The Beautiful City of Zagreb, Croatia

The Beautiful City of Zagreb, Croatia.

The Beautiful City of Zagreb, Croatia.

Zagreb, Croatia is not your average capital city. It flies below most tourists’ radars, which means you’ll encounter fewer crowds, lower prices, and might have a more authentic experience than other made-for-tourist towns like Dubrovnik or Trogir. If you take a walk down the pedestrian-only Restaurant Row street, where you’d normally expect to encounter hoards of tourists, you’ll be surprised to hear almost everyone speaking Croatian!

But fewer tourists also means fewer attractions and activities. Zagreb has a good Museum scene, if that’s your thing, but it’s really just a very livable city that’s a lot of fun to explore. A visit here will undoubtedly be low-key, relaxing, and inexpensive. For some, that’s a great reason to visit Zagreb. For others, it’s a reason to avoid it. If you’re passing through anyway, it’s definitely worth spending a few nights here. We certainly enjoyed ourselves!

So what should you do while you’re in Zagreb?

Visit the Dolac Market

One of the best ways to experience a town or city is to visit their produce market! Looking back on all of the places we’ve called “home” over the last year, some of our favorite people were local folks who had booths at the fresh markets where we bought our groceries. It’s SO MUCH FUN to become a regular at the market while you’re in town! Everywhere we go, we end up with a “fruit guy”, a “veggie lady”, an “egg gal”, and a “baker”. It’s such a fun feeling when they start to recognize you and greet you with a huge grin!

Zagreb has one of the biggest fresh market’s we’ve ever visited. If you’re ever in town, visiting the Dolac Market is an absolute must.

The outdoor area of the Dolac Market in Zagreb.

The outdoor area of the Dolac Market in Zagreb.

Look how packed the place is!

Look how packed the place is!

There are dozens of produce vendors, a huge section devoted solely to soft cheeses, countless meat booths, flower vendors, and bakers, and there is more sauerkraut than you’ll know what to do with.

Cured meats, anyone?

Cured meats, anyone?

A bakery booth in the cavernous indoor area of the market.

A bakery booth in the cavernous indoor area of the market.

There are even booths selling hand-made wooden kid’s toys and wooden kitchen utensils! I could spend a whole morning just walking around at the market taking in the sights and smells.

Dozens of flower vendors selling beautiful bouquets.

Dozens of flower vendors selling beautiful bouquets.

Don't want a bouquet? Buy flowers for your garden!

Don’t want a bouquet? Buy flowers for your garden!

Visit the Museum of Broken Relationships

I’m not really a museum person, but when it comes to completely offbeat museums that feature something totally out of the norm, I am 100% in for a visit. Zagreb has one of the weirdest museums I’ve ever heard of, the Museum of Broken Relationships. This museum was actually created by a couple who had just broken up, with the idea being that it can be therapeutic to “overcome an emotional collapse through creation” by donating an item to the Museum’s collection.

The Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb.

The Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb.

Each item on display was donated to the museum by someone who recently ended a relationship. Each exhibit is accompanied by a story sent in with the item about the relationship or the breakup, and many of them show how long the couple was together.

The museum is at times extremely depressing (think multi-decade marriages ended in cheating and divorce, or others ending in suicide), but the overwhelming majority of the stories were hilarious and witty or just plain heartwarming.

A few of our favorite exhibits:

An Ex Axe from Berlin, Germany. No, this isn't a murder weapon. A man sent this in after his woman left him for another woman. She had recently moved in with him before she found someone new and ran off on a 2-week vacation with this new girlfriend. Every day of his ex-girlfriend's 14-day holiday, the Axe man chopped up a piece of her furniture. When she returned from her holiday and came to retrieve her belongings, all she found was a pile of hacked up furniture!

An Ex Axe from Berlin, Germany. No, this isn’t a murder weapon. A man sent this in after his girlfriend left him for another woman. She had recently moved in with him before she found someone new and ran off on a 2-week vacation with this new girlfriend. Every day of his ex-girlfriend’s 14-day holiday, the Axe man chopped up a piece of her furniture. When she returned from her holiday and came to retrieve her belongings, all she found was a pile of hacked up wood!

A Linksys Router, from a 7-month relationship in San Francisco. The sender's note reads "We tried. Not Compatible."

A Linksys Router, from a 7-month relationship in San Francisco. The sender’s note reads “We tried. Not Compatible.”

A champagne cork from a 2.5-year relationship in London. The sender's note reads: "I was due to get married on 6th August 2011, but discovered 6 months ago that my fiancé was cheating on me. This is the cork from the champagne I used to celebrate my lucky escape."

A champagne cork from a 2.5-year relationship in London. The sender’s note reads: “I was due to get married on 6th August 2011, but discovered 6 months ago that my fiancé was cheating on me. This is the cork from the champagne I used to celebrate my lucky escape.”

And finally, my favorite, the Toaster of Vindication. This one came from Denver, Colorado after a 4-year relationship ended. The note reads "When I moved out, and across the country, I took the toaster. That’ll show you. How are you going to toast anything now?"

And finally, my favorite, the Toaster of Vindication. This one came from Denver, Colorado after a 4-year relationship ended. The note reads “When I moved out, and across the country, I took the toaster. That’ll show you. How are you going to toast anything now?”

The Museum also has a sassy gift shop and a cute little cafe. They have some creative souvenirs, my favorite being their chocolate selection:

Chocolates in the Museum of Broken Relationships Gift Shop.

Chocolates in the Museum of Broken Relationships Gift Shop.

Hit the Pivnica Medvedgrad Happy Hour

This won’t surprise readers who know us well… We found THE BEST BARGAIN in Zagreb. A local microbrewery called Pivnica Medvedgrad and a pizzeria named Mali Medo have joined forces to become a delicious, wonderful, behemoth presence in one of Zagreb’s best pedestrian zones. They have something like four different storefronts (all located around here), all offering the same food and beer.

Enjoying beers at Pivnica Medvedgrad!

Enjoying beers at Pivnica Medvedgrad!

For a magical 1-hour window each day, their beer and pizza Happy Hours overlap. It. Is. Amazing. Each day from 4-6pm, the Pizza of the Day is half off. And everyday from 5-7pm, they offer at least one half-liter beer for just 9 Kuna (that’s about $1.25!). So, obviously, the hour between 5 and 6pm became a big deal to us. We were in Zagreb for 4 nights, and had dinner at Pivnica Medvedgrad Mali Medo THREE TIMES.

Delicious Mali Medo pizzas for a mere $3.50 apiece during Happy Hour.

Delicious Mali Medo pizzas for a mere $3.50 apiece during Happy Hour.

As an added bonus, their beer is actually pretty delicious! We especially loved their Wheat Beer. Kevin brews his own beer at home, so we are a bit spoiled by usually having beer around to drink that is made to our exact specifications, so this was nice to find on our travels.

Tasty beers at Pivnica Medvedgrad. Our fave, the Wheat Beer, on the right.

Tasty beers at Pivnica Medvedgrad. Our fave, the Wheat Beer, on the right.

Eat Brownies a la Mode

A Fudge Brownie with Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.

A Fudge Brownie with Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.

It should be clear by now that Kevin and I are incapable of visiting a city without seeking out at least one dessert, especially if a city we’re visiting has a cafe called The Cookie Factory.

If you’re in town, be sure to stop by for their 18 Kuna ($2.50) Brownie a la Mode. Pick any brownie from their huge menu:

The Cookie Factory's Brownie Menu.

The Cookie Factory’s Brownie Menu.

In our opinion, the optimal combination is a Fudge Brownie with Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream. We almost went back a 2nd day in a row, before we realized we’re adults and can’t behave like that anymore.

A Cream Cheese brownie with Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream. SO SO GOOD.

A Cream Cheese brownie with Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream. SO SO GOOD.

Visit Maksimir Park

One of the recurring challenges we’ve had in new cities we’ve traveled to is where to go running. I’m training for a Marathon in June, so I had a big 18-miler to tackle in Zagreb. Luckily, they have a wonderful outdoor area called Maksimir Park that’s just a couple of miles East of Zagreb’s main tourist area.

I'm the runner off in the distance there.

I’m the runner off in the distance there.

It’s great for running if you have a Fitbit to track your mileage, but it’s tricky to map a run here with online tools like Map My Run because the trails aren’t super well-defined on Google Maps. But you can’t beat the scenery, and there are free bathrooms! (Never thought I’d see any of those in Europe, anywhere, ever…)

Maksimir Park has a seemingly endless amount of trails to choose from.

Maksimir Park has a seemingly endless amount of trails to choose from.

Even if you’re not there to run, it can be a great place to stroll on a sunny day. They even have a zoo.

Beautiful Maksimir Park.

Beautiful Maksimir Park.

Walk Around… A Lot

Zagreb is a city of fun pedestrian-only zones, huge busy piazzas, and gardens and flowers galore. Seriously, someone in the Parks Department has the gift of a green thumb. Spring has sprung here in Zagreb, and there’s no better way to experience it than on foot. The area of interest to Tourists is all within a fairly compact neighborhood, so most sights are within a 25-minute stroll.

To give you a taste of Zagreb, here are a few photos we snapped on our 4-night stay:

Jelačić Square, the heart of Zagreb.

Jelačić Square, the heart of Zagreb.

A Beautiful park in Zagreb.

A Beautiful park in Zagreb.

Zagreb is home to the shortest Funicular in the world! It takes just 55 seconds and costs about $0.50 to use the Funicular. (The stairs are an easy option, too!)

Zagreb is home to the shortest Funicular in the world. It takes just 55 seconds and costs about $0.50 to use the Funicular. (The stairs are an easy option, too, and free.)

The view out over gorgeous Zagreb from the top of the Funicular.

The view out over gorgeous Zagreb from the top of the Funicular.

Following Rick Steves' Walking Tour around town. Because I cannot resist one of Rick's walking tours. Because I am an old lady at heart...

Following Rick Steves’ Walking Tour around town. Because I cannot resist one of Rick’s walking tours. Because I am an old lady at heart…

Zagreb's Church of St. Mark. What a cool roof, right? On the left is the North-Central Croatia coat of arms, and on the right is the Seal of Zagreb.

Zagreb’s Church of St. Mark. What a cool roof, right? On the left is the North-Central Croatia coat of arms, and on the right is the Seal of Zagreb.

