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Home » Itineraries » One Week » Road Tripping Croatia

Road Tripping Croatia

December 18, 2015 One Week, Stories From the Road, Travel

A Journey Through Croatia’s Highlights Revealed a Peculiar Theme…

2015 has been a year of travel highs and lows, much like life. As I reflect on some of the best moments and destinations of the year, Croatia stands out to me. The country is very much on the rise, and the people are some of the kindest, proudest, and most generous I’ve encountered. The story below offers a glimpse of that. Road tripping Croatia is ideal. Not to mention how beautiful it is…
For these reasons, a road-trip in Croatia is my top recommendation for spring travel in 2016.

This story is brought to you in partnership with Expedia.com. All words, images, and opinions are expressly my own.
—-
“Welcome to Croatia!” he exclaimed at me, handing me of glass of unidentified liquid, moments after arriving at the Dubrovnik airport.

Rakija, or rakia, was my official introduction to Croatia, to the Balkans. Clear and served in what appeared to be a shot glass, I had no idea what it was — but it was presented with such warm enthusiasm that I thought to myself, I’ve got to have some of that.

The plan was to see Croatia by train with our Eurail passes. When I found out that we couldn’t get more than one train to the places we wanted to visit, the plan changed (as it usually does.)

So we picked up our car and drove just south. Headed for the small town of Ljuta, it was more than easy to fall in love with what I saw next.
“More rakija?” The woman in traditional dress approaches me with a tray. Sure, I’ve had the clear one, but what about the golden on, or ooooh that deep purple one looks lovely!

Since we’re driving, I have to learn to politely decline — but that doesn’t stop the rakija from being offered. And the deliciousness did not stop there.

Croatia - Plitvice Lakes Path

Konavoski Dvori

Lamb made ‘under the iron bell,’ a delicacy if I’ve ever had one. Restaurant Konavoski Dvori is ten minutes from the Dubrovnik airport.

In Dubrovnik we sit under umbrellas, beside stone walls. We sip coffee, then wine, then more coffee. We walk the city walls. We learn about a small village called Mali Ston, with the best oysters, nay, the best food Croatia has to offer. This may be the only reason I ever left Dubrovnik at all.

Dubrovnik old city walls view

Dubrovnik from the old city walls.

We arrive in Mali Ston to meet Petar, brother to the man we met in Dubrovnik, who insists we go oyster farming with family.

“My family is very conflicted,” he tells me, with a seriousness that grabs me. “You see, my father comes from the land and he makes Dalmatian ham, whereas my mother comes from the sea and harvests Croatian oysters. Very big conflict.”

This is the best kind of family drama I’ve ever heard of.

So Petar takes us on the family boat, out onto the bay. He pulls a line of three-year old oysters straight from the sea, and within minutes I have the freshest food I think I’ve ever eaten in my hands. To wash it down? Some wine, of course, but not before…yes, more rakija.

Bota Sare

Bota Sare is the name of the family restaurant where these oysters are served.

Mali Ston oyster farm

Mali Ston oyster harvest

Mali Ston Oysters

Fresh as it gets!

Rakija comes in many forms, depending on the region but also the family that makes it. Most are infused with herbs and called travarika, and may have as many as 150 different herbs flavoring it. Each concoction is special to the family recipe, and often made at home.

View from Hotel Adriana, Hvar, Croatia

View from Hotel Adriana, Hvar, Croatia

I traveled next to the coast, where I spent time in Split before heading to the island of Hvar.

It turns out April is the perfect time to be in Hvar — not too chilly, but not yet filled with hordes on summer holiday. We pulled into the main port of the old town, and I settled into this room with a view, one of the most memorable of all my travels. As I basked in the sunshine with my head out of the window, I nodded and gave a quick ‘”cheers.” What with? What else! Rakija strikes again. (It was also served at the luscious breakfast buffet each morning.)

Road tripping Croatia
As I made my way next to Plitvice National Park I found myself in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, barely hanging on after the onset of a terrible flu. I sought some sort of medicine so that I could continue on, not miss out on any of the things I had come to see. Or I dragged on, and when I asked about my lackluster energy I told the truth. I was quite sick. Croatian hospitality struck again.

