the zadar sea organ

more stairs, more architectural sight-seeing, also found on pruned... a link to an academic paper about a new "sea organ" in zadar, croatia.  too in-depth for me to want to read thoroughly, but a quick scan makes me to want to visit this new site that just opened back in spring of 2005.  essentially, it is a series of steps that lead into the sea with pipes installed underneath... each pipe has a whistle attached, and as the waves rush under the steps the movement of the air creates a musical composition.  here's another account (from a funny little blog) of the zadar sea organ.

here's some other zadar info, in case of a trip...

• hotel adriana select - decent looking, with a pretty pool.  but approx. 180 euros per night, depending on when you go!  i don't know why, but i thought croatia would be a less expensive than that!  i think the price is inclusive of some meals, though, so that could make a difference. not fabulous aesthetically, though...

• hotel president.  about 130 euros a night for standard single, with a very generic business-hotel look.

since hotels in zadar proper seem rather unappealing to me, maybe the idea is to stay in the dalmatian coast region and make zadar into a side trip.... i have heard positive mentions of hvar, dubrovnik, and zagreb.

• in dubrovnik, the pucic palace looks amazing.
• in the island brac, in a town called bol, the hotel kastil looks simple and modern - can't beat the sea views, either.  rates from 60 to 95 euros. 
• the arcotel allegra, in zagreb, looks appealing... only 70 euros per night, for a boutique-style hotel.

here are a couple of fodor's conversations about croatia that may be useful...

and i guess there's some variation on the sea organ in san francisco, a "wave organ", but it doesn't sound like it actually plays true music. here's roadtrip america's review of it.