The Croatian Prime Minister's office building. This building was targeted in the war in the 1990s, and was damaged by air raids by the Yugoslav forces in 1991. You can see the bright orange tiles that replaced the ones damaged in the war.

The Croatian Prime Minister’s office building. This building was targeted in the war in the 1990s, and was damaged by air raids by the Yugoslav forces in 1991. You can see the bright orange tiles that replaced the ones damaged in the war.

Did you know that Nikola Tesla was born in Croatia? This plaque honors him. Also, notice that the streetlight by the door is an old fashioned gaslight! In fact, Zagreb has 217 functioning gas lights around the city, and all of them have to be lit and put out each day by a couple of city employees.

Did you know that Nikola Tesla was born in Croatia? This plaque honors him. Also, notice that the streetlight by the door is an old fashioned gaslight! In fact, Zagreb has 217 functioning gas lights around the city, and all of them have to be lit and put out each day by a couple of city employees.

This used to be Zagreb’s red light district! (Prostitution is now illegal in Zagreb) Locals are quick to point out that the front balconies of these houses have great views of the town’s Cathedral.

This used to be Zagreb’s red light district! (Prostitution is now illegal in Zagreb) Locals are quick to point out that the front balconies of these houses have great views of the town’s Cathedral. Oh, the irony…

The main pedestrian drag in Zagreb. Tons of fun bars, great restaurants, and cute shops.

The main pedestrian drag in Zagreb. Tons of fun bars, great restaurants, and cute shops.

Be sure to duck inside to see the chandeliers that came from Las Vegas in the 1970s. Gaudy, right?!

Be sure to duck inside to see the chandeliers that came from Las Vegas in the 1970s. Gaudy, right?

Why you should not use limestone for building churches in a cold climate. The spire on the left is made of limestone and was worn down from years of harsh winters in Zagreb.

Church Building 101: Why you should not use limestone for elaborate buildings in a cold climate. The spire on the left is made of limestone and was worn down from years of harsh winters in Zagreb.

When you walk out of the train station, this is what greets you. Not bad!

When you walk out of the train station, this is what greets you. Not bad!

Beautiful Magnolia trees in Zagreb.

Beautiful Magnolia trees in Zagreb.

Someone here has a green thumb.

Someone here has a green thumb.

More parks and green spaces in Zagreb.

More parks and green spaces in Zagreb.

If all that walking wears you out, stop by Eli’s Caffe for a good Latte. We told the barista we were from Seattle, and he wanted to talk our ears off about Vivace Coffee. (Vivace is a great spot for coffee if you’re ever in Seattle, by the way.)

Lattes at Eli's Caffe.

Lattes at Eli’s Caffe.

Celebrate “America Day”

We accidentally had an “America Day” celebration in Zagreb. After having Brownies a la Mode (a classic American dessert, in my opinion), we decided to try Zagreb’s best Burger. We’ve been jonesing for a good burger, especially after going nearly 8 months in Thailand without beef (pork is a lot cheaper and tastier than beef in Thailand). We haven’t even LOOKED at a gas or charcoal grill since leaving Seattle in April 2014, so it was high time we remedied the problem.

A delicious American Pale Ale, brewed at a tiny microbrewery here in Zagreb. Tasted just like what you might order back home in Seattle!

A delicious American Pale Ale, brewed at a tiny microbrewery here in Zagreb. Tasted just like what you might order back home in Seattle!

Enter Rocket Burger, allegedly the best burger available in Croatia. They use an indoor griddle to cook up their burgers, but we’ll take what we can get.

A delicious Cheddar Bacon Supreme at Rocket Burger. A beef patty, slice of cheddar, beer-caramelized onions, a couple pieces of bacon, ketchup, tomato, lettuce, and a secret sauce. YUM.

A delicious Cheddar Bacon Supreme at Rocket Burger. A beef patty, slice of cheddar, beer-caramelized onions, a couple pieces of bacon, ketchup, tomato, lettuce, and a secret sauce. YUM.

We ordered up a couple Cheddar Bacon Supremes with fries and American Pale Ales. Nothing says America like Bacon and Cheddar on a delicious slab of ground beef, AMIRITE? To top it all off, AC/DC was playing on the radio. We miss home!

How to Get from Split to Zagreb

If you talk to any local in Split, they’ll tell you to take the bus to get from Split to Zagreb. It can take anywhere from 4.5 to 8 hours, with a one-way ticket costing between 90 and 175 Kuna (or about $12.60 to $24.50). However, we learned in Spain that not all buses have an onboard bathroom, and a reconnaissance mission to Split’s bus station confirmed our fears. I’m neurotic about drinking SO MUCH WATER everyday, so I’m not super fond of being trapped anywhere without a bathroom.

That’s where trains come in. I love trains in Europe! In general they’ve been impressively clean and pretty darn comfortable. We lucked out and got in on a half-price sale on our tickets from Split to Zagreb, so we paid only 112 Kuna/person (about $15.70).

Split's tiny, sunny train station. Off we go to Zagreb!

Split’s tiny, sunny train station. Off we go to Zagreb!

The train journey is scheduled to take 6 hours, but is frequently late. We arrived about 40-minutes behind schedule. Part of that delay was due to a 20-minute smoke break halfway through the trip:

Talk about a mass exodus from the train. Smoking is a lot more common here, and almost everyone got out at this stop.

Talk about a mass exodus from the train. Smoking is a lot more common here, and almost everyone got out at this stop.

The scenery train ride to Zagreb is beautiful (and impossible to capture from inside of a moving train). We wound our way past dramatic limestone cliffs, had beautiful views of the Adriatic sea, and even climbed through a snowy mountain range!

Snow on our train ride to Zagreb.

Snow on our train ride to Zagreb.

We started to get cabin fever before we arrived in Zagreb. Do as the locals do and bring a bunch of snacks and entertainment:

Folks on the train playing cards!

Folks on the train playing cards!

We Want to Hear From You!

Have you visited any towns that fly below the average tourist’s radar like Zagreb does? We’d love to hear about them. Please leave us a comment and let us know!

Eating and Drinking in Split, Croatia

Split is the perfect place for a scenic picnic!

Split is the perfect place for a scenic picnic!

Split’s food scene has a little something for everyone. With bargain basement prices, Eating and Drinking in Split, Croatia is a complete joy. We didn’t have high hopes for this small city based on things we had read in guidebooks, so we were pleasantly surprised with the restaurant and wine options. While the food definitely won’t hold up if you measure it against places like Italy or France, it’s got a few hidden gems that will satisfy any seafood craving or sweet tooth.

If all else fails, you can hit a supermarket to pick up sandwich supplies and hike to the top of Marjan Park to have a wonderful picnic with unparalleled views. I mean, LOOK at the photo at the top of this post. Incredible. Now, onward to the eating and drinking!

First, Booze.

Have you ever seen a Croatian wine at your local grocery store? No one has! So we were surprised to find that Croatia produces some really fantastic wines. Anthony Bourdain even came to Croatia to do an episode of his show “No Reservations” and visited a bunch of the wineries up and down the wonderful country of Croatia. I don’t know much about wine, but I’m told the weather here is great for wineries. Something about how the hot sun and cool wind is like a magic playground for grape vines to live in. (News flash: being abroad hasn’t made my wine palate more refined…)

We tried some nice wines, like this one from the little island of Hvar:

Juho'v wine from Hvar.

Juho’v wine from Hvar.

But we found a place that was REALLY our speed after living in Split for a couple of weeks. Come with me to the magical place that is the Iločki Podrumi winery store. It’s a bit hard to find online, at least for English speakers, but it’s located here on a map. For between $2.25 and $4 you bring in your own 1 Liter bottle and they’ll fill it up with the wine of your choice!

Wine Heaven

Wine Heaven

If wine isn’t your thang, then boy have I got a surprise for you. You can buy a giant 2-liter plastic bottle of beer at the grocery store for just $2.50!

Enormous beer from the Croatian grocery store.

Enormous beer from the Croatian grocery store.

I honestly can’t imagine a better drink to be sold in a beach town than these plastic 2-liter bottles of crappy beer. I bet they sell like hotcakes in the summertime in Split. Just grab yourself one of these puppies, throw on your speedo, head to the beach, and you’ve got the perfect Saturday on your hands.

If you value quality over quantity, Croatia has you covered (barely). The best beer we found in Croatia was Tomislav:

Tomislav, a dark beer. Turns out, this is the only Croatian beer we tried that we'd deem worth buying again. We miss Seattle beer!

Tomislav, a dark beer. Turns out, this is the only Croatian beer we tried that we’d deem worth buying again. We miss Seattle beer!

Our advice with regards to booze in Croatia? Focus on the wine, skip the beers.

Paradox Wine and Cheese Bar

Since we’re focusing on Wine, let’s talk about one of wine’s best friends: cheese. If you’re not going to order Paradox Wine Bar‘s Island of Pag cheese trilogy when you’re in Split, you might as well stay home. If you come here and do not get it, I will never speak to you again. For realsies.

Allow me to share with you a few quotes from Kevin and I when we shared this cheese plate: “I’ve died and gone to heaven“, “OMG SO GOOD I WANT TO EAT ALL OF IT“, “Holy **** this **** is amazing“, “This is better than our wedding day“. Ok that last one is an exaggeration (albeit a small one), but I’m serious, this cheese…

The Island of Pag is famous for its cheeses, so famous that it has its own Wikipedia page. The reason their cheese is so stellar is that Pag has very, very special climate. The weather apparently makes the island a mystical wonderland full of unicorns and rainbows for the happy cows and sheep that graze there. They produce the milk that is turned into this delicious cheese that I would happily eat for every meal for the rest of my life. (Alas, one cannot survive on cheese alone… can you even IMAGINE attempting that?!)

Without further ado, here’s a look at the glorious plate of goodness from Paradox:

The Island of Pag Cheese Trilogy.

The Island of Pag Cheese Trilogy.

It has three types of cheese (hence the name “trilogy”). Bottom right is Pag’s most famous cheese, Paški Sir, which is made from sheep’s milk. Our favorite was the top left, an aged cow’s cheese. Also included was the delicious mix of cow and sheep’s milk cheese on the bottom left. Each one was paired with its own jam (strawberry, fig, or quince), and it came with dried fruits and a basket of bread. All of this for about $12.

