August – September 2021
I decided to check out Croatia before starting my MA in Education at the University of Greenwich in London. I am so glad I did because it is a gorgeous country, it also made entering the UK much easier than had I arrived from the USA.
Started my travels in Dubrovnik.
This is where they filmed for King’s Landing in Game of Thrones after season 1, which was filmed in Malta.
Had a good time on the GoT walking tour seeing many of the different filming locations. GoT led to a 20% increase in tourists from the USA, that is huge!
You can see the kayaks on the beach. I was going to do a sunset kayak tour the following day. However, there was a rare big brief storm that overwhelmed the sewers and flooded the beach with sewage. I am so grateful that my tour company canceled our tour, because I met an American couple who did do the sunset kayak tour with another company and they said it was really smelly, but they did not know why. Gross!
No shame in her game, posing on the stairs where Cerci did her walk of shame. The GoT production team spent 4 days filming here during the low tourist season. They compensated all the local business the amount of money they had made on their most profitable day in peak season for those four day, and it led to more business coming in after, so worked out pretty well for the businesses in the area.
This local artist makes boats out of recycled parts, often old window frames.
This monastery and apothecary is over 700 years old and still makes traditional products. Often with lavender, which is a very common good throughout Croatia.
I now have a lavender based skin care routine.
GoT has been a major boost to Dubrovnik and they market it pretty hard around the city. Lots of shops with merchandise and activities.
Walking the wall is a must if you visit Dubrovnik, you can walk around the entire Old Town. The real estate is so valuable in Old Town that now only about 800 locals live there and most apartments are rented out to tourists. I was fortunate to be there during covid times because it was was only at 60% of the high season occupancy, and no cruise ships were coming in for the day. There was still a good amount of people there, I was glad no more.
Croatia, formally Yugoslavia, experienced some pretty terrible warfare in the early 90’s while fighting for independence. Dubrovnik was heavily shelled. The brighter roofs are the newer ones.
You can take a cable car up for a nice view and a meal.
Really admire the craftsmanship such a chest requires.
Great architecture with strong Roman influence.
Fun local artist, love all his colors.
From Dubrovnik I took a ferry to the island of Hvar.
The water here is so beautiful, though it is very salty, and all of the beaches are rock.
From the fortress atop Hvar.
Really glad I stayed out of prison. Tiny cell, no way you could stand in here.
Pasticada, traditional Croatian plate.
Our dog is named Dylan.
Did an island hoping day trip. This is the green cave, we could go swim inside.
Blue cave by boat. Pretty wild being inside an illuminated cave.
The beach behind me was voted the best beach in Europe 2016. It opens up to a nice circular beach on the other side.
Great day trip crew from the Netherlands, Argentina, and Brazil. One of my favorite things about traveling is meeting people from all over the world, both tourists and locals.
Seized the night at Carpe Diem.
From Hvar, I took a ferry to Split. It is the second largest city in Croatia, population 178,000, and has a strong Roman presence.
This is Diocletian’s Palace. Diocletian was emperor of Rome from 284-305 CE and this was his retirement palace. Today it accounts for about half of the Split Old Town area.
Nice promenade.
Sunset hike.
Took a day trip to Krka National Park. Croatia has magnificent nature, and it would get even better than this.
The tour guide asked if any ladies would like to try, I asked if a man could weave as well.
Rovas, before money, this was a means to justify an exchange.
Nice beach before local wine tasting, these pebbles were the closest I got to sand in Croatia.
Local man who makes his own organic wine, liquors, and olive oil. So local the bottles do not even have labels.
Wine is not really my thing, but I enjoy indulging in local customs.
I appreciate this touch of style.
Did a historic walking tour with Jacov. Started at the Golden gate outside of the palace. You can see it has been added to through history. Still the Roman part remains the best part.
The Romans certainly knew how to build. Game of Thrones also filmed here. This is the place where Grey Worm and Barristan were ambushed in Meereen.
This is where the Emperor would address the people.
The Romans drew inspiration from the Greeks and the Greeks from the Egyptians. The Sphinx here is a few thousand years older than the Roman palace.
You can climb the bell tower.
This was directly across from my apartment door. Apartments are the most common accommodation in all the areas I went to.
Sunset kayak tour.
The stones used to build this military base came from the same Croatian quarry as the stones used to build The White House, and were also used by the Romans.
The next day I went scuba diving. It was interesting to dive in a completely different body of water. I have only dived in tropical areas, the Caribbean and Thailand, so far. The water was pretty cold when you got deep down, around 16 C, so I was very grateful for a full thick suit. The water is also very salty, so I had to carry three times the weight I carried when diving in Thailand. There was not much to see, but it was cool checking out a cliff drop off. On one side you see some rocks, turn your head and deep completely open ocean. The highlight was seeing an octopus.
By our first dive site.
Stopped for lunch on the lovely little island of Solta.
This was the second dive site and it use to be used for aerial bombers target practice.
I stand on historical ground. The world’s largest chocolate bar was made here.
From Split I took a bus to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia and its largest city. Population 806,000.
Great time for berries and figs at the local markets.
Nikola Tesla was born in what was then the Austrian Empire and is now Croatia. He was a pioneering inventor and engineer best know for his contributions to AC (alternating current). Thomas Edison supported DC (direct current). Elon Musk named Tesla after Tesla.
Zagreb Cathedral.
World shortest cable car. It connects Lower Town and Upper Town.
The Museum of Broken Relationships is a unique idea and was worth checking out. Some funny, some sad, all interesting.
What a roof!
Street corner church.
The Croatian National Theatre.
I spent my last day in Croatia at Plitvicka Jezera park. It is absolutely incredible and was an excellent way to wrap up a great trip.
Had a pretty serendipitous moment for my last dinner in Croatia…
When I travel solo, I eat a lot of meals with a book. For my last meal, I decided I wanted to have some company. So that morning I made a reservation for two, so I could allow for something good to happen. During the day, I was too busy exploring to put any effort into finding a date. After getting ready, I decided I would find a date on the 15 minute walk to the traditional Croatian restaurant. On the way there, I walked past the Museum of Broken relationships and out walks a friend from Dubai I had met in Milan three years ago. She was also traveling Croatia solo and we had a fun dinner together. I very much so believe in the power of positive thinking and the law of attraction. I also know that Grandma’s Platter is delicious.
Goodbye Croatia, it was great spending time in you. Next adventure, United Kingdom!
