By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Travel Blogger
I have been to Croatia and therefore feel qualified enough to write about it from an experienced and educated viewpoint.
Oh, 10 or so days doesn’t entitle me to pen some magestic novel with the title of, say, Behind The Historic Walls or The Croatia Nobody Knows, but it does give me enough perspective to author this informative piece on what it’s like, what the people are like, a few places to go and things to do there.
What It’s Like In Croatia
My first impression, which was formed when riding from the airport in Split to the place I was staying near the historic palace (which is the main area of that city), was that of a combination of the Greek Islands and Baja, Mexico. Much of it was in kind of an urban countryside There were small businesses seemingly miles from any residential area like some places in Greece and unfinished buildings like you find all along the Mexican coast from Rosarito to Ensenada. This did not displease me and in fact got me a bit fired up about the place because I love it in the Greek Isles and have had some fun times in Baja. I later learned that Croatia is so old the Greeks actually modeled parts of their country from there.
Once we got to town and I had my first look at Split, it seemed like a typical European busy city, although again, with a touch of Greece. There was a long waterfront, several ferry boats were tied up to a pier going to nearby islands, there were rows of restaurants with outdoor seating and also dozens of little food places selling cheap to-go options along with really cheap (about a buck-50 in US dollars) large cans of beer. This I liked very much. There was a casual pace to the place and I never felt rushed or in a hurry to go anywhere.
I also made it to other places. I took those ferries to the island of Korcula and Hvar. There, and also at other places wherever there was an ocean – Brela is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited – the water was so clear that I could almost hearing it say to me “hey, come on in; it’s nice in here.” And I did just that on several occasion.
If there’s one visual element that remains planted in my head about Croatia, it’s that gorgeous water.
What The People Are Like In Croatia
At first glance, the men are intimating. They have bald heads, are as solid as the rock hills that make up the country’s interior and appear as if they would like nothing better than to crush my skull as if were a cheap can of beer. They look like the kind of people you would prefer not to meet in a dark alley, tho having them with you in a dark alley would have you feeling invincible. Upon meeting them, however, that perception changed. The are quick with a smile and are wonderful hosts.
As far as the women go, unfortunately I did not have enough encounters with them – most of the girls I met there were either tourists or moved from somewhere else – to form an accurate picture.
Places To Go And Things To Do In Croatia
As mentioned earlier in this post, the “must do” thing to do in Croatia is get on and in the water. There’s no point going to Croatia if you don’t do it. I was there in mid-May and the water temperature was in the high 6osF, which yes was a bit chilly upon entering but the body soon adapted to it.
Pro’s Tip: there are a lot of sea urchins so it’s best to wear the kind of sandals that have velcro straps aound the feet. It’s just too hard to keep regular flip flops on in the water (plus it’s kind of dorky!). Obviously, the snorkeling is good and Croatia is an excellent place for scuba diving.
There are lots of boats, either for tours or day excursions and of course there are the ferries to islands (1-3 hours usually). Croatia is also an outstanding place to go sailing and if you’re lucky and have the money you can get see the country from aboard a yacht.
There is also a lot of hiking, cycling and adventures like walking the Biokovo Skywalk, a walkway 1,228 meters (more than 4,000 feet) up in the Biokovo Nature Park.
The cities are lively and have history along with exotic movie locations; Star Wars The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) was fimed in Dubrovnik. The food is good and outstanding if you like fish and it perfectly pairs with good wines. In fact, you can visit wineries on islands and treasure those wines because most of them only make enough to serve there. The beer is also tasty and there’s good bars– I experienced the nightlife in Split and Hvar – a prerequisite for PubClub.com going anywhere in the world.
Conclusion
Croatia is a beautiful and casual country to visit with plenty to do as well as to eat and drink.
Leave a Reply