While you’re at Paradox, you obviously have to try some of Croatia’s wines. They have glasses ranging from about $3 all the way up to $8.

Enjoying some wines with Kevin.

Enjoying some wines with Kevin.

One of the best thing about Paradox, though, was the friendliness and unpretentiousness of the waiters. They were super knowledgable of their wines and didn’t make you feel bad for not being a wine expert yourself. On our first visit, one guy even told us all about what makes Croatian Pršut (Prosciutto) so special and gave us a free sample plate cut fresh off the house pork hock. (Pršut is smoked before curing, giving it a distinct flavor when compared to cured Iberican Ham in Spain or Parma Ham in Italy.)

Best Menu: Villa Spiza Restaurant

The inside of the small but mighty Villa Spiza restaurant in Split.

The inside of the small but mighty Villa Spiza restaurant in Split.

I am a HUGE fan of places that base their menu on what was freshest at the produce and fish markets that morning. Villa Spiza‘s constantly changing menu is handwritten each day based on what they got from the market. They specialize in seafood, which is definitely what you should eat when you visit coastal Split. We had everything from boiled shark to shrimp pasta to the freshest most enormous prawns I’ve ever seen in my life.

Enormous prawns!

Enormous prawns!

Awesome pasta with shrimp.

Awesome pasta with shrimp.

Boiled shark! Can't believe we ate shark!

Boiled shark! Can’t believe we ate shark!

Villa Spiza also serves a local Croatian specialty, Bakalar. Locals go nuts for it. In fact, we walked up to a different restaurant one day and were looking at the menu when a group of folks walked up and looked at the specials on the chalkboard. When one guy saw Bakalar, he raised his arms in the air and hollered “Bakalar!!” with the biggest grin on his face you’ve ever seen.

Bakalar at Villa Spiza

Bakalar at Villa Spiza

What is Bakalar? It’s dried salted cod, rehydrated and cooked in a tomato sauce with potatoes. I prefer my fish fresh instead of dehydrated, but you gotta try it once. Kevin had this at a different restaurant, and said it was MUCH better at Villa Spiza.

They also make amazing soups that look ugly but taste great:

We also had fabulous meatballs there. Comfort food at its finest:

Delicious meatballs at Villa Spiza.

Delicious meatballs at Villa Spiza.

But the ONE thing that kept us coming back is their sandwiches. Oh, the glorious, wonderful sandwiches. They’re a little different each day depending on who makes it, but that’s half the fun.

The best sandwich ever: ham, egg and cheese.

The best sandwich ever: ham, egg and cheese.

Runner up: braised pork with brie. YUM.

Runner up: braised pork with brie. YUM.

I don’t know about you, but I’m a little hungry now.

Best Desserts: Luka Ice Cream & Cakes

I’ll keep this brief, because honestly it shouldn’t take much convincing to get you to go to Luka. A scoop of ice cream at Luka costs just 7 Kuna, or just shy of $1. ONE DOLLAR! With tasty “normal” flavors like tiramisu, chocolate, and pistachio, and “adventurous” flavors like carrot and pink lemonade, there is something at Luka for everyone. I also love that they make their ice cream in-house with high quality ingredients; this means flavors are constantly rotating and their ‘scream is always the freshest.

A terrible photo of their wonderful Ice Cream.

A terrible photo of their wonderful Ice Cream.

If you don’t like Ice Cream (though seriously, who doesn’t like ice cream?!), try their cakes:

Chocolate Hazelnut Cake and Tiramisu. YUM.

Chocolate Hazelnut Cake and Tiramisu. YUM.

Drinkable Coffee: Viva Cafe

A "Coffee with Milk" at Viva Cafe.

A “Coffee with Milk” at Viva Cafe.

First, let me say, there is a LOW coffee bar in Croatia. In fact, there’s a pretty low bar for coffee in all of Europe from what I can tell. This may be my Seattle roots talking, enhanced by my time in the coffee mecca that is Chiang Mai, Thailand. (Who knew Chiang Mai would have SUCH a huge coffee scene?!)

However, if you’re in Split on a sunny day, there’s really nothing better than hunkering down and having yourself a mediocre latte while soaking up some sunshine. (Okay, maybe soaking up sunshine while having a delicious latte would be better, but I take what I can get.) If you care more about the views than the coffee, pick any place along Split’s waterfront “Riva” area.

Soaking up some sunshine at Viva Cafe on People's Square. Split's clock tower is there over my left shoulder.

Soaking up some sunshine at Viva Cafe on People’s Square. Split’s clock tower is there over my left shoulder.

If you prefer to have a coffee that’s drinkable and not like a cup of burned mud, we recommend Viva Cafe, located here on People’s Square in the heart of Split’s Old City.

Must Have Snack Foods in Split

I’ve probably said enough already to cause any traveler to gain at least 10lbs on a visit to Split, but I’m going to step completely over the line into greasy Snack Foods. Come on this journey with me; trust me, these foods are worth it. You can eat healthy when you get home.

What is the snack-food theme in Split? It’s anything cheesy, greasy, and starchy. In short, it’s the perfect vacation food, or hangover food, or it’s-a-sunny-day food. Make up your own reason to have these treats, I won’t judge. I would consider any of these snacks to be the perfect sinful companion to a huge 2-liter bottle of Ojuško beer.

The single best treat-yo’self snack food in Split is Burek. It comes in several different varieties, but traditionally is just salty cheese baked inside a puff pastry.

"Burek Sir", or Cheese Burek. Definitely yummy.

“Burek Sir”, or Cheese Burek. Definitely yummy.

The best place in Split to get Burek, hands down, is St. Burek, located here. It’s just 10 Kuna (about $1.40) for each enormous piece of Burek. Be sure you try their Apple variety (totally our fave) and the Spinach and Cheese version.

Look for this little hole-in-the-wall place called St. Burek to get the tastiest best value Burek in town.

Look for this little hole-in-the-wall place called St. Burek to get the tastiest best value Burek in town.

Spinach Burek from St. Burek. I kid you not, this pastry was the size of my face.

Spinach Burek from St. Burek. I kid you not, this pastry was the size of my face.

The clear winner, Apple burek. This is only my half what Kevin and I split. This one, too, was the size of an adult face. We weren't hungry for like 6 hours afterwards...

The clear winner, Apple burek. This is only my half what Kevin and I split. This one, too, was the size of a fully grown person’s face. We weren’t hungry for like 6 hours afterwards…

If you want something a little lighter, but still a bit greasy, I recommend Soparnik. It’s a local Croatian specialty of swiss chard, onion, parsley, garlic and olive oil inside a flatbread. The best place to get this snack is at the Green Market on sunny days in the morning.

Soparnik, one of Croatia's favorite snacks. Fair warning, after eating this you'll smell like garlic for approximately 83 hours.

Soparnik, one of Croatia’s favorite snacks. Fair warning, after eating this you’ll smell like garlic for approximately 83 hours.

We Want to Hear From You!

What is the BEST food you’ve ever eaten on any of your travels?! Crêpes in Paris? BBQ in Texas? Tacos in Mexico? Lobster in Maine? Curry in Thailand? Leave us a comment to let us know!

Krka National Park

Beautiful Krka National Park

Beautiful Krka National Park

In the last couple weeks, I’ve been posting about the day trips we went on during our month when we were based in Split, Croatia. I wrote about our wonderful trip to Dubrovnik and about our foray into Bosnia, but I’ve saved the best for last.

Kevin and I in front of the falls!

Kevin and I in front of the falls!

We were so surprised at what we found on our day trip to Krka National Park in Croatia. During our drive to Krka, we started wondering how there could possibly be waterfalls in this area; all we could see were rolling hills and not even a hint that there were any lakes around. Lo and Behold, a few minutes after we got off the expressway, we found the enormous lakes that are part of Krka National Park:

Lakes near the Krka entrance in Skradin, Croatia

Lakes near the Krka entrance in Skradin, Croatia

Krka National Park is often overshadowed by Plitvice National Park, a bigger park with more waterfalls located further North in Croatia (about a 3-hour drive from Split). Most people will tell you that Plitvice has the best waterfalls in Croatia, which means they also have more crowds. We were planning to visit on our way up to Zagreb, but got discouraged based on the park’s lack of services in the Winter time.

A Fun little platform for viewing the falls.

A Fun little platform for viewing the falls.

The climate at Plitvice is much colder than Krka’s, so there was reportedly still snow on the ground when we were in Croatia in March. Also, only half of Plitvice is accessible in the Winter because park boats and buses aren’t running, so we decided to add it to our later-in-life travel list and visit Krka this time.

Beautiful Skradinski Buk Falls inside Krka National Park

Beautiful Skradinski Buk Falls inside Krka National Park

Luckily for us, Krka is the perfect place to visit on a sunny day in March! It wasn’t warm enough to swim (many people visit Krka specifically for the swimming), but we had the park almost completely to ourselves. We saw only SEVEN other tourists in our 3-4 hours in the park! SEVEN. Plus a dog.

We visited Krka in the Spring, on March 17th. The trees are starting to bloom in the park!

We visited Krka in the Spring, on March 17th. The trees are starting to bloom in the park!

This blog post will be filled mostly with photos (which totally don’t do the park justice, by the way) and some helpful hints for tourists.

Krka’s Main Attraction: Skradinski Buk Waterfall

The Breathtaking Skradinski Buk Waterfall

The Breathtaking Skradinski Buk Waterfall

The Skradinski Buk Waterfall is THE reason people visit Krka. It’s a huge, impressive, multi-tiered waterfall with a “rustic” swimming area at the very bottom. Even Kevin was impressed with the waterfall, which is saying something since he grew up in the Pacific Northwest (home of tons of beautiful waterfalls).

Skradinski Buk Waterfalls. Notice how there are NO other people on the bridge. Hooray!

Skradinski Buk Waterfalls. Notice how there are NO other people on the bridge. Hooray!

A fantastic 1.5-mile boardwalk path makes a loop around the whole Skradinski Buk area. I loved the boardwalk so much we almost walked it twice!

The Boardwalk is amazing.

The Boardwalk is amazing.

Loving the Boardwalk.

Loving the Boardwalk.

Check out how empty the park is! Jackpot.

Check out how empty the park is! Jackpot.

Krka. <3

Krka. :-)

The water was running really high when we visited - almost over the top of the boardwalk!

