Mali Losinj did indeed provide the shelter we needed from three days of strong winds and frequent thunderstorms. We did our best not to get cabin fever and broke out for a few good walks and a couple of bike rides to parts of the island that we had not previously visited.
Other highlights included being able to watch both football world cup semi finals. We only watched the second because the first between Germany and Brazil was so entertaining with a 7-1 result for Germany. Unfortunately the second match was dull in comparison but we stayed the course, in spite of the deluge, under the large umbrellas of a very accommodating outdoor cafe. We also met a charming Dutch couple with whom we shared our restaurant table and then spent the evening with a groovy Bavarian couple in a bar with a very talented Croatian duo playing brilliant guitar and singing many of our old favourite songs. It transpired later, when the Bavarian couple took the guitar and microphones, that they themselves were a famous Bavarian country and western act. It was a feast of music!
After the dark days Monday 7th – Thursday 10th July in Mali Losinj, we set off on Friday 11th for our next destination, the underdeveloped island of Unije, just 25 miles south east of the Istrian peninsular. We stopped in the bay of Maracol, perfect scenery and lovely to swim off the back of the boat. It is unusual to have such a long run of disturbed weather and it was not over yet. Our three nights in Unije saw more spectacular electrical storms, fierce winds and torrential rain. In between times we did get ashore for a walk and found our way over the hill to the village, some 2km distant, where we located a restaurant with a TV screen. Here we booked our place for the final of the FIFA World Cup on Sunday 13th July. Germany won, but only in extra time, after a tight and lack lustre match. But we are not experts! We walked back over the hill very late that night and the full moonlight illuminated the path superbly so there was no need for the plethora of torches we had carried.
Another walk on Unije led us to an extensive site of underground bunkers high on the hill overlooking Istria with gun emplacements. The Germans had occupied this whole area in WWII.
We left late, after lunch, for our sail to Istria as another squall ran through in the morning, but we had a quick trip under motor which was rather a disappointment after all the wind. Nevertheless we found an anchorage up the east coast of the peninsular and spent a couple of days exploring the area around Pomer, before rounding the point and visiting Soline on the west coast.
We are now in Pula which we have visited before and is well documented in 2012 and 2013 descriptions. The large harbour we enter to get to Pula still amazes us as there is so much dereliction and archaeology from World War II. Huge buildings lie empty, wharves are in disrepair, watchtowers and walls speak of military action and maybe a prison camp long since gone. Maybe one day it will be redeveloped.
Tom and Faye are joining us tomorrow, Saturday 19th, to sail north up the coast for a few days and then we set them down on Thursday 24th and head off across the Bay of Trieste to San Giorgio, which is to be Deja Vu II’s final destination under our command. The next blog will document this and be the final Part 3.
Deja Vu 
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