Category: Croatia
Pigeon Feeding Time
At the fresh produce market in Dubrovnik, the pigeons begin to gather around the square at around 11:30. By midday, it is a scene from a Hitchcock film. Bird seed is scattered on the floor, and they swarm! Somehow the pigeons know exactly what time to arrive in the square each day, and they begin circling in the air before the seed has even been laid down. Animal instincts at their best!
Dubrovnik
You think Earth’s gravity is really something when you’re climbing the stairs.
Rainer Weiss
We made it to our apartment in Dubrovnik after a 4 hour ferry ride, 30 minute uphill walk, and what felt like a million stairs. While we welcomed the exercise after so much delicious food, I’m not sure we needed quite this much!
It didn’t take us long to get used to the stairs, and they made for some wonderful views. We walked up and down the steep, narrow lane ways; and made our way around the city’s outer wall. It was beautiful to take in all the terracotta rooves alongside the enormity of the ocean. There are entire sections of the Old Town that were destroyed during the Croatian War of Independence – some areas are being rebuilt, while others are now home to lush greenery, which I think adds a touch of charm.
In the following days, we strolled around the Old Town seeing the main sights. The entire city has been built from limestone, and almost all the pavers are rectangular. There is one perfectly square stone in the main street, which marks the exact centre of the Old Town. We stumbled across a bar perched outside the city walls. They call these Buza bars, where people grab a drink and scatter themselves across the cliff face before jumping into the sea for a swim.
Another quirk we noticed throughout the whole city was the number of cats roaming the streets. A few times, we saw people coming out of their homes or workplaces to place food out on the street for their furry friends.
We went for a walk beyond the Old Town to explore a little further. Along the way we found delicious food (surprise!) and more amazing views of the wide open ocean.
Four days was the perfect amount of time to see Dubrovnik – and enjoy some welcome relaxation time too! We’ve had no shortage of things to see, stairs to climb or food to eat. What a beauty.
Hvar
Money can’t buy you happiness, but it can buy you a yacht big enough to pull up right alongside it.
David Lee Roth
We took a ferry to Hvar for the day and we were blinded by the glamour. The harbour is lined with super yachts, all blasting music and partying on board. Alongside this is a string of luxurious restaurants and bars, all overlooking the sheer wealth below them.
The architecture is quite similar to that of Split, and there are the same market stalls selling trinkets and souvenirs. Despite all this, somehow the atmosphere feels more modern and refined here. We went up to the castle at the highest point of the island, where we found some spectacular views.
We are continuing to enjoy the beautiful fresh seafood and local wines – life’s pretty good!
Split
My perfect beach town isn’t a fancy resort or glitzy planned community. It’s a place with a hometown grocery that has decent meat, seafood, and a deli…
Mary Kay Andrews
We have arrived in Croatia to the warm welcome of Split. What a contrast! Here you will find beautiful stone buildings and cobblestone paths, and to our delight, a dog on every corner!
There are old towns and then there are old towns. Garbage trucks make their way through the narrow lanes all day, while residents and shop-owners emerge from each side to empty their rubbish into the back. At the local market, vendors weigh their produce using traditional balance scales.
We were lucky enough to experience a culinary tour of Split with a very charismatic and knowledgeable guide named Jacov. He showed us around the fish markets and taught us all about classic Dalmatian-style seafood. We bought the most exotic looking fish, and took it to Diocletian’s Wine House, where the chef prepared it into a delicious feast. We then spent the afternoon eating and drinking to our hearts’ content. Strongly recommend!!!
https://splitwalkingtour.com/package/split-culinary-tour/
We’ve had a magnificent time in Split. Great food, quality family time and fascinating culture. Looking forward to seeing more of Croatia as we make our way to Dubrovnik!