Favorite Moments - Croatia

Since my return from Croatia, images and moments of this stunning country have been swirling around in my head. The calm clear-blue waters of the Adriatic, limestone cobbled streets and stairways, walled cities, palace ruins, pivo (Croatian beer), hours spent sitting in outdoor cafes, wooden walkways, waterfalls, and the odd snake in Plitvice Lakes National Park, naps and nauseous bus rides through the countryside, margarita pizza, morning white coffee and chocolate croissants, Billy Ocean on the radio, walking the roads in Korcula, dogs walking with purpose, aggressive pigeons, getting lost in Zagreb and Dubrovnik, and the unforgettable day trip to the city of Mostar. And I must not forget the kindness of all the people I encountered on this journey.

Here are the top things I have been reminiscing about since my return to reality.

Favorite moment - Zagreb

Given that Zagreb was largely chosen for logical reasons as the gateway in and out of the country, I was pleasantly surprised to find the city full of energy and with a robust café culture. The nights were warm and balmy and perfect for café hopping along Tkalciceva, a lively avenue full of cafés and patios, near Trg Bana Jelacic, the heart of Zagreb. The fantastic people watching and inexpensive drinks along this boulevard of cafes made this a great way to begin and end my time in Croatia.

Favorite moment - Plitvice Lakes

Well worth a day trip if you can swing it, the splendor of Plitvice Lakes National Park surpassed all my expectations. The park boasts of 16 azure- colored lakes, various waterfalls, hiking trails, caves, and superbly placed wooden walkways around and across the many lakes.

Plitvice is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site and has the distinction for being the location of the first fatality in the Croatian War of Independence in 1991. As hard as I tried to capture the pristine beauty of the lakes, it really is a place that must be seen first-hand.

Favorite moment - Split

A prime transport hub in Croatia for many of the islands, Split was a lovely choice for a stopover on my way to Korcula. The ancient city of Split is thought to be well over 1,700 years old and has many amazing architectural antiquities still standing. The jewel of Spilt is easily Diocletian’s Palace, built at the start of the fourth century AD, and covers 10 acres of land overlooking the Adriatic.

Considered one of the best preserved Roman palaces left in the world, it has become part of the city itself. Within the fortified limestone walls and the basement of the palace itself, shops, restaurants, and even housing have made use of what is left of this spectacular fortress. Sampling many of the outdoor cafes within the palace walls and sitting amidst the ruins themselves was the perfect way to get a sense of the former grandeur of the palace.

Favorite moment - Korcula

The island of Korcula, which claims to be the birthplace of Marco Polo, is centrally located and can be reached via a two hour catamaran ride from Split or a three hour bus ride from Dubrovnik this time of year. Korcula was fairly sleepy on the only rainy day I encountered on this trip. After exploring the empty narrow cobbled streets, and taking in the views of the water surrounding Korcula, I was anxious to see what else the island had to offer.

On the three mile walk to the even sleepier village of Lumbarda, I walked along a two lane road lined with Cyprus trees and hillsides sprinkled with the odd church and cairns in the distance.

It was a great way to spend the afternoon and would have been even better if the beach bar that we stumbled upon had been open.

Favorite moment - Dubrovnik

No trip to Croatia is complete without spending time in the dazzling walled city of Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik’s impressive limestone buildings capped with orange rooftops shimmer against the blue of the Adriatic, which surrounds the Old Town on three sides.

Though the city was greatly impacted during the Croatian War of Independence in 1991, much work has been done to restore this UNESCO World Heritage site back to its original glory. After spending the first day exploring the Stradun, the main artery and thoroughfare of the city, and traipsing up and down the limestone stairways and lanes of the city, I was anxious to get to higher ground.

The best way to get an appreciation of Dubrovnik’s splendor is by walking along the 1 ¼ mile long medieval fortified city walls for a bird’s eye view of the stunning architecture with the Adriatic as a backdrop. If it didn’t cost money to gain access to the city walls, I would have spent the majority of my time perched high above the city drinking in the beauty spread out before me.

I did not cover my favorite moment in Mostar in this post because it was such a remarkable day that I want to devote an entire blog post to it. Stay tuned for more Croatian goodness.