The water was running really high when we visited – almost over the top of the boardwalk!

So beautiful!

So beautiful!

Visit Krka, it's the best!

Visit Krka, it’s the best!

Last boardwalk photo, I promise.

Last boardwalk photo, I promise.

The park is dotted with a few restaurants and shops, or you can find a great little spot for a picnic:

We sat on these cute little tree stumps and ate a picnic lunch. Not a soul was around - we had the falls all to ourselves!

We sat on these cute little tree stumps and ate a picnic lunch. Not a soul was around – we had the falls all to ourselves!

If you get tired of the falls, there are also plenty of exhibits there are part of the park’s “ethno village” that explains some of Croatia’s history:

The Boardwalk loop feeds you right into the Ethno Village exhibits.

The Boardwalk loop feeds you right into the Ethno Village exhibits.

Hitting on a mannequin at the weaving exhibit in Krka's Ethno Village. Not weird at all.

Hitting on a mannequin at the weaving exhibit in Krka’s Ethno Village. Not weird at all.

Using water to power lots of Croatian contraptions.

Using water to power lots of Croatian contraptions.

One such contraption - this is used to soften fabric for wearing. The water powers the legs, which basically beat the fabric to soften it.

One such contraption – this is used to soften fabric for wearing. The water powers the legs, which basically beat the fabric to soften it.

The diagram helps make a little more sense of it.

The diagram helps make a little more sense of it.

The washing area in the Ethno Exhibit. We learned that up until the 1970s, people still used the Krka river to wash clothing!

The washing area in the Ethno Exhibit. We learned that up until the 1970s, people still used the Krka river to wash clothing!

Grain mills at Krka National Park.

Grain mills at Krka National Park.

And here is Kevin with a plastic donkey...

And here is Kevin with a plastic donkey…

There's even a blacksmith exhibit.

There’s even a blacksmith exhibit.

The Ethno Village exhibits are all built right into the Krka river. At the very least, it's fun to look at.

The Ethno Village exhibits are all built right into the Krka river. At the very least, it’s fun to look at.

Krka National Park Entrances

Skradinski Buk Waterfall

Skradinski Buk Waterfall

Krka National Park covers over 42 square miles, so you want to be sure you know where you’re going. If you’re mainly interested in the Skradinski Buk Falls like we were, you want to use either the Lozovac or Skradin entrances.

Krka National Park is well worth the drive from Split.

Krka National Park is well worth the drive from Split.

To get to Lozovac, you take the “Šibenik” exit from the A-1 expressway and drive 7 miles to the entrance. It’s pretty well-signed and easy to find. From about April through October, a shuttle bus runs from the free Lozovac parking lots down to the waterfall. During Winter months, you can just drive your own car down to the falls, which is what we did.

The pictures will never do Krka justice. It is so beautiful.

The pictures will never do Krka justice. It is so beautiful.

To enter in the park in the town of Skradin, take the “Skradin” exit from the A-1 expressway, then drive just 3-miles following signs to the park. From Skradin, you board a boat by foot to get to the Skradinski Buk falls. During summer months, the boat runs hourly. In the winter months, I don’t think boats run. In spring/fall (roughly October, March and April), the boat only runs every 2 hours. Like everything in Croatia, there isn’t much concrete info online regarding the boat. When we arrived at 11:30am in Skradin, we found we had just missed the 11am boat. In 2015, Spring/Fall boats run at 9am, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. If you have your own car and just barely miss the boat, you can easily drive over to the Lozovac entrance and enter there instead of waiting two hours for the next departure.

If you miss the boat in Skradin, the views on the short drive to Lozovac are amazing!

If you miss the boat in Skradin, the views on the short drive to Lozovac are amazing!

No matter where you enter, you pay the same entrance fee. The price changes depending on the season, and includes the boat ride if you choose to enter at Skradin. Nov-Feb costs 30 Kuna ($4.30), March-May and October is 90 Kuna ($13), and June-Sep is 110 Kuna ($16).

A not-to-be-missed day trip from Split.

A not-to-be-missed day trip from Split.

For the latest Krka National Park information, visit their website.

For Pete’s Sake, Rent a Car

Kevin finds his second calling as a Park Ranger.

Kevin finds his second calling as a Park Ranger.

I’m going to reiterate what I wrote in my post about our day trip to Mostar. If you’re staying in Split and want to do day trips, you just need to rent a car. It takes only an hour to drive yourself to Krka National Park, while using public transportation takes about 4 hours and involves taking two different buses. It’s especially nice to have a car in the low season, because buses run on a reduced schedule, as does the Krka Park ferry.

A Stopover in Trogir

If you’re driving to Krka, you might as well make a pit stop in Trogir on your way home! When you leave Krka, head towards Šibenik, and hop on Highway 8 to drive the beautiful winding road down the coast to get to Trogir. The views on the drive are worth taking the road less traveled, but Trogir is a big bonus.

Trogir's fun little "Boardwalk" area.

Trogir’s fun little “Boardwalk” area.

The Historic City of Trogir is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site List, which means so darn cute and historic that you won’t want to leave. (Disclaimer: I’m pretty sure UNESCO has more stringent requirements than being “cute”, but hey, work with me here.) Trogir is a town soaked in medieval architecture, surrounded by water, and full of tourist traps. They even have a sexy shop, because obviously every medieval town needs its own Sexy Shop?

Trogir's "Sexy Shop".

Trogir’s “Sexy Shop”.

In spite of the tourist traps, it’s just a fun little town to meander through. All of the cute little lanes inside the old wall are pedestrian-only spaces, so it’s nice to just wander around and see what you find.

A Beautiful church in Trogir, Croatia.

A Beautiful church in Trogir, Croatia.

Trogir's Fortress, now primarily used for musical performances.

Trogir’s Fortress, now primarily used for musical performances.

Trogir's Fortress

Trogir’s Fortress

Walking along the water in Trogir.

Walking along the water in Trogir.

The Trogir Cathedral

The Trogir Cathedral

If you’re tired of seeing old-ass buildings, you can sit yourself down at a park and watch a group of gentlemen gamble on Bocce Ball and Chess games.

High Stakes Bocce Ball. Money changed hands after every game!

High Stakes Bocce Ball. Money changed hands after every game!

Crazy chess games happening over there right now.

Crazy chess games happening over there right now.

At the very least, stop by Trogir to enjoy its slow pace and take in the beautiful views:

Beautiful views from Trogir.

Beautiful views from Trogir.

We Want to Hear From You!

Have you visited any National Parks abroad? How have they compared to our awesome National and State parks in the States?

Our Day Trip from Split to Mostar

The Beautiful City of Mostar, in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Beautiful City of Mostar, in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

One of the reasons we chose Split for our home base in Croatia is because it is the perfect launch point for tons of day trips! Last week, I posted about our day trip to Dubrovnik. This week, I’m posting about a Day Trip across the border to a country I never thought I’d ever visit – Bosnia. (While most people just call the country Bosnia for short, its full name is technically “Bosnia and Herzegovina”. I’m going to refer to it as Bosnia in this post.)

My love of doors continues. Sometimes wear and tear makes a door even more beautiful. There is so much to look at in Mostar, it is overwhelming.

My love of doors continues. Sometimes wear and tear makes a door even more beautiful. There is so much to look at in Mostar, it is overwhelming.

Our destination was the small city of Mostar, a beautiful little town that still has plenty of very visible scars from the terrible war of the 1990s. I’ve never been somewhere where the scars from a war were still so raw. Buildings were pockmarked from bullets, some high rises still had gaping mortar blast holes, and ruined abandoned buildings seemed to be around every corner.

On our Day Trip from Split to Mostar, we learned a lot about the war, enjoyed some good food, and learned a thing or two about how people from different cultural and religious backgrounds live together peacefully now in Bosnia.

Armed with a self-guided walking tour on my Kindle, we explored Mostar.

Armed with a self-guided walking tour on my Kindle, we explored Mostar.

I hope you enjoy seeing Mostar through our eyes! Happy travels, friends.

Lessons on War

Mostar has been a very diverse city for hundreds of years, dating all the way back to the Ottoman occupation which brought a strong Muslim influence to the area. Leading up to the war in the 1990s, Mostar was home to three main ethnic groups: the “Bosniaks”, the “Croats”, and the Serbs. Bosniaks practice Islam while the Croats are Catholic, but both groups have mostly Slavic ancestors.

For years and years, Mostar took pride in the fact that these three ethnic groups lived together peacefully in their beautiful city. In fact, Mostar had one of the highest rates of mixed-ethnicity marriages in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Before the war in the 1990s, Mostar was about 35% Bosniak, 34% Croat, and 19% Serbs, and everyone lived in harmony.

Then everything fell apart. In April of 1992, Bosnia & Herzegovina declared its independence from Yugoslavia, which threw the country into chaos. The Yugoslav People’s Army, mainly dominated by Serbs, moved to take control of Mostar and began occupying the mostly-Bosniak East side of the city. Bosniaks and Croats took refuge together on the West side. A few weeks later, when the Serb forces withdrew from Mostar, some extreme factions started gathering up the Serbs left in town, torturing and murdering them.

War Ruins in Mostar.

War Ruins in Mostar.

Most Bosniaks moved back to the East side of town, while many of the Croats stayed in the West, sometimes even moving into apartments that used to house Serbs. A tentative calm fell over the city until May 1993, when the Croat military began bombing the city. Any Bosniaks left on the West side of the Neretva river were forced to move to the East side. Bosniak men were sent away and forced to work in concentration camps. The Bosniaks left in Mostar were forcibly confined in what amounted to a ghetto on the east side of the river.

An abandoned, ruined building in Mostar.

An abandoned, ruined building in Mostar.

In a City that previously saw past a person’s ethnicity, it was a drastic change to this place where neighbors were fighting neighbors, friends against friends, even cousins against cousins. Families were torn apart. The Mostar siege of 1993 and 1994 was terrible, and at times strange. The Croats laid heavy siege to the Bosniak side of town, sometimes blaring annoying music and propaganda speeches from loudspeakers. Bosniaks avoided venturing out during the day time, and were in constant fear of sniper fire. If people were killed on the street, their bodies were sometimes left to rot for months for fear that someone would be killed if they tried to recover them.

