Vodice in Croatia - a Surprise Package, Vodice, Croatia

Strung along a large bay studded with small marinas and fringed with pretty beaches at first sight Vodice is just a popular seaside resort in the Dalmatia region of Croatia. But I was delighted to discover there are hidden depths to this pretty town. I was based at the cosy Hotel Miramare at one extreme of the bay. Next door to my hotel was the imposing new wing of the Hotel Olympia, Olympia Sky. This nine-storey modern building looks out of place in a traditional seaside resort. Built to resemble a ship it sparked a lot of local controversy when it was opened in the spring of 2017.

Curious to explore the new hotel I headed for its bar on the top floor where I found a large terrace from which I could enjoy a panorama of coast and countryside around Vodice. The main feature of this town is its beaches two of which have been awarded the Blue Flag for preservations of the environment. One flag flies above the ACI Marina in front of the town and the other on the Blue Beach. I was fascinated by a structure of linked bridges stretching out to sea from the beach immediately below my strategic position. These form a walkway, a sunbathing platform and give access to the water avoiding pebbles and rocks. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).