I love the bura, that piercing northern wind that seems to send every local running for cover and hiding in cafes with 12 layers of clothing.
It is one of my favourite weather experiences anywhere in the world, for it goes right through you in a cleansing manner, blowing away any cobwebs. After a busy morning at the keyboard, there is no better feeling than walking down to the square for the morning cold one in a t-shirt with the bura howling. By the time I reach the square, I feel cleansed, ready for a drink and some good conversation.
Like yesterday for example. It was nice to catch up with Hvar wine legend and erstwhile Total neighbour Andro Tomic over late morning coffee. Andro is a big fan of the new blanket service offered at the temporary office in the absence of Captain Nijaz, and he asked me to pose with him with blankets on our laps.
The bura (and certainly the day after) is often characterised by glorious sunshine as yesterday, today and the day before. And the thing I don't quite understand about it is why people think it is so cold. If you were sitting on The Bench (ah one day, will they invite me...) with the bura blowing straight at you, then I could imagine how it might get a bit parky, as they say in Manchester.
But sitting outside a cafe on the main square, fully protected from the wind, and with glorious sunshine to bask in, how could one dress in any way other than a t-shirt?
Want to experiene the cold? Try playing on the school rugby pitches of the boarding schools of the North of England in shorts. After that, the bura is a picnic in the park.