This fence marks the site that the city donated to Mostar’s Jewish families so they could build a Synagogue. The land was donated in recognition of the courageous work they did during the war as aid workers and intermediaries between the Croats and Bosniaks.

This fence marks the site that the city donated to Mostar’s Jewish families so they could build a Synagogue. The land was donated in recognition of the courageous work they did during the war as aid workers and intermediaries between the Croats and Bosniaks.

Nowhere in Mostar is damage from the war more evident than the East side of the Neretva river. We wandered past a park-turned-cemetery called the New Muslim Cemetery, where every grave holds someone who was killed during the siege in the 90s. The park was covered by trees, so it was relatively safe to venture out at night-time to bury soldiers and civilians killed by shells or sniper fire.

The New Muslim Cemetery, which used to be a park, now holds graves of soldiers and civilians killed in the war.

The New Muslim Cemetery, which used to be a park, now holds graves of soldiers and civilians killed in the war.

On the Bosniak side of Mostar, we wandered past abandoned buildings pockmarked with holes from bullets. It’s hard to believe the war ended 20 years ago when there are still so many visible scars on buildings. Just uphill from the New Muslim Cemetery stood this abandoned structure:

Further North, we ventured through the town’s hopping cafe scene where lots of young people were out smoking and drinking coffees. Looming high above the cafes was a building that had huge mortar holes in it. Seeing it was like getting kicked in the stomach; it just takes your breath away.

Huge holes from mortar fire. These holes are over 20 years old now.

Huge holes from mortar fire. These holes are over 20 years old now.

Why is there so much damage on the Bosniak side of the river? We learned that there are still so many ruins standing here because of some confusion over who owns what building. The Yugo Bank held mortgages on many of these properties before it went out of business, and no one wants to invest in any construction on these buildings until clear ownership is established. Until ownership gets figured out, many abandoned structures with giant mortar holes gouged in their walls tower above the coffee shops in this side of Mostar.

The juxtaposition of new buildings against old, condemned ones is enough to give a tourist whiplash. Here’s a new construction next to a building that needs demolished:

This building would've been on the front lines of the war. It sits right up against the Neretva River.

This building would’ve been on the front lines of the war. It sits right up against the Neretva River.

It’s hard to wrap your head around what the people of Mostar have been through. But they are rebuilding. New Mosques have been rebuilt all over the city:

A new Catholic Church named the Franciscan Church of Saints Peter and Paul was built in 1997:

Mostar's new Catholic Church

Mostar’s new Catholic Church

It feels like Mostar is slowly healing from the awful year in the 1990s, putting itself back together again.

Graffiti on a new building in Mostar.

Graffiti on a new building in Mostar.

Mostar’s Famous “Old Bridge”

Mostar's Old Bridge, spanning the Neretva River.

Mostar’s Old Bridge, spanning the Neretva River.

In spite of the terrible scars left in Mostar from the war, it is still a beautiful city. It’s situated in the gorgeous green Neretva river valley, surrounded by mountains. No landmark in Mostar is more beautiful or more loved by the city’s residents than the Old Bridge, spanning the Neretva river. Because the East side of Mostar is predominantly Muslim “Bosniak”, and the west side is mostly the Catholic “Croats”, the bridge is considered to be a powerful symbol of the point where East meets West, a metaphor that very different cultures and religions can live in peace together.

The view under the bridge to the cute row of shops on the East side of the river known as Coppersmiths' Street. It gets its name from the many vendors who sell hammered-copper decorations. You can also buy old things from the Yugoslav Army, like spent bullet and shell casings.

The view under the bridge to the cute row of shops on the East side of the river known as Coppersmiths’ Street. It gets its name from the many vendors who sell hammered-copper decorations. You can also buy old things from the Yugoslav Army, like spent bullet and shell casings.

A closer view of Coppersmiths' Street.

A closer view of Coppersmiths’ Street.

Sadly, the bridge did not escape the horrors of the war. It was repeatedly caught in the crossfire, then in November of 1993 the bridge was hit directly by a shell and collapsed into the Neretva river below. The river turned red after the collapse because of the color of the mortar used in between the stones; locals said the bridge was bleeding.

Kevin's out there in the center of the bridge, if you can spot him!

Kevin’s out there in the center of the bridge, if you can spot him!

After fighting ended, the bridge was rebuilt exactly the way it was before. The huge project was funded mostly by private donors (costing over $13 million!) and was overseen by UNESCO. They built the bridge using old-fashioned methods (wooden scaffolding and old iron hooks to fasten blocks together), and even went so far as to hand carve blocks from the same exact quarry used for the original bridge.

Beautiful buildings next to the Old Bridge.

Beautiful buildings next to the Old Bridge.

Finally, in July of 2004, the reconstruction of the Old Bridge was finished and opened to foot traffic once again.

Here's Kevin on the pedestrian-only bridge. Interestingly, we met a guy on the bridge from Missouri who was currently stationed over here in Sarajevo for the U.S. Army! Small world.

Here’s Kevin on the pedestrian-only bridge. Interestingly, we met a guy on the bridge from Missouri who was currently stationed over here in Sarajevo for the U.S. Army! Small world.

Fun fact: there is a Mostar diver’s club of folks who daringly jump from the bridge into the Neretva river 75 feet below! There was no one diving when we were in town because it was February, but it’s a big thing in the Summertime. Divers will solicit money from passersby until they get about 30 euro, then they’ll make the jump!

Eating and Drinking in Mostar

Hindin Han

Hindin Han Restaurant in Mostar.

Hindin Han Restaurant in Mostar.

By the time we reached Mostar, I was at hunger emergency level Orange. That is near crisis level, and comes with grumpiness, mood swings, and a big fat frown. Luckily, we wandered past Hindin Han, one of Mostar’s top reviewed restaurants. It’s located a very short walk from the Old Bridge and has a fun outdoor deck that looks down on the Neretva River. We lucked out with a warm, sunny February day and sat outside

Enjoying some warm February weather on the deck at Hindin Han!

Enjoying some warm February weather on the deck at Hindin Han!

We ordered a Balkan specialty that we’ve seen on menus in Croatia and Bosnia – Ćevapčići. It’s sort of like kebab, but the minced meat is instead shaped into small sausages then grilled. It was only like $3, but it came with TEN little sausages, all hiding under a delicious somun flatbread. It also came with fries which were sprinkled with what I’m prrrrrretty sure is knock-off Red Robin seasoning. Delicious.

Ćevapčići at Hindin Han. DELICIOUS.

Ćevapčići at Hindin Han. DELICIOUS.

We also ordered the dish recommended by our waiter called Sarajevsko Točendo. It was a veal cutlet stuffed with smoked meat and cheese, covered in a mushroom sauce. Because every steak deserves to be stuffed with cheese and more meat, right?

Sarajevsko Točendo at Hindin Han

Sarajevsko Točendo at Hindin Han

Bosnian Coffee

When in Bosnia, one must try Bosnian coffee. Sure, it might feel like you’re drinking battery acid. The bitterness of the incredibly strong coffee is only made worse if you oversweeten it with a whole sugar cube.

So what is Bosnian coffee, anyway? Similar to Turkish coffee (though definitely different – never call it Turkish coffee unless you want your barista to hate you), it’s unfiltered and strong. It’s made by pouring hot water over coffee grounds, and is served in a cute metal cup. The metal cup has a handle so you can pour it into your ceramic drinking cup once the grounds start to settle!

Bosnian Coffee!

Bosnian Coffee!

If you take your coffee with sugar, you’re supposed to put the sugar cube in your cup before pouring the coffee over it. As a bonus, it usually comes with a piece of Turkish delight!

Bosnian Coffee 101

Bosnian Coffee 101

We didn’t know it came with turkish delight, which is the sweetest thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. Had we known that, we might have skipped the Baklava:

Baklava with our Bosnian Coffee. TOO MUCH SUGAR.

Baklava with our Bosnian Coffee. TOO MUCH SUGAR.

I was so hopped up on sugar and caffeine that I couldn’t stand still! Luckily, Bosnia has a cute little bar known as the…

Black Dog Pub

Nothing helps you come down from a sugar/caffeine induced high like a pint of beer. We wandered over to Black Dog Pub, a little dive bar that serves locally-brewed Mostar beer. We enjoyed a couple beers:

A Hefeweisen and a Red Ale at Black Dog Pub, brewed locally in Mostar.

A Hefeweisen and a Red Ale at Black Dog Pub, brewed locally in Mostar.

The beers weren’t that great, but you go for the scenery. The pub sits right on the small Radobolja River, with a view of the Crooked Bridge.

The view of Mostar's Crooked Bridge from Black Dog Pub.

The view of Mostar’s Crooked Bridge from Black Dog Pub.

The Crooked Bridge is a miniature version of the much bigger Old Bridge. It was supposedly built to practice for the construction of the big bridge! It was damaged in the war, but wasn’t destroyed. It wasn’t until severe flooding in the late 90s that the bridge was destroyed and swept away. So the bridge in the photo above is a newer reconstruction. Hard times for bridges in Mostar.

A Stopover in Počitelj

Počitelj, a fun stopover en route to Mostar.

Počitelj, a fun stopover en route to Mostar.

If you’re driving to Mostar, it’s fun to make a quick stop in the tiny town of Počitelj. Since we were making our day trip in February, Počitelj was nearly deserted, but we hear that it’s a popular stop for tourist buses in the Summer. If it looks crowded, it’s skippable. But if you have the town all to yourself, it’s amazing.

A quick hike in Počitelj.

A quick hike in Počitelj.

The cute, nearly-vertical town of Počitelj is built right into the hillside. Getting to its most worth-visiting sight, the fortress on the top of the hill, is a bit of a hike up uneven cobblestone paths. Fair warning: these cobblestone paths would be deadly in the rain. We hiked up, passing an old hammam:

An old hammam (bathhouse) in Počitelj.

An old hammam (bathhouse) in Počitelj.

The fortress that looms high above Počitelj was built by a Hungarian King in the 15th Century, and used to help push the Ottomans out of the area for a brief time.

Here's the fortress behind Kevin.

Here’s the fortress behind Kevin.

There’s not a whole lot to see inside the Fortress – I think it’s used mostly as a hangout spot for teens in Počitelj now. But it’s worth the hike for the gorgeous views of the Neretva river valley.

The other sight in Počitelj is its Mosque. Unlike most Mosques in Mostar, this one is free to enter.

