Day 5--Zadar

 This was our first breakfast on the ship.  Covid restrictions have changed a lot of things.  You need to take your phone with you as you have to scan all notices and menus using a QR code.  

There are no more buffets.  They still come around with the pastry cart and service is excellent.  Bill had bacon and eggs and his bacon looked good.  Not like it was boiled in other European countries, but like he is used to in the States.

The bus was waiting by the ship at 9 am and we left for a "Day in the Life".  We visited a local family outside of town that raises donkeys for milk.  Now I thought all of this was very strange until I learned about donkey milk.  

The first thing the family did was take us inside where a huge fireplace was burning.  We all set down at the table and had a liquer that everyone drinks first thing in the morning to get them going.  There were many different kinds that were all made by the family.  Bill and both thought the walnut and cherry flavored ones were the best.

The family was very nice and the 27 year old daughter spoke perfect English.  She took us across the street to see the donkeys.  They were all female except for one male.  They seemed excited to see everyone.  We could feed them some grass and pet their very thick coats.

After visiting the donkeys we  walked through the olive grove down to the garden.  We picked some ingredients from the garden for the lunch salad.

The father worked his magic at the fireplace and had our lunch cooking in some kind of pots.

Someone in our group asked if they cooked with the donkey milk.  The daughter said no, it was for medicinal use only and they receive $100 a liter for the milk.  I learned that donkeys don't give the same volume of milk as the cows.

The girl told us a story of a local girl who had cancer.  She was going to be going through all kinds of treatments.  After she drank some milk, the cancer went away.  For what it's worth, none of the family has had Covid.

The lunch was fabulous and everyone seemed to have seconds.  There was veal, potatoes, salad, relish and bread--that was after having a platter of appetizers.    

As we were ready to leave the grandson came in and said the grandfather wanted us to each have a gift.  They had prepared some almonds, figs, and orange slices wrapped up very nicely with a little greenery from the olive trees.

Bill and I came back to our room and crashed while some folks walked across the street to the ancient town.  I didn't realize how convenient we were parked until as we were leaving town, I saw a big cruise ship. You would have had to take a taxi to the old town.

A port talk is given everyday by Zoran before dinner.  

Turtle Safely......