PRIVATE - Geheimnisse des dalmatinischen Karst- und Weinerlebnisses

We booked this tour several weeks in advance as our Zadar shore excursion during a cruise from Barcelona to Venice. Our guide, Martina and her driver Marina were waiting for us right outside the Zadar cruise terminal, so we got off to a quick start for the drive out of the city to our first stop, the Nature Park Lake Vrana. When we arrived, a park ranger gave us an informational talk about the park and the many types of birds we might be see. She also loaned us a set of binoculars for us to use during our visit. The park's boardwalk and elevated viewing stations gave us plenty of opportunities to see the birds, fish and reptiles that inhabit the lake. Our next stop was a nice surprise - Maskovic Han, originally built in 1644 as the summer home for Jusuf Maskovic, a dignitary on the Sultan's court and supreme admiral of the Turkish fleet. Maskovic Han has been converted to a hotel and was a good place for a beverage break. From there, we went to Viewpoint Kamenjak. The viewpoint includes a small memorial chapel for the victims of the war on Kamenjak. It's a short walk from the chapel to the viewpoint that overlooks the lake, the Kornati archipelago, and several nearby towns. Our final stop was Mas Vin, part of the cooperative "Olive and Wine." We were greeted by the friendly owner who told us how the olive grove and vineyard were created by clearing a wartime minefield. Now, thousands of olive trees and acres of vines thrive in the rocky soil. We were treated to a tasting of five different award winning wines and a delicious desert wine. We were also served bread, ham, and cheese that we enjoyed along with the cooperative's virgin olive oil. Our driver Marina kept an eye on the clock and let us know when it was time to leave to get back to our ship on time. Martina proved to be an experienced and knowledgeable guide. She knows Croatian history and gave us many insights into the local culture and traditions. We enjoyed this tour and the opportunity to get out into the Croatian countryside. We felt it was a better alternative for our day in Zadar than the "cookie cutter" tours offered by the cruise ship.