Pass the Prosciutto Please!

Having loaded up on fresh prosciutto this morning we were set for the rest of the day. Its not Italy so the prosciutto is not served with melon. Wanting to duplicate our love for the Italian prosciutto experience, we bought a melon from one of the numerous vendors in the fruit/vegetable market for the equivalent of a dollar. Thinly sliced, fresh – makes all the difference in the world. Like most niche foods – go to the source for the authentic originals.

We caught a ferry from Split to the gorgeous island of Brac (pronounced Brach). Split is the quintessential summer time crowded Mediterranean experience. Hordes…droves of tourists crowd the narrow streets of the old city and pack the harbor front in all directions. It is always nice to experience this craziness, yet at the same time a break was in order.

After arriving on the island, we quickly rented motor bikes and set out for the countryside. The main road is super narrow and windy but with little traffic we made good time between villages. Nothing comes close to riding a motor bike on a warm European summer day on an island. The beautiful blue and aqua marine water never far away and the aromatics that only the Mediterranean can deliver. The smell of fig trees, lavender and pine trees were all enjoyed while riding past small vineyards, olive orchards and even old Roman quarry’s. Surprisingly there was very little traffic on the roads – everyone must have been at the beach! This island is well-known for its high quality marble – the marble that was used to build the white limestone columns at the White House in Washington DC came from this island.

Motorbikes are great – you can get off the beaten path and even explore rugged roads/trails that normal vehicles don’t have the clearance for. We found such a road on the west side of the island. It cut between two small villages and included fun stretches of steep rocky ruts which required some careful navigation. But the reward was small coves with small beaches, clear blue water and no one there (sorta a rarity in these parts!). The small town of Pucisca is a gem and this time of year made for swimming and seemingly that’s what most of the town was doing – all ages. The town is built from marble quarried nearby – the narrow streets were nearly empty – a beautiful town for exploring on foot.

Eating, drinking and swimming – from village to village. We gorge ourselves on the fresh salads at almost every stop. This is the way a salad should be delivered – all fresh with unfiltered vinegar, oil, salt and pepper you grind out in large chunks. You prepare the dressing yourself, simple and delicious – so Mediterranean

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