first impressions

My first impressions of Croatia are too vague for a coherent post, I think. Flying in along the coast last night the first thing to note was the country's surprising hilliness. Although the cobalt blue sea hugs low, picturesque villages, a matter of feet behind the terrain climbs up into curved, ragged hills. The ground is also greener than I had imagined, tall fir trees combine with palms to clothe the land around the coast. Flying over Dubrovnik itself reveals a beautiful, terracotta patchwork. I look forward to exploring it later in the week.

In the meantime I am in Cavtat, ten kilometres south. My hotel is comfortable but fairly monstrous, an ugly block perched on the seafront. But the view is wonderful - a deep looking sea, outcrops of land around the bay which pinch in like a lobster's claw. The town of Cavtat is beautiful and relatively unspoilt, save for a pair of enormous boats parked ostentatiously in the tiny harbour. Last night I walked in and watched a Dalmatian chorus group, their low, clear murmur making the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, mingling with the sound of water lapping at the harbour.

Today, alas, I go to work.