Lokrum

Apologies for the delay in getting this post to you, I was wrapped up for a couple of days.

Across the sea from the Old Town, more or less a kilometer out, is the island of Lokrum.  It broke off the mainland in a massive earthquake many years ago.  As a result of this, there are species of plant on the island found nowhere else in the world.  There are also peacocks.

It is my favorite place to go swimming, and there are many places to go for it.  Piers, rocks and a nudist beach if you are so inclined.  Inside what used to be an 11th century monastery is a botanical garden.  There is a fort on the highest peak of the island, and a cross marking the death of the sailors on a German World War I warship that sunk in a storm between the island and the mainland. 

For 40 kunas, you can get a return ticket on a ferry which leaves every half hour from the Old Town.  The ride is 10-15 minutes.  The last boat back is at 8 p.m., after which the island is scouted for stragglers.  As a nature reserve and essentially a huge tinderbox, it is zealously maintained and protected.