The view of Počitelj's Mosque from a window high up in the Fortress.

The view of Počitelj’s Mosque from a window high up in the Fortress.

How to Get to Mostar from Split

I would never make this trip without renting a car. It’s especially worth it if you’re not a solo traveler. Buses to Mostar run about $17/person each way, so you’re looking at round trip bus fees of almost $70 for two people. The buses also take 3-4 hours depending on the route, while driving takes less than 2.5 hours. If you take a bus to Mostar, it’s not worth making the trip unless you spend the night because it involves 6-8 hours round trip on a bus. If you drive, you can leave in the morning, have lunch in Mostar, and easily be back in Split in time for dinner.

Here we are in our Renault Compact Rental Car!

Here we are in our Renault Compact Rental Car!

We rented our car (an automatic) from Oryx. We recommend them because they don’t charge a fee to take the car across the border into another country. Many companies really ding you for this! Their rates were the lowest we could find; we booked directly through them, not a third-party website like Priceline/Expedia.

Look out for tractors on the road.

Look out for tractors on the road.

Here’s how our rental car costs broke down:

Cost (USD)
Compact Automatic Car with full insurance coverage $48/day*
Gas $30
Toll Roads $15
Parking in Mostar $5
Grand Total $98

*Manual cars are MUCH cheaper!

Beautiful views on the drive to Mostar.

Beautiful views on the drive to Mostar.

Ok, so we clearly spent a little more than the bus fees would’ve cost us, but we saved $25 by not staying in a hotel. Also, we rented the car for a second day (extra $48 plus $12 more dollars in gas) to visit nearby Krka national park. It’s damn near impossible to bus to Krka, especially in the winter. Save yourself some heartache and just rent a car while you’re in Croatia. Better yet, learn to drive a stick shift on hills before coming over. If you can parallel park a manual on a hill, you can handle Croatia and it’ll save you a ton of cash.

The sunset view on our drive back to Split.

The sunset view on our drive back to Split.

Traveler Tip: You’re legally required to have an International Driver’s License to drive in Bosnia. (There is currently no requirement for one in Croatia.) It’s easy to get an International License, just contact AAA to obtain one, it only costs $15. We did not have an International Driver’s License, which prrrrrobably would’ve been bad news if we’d been in an accident or had trouble at the border crossing.

We Want to Hear From You!

Beautiful Mostar

Beautiful Mostar

Have you visited any cities that have been through a major war? Which ones? I remember watching footage of the war in Bosnia in Middle School. Did walking around a place you had seen so much on the news seem as surreal to you as Mostar did to us?

A City Fit for Kings: Our Guide to Dubrovnik, Croatia

Breathtaking Dubrovnik

Breathtaking Dubrovnik

If there is one place in all of Croatia that you absolutely must visit, it’s Dubrovnik. Hailed as the “Pearl of the Adriatic Sea”, it lives up to that nickname and more. The old city is so cute that it’ll make your chest ache. It has everything you could ask for in an adorable European town: a wonderfully intact medieval wall surrounding the old city, beautiful sea views of water that’s bluer than you could ever imagine, and a hilltop viewpoint perfect for taking in a sunset over the Croatian islands. Dubrovnik also has an unforgettable backstory – this beautiful city was shelled relentlessly for a time during the war of the 1990s.

Our quick day trip to Dubrovnik will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of our month in Croatia, so we put together a Guide to Dubrovnik to help others enjoy the city as much as we did!

Dubrovnik’s Incredible History

Dubrovnik is a city full of total badasses. Reading about its history made me realize that these scrappy people have grit, soul, and a deep desire to protect their wonderful town. As a major sea-port, Dubrovnik was a very wealthy city, but the city’s most valued commodity throughout its history has always been “Libertas”. During the Middle Ages, they worked hard to maintain their independence, paying off whatever empire was most powerful at any given time. The shrewd folks running the city even went so far as to avoid ostentatious architecture and decoration in an attempt to downplay the city’s wealth. If they had adopted a more ornate style of the city, it likely would’ve cost them a lot more in bribes to the Ottoman empire.

Dubrovnik is a resilient city, repeatedly rising from the ashes of two disasters. The first was a huge earthquake in 1667, which destroyed almost all of the buildings in the Old Town. A fire raged in the town for three weeks after the quake, burning down much of the city. In fact, there’s still some damage visible today:

The ruined buildings in these photos were knocked down in the 1667 Earthquake and just never repaired. Crazy.

The ruined buildings in these photos were destroyed in the 1667 Earthquake and just never repaired. Crazy.

The second devastating event in Dubrovnik was the fighting that followed Croatia’s declaration of Independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Many Croatians fled to Dubrovnik, thinking it was safe because it’s located so far South on the Adriatic coast. However, Yugoslav Forces began attacking the city in October, 1991. At first, only military outposts and communications infrastructure were targeted. Soon, however, the Yugoslav troops started bombing residential areas and even the historic old city.

City residents hid wherever they could, hoping their cellars would be enough to protect them from the shelling. Some even hid in the medieval wall’s forts and bunkers – this was the only time in all of Dubrovnik’s history when the walls were actually used as defense against military attack!

The most amazing thing to me, though, is that the city did not fall. A scrappy Croatian army sprung up to defend their beloved town. Fathers, brothers, and husbands who weren’t trained for war dusted off their hunting rifles to protect their loved ones. The townspeople were able to keep control of a fortress high on the hill overlooking the city, surprising the Yugoslav army with their determination and strength. A group of only 25-30 newly-minted Croatian soldiers were able to “hold down the fort”, so to speak, keeping Dubrovnik from falling under the control of the Yugoslav forces. Finally, eight months after the siege on Dubrovnik started, the Croatian army liberated Dubrovnik by driving down from the North, pushing back Yugoslav forces once and for all.

A map of Old Town Dubrovnik, showing damage from the 1991-1992 Siege. Orange marks buildings that burned down completely. Black triangles are direct hits on buildings, while black circles show direct hits on the pavement. Empty triangles and circles show shrapnel damage on buildigns and pavement, respectively.

A map of Old Town Dubrovnik, showing damage from the 1991-1992 Siege. Orange marks buildings that burned down completely. Black triangles are direct hits on buildings, while black circles show direct hits on the pavement. Empty triangles and circles show shrapnel damage on buildings and pavement, respectively.

In the eight months Dubrovnik was under siege, 100 civilians lost their lives, along with more than 420 Dubrovnik citizens who were actively fighting against the Yugoslav military. More than two-thirds of the buildings in Dubrovnik were damaged in the war, and over 30,000 people were forced to flee their homes during the fighting. Ironically, the siege on Dubrovnik is said to be what turned the public opinion against Yugoslavia. Locals say that “When Yugoslavia attacked Dubrovnik, they lost the war” because the world hated to see such a beautiful and historic city being destroyed.

Dubrovnik has really bounced back since the was in the 90s. The only real marks you can see leftover from the war are the new, bright orange tiles on the roofs of so many buildings. In the photos of Dubrovnik that follow, it’s easy to see which tiles are old and which are new in the sea of orange roofs.

When to Visit Dubrovnik

There’s a reason this city was chosen as the set for King’s Landing in HBO’s Game of Thrones Series. It’s such a charming town with winding streets and tons of character. But with that charm and character also comes mobs of tourists. We visited in February and really lucked out with the weather. I’ve read that in the peak tourist season in July and August, Dubrovnik is practically unbearable because it gets mobbed by hordes of people visiting on passing Cruise Ships. For that reason, we highly recommend avoiding Dubrovnik in July and August. If you must come during high season, stay the night so you can enjoy the city early in the morning and late in the day without being constantly poked in the face by selfie sticks and umbrellas.

If you’re in Croatia off-season and are based in Split, it’s a long but worthwhile day trip if you have a rental car. The long, twisting drive down the coast can take up to 3.5 hours, but you’re rewarded with awesome views! You’ll even pass through a tiny strip of Bosnia & Herzegovina on the way. If you have the time, we recommend spending a night in Dubrovnik, then doing a day trip to Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina the next day before driving back up to Split for the night.

Some of the awesome views on the drive down to Dubrovnik.

Some of the awesome views on the drive down to Dubrovnik.

We were also treated to this sunset view on our drive home. There are no words. And yet, here I am, describing it. With my words.

We were also treated to this sunset view on our drive home. There are no words. And yet, here I am, describing it. With my words.

If you don’t have a car, there are several busses per day to Dubrovnik from Split. However, the trip take up to 6 hours and I wouldn’t make this drive on a bus without stocking up first on Dramamine.

Dubrovnik’s Best Sight: The Medieval Wall!

Easily the most awesome sight in Dubrovnik is its city walls surrounding the old city! It costs a hefty 100 Kuna (about $14) to go up, but the views you get during the fun 1.25-mile walk are worth every penny. Since we were in Dubrovnik in the low season, we shared the walls with less than a dozen other tourists. It was glorious! If you’re there during the Summer, it’s reportedly less busy in the heat of the afternoon – just bring lots of water, sunscreen, and a hat. I was toasty even though it was only in the upper 50s!

Walking around the walls, you get views of the cute city. Peek down into people’s yards and see what laundry they have hanging outside today. Chuckle at the kids playing basketball or soccer on the rooftop courts. Climb up to the top of the towers and pretend you’re manning a cannon. But most importantly, just soak in the beautiful scenery! The photos below really don’t do the city justice – you’ll just have to visit to see everything for yourself.

Amazing views from Dubrovnik's Wall.

Amazing views from Dubrovnik’s Wall.

The Adriatic Sea behind Dubrovnik.

The Adriatic Sea behind Dubrovnik.

St. Lawrence Fortress, next to Dubrovnik. Lots of scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed on the thin walkway jutting out into the water below the fortress!

St. Lawrence Fortress, next to Dubrovnik. Lots of scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed on the thin walkway jutting out into the water below the fortress!

Christmas Card 2015 Candidate. :-)

Christmas Card 2015 Candidate. :-)

Dubrovnik is a sea of orange rooftops.

Dubrovnik is a sea of orange rooftops.

Can you believe a place like this exists?

Can you believe a place like this exists?

I would LOVE to have this spot for a garden.

I would LOVE to have this spot for a garden.

One of the newer parts of the wall, and Mount Srd in the background.

