Exploring Croatia

For the last 15 days, I had the pleasure of exploring the beautiful country of Croatia. When my mom approached me about the trip, I was hesitant to leave home (and my dogs) for that long of a time, but I also didn't want to pass up the opportunity to travel to Europe (AKA my favorite place). My mother (the travel planning expert) however planned such an amazing trip it's got me wanting to pack up all my things and more there.

I will admit that the first 24 hours of the trip were on the rough side. To get to our final destination of Croatia, we first had a flight/layover in Germany. The first flight didn't take off until 9 at night and I would love to say I slept like a baby the entire time, but that wasn't the case. Instead, I slept for 3 hours (not consecutively) and didn't eat a single thing besides the small tub of ice cream the flight attendants passed out. Thankfully the layover was a quick one, and after a 2 hour flight, my parents and I touched down in Croatia.

SPlit, croatia

Even though we technically left on July 5th, the exploring didn't really begin until the jet lag subsided which was on the 7th. The first thing my family and I did was familiarize ourselves with the area surrounding our hotel. Eventually we got in a taxi and drove to the highest point where you could view Split; I have to admit, the view was stunning with the red rooftops and the sparkling blue Adriatic Sea. Afterwards, we explored the town a little and stumbled upon the Cathedral of St. Domnius that was built in the 4th century.

Then the island hopping started. Over the course of three days, my parents and I visited 9 different islands. Every single island had its own beautiful personality and twist of Croatian culture.

Hvar Island is best known as a summer resort, and I had the pleasure of spending a couple hours there! Highlights of the island include its 13th century walls, a hilltop fortress, and a main square anchored by the Renaissance Era Hvar Cathedral. The island also features beautiful beaches and gorgeous lavender fields.

The island of Stomorska is a small fishermen's village that has only 250 residents. The place is a perfect blend of old stone houses, sailing boats, modern cafes and taverns. The view of the waterfront, stunning beaches, and fishermen's selling their morning catch seems like something one can only see in movies.

The Pakleni Islands are only a short boat ride away from Hvar. The name, Pakleni Octoci literally translates to Hell Islands, but the view screams more Paradise Islands. I spent the most amazing couple hours at the Carpe Diem Beach, drinking at the beach club, and swimming in the crystal blue waters.

When I wasn't exploring the islands surrounding Split, I was taking in some of its natural wonders. The Krka National Park is famous for its series of 7 waterfalls and is a beautiful place to explore in Croatia. The park has a simple wooden path (making it impossible to get lost) that leads you around ponds, small waterfalls, beautiful flowers and trees, and lastly the large and beyond stunning waterfalls. I highly recommend checking them out.

Montenegro

My parents and I booked a day tour to Montenegro, a Balkan country with rugged mountains, medieval villages, and beautiful beaches. During the tour, we visited the island of Our Lady of the Rocks.

Our Lady of the Rocks is one of two islands off the coast of Perast in the bay of Kotor, Montenegro. According to the legend, the island was made over centuries by local seamen who kept an ancient oath after finding the icon of Madonna and Child on the rock in the sea.

Upon returning from each successful voyage, they laid a rock in the bay. Over time the island gradually emerged from the sea. The Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rocks is the largest building on the island. The church contains 68 paintings, one of them being ten meters long and called The Death of The Virgin.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik Old Town is known as one of the world's finest and most perfectly preserved medieval cities in the world. The walls are actually the main reason why Dubrovnik is well known as the Pearl of the Adriatic. The city is completely surrounded with defensive walls and forts and were built through their history, in times when there was danger of foreign attacks.

* fun fact: Dubrovnik is also an extremely popular filming destination. Succession, Game of Thrones, Star Wars Episode VIII, Robin Hood, Captain America, and more were filmed in the city and surrounding locations *

I spent the day exploring the city and the walls surrounding it, and I have to admit the sights were amazing. My family and I tried to go earlier in the day since Europe was experiencing a heat wave, and even though we started our walk along the city walls in the early morning, we were soon drenched with sweat. That didn't stop me from enjoying the gorgeous views.

Once I descended from the city walls, I also had the pleasure of exploring the oldest pharmacy in Croatia. It's called the Franciscan Pharmacy, and it was attached to a Monastery complex.

The pharmacy has been active since 1317 and is the oldest pharmacy in the Old Continent. There, you can purchase skin cream products made from local wild herbs and the Franciscan's recipes.

Overall, my 15 day trip was pretty spectacular. I explored picturesque islands, swam in crystal blue waters, visited historical sites, ate fantastic food, drank delicious local wine, and created memories I will never forge.

If you ever had the opportunity to visit Croatia, I highly recommend it!