I love summer. I love the sea and everything it brings with it. Croatian island of Pag is our summer holidays destination for a couple of years already (you can read more about it in my post here). Pag offers me the chance to detach from everyday obligations and spend quality time with my family, trouble-free and in harmony with nature.
Although it was a hot summer, one morning we woke up on a quite windy morning. The wind Bora had cooled the sea, so we postponed our swimming to the afternoon and decided for a morning visit of the town of Novalja, which is considered to be the centre of the island's life.
But before we left for Novalja, we drove to the small village of Simoni, where we bought fresh fish from local fishermen. This is fresh wild-caught fish that has not travelled a single kilometre overland. Caught at sea and sold at sea! Priceless!
But letβs go back to our morning walk. Novalja is a typical seaside town, descending down the hillside to the sea. It's full of life from early morning until evening, when the party lovers move to the famous Zrce Beach (which is only a few kilometres aways) and where the craziest summer nights take place in many clubs. Since Novalja is the closest town to Zrce Beach many younger tourists stay in the town apartments and rooms. As a result, the town is very lively and sometimes it can be quite noisy. If you go for a morning jog, you often meet young people returning home for a well-deserved rest.
But this is also one of the reasons why you never get bored in Novalja. Sometimes is just fun to sit on a bench for a while and watch what's going on around you. People rushing to the beach to take a sea front row, cyclists departing for a new adventure, tourists arriving with their suitcases, young people making plans where to go for the next party or just resting after a sleepless night and many, just like us, exploring the town.
The streets of Novalja are full of tourist offers. You'll find a lot of fast-food restaurants, bars, pubs and many stands where you can buy almost everything - from jewellery and pancakes to jet ski rides and excursions to the nearby islands. You can also get a tattoo, which is drawn on your skin with a henna.
If you want to attend a mask party, that's no problem either π.
The town centre, the main square, is particularly lively. People are running errands, sitting in bars or just hanging out on the streets.
If you are looking for a quick bite to eat, this is the right place. Beside the fast food restaurants there are also many nice bakeries, where you can enjoy freshly baked bread made from a variety of cereals. From wheat to spelt, corn or rye, you can even buy bread made from carrots. And of course, you can also enjoy a burek, which is the typical fast food in the area. People queue up and wait to buy freshly baked delicacies.
If you're an international food lover, you can also enjoy sushi, tapas, kebabs, burgers and, of course, thousands of types of pizza and pasta.
Walking along the sea shore, we met local fishermen cleaning their fishing nets from the morning's catch.
At the end of the bay is the city beach. It's small, pebbly, beautifully landscaped and has crystal clear waters. It is well equipped with restaurants, bars, sun loungers, pedal boat hire, bouncy castles for children, etc.
We made a pit stop for a croissant and a coffee β.
Before heading home, a stop at the local market is a must. Here you can buy seasonal fruit and vegetables produced by local farmers. Fresh peppers and tomatoes are the first delicacy in a salad! The sweet smell of juice watermelon captured my attention and we bought a piece. It will be a great dessert for our dinnerπ.
You can also buy local olive oil from the Lun peninsula, which is famous for its olive oil production. And of course, there's the world-famous cheese, made from sheep's milk, the Pag chees (Paski sir)! Served with a mixture of fig and orange marmalade, it becomes a dish that no Michelin-starred restaurant would be ashamed of!
Some fruit vendors are often located only on the main square, selling freshly picked grapes that you just have to try!
When you go to Novalja, I advise you to park in the large car park right by the sea. It's only a few minutesβ the town centre.
In the afternoon the weather improved and we went for a swim to Rucica Beach, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
And in the evening, a well-deserved dinner: fresh fish from the grill, accompanied by excellent local wine. A proper gourmet treat!
Thanks for reading,
feel free to leave a comment, I will be glad to reply to.
Best regards, @miljo76
