On Wednesday, to begin our short sojourn on Vis and Biševo Islands, Tracey, Marisa, Andreas, Bob, Tim and I boarded the Jadrolinija ferry, followed by the local bus to Komiža. Due to the heat and Tracey being 5 months pregnant with Bob, we decided against an afternoon hike and instead went for a swim in Stončica Bay. The season has been a little slow on the islands this year, but this week the crowds finally arrived, crowding the beach.

For the evening meal Oliver Roki transported us from the beach to his family vineyard, where we dined on lamb and fish cooked ispod peke – under the cast iron dome. The food and hospitality on the Roki’s terrace is always first rate. I am a little concerned, though, that their plavac mali (local red wine) always has a fennel aftertaste.

The weather was perfect the next day for a paddle across to visit our friends Davor and Lili in Salbunara Bay on Biševo Island. Its always a joy to arrive in Salbunara Bay; a deep, sandy bay that Davor and Lili have gone to great lengths to keep clean.

For lunch they had prepared a traditional sardine dish, where fried sardines are marinated in onions, garlic, white wine, wine vinegar, olive oil, rosemary, bay leaves and lemon. This recipe was used to preserve fish for several days before electricity and refrigerators, and now fish prepared this way can stay in the ‘fridge for up to 3 weeks. When the weather is hot, it is a refreshing alternative to a cooked meal.

After gorging ourselves we kayaked around to the Blue Cave, where Marisa transformed into Kim Vanderbilt Madonna impersonator and gave us a performance.

Dinner was octopus slow baked under Davor’s dome, washed down by local grappas and plenty of domestic wine.

On Friday, after a night in the bungalows, we attempted to cross back to Vis Island. Unfortunately the jugo was building and we weren’t able to make it. Instead, Pino had to come with his boat to ferry us back to Komiža. From there it was back to Split and civilization!

For all the pictures from tour click here.