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Europe, Travel Tips

Taking a Vacation in Croatia

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Taking a vacation in Croatia

It was my enthusiastic dream for many years to take a vacation in Croatia at least once in my lifetime. I’m glad to say that my dream came true last year and one thing I’ll state unequivocally is that I had a home away from home experience during my visit to Croatia.

Croatia was indeed an amazing destination for my vacation. I could not have enough of the pristine beaches & palm groves, mountainous coastlines, clear waters of the Adriatic sea, spectacular architecture, numerous islands, sublime food, and most importantly, the hospitality of the Croatian people.

The following are some of the amazing things I did and the places I visited in Croatia.

Island hopping

With more than 1200 islands, I needed my whole lifetime to explore all the Croatian islands. But still, I tried my best. Every island I visited was special in its own way. Some islands offered the peace and quiet I had longed for. Others offered 24-hour parties, so whenever I wanted to experience Croatian nightlife, I never missed an island that offered unforgettable parties.

The first island I visited is the island of Brac. The splendid beaches, sheep cheese, seafood and mandarins in this destination will leave you yearning for more. I proceeded to the sunny island of Hvar. With its natural beauty, luxurious beaches, sunny weather, and excellent food, this is a destination I never wanted to leave. The island of Korcula, Krk, Losinj, Cres, Silba, Lastovo and many more had one thing in common; they offer an amazing paradise for travelers looking for a sunny island adventure. Hopping between islands was very simple since ferries, waterboats, and catamarans were readily available.

vacation in croatia

I explored Croatian National Parks

Out of the eight national parks in Croatia, I had an opportunity to visit three of them. The Plitvice Lakes National Park was really a stunning place one can ever visit. I took a bus from Zagreb and within two hours I was at the park. It was boundless funmeandering along the many wooden plank trails, taking pictures of the furious waterfalls and the 16 interconnected lakes. Thereafter, I took a day trip to the Krka National Park where I fell in love with the glistening waterfalls and boat excursions. I winded my national park tour by visiting Paklenica National Park where the largest mountain in Croatia is found.

vacation in croatia

I discovered history of Croatia

Despite being a small sized country, Croatia has seven UNESCO Heritage Sites where I got an opportunity to learn about the culture of Croatia. I visited all the seven historical sites and discovered many things which i never knew about. If you’re considering visiting Croatia, these historical places are worth visiting.

Sailing in the high seas

I’d say that a vacation in Croatia won’t be complete without sailing in the high seas. With my one month stay in this wonderful country, I learnt that it is a sailing paradise for people who love the activity. I rented a waterboat with crew at a very reasonable price. At the sea, my eyes were drawn out to the waters that seems to go forever. Sailing in Croatia gave me a lifetime chance to explore the coast and enjoy its beauty. I anchored just anywhere and soaked in the cool waters of the Adriatic sea. I alsodiscovered beautiful bays, hidden coves, and deserted islets. I also enjoyed fresh seafood in remote bay restaurants.

I discovered Croatian foods and wine

If you’re a foodie and you haven’t visited Croatia yet, you are missing mouthwatering, diverse and glorious foods. Most people in Croatia use seasonal ingredients and their food is indeed unique. Croatian cuisine is more of a Mediterranean cuisine consisting of fish, seafood, veggies and tasty olive oils. Istria had very delicious olive oils.

I fell in love with various traditional dishes such as brudet (fish stew with spices) crni riot, seafood served with blitva, mišanca and homemade pasta.

I also participated in loads of activities such as kayaking, rafting, kite-surfing, truffle hunting, zip-lining, rock climbing, golfing and paragliding.

I never wanted to go back to my home country, when my vacation was over. Croatia had numerous things to do as well as many places to visit. It is an amazing country. Certainly, it will be my obvious destination during my next trip and I cannot wait to take another vacation in Croatia.

Destinations, Europe, Travel Blogging, Travel Tips

Europe’s 8 Most Overlooked Small Cities With A Lot To Offer

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It is no secret that London, Rome, and Paris are magnificent cities with beautiful features, supreme highlights and much more. However, Europe has inexhaustible small cities that give travelers a more intimate and authentic view of the country. As much as the Capitals are obvious highlights, squeezing the small cities into your itinerary will spice up your stay. Here are 10 of our absolute must-sees.

  1. Rovinj, Croatia

Seamlessly located on the Istrian peninsula, Rovinj is a beautiful archipelago of 20 islands with its town hemmed in on a small peninsula. Quaint alleys, stairways, and other interesting architecture frame the silhouette of its adventures. Other historical gems include St Euphemia’s Basilica, seven city gates and the 12th-century town clock.

Rovinj
Rovinj

 

  1. Caceres, Spain

If you are still speculating on where all the gold went to when Spain was under siege, much of it went to building the mansions, cathedrals, and palaces that are tucked away in beautiful Caceres. This off-the-beaten-track city boasts of an abundance of features including Ciudad Monumental, Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, and Via de la Plata. Here, you will love the architectural blend of Roman, Islamic and Italian revitalisation styles.

