DAY 88-97: CRUISING THE MEDITERRANEAN

THE water is a little fresh, so I ever-so-slowly allow myself to ease in.

First the knees, then the thighs a minute later.

The waist takes another few minutes but once I'm up to the chest, there is no turning back so I take the plunge.

I have to. This is my first swim in the Adriatic Sea. 

And the water is so clean, so turquoise, so inviting.

We have built up a sweat getting here after walking from the marina past Dolphin Fountain, up the hill, down through suburban streets to the beach at St Martin, then around the headland at Kijac Point to this spot at Zagazinjine.

Apart from a few people walking the dog on the path beside the stone walls and a couple sunbaking, we have this part of pebbly paradise, Croatia-style,  to ourselves and are loving it.

Before we know it, we are at our first port of  Mali Losinj (population only 8400) on the SPV Star Clippers Mediterranean 10-night cruise from Venice to Athens.

Our celebratory swim is a fine welcome to this special part of Europe, which boasts 2600 sunny hours a year and abundant vegetation (1100 plant species including many fragrant varieties).

Last night, we hoisted the sails as we set out from San Basilio with great fanfare - the epic 1492: Conquest of Paradise blaring from the public address system on board as we passed San Marco (St Mark's Square) with just as many flashes onshore as from the port side of our vessel, recording the sailaway.

This already feels like the right final hurrah for our Europe 101 tour.

On our way back to the tender boat in Mali Losinj, we indulge in a few liquid refreshments at a lovely little bar in the main square called Deveron Pub.

The owner and our waiter, Ivan, says he is winding down for the summer after a good August when he had another 20 tables and 18 staff. 

We are quite happy to add to his summer bonus in return for a couple of hours of people-watching and doing very little at all.

Lesson of the day: Red lights, pedestrian crossings, lanes and footpaths mean nothing to the crazy Italian drivers. But they've got nothing on Venetian boatmen.

* The writer sailed on a media package with Star Clippers Cruises.