Baby, it’s cold outside – but the people of Lošinj don’t see that as an obstacle
When you think of the optimal sea water temperature for swimming, 13 degrees Celsius probably isn’t the first figure to come to mind. And yet, a merry bunch of Mali Lošinj residents braved the cold and dove in at the Veli žal beach, reports Morski.hr on December 31, 2017.
There’s a tradition on Lošinj that calls for a celebratory dip at the end of the year, on December 30. At noon, around 50 courageous people took off their winter coats, stripped down to their bathing suits, and bravely marched into the cold water. Nothing out of the ordinary for a part of the group, as some of the residents like to keep up the habit through the entire year, regardless of season and temperature.
The event was observed by a large audience, gathered on the rocky shores around Veli žal and the nearby promenade. The fire brigade from Lošinj traditionally joined the swimmers, as did some of the tourists who are visiting Lošinj during winter holidays. When in Rome…
The staff of the nearby restaurant provided some hot tea and fritters, helping the swimmers to warm up after the event. The occasion also had a charitable note – the collected contributions will be used to cover part of the expenses for rehabilitation of three young people from Lošinj who were left seriously injured in accidents that happened in recent years: Patricija Glasnović, Leo Manzoni and Vedran Bošatlić. The City of Mali Lošinj and the Tourist Board decided to donate a hundred kuna in the name of each swimmer that participated in yesterday’s event. Bravo!
See more photos here.