One of the newer parts of the wall, and Mount Srd in the background.

Dubrovnik has no shortage of church towers.

Dubrovnik has no shortage of church towers.

This is the Stradun, the main pedestrian drag down the center of Dubrovnik.

This is the Stradun, the main pedestrian drag down the center of Dubrovnik.

The oldest, hilliest part of the wall.

The oldest, hilliest part of the wall.

My favorite part of the wall. Yay for low season - can you imagine this part packed with tourists?

My favorite part of the wall. Yay for low season – can you imagine this part packed with tourists?

Kevin's boss Greg was visiting us after a business trip in London. Wave, guys!

Kevin’s boss Greg was visiting us after a business trip in London. Wave, guys!

LOOK at that water around St. Lawrence Fortress! So blue, so beautiful.

LOOK at that water around St. Lawrence Fortress! So blue, so beautiful.

Oh you know, just a cannon hanging out on top of the wall.

Oh you know, just a cannon hanging out on top of the wall.

A rooftop soccer field / basketball court in the Old City.

A rooftop soccer field / basketball court in the Old City.

A gun turret in front of the beautiful Adriatic Sea.

A gun turret in front of the beautiful Adriatic Sea.

I <3 Dubrovnik.

I

TOURIST TIP: The wall closes waaaaaaay before sunset, earlier than you’d ever guess, which really surprised us. We barely had enough time on the wall and felt a little rushed. Be sure you visit with plenty of time to explore. This website usually keeps up to date opening and closing times.

Stroll Around the Old City

It’s fun to just get lost in the old city. With so many tiny lanes packed with cute shops and restaurants, I could wander around here for hours. It’s the perfect city to have an ice cream, sit and enjoy a slow coffee, and do a little people watching.

Walk through the city’s Pile Gate, its main entrance which used to have a moat underneath it.

Dubrovnik's Pile Gate. The moat underneath is now a kids playground.

Dubrovnik’s Pile Gate. The moat underneath is now a kids playground.

Be sure to stop and look at Dubrovnik’s clock tower, which has one of the most interesting war stories we read.

Dubrovnik's Clock Tower. The golden circle below the main clock face shows the current phase of the moon. There’s also a digital readout lower, showing the time, 3:30pm. First it has “III”, roman numerals for 3, then 30 for the minutes.

Dubrovnik’s Clock Tower. The golden circle below the main clock face shows the current phase of the moon. There’s also a digital readout lower, showing the time, 3:30pm. First it has “III”, roman numerals for 3, then 30 for the minutes.

To this day, the clock has to be wound every two days to keep ticking. For hundreds of years (1877-2005), the people responsible for winding the clock was the Krasovac family. Their house sustained a direct hit and was completely destroyed in the Siege on Dubrovnik in the 1990s, and everyone feared the keys (which were inside at the time) were lost forever. For days the clock went without winding and the bell didn’t chime. Then by some miracle, the keys were found in the street! People from all over Dubrovnik gathered around the clock tower and cheered while the clock was wound and the bell started ringing! It was a symbolic gesture, showing the Yugoslav forces all around the city that Dubrovnik would not fall. Can you imagine being one of the 25 or 30 soldiers defending Dubrovnik from the fortress on the hilltop, hearing the clock tower ring again after being silent for several days?

Enjoy the Views from Mount Srd

Mount Srd (pronounced Surge) is a fortress that sits way up on a hill above Dubrovnik. It was built by Napoleon way back in 1810, and was the crucial point from which locals defended Dubrovnik in the siege in 1991-1992. Before the siege, Dubrovnik was a popular tourist destination and a cable car to the top of the mountain was one of the top tourist attractions in the city. The cable car was destroyed in the war, and the hillside was left covered with unexploded landmines. The cable car has since been rebuilt, and all of the landmines have been removed. (Though locals will still tell you not to stray too far off the beaten path here!)

The view up towards Mount Srd, as seen from the Old City Wall.

The view up towards Mount Srd, as seen from the Old City Wall.

Views from the top of Mount Srd. This cross replaced the one that was destroyed in the Siege on Dubrovnik in the 90s.

Views from the top of Mount Srd. This cross replaced the one that was destroyed in the Siege on Dubrovnik in the 90s.

The view of Dubrovnik's walled Old City from Mount Srd.

The view of Dubrovnik’s walled Old City from Mount Srd.

It costs 100 Kuna (about $14) for a round-trip ticket on the cable car. It’s a nice ride if you don’t mind being stuck on a fixed schedule, crammed into a car with dozens of other tourists, and hanging from a surprisingly thin cable (crossing your fingers that they did their math correctly!). We think the best way to go up is to drive – there’s parking at the top and it takes 20 minutes to drive. Plus if you drive up, you can stay until sunset! The last cable car ride departs from the top JUST as sunset is at its best, which is a total bummer.

The cable car station. Here's hoping these cables hold!

The cable car station. Here’s hoping these cables hold!

Sunset views from the top of Mount Srd.

Sunset views from the top of Mount Srd.

However you decide to get up there, be sure you go. The views are amazing.

We Want to Hear From You!

Have you visited Dubrovnik? When did you go? Did you enjoy it as much as we did?!

Everyday Life in Split, Croatia

The view of beautiful Split, Croatia from a Marjan Park viewpoint.

The view of beautiful Split, Croatia from a Marjan Park viewpoint.

Croatia has been the surprise of the year for us. We picked this country because of its status as a Non-Schengen country within the EU. When you’re in Europe as long as we’re planning to be here, you have to really pay attention to visa rules in various countries. (I have a spreadsheet for this. I have a spreadsheet for everything… that hasn’t changed on our year of travel!) As Americans, you can be inside the Schengen-Visa group of countries for 90 days of any 180 day period without jumping through hoops to get an official Visa. (The Schengen-Visa group consists of most major European countries.) We picked Croatia as a place to spend about 40 days before heading back into the Schengen area, and MAN we are glad we did!

Croatia’s people are incredibly warm and friendly, the scenery is absolutely breathtaking, almost everyone speaks English, and most importantly for long-term travelers, it’s an inexpensive place to be! If Croatia wasn’t already on your travel list, it needs to be. Go ahead, update your spreadsheet. Put Croatia at the top!

By the time this post gets published, we’ll be in Zagreb, Croatia’s capitol city. After that, it’s onward to Budapest for four weeks. So for the next few weeks, I’ll be playing catchup and will be putting out posts about our adventures here in Croatia. We’ve been on several day trips: One to Dubrovnik (a City fit for Kings!), another to explore still war-torn Bosnia, and a wonderful trip to Krka National Park with its impressive waterfalls.

Stay tuned for those posts! In the meantime, here’s a peek at what everyday life in Split, Croatia has been like since we arrived here a few weeks ago. Happy Travels, friends!

When to Visit Croatia

I was serious when I said Croatia needs to be in your travel list. But when should you visit? We’ve been told by MANY locals that you should avoid July and August at all costs. Cruise ships descend on Croatia’s best cities during this time, making all of Croatia’s best attractions absolutely packed to the point of being unbearable. In addition to the crowds, accommodations are at their highest prices and the heat can be unbearable!

If you can, visit in June or September. Locals recommend September if you plan to hit the beaches so the water has warmed up a bit. June is perfect for folks who aren’t interested in water or don’t mind the cold.

One of Split's Beaches. We sure wish it was warm enough for swimming!

One of Split’s Beaches. We sure wish it was warm enough for swimming!

We’ve enjoyed being here in February and March, the lowest of the low season, when it’s rare to see other tourists. When we were recently at Krka national park, we saw just SEVEN other tourists in our entire day there! SEVEN! Low season is great, but it does come at a cost. Some restaurants and shops close up for all of Winter. Buildings everywhere are under construction. Sometimes it’s cold and rainy. We didn’t get to swim at the beaches. If you’re coming for a whole month like we have, low season is fine because you can hunker down on cold, rainy days. If you’re short on time, it’s best to avoid Winter.

During the Winter low season, there are crazy wind storms! These ships broke free of their lines and blew across the bay!

During the Winter low season, there are crazy wind storms! These ships broke free of their lines and blew across the bay!

Wind damage from a winter wind storm! This tree was blown over and uprooted, tearing up the sidewalk!

Wind damage from a winter wind storm! This tree was blown over and uprooted, tearing up the sidewalk!

Probably the worst thing about low season, though, is that the ferries operate on a very, very reduced schedule. We wanted to make a day trip to the nearby island of Hvar. But doing that involves a 2-hour car ferry early in the morning, then a 40-minute bus ride on a bus that may or may not actually be running. (Still no word on what you do if the bus isn’t running!) Reaching old town Hvar, where many shops and restaurants are probably closed up for Winter anyway, proved to be too much of a challenge for us to endure. In the summertime, a passenger catamaran runs several times a day, shortening the trip to just a 1-hour ferry ride each way! You heard it hear first, folks, we’ll be coming back someday in September!

Running in Split

Panoramic View from the top of Marjan Park

Panoramic View from the top of Marjan Park

If Kevin and I had to pick just ONE reason that Split has grown so near and dear to our hearts, hands down it would be Marjan Park. Marjan is an enormous park (the size of New York’s Central Park!) located right next to the Split’s city center. On any given day, the park is full of people enjoying the great outdoors.

Can you think of a more beautiful place to run?!

Can you think of a more beautiful place to run than this?!

It’s hilly, green, beautiful, surrounded by beautiful blue water, and it’s largely free of car traffic! A full lap around Marjan Peninsula is about 6 miles, perfect for a sunny Springtime run.

Here's Kevin, running in the pedestrian-only area of Marjan.

Here’s Kevin, running in the pedestrian-only area of Marjan.

If running’s not your jig, it’s also a wonderful place to hike up and take in some beautiful views. We had a great picnic there on the second day of Spring.

Check out this awesome picnic spot!!

Check out this awesome picnic spot!!

Our Apartment Here in Split

We lucked out and got a fantastic 2-bedroom 1.5-bathroom apartment here in Split. We really took a gamble on this one – it was brand new listing on Airbnb and didn’t have any reviews yet, which is normally a HUGE red flag for us. But the owner gave us a great deal so we decided to go for it.

Our apartment is located on the first floor of a building with about 6 apartments. All the other building residents are part of the same family, related in some way to our fantastic landlord Stjepko.

