If you happen to be spending some time in Zadar or anywhere close by next weekend, consider yourself lucky: you have an unique opportunity to take part in a wonderful trip that’s about to connect Croatian islands and people living on them.
The Island Movement (Pokret Otoka), a platform for sustainable and responsible growth of Croatian islands, prepared a phenomenal trip around Zadar archipelago with a wish to connect island residents – and all their friends or island enthusiasts in general. On Saturday, October 7, the merry crew will sail out from Zadar and set off for Dugi otok, where they will spend the night, then visit Ugljan and Iž the next day, reports Morski.hr on September 30, 2017.
Here’s the introduction to the original statement by the Island Movement:
“Last year, we gathered around 70 island residents and their friends on the Polaris boat for a trip that connected Šolta, Brač, Hvar and Vis, and sent a message to the world: Can you hear your islands? After organising an array of cultural and artistic programmes during the trip and on islands, as well as creating an island network and exchanging experiences and ideas, we ended the trip on the riva in Split. We reminded everyone not to forget the islands in winter, to remain aware of their importance and the needs of the island population throughout the year. Back then, we couldn’t predict how far our voice would be heard, and how much this shared fight for the future of islands would unite us and make us stronger. We have an intense period behind us, another tourist season with many, many volunteer hours, so it’s only right for us to gather again and sail out on another trip together.”
The Island Movement is now announcing the event named Pokret Pokreta #2 [bear with us: the Movement Movement #2], a boat trip on September 7 and 8 that will unite around 50 island residents coming from 15 various islands.
They will be sailing out on the wooden sailboat My Mihovil on Saturday, October 7 from Zadar, and heading for Ugljan island where other members of the initiative will welcome them in Preko town. They prepared poetry readings, discussions on the future of islands, performances of traditional music and dance and of course, the obligatory fešta in the evening… After the party visits Ugljan, Dugi otok and Iž, they will head back to Zadar on Sunday afternoon to end the trip with a performance at Zadar’s most famous feature, Greetings to the Sun.
As the theme of this year’s trip is sound, the movement wishes to make their message heard again: “All of us living on islands, loving them, taking care of them or even making money on them – can we hear each other? Now that we’ve been heard beyond the islands, all the way to state institutions and even outside of Croatia, it’s time for us to hear each other better. We need to base our gatherings, networking and daily activities on mutual understanding, respect and honesty, to ensure our collective success and the benefit of our islands. We consider we can make a change only if we unite and work towards shared, higher goals”, says the statement.
So, interested in joining? You can apply for your spot at the boat by filling out this form. As the number of passengers is limited, applications can be sent in only until Monday, October 2, so hurry!
The trip is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture, the Kultura Nova Foundation, the National Foundation for Development of Civil Society and the City of Zagreb. The only remaining fee required for this amazing trip is 200 kuna for members of the Island Movement, and 300 kuna for all other interested guests. In case you don’t have time to spend the weekend sailing, you can join the passengers once they return to Zadar, at the Sea Organ on Sunday at 16:30.
Translation of excerpts from Morski.hr and Pokret Otoka.
