I have been invited by my friends Gabe and Kristi Frlekin to visit them in Prvic Luka on the island of Prvic. Gabe’s father was from Prvic Luka so, when he first visited, he fell in love with the place and kept coming ever since.  Prvic Luka is a typical Dalmatian village still preserving it’s authentic charm.

I was also looking forward to a boat ride on board the old “Tijat” as this is probably one of the most beautiful public boat rides in the country starting in Šibenik and stopping at Zlarin, Prvić Luka and Prvić Šepurine before reaching Vodice and going back.

Built in 1955. in Split, Tijat still represents the old times when many more people lived on the islands and depended on the safe and secure connections with Šibenik and Vodice. Although the local sea transportation authority, Jadrolinja, wants to replace the old ships with new ones, they don’t have the money so Tijat is looking at at least several more years of connecting the mainland with beautiful Zlarin and Prvić.  So, when in the area, do not miss this boat ride or just visit one of the islands on this probably the most scenic boat ride in the Adriatic!

So, I was on board on Tijat at 9:30 and enjoyed the ride to Prvić where Gabe and Kristi were waiting for me. But first stop was Zlarin  – one of the most beautiful Croatian islands and definitely worth visiting for a full day or more. Still remember when we used to take guests on board or own “Barbarinac” to Zlarin and Krapanj back in late 1980s… Zlarin did not change much and it is still very authentic and preserved!

Next stop: Prvić Luka.

I met Gabe and Kristi in front of Tijat and, since I had to be back on the next boat back, we decided not to waste time and they took me around to see the village and to learn more on the memorial center/museum Faust Vrancic that is still under construction. So we met with Mr. Ivan Nimac who started this project out of pure enthusiasm and passion for this great historic heritage.

Here is more on Faust Vrancic:

Faust Vrancic (b. Sibenik 1551-d. Venice 1617), was a typical Renaissance “homo universalis”. A notable scholar whose interest comprised mathematics, physics, phylosophy and technology, he spent some time at the court of the German emperor Rudolf II who was also the sovereign to the Croatians, Hungarians, and Czechs. His major work was “Machine Novae” (New Machines), printed in Venice at the beginning of the 18 century, with the pictorial (49 etchings) and textual descriptions of 56 different technical constructions. He had anticipated the numerous technical inventions which were to be applied later to water or wind powered machines, to mills, ships, boats and excavators. His most interesting invention was, certainly, a parachute or “Homo volans” (The Flying Man) as called by Vrancic himself. Faust Vrancic performed a jump with his parachute somewhere in Venice in order to test it. This fact is explicitely stated in a book written by English bishop John Willkins (1614-1672), secretary of the Royal Society in London, only 30 years after the jump. The title of his book which contains this important testimony about Faust Vrancic is Mathematical Magic of the Wonders that may be Performed by Mechanical Geometry, part I: Concerning Mechanical Powers Motion, part II, Deadloss or Mechanical Motions, published in London in 1648.

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See Vladimir Muljevic: Hrvatski znanstvenici Antun i Faust Vrancic, Encyclopedia Moderna, god. 14, II, Zagreb, 1993.

Prvic is a typical Dalmatian village with only 300 inhabitants left but lots of locals who now live in Šibenik,  come back during weekends and especially so in the Summer months when there are people everywhere. There is also a great local restaurant Stara Makina in Prvić Luka known for great food.

Only 15 minutes walking distance way is even more picturesque Prvić Šepurina but did not get there this time…

So, we had a lemonade in a cafe by the sea waiting for Tijat to come back and it was time to go…

And it was time to get rid of the kids who climb the sides trying to jump in that foam the ship creates when going in reverse…

This is truly one of the most beautiful boat rides in Croatia! Not being too long and touching several picturesque little harbors, it should be advertised as one of the last authentic experiences as Tijat itself has that charm of the mid 50s bringing back some other times to minds…

When in Šibenik or Vodice, get on board Tijat to enjoy Prvić and Zlarin: great experience of Croatia’s disappearing  island life… Fun for the whole family!