Caceres, picture from http://www.turismoenextremadura.es/conjuntos-historico-artisticos-caceres/
Caceres, picture from http://www.turismoenextremadura.es/conjuntos-historico-artisticos-caceres/

 

  1. Heidelberg, Germany

Situated in the vale of Odenwald mountains, Heidelberg is a chocolate-box and starry-eyed getaway city. Its most extraordinary features include the historic old town, numerous historic churches and the University of Heidelberg. Every inch of this spot is filled with history, from narrow streets to the scattered parks and much more.

Heidelberg
Heidelberg

 

  1. Porto, Portugal

An old city slipped away on the Iberian Peninsula; Porto sits between Douro River estuary and has been under foreign control for more than a millennium. Consequently, it has been nominated under the UNESCO world heritage and the buildings that snake through the streets are about as remarkable as anything you have ever seen. In fact, Porto has become an iconic name for a brand of wine sold through its port.

Porto
Porto

 

  1. Trondheim, Norway

Trondheim is a one city in Scandivania that is so picturesque- they say a picture tells a thousand words but Trondheim tells even double. It’s just spectacular. You will need 24 hours to explore the numerous sites in it and another 24 hours to visit the neighbouring area.

Trondheim
Trondheim

 

  1. Groningen, Netherlands

With approximately two bikes for each resident and a town centre that’s in effect inaccessible by motorists, Groningen is categorically the best place to keep fit. It also brings together some of Europe’s bet features including an annual festival and nightlife as vibrant as its people.

Groningen, image from http://typta.com/
Groningen, image from http://typta.com/

 

  1. Manarola, Italy

Manarola is a charming fishing town famous for its exclusive wine, Sciacchetra. It is one of the most peaceful towns on earth- no traffic lights, no screeching cars, no hooting of vehicles. This is because there is no vehicles access to the city area. To visit the city, you will take a bus or walk on foot after having parked your car outside the town.

Manarola
Manarola

 

  1. Split, Croatia

Split, a jewel in the Croatian Adriatic, is in a prime location in Croatia because it is close to a couple of beautiful cities such as Dubrovnik, Zadar, and Sibenik. Also is surrounded by the beauty of Croatia’s hidden gems, such as the city of Trogir which people say is mini Split, Čiovo which is a beautiful island with mountains that visitors enjoy immensely. Of course, you can take a blue cave tour from Split to the island Bisevo. Blue Cave is an iconic sea cave that travelers visit very often and even go scuba diving there. The specialty about this cave is of course, the blue light that magnificently portrays itself due to the sunlight reflection on the water through a crack in the cave. It is spectacular and a must see destination.

Split
Split

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wine and Drink

Wine Capitals of the World

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True wine lovers and aficionados know what the world has to offer. Countries such as Spain, France, California, Australia, Argentina and Chile are just some of the largest wine producers and exporters in the world. These areas have the perfect grape-growing climate and long traditions in winemaking, with billions of liters produced each year. Other countries, unlike these traditional produces, are able to provide only small supplies of domestic wines, not enough to quench the world’s thirst. If you find yourself in a local retailer’s wine cellar, or travelling abroad, these are the wine capitals that have given, and continue to give the best wines, consistent in quality and flavor.

wine capitals of the world

Spain

Bilbao, located in the province of Biscay (autonomous community of the Basque Country), is the tenth largest municipality in Spain. Founded in the year 1300, Bilbao is a well-known industrial and cultural center and tourist destination, famous for its natural resources, geography, cooking and wine. Rioja is the famous wine region in Spain, located about 100 km south of Bilbao. It is divided into three major regions – Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja. About 250 million liters of wine are produced annually in Rioja (of which 85% are red (tinto), while the rest are white (blanco) and rosé (rosado). “The land of wines” has over 57 thousand hectares of cultivated land, producing a variety of delicate wines. Spain has over 250 wine regions, with Rioja and Priorat that produce wine of most lauded quality.

wine capitals around the world

Australia

The land of Aborigines, rich in rainforests, deserts, beautiful coral reefs, beaches and national parts, is the fourth largest exporter of wine in the world. Governor Phillip brought the first vine cuttings from the Cape of Good Hope to the colony of New South Wales in 1788. Thirty five years later, Australian wine was exported for the first time. Today, over a billion liters of wine is made in 6 major wine regions of Australia each year. New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia are areas with an astonishing array of diverse climates and about 130 different grape varieties, allowing winemakers to produce well-reviewed Australian wines with unique and distinct flavors.

California

The sunny California is regarded as a top tourist destination, culturally diverse, with great nature preserves, relaxing resorts, shopping places, best cuisine, and the Sunset Strip. Napa Valley (Napa County, northern California) is one of the best American viticultural Areas (wine grape-growing region) in the North Coast wine region. Central Coast, South Coast and Central Valley are areas consisted of 12 most notable wine regions. The first commercial winery in California was opened in 1859 by John Patchett. California is a top wine and food destination in the US, with a wide range of world class wines offered for the enjoyment of your palate.

wine capitals of the world

France

French wine has a worldwide reputation. About 8 million bottles are produced each year, all throughout France. There are 17 wine regions, with Bordeaux being the largest one, with the longest history in wine exporting. The city of Bordeaux mesmerizes with its beautiful architecture (cathedrals, gothic and baroque churches, museums), parks, squares, gardens, seaside resorts, restaurants and shopping centers. The wine is categorized into 6 main families with 60 different appellations. Consistent in quality, tasting Bordeaux wines is a must for every wine aficionado out there.