Mljet part II - Could this be "it"?

After a rather windy night that came with the knowledge that the hotel chefs will leave nothing to be desired for me, I could fully concentrate on discovering Pomena and its surroundings. 
For the little village by the sea, there isn't much to say: a couple of houses and restaurants, a tiny supermarket, a little marina and a small beach in front of the island's only hotel. 

The best advantage it has is probably its location right next to the entrance into the National park. Off we go!

After only a couple of minutes of walking, one would pass the entrance point and after a minute more, the first of Mljet's saltwater lakes will peek through the trees. 
Developed from a valley that remained from the Ice Age and was connected with the sea in an attempt to fight malaria and ease transportation, Mljet's Small and Great Lake are nowadays a fun place to swim, or - for landlubbers like me - to go hiking on a beautifully quiet coastline trail. 
And as a canal is until today connecting both the two lakes and the Great Lake with the open sea, one can also whitness a rather strong current that is cyclically changing its direction in accordance to ebb and flow.

Of course, one may as well rent a canoe or bike, however, both come with a horrendous price list.

However, the entrance ticket to the park does come with a boat ticket to the islet of St. Mary in the Great Lake that was once home to a 12th century Benedictine monastery and a church.

Needless to say, a September morning at the sea can be quite fresh, but with the time, it was the grey clouds that bothered me most. Did I really come all the way down there to sit n my room and watch the rain fall?

Sneak-peek towards Babine Kuće just across the little island. If the weatherlooked promising, I would have probably hiked there after returning to the starting point of the boat trip, but I thought I might as well head back home and do - nothing?

Not being a nothing-doer, however, I decided to at least have a closer look to the area around the small lake. 

With well-marked paths and numerous information panels along the way, the ones in charge have done an excellent job for the orientation and teaching of visitors. And even though you might not meet a single soul during the morning and evening hours, there's quite a lot going on during the day when numerous tourist boats spit out their passengers in the marina of Pomena from where they head to their one-day mljet trip (but probably don't see much more than part of the Small Lake shore and a quick ride to St. Mary's island). Oh well...

Never minding the absence of crowds, I slowly walked the trail that leads all around the Small Lake, not without realizing that the clouds were slowly disappearing and the lake's water turned into the most beautiful shade of turquoise I've ever seen.

How can this even be a real colour?

Walking in sunshine now, I decided to skip the path towards the Great Lake for now. Instead, I entered the shady part of the Small Lake walk with sight that were more and more corresponding a holiday by the sea.

Excellent marking job throughout the National park.

Back from the hike, what could one possible do on a quiet afternoon by the sea? How about just sitting at the rocky coast, listening to the waves as they smash ashore?

And as once again the colour of steel turned into a magical light and a beautiful sunset...

... I couldn't help thinking I found a fine place for myself after all...

~ to be continued ~