Captivating Croatia
Hello and welcome to the final leg of my European trip as we wrapped up our vacation in Croatia. Spain was brand new to me. This was my second time traveling to Croatia, and it felt so surreal being back. Getting to visit this country back in 2019 just months before our world turned upside down and getting to visit it again for the first international trip since the pandemic was a full-circle moment.
Jess and I first visited Croatia with Aly and Kathleen - two best friend duos! This time around, Aly and Kathleen joined us when they were able to dock during Croatia Sail Week that they were a part of. Jess and I noted that we we got to relive the magic of each town again as we saw Dani and Jaida see it through their eyes for the first time. We replicated our 2019 trip and went to all of the same islands and towns, and relived the same excursions. Yet, this time we were there during peak season instead of off season, which led to a more lively environment.
I've said it plenty of times before, but Croatia is a hidden gem, and an absolute must-visit. I will never stop gushing about my time there. I felt so connected to Croatia during my first time there, and knew I would be back. Often times, I visit a place and because there are so many wondrous destinations in the world left to explore, I will not have it on my radar to revisit. However, Croatia is somewhere I plan to visit over and over again. It feels like a tradition that has been set, and ready to carry on.
We started off our trip with taking a ferry from Split to the island of Hvar where we ended up extending our stay on the island one more day because we were having that much fun. It was the spot where we stayed at the most during our time in Croatia. Pictured below is a view of the port in Hvar at dusk. Highlights from Hvar include:
Eating the best pasta dish I have ever had in my life (coming from a pasta enthusiast)
Having the most picturesque view outside of Jess and I's bedroom window (Click this link to view my Croatian highlights on Instagram where you can see the window view: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cusqy0JrovW/?img_index=1 )
Going for a swim in the ocean as soon as we arrived
Reuniting with Aly and Kathleen who I have not seen in so long
Taking a questionable rickety taxi boat in the middle of the night two nights in a row to a private island only meant to host an outdoor dance club with headlining DJ's that lasted until the sun rose
Deciding to have alter egos, names, and storylines for fun when we mingled with people on our nights out (We were all "from" Toronto, Canada and someone actually turned out to be from there, and asked very detailed questions that we somehow dodged around in conversation – LOL)
Hvar took a turn though. On the second day, I was coming up from shore to go lay on my towel, and the ocean floor was covered in slippery rocks. My foot got stuck against one, and it caved sideways. I was out of commission for the remainder of the trip as I limped my way through cobblestone streets in all-walkable cities with a foot I could barely put pressure on. I thought back to 2019 where I had a bad fall in the Airbnb bathroom in Hvar and bruised my entire back side. I guess Hvar has a sweet spot for accident-prone Jess – LOL.
After our time in Hvar, we hopped back on a ferry to Split to spend one night there. We booked an ATV tour in Sinj, Croatia, which we did before, but this time instead of riding through the Croatian mountains, we took a more scenic riverside tour, which was breathtaking. The water was crystal clear, and the scenery was straight out of a fairytale book. Our trail tour guide let us know that the water is so clean that it is drinkable. He did in fact fill up his water bottle in the river. We ended our tour eating dinner with our trail group at a local restaurant in Sinj where they served us a traditional plate filled with an array of different meats, sides, and sauces to try.
The next day, we took a 4 hour bus ride from Split to Dubrovink, which is my absolute favorite city in Croatia. We visited our all-time favorite gelato cart as soon as we got there. It was in the same location as we left it years ago, which felt like walking into a time capsule. I walked around each town knowing my way around like it was second nature. We were on the hunt for a restaurant tucked away in an alley stairwell that had the best Greek salad, but we learned it closed down, which was unfortunate. I still dream about that feta cheese! Our AirBnB was a stunning penthouse where you could open the windows and look down into the bustling cobblestone streets. It was a pinch-worthy and straight out of a movie vibe.
Our first night out was incredibly nostalgic. In 2019 we met these bartenders who were so kind to us and a blast to be around. We found that same pub, and I pulled out a group photo that we all took inside years prior with the bartenders. Low and behold one of the same bartenders was working and looked all grown up, so we were questioning if it was him or not. I walked right up and showed him the picture and asked if that was him and his face lit up. He instantly remembered us. He was astonished that we came back, and reuniting with him felt like we had never left. We took a new group photo and compared them side by side. He sent both of them to the other bartender who no longer worked at the bar anymore. When we first arrived we asked another bartender for espresso martinis because they make the best in the whole world, They said they were not making them the remainder of the night due to how busy it was. When we reunited with our bartender friend, we asked if he could make them for us. Without hesitation he turned on the espresso machine just for us and crafted them so perfectly. We met a bunch of tourists and all headed to the club where we enjoyed the rest of our night dancing!
The next morning was our final full day. We scheduled a private boat. You best believe I hit my favorite gelato stand on the way, and had some for breakfast before hopping on the boat. Breakfast of champions am I right? We could not have asked for a better day docking at different remote islands, exploring, swimming in the ocean and into caves, and tanning on the boat. After an entire day on the water, we freshened up, grabbed dinner, and ended our trip back at our bartender friend's bar where we spent the whole night mingling with the staff and groups of new friends. I don't know how to describe it, but I have such a tie to Croatia. It feels like a second home.
I cannot wait to travel back to Croatia, and Europe in general. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel internationally with my friends this summer. We are already planning our next trip to Europe for 2024. Where should we head next? That does it for my summer 2023 travel series. Thank you for reading along, and stay tuned for where I travel next in 2023 because my trips are no where near over yet!
Remember to stay humble and kind, always!
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xo –Jess
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