, ready to jump off in the morning for Lastovo Islands Nature Park.