“You know, the answer is simple,” the man said to me.

“Great! What is it?”

“Rakija!”

I thought it was some kind ofa= cruel joke. I later learned that in Croatia rakija is viewed as a bit of a cure-all, thought to ease muscle pain and cure sour stomachs. From then on, it was a bit of rakija every time I felt ill. (And I thought the welcome drinks were generous!)

Walking in Plitvice National Park

Walking in Plitvice National Park

I felt better just in time to make it up to our final stop, the capital city of Zagreb. I sat in cafes, strolled the wide streets, took secret walks. Still, perhaps my favorite moment in this trip to Croatia was as I was getting ready to catch my train. I was at the bar of the historic Hotel Esplanade, a glamorous yet comfortable place that was originally built for passengers of the Orient Express.

“Where else are you going in Croatia?” the bartender asked me, after I told him just how much I’d love discovering his country.

“I’m afraid this is it. I’m on my way to Slovenia. My train leaves in an hour.”

“Oh. Well, if you must go, there is only one way to say goodbye,” he smiled. He reached under the bar. I smiled even bigger as I saw him pull up a bottle of…rakija.”My grandmother’s recipe.” He poured with pride, and I drank with appreciation. It may have been my first visit to Croatia, but what started with rakija had ended with rakija. I knew it was just the beginning.

Croatia Zagreb Hotel Esplanade

Hotel Esplanade bar, and rakija in all its glory.

Hotel Esplanade, Zagreb

Hotel Esplanade, Zagreb

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Winner of Gold and Silver 2019 Solas Awards for Best Travel Writing.

About Anne

Anne Lowrey is an award-winning travel writer based in San Francisco.

After spending a year in the world, she insisted on building a life at home she loved as much as she loves travel. The result was a move to SF, which she affectionately calls her “soul city.” She believes in the balance of and connection between time spent at home and abroad.

Comments

  1. debster says

    December 18, 2015 at 5:03 pm

    awesome post!

    Reply
    • Anne says

      December 20, 2015 at 11:39 am

      Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  2. Heidi (@WagonersAbroad) says

    December 30, 2015 at 4:18 am

    Oh this looks wonderful, I just love all of your photos. We still have Croatia on our “to do” list, so maybe 2016? I am not sure about that cure all drink though. 😉 safe travels.

    Reply
    • Anne says

      December 30, 2015 at 1:32 pm

      Croatia is still on many people’s lists, and I hope I can bump it up a few spots! It’s a fantastic place. Happy and safe travels to you!

      Reply
  3. TalesOfABackpacker (@clairesturz) says

    December 30, 2015 at 10:25 am

    Great photos, it looks awesome! When I’m back in Europe I’ll be sure to go to Croatia 🙂

    Reply
    • Anne says

      December 30, 2015 at 1:32 pm

      You’ll love it! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Pippa.Katherine says

    January 21, 2016 at 12:11 am

    I went to Croatia last August. Was a stunningly beautiful country. Defiantly go back again!

    Reply
    • Anne says

      January 21, 2016 at 4:25 pm

      Yes, I’d love to go back as well! Glad you loved it too 🙂

      Reply
  5. Matyas says

    March 27, 2016 at 2:32 pm

    I landed yesterday in Zagreb and while I haven’t moved on yet I can honestly say it’s been marvelous so far. But I think that my favourite thing are the trams, they are both cheap and easy to use, hands down. Not to mention that we had great weather which is always a plus. Now I’m reading travel blogs and finding inspiration. And after reading yours I think we’ll have to try some rakija 😀 What would you recommend, taking a detour to Plitvice Lakes or seeing the coast?
    BTW I’ve got an earful yesterday from a local (albeit he was polite) when I mentioned the Balkans and Croatia in the same sentence, apparently Croatians don’t like to be associated with that region, so beware 🙂

    Reply
    • Anne says

      April 1, 2016 at 4:35 pm

      Hi Matyas, so glad you enjoyed Croatia! Zagreb is wonderful, isn’t it!
      Did you get around to trying that rakija? 😛
      Hope you enjoyed either the coast or Plitvice…they’re both spectacular.
      Cheers!

      Reply

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