Everyone in the building has been SO friendly, and we learned that they have a relative living in Seattle! Small world. Here’s a video peek at our apartment here in Split:

For 34 nights in this fabulous apartment, we paid $765 (price includes utilities and all Airbnb fees). That works out to just $22.50/night! Not bad for a ritzy 2-bedroom apartment where Kevin and I each get our own bathroom. (Keep in mind we’re here renting at super low season. Prices in Summer would probably be quite a bit higher.)

This apartment is perfectly located, has super fast Wifi, a well-equipped kitchen, the most comfy bed ever, and is in a quiet, safe neighborhood. If you ever find yourself traveling to Split, we recommend checking out the listing on Airbnb.

Grocery Shopping in Split

Split's Outdoor Market

Split’s Outdoor Market

Split has supermarkets all over the town center just like any other European city. Shopping at these markets is pretty easy. (Except for the time we accidentally bought 2 pounds of sandwich cheese. Conversion error…) But we usually prefer to go a bit more local with our shopping, and have spent a lot of mornings roaming around Split’s outdoor Green Market.

Split's Outdoor Market, open every day!

Split’s Outdoor Market, open every day!

Located just east of Split’s historic old city, the Green Market is impossible to miss. It’s really hopping in the morning, especially on sunny days. Food stalls start wrapping things up around 1pm, so be sure you arrive early!

Flower Vendors at the Outdoor Market

Flower Vendors at the Outdoor Market

You can find everything at the green market, from salted dried cod to prosciutto to nuts and dried fruits to wild asparagus. There are butchers and bakers and candlestick makers, there is a flea market area, and you can stock up on socks and underwear. You can buy flowers and fresh fruit, home-churned butter, homemade cheeses, and all sorts of produce. There is no shortage of bakers here, either – snag a whole bag of cookies for under $1!

A meat and cheese vendor at the market. Check out the dried hanging cod in the booth!

A meat and cheese vendor at the market. Check out the dried hanging cod in the booth!

Daffodils from the Green Market for less than a buck!

Daffodils from the Green Market for less than a buck!

We became especially fond of one fruit vendor we returned to every few days. By the time we’d been here a few weeks, he’d wave at us and say “Dobar Dan!” when we walked up. (Dobar Dan means good day!) Every time we’d buy fruit from him, he’d try to convince us to get some strawberries. We kept saying no because apples and pears are so cheap here, but finally we gave in and bought some in our last week in Split. He was so excited he hollered “Yah!” and gave us two thumbs up! We will never forget that guy.

This is our favorite fruit vendor!

This is our favorite fruit vendor’s booth! He’s the guy in the far left of the photo, with the red stripe on his jacket.

Another vendor we visited regularly was the egg lady. She is a lady probably in her 70s and sells eggs by the 10-pack (there’s no such thing as a dozen eggs in Croatia. I don’t know why, they always come in 10s!), and we can tell she doesn’t know quite what to make of us. She doesn’t speak a bit of English, and we don’t speak a bit of Croatian. I’m pretty sure might think we’re complete weirdos for being here as tourists in March, but that’s okay.

Split's Outdoor Market

Split’s Outdoor Market

More stalls at Split's market, right next to the old city wall that's hundreds of years old!

More stalls at Split’s market, right next to the old city wall that’s hundreds of years old!

A Photo Tour of Split

The town of Split is surprisingly sprawling for being the home of just 190,000 people. Luckily, everything a tourist needs is located right in the city center. Split is over 1700 years old, and is situated right on the coast of the beautiful Adriatic Sea. The historic city center is built inside and around the Diocletian Palace (a UNESCO World Heritage site), which was built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian in AD305. Nowadays, homes, shops, restaurants, and guesthouses are built right into the walls of the palace. Here are some photos to give you a taste of lovely Split, Croatia:

Another photo in Marjan Park. This is the highest viewpoint you can get to, and has a huge Croatian flag flying!

A photo in Marjan Park. This is the highest viewpoint you can get to. The red, white and blue Croatian flag is always flying high above the town of Split.

The view from the top of Marjan Park.

The view from the top of Marjan Park.

Another Marjan Park shot. This cute little chapel sits on one of its many viewpoints.

Another Marjan Park shot. This cute little chapel sits on one of its many viewpoints.

The Diocletian Palace walls are such a fun backdrop for the outdoor market.

The Diocletian Palace walls are such a fun backdrop for the outdoor market. In the back there is the tower that belong’s to Split’s Cathedral.

Everyone here is a fan of the Split Hadjuk football team! Their logo is everywhere.

Everyone here is a fan of the Split Hadjuk football team! Their logo is everywhere.

Split's famous Gregory of Nin statue. Rubbing his toe is said to be good luck!

Split’s famous Gregory of Nin statue. Rubbing his toe is said to be good luck!

Another shot of Gregory of Nin. He lives just outside the North Wall of the Diocletian Palace.

Another shot of Gregory of Nin. He lives just outside the North Wall of the Diocletian Palace.

A beautiful sunset over one of Split's beaches.

A beautiful sunset over one of Split’s beaches.

It's easy to kick back, relax, and have a coffee in one of Split's sunny plazas.

It’s fun to kick back, relax, and have a coffee in one of Split’s sunny plazas.

The charming historical center of Split.

The charming historical center of Split.

There are about 2 dozen peacocks living in our neighborhood in Split!

There are about 2 dozen peacocks living in our neighborhood in Split!

Peacocks in Split!

Peacocks in Split!

We love Split. :-)

We love Split. :-)

We Want to Hear From You!

Have I convinced you to visit yet? Go ahead. Book your flight. You won’t regret it!

A Jadrolinija Ferry from Italy to Croatia

The view from our Jadrolinija Ferry as we came into port in Split, Croatia.

The view from our Jadrolinija Ferry as we came into port in Split, Croatia.

One thing I’ve been repeatedly annoyed with during our year abroad is the total lack of helpful information online. We’ve come to be VERY spoiled in Seattle, where everyone seems to have a stellar website created by a brother or cousin or friend who is a web designer. In a lot of countries we’ve visited, businesses just don’t have websites. When they do, visiting them is like time traveling back into the 1990s, the time of Geocities and animated gifs and purple fonts. Again and again, the most helpful information we’ve been able to find comes from blog posts written by other travelers.

Beautiful Split as we arrived at 7 in the morning.

Beautiful Split as we arrived at 7 in the morning.

When it came to taking an overnight ferry from Italy to Croatia, I was predictably disappointed in the information the interwebs had to offer. I spent hours and hours searching the internet to try to figure out what to expect. Did we need to book a cabin or can you sleep in common areas? Is it acceptable to bring food onboard with you? Are sharp items forbidden from baggage? Is there a limited liquids rule? How early do we need to arrive? Where do we go to check in? Can you buy food onboard the ferry during the 11-hour trip?

Ancona, Italy at Night before we left Port.

Ancona, Italy at Night before we left Port.

Taking the Jadrolinija Ferry from Ancona to Split was every bit the adventure we hoped it’d be. There was an all-men’s Croatian choir. There were surly Italian and Croatian truck drivers (first and foremost, it is a car ferry, not a cruise), there was a slightly run-down interior that made me feel like we had teleported to Atlantic City circa 1980. Since we were armed with sleeping pills, booked an actual cabin, and brought a bunch of snacks onboard, it was definitely not the nightmare ferry crossing I had feared. In fact, it was pretty fun and I’d definitely do it again.

Hello, Croatia!

Hello, Croatia!

To try to help other travelers, and to show our blog readers what shenanigans we got into during the ferry crossing, we put together answers to some of the questions we had before taking the Jadrolinija Ferry from Ancona, Italy to Split, Croatia.

Is It Ok to Bring Booze (and Food) with You?

Absolutely! In fact, you’d be the odd person out if you didn’t bring at least a liter of wine with you. We only brought two tiny 200mL bottles of red wine along. We might have been the most sober people onboard, except for a 10-year-old girl and (hopefully) the boat captain. (PRO TIP: Bring your own cups unless you’re cool drinking straight from the bottle. Hey, I don’t judge.) Most of the Italians and Croatians who clearly take the overnight ferry all the time brought coolers FULL of food and booze. I wish we’d had the foresight to do that!

Bring Your Own Wine! Yes!!

Bring Your Own Wine! Yes!!

There is some food available for purchase onboard. You can have a full-on sit down dinner in the fancy onboard restaurant. (Note: all it takes to qualify as “fancy” with me is the use of white tablecloths.) The restaurant prices were very reasonable, especially for a “cruise”. I use the word “cruise” a bit jokingly here – remember, this is really an overnight car ferry, but a very nice one at that.

The Restaurant on our Marko Polo Ferry

The Restaurant on our Marko Polo Ferry

There’s also a snack bar area where you can buy snacks, beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks. The one thing you should bring plenty of is WATER. It’s overpriced onboard, and I didn’t trust what comes from the tap in the bathrooms.

Is there Entertainment Onboard, Like a Normal Cruise?

Exploring the Boat to entertain ourselves.

Exploring the Boat to entertain ourselves.

The short answer? No, unless you count people watching as entertainment. We traveled in February, the lowest of lows as far as tourist season goes. What looked like it might be a duty free shopping area was a total ghost town. There was a dance floor in the lounge area, but like I said, we had less than a half liter of wine on us. It takes more than that for me to start my own dance party.

The Dance Floor! Conveniently located next to the children's play area, because that makes perfect sense.

The Dance Floor! Conveniently located next to the children’s play area, because that makes perfect sense.

We happened to win the cruise lottery, though, and ended up on the ferry that was transporting one of Croatia’s finest all-men’s a capella choirs! I’m not sure Kevin and I have ever been on a boat together without encountering some sort of musical group. In Germany, we ended up on a Rhine River ferry boat with a full-on Oktoberfest Oom-pah band!

The outdoor "cocktail area" on the back of our Ferry.

The outdoor “cocktail area” on the back of our Ferry.

Back to the Croatians though. Having them on our boat was everything I hoped it would be, and more. They belted out tunes with abandon for over a half hour before the boat disembarked. And when I say they belted it, they really belted it. One of the gals who worked on the ferry boat even stood with us and translated the Croatian lyrics for us! It was so lovely! Most of the songs were fisherman’s tunes traditional to Croatia, about things like missing your wife and family while you’re at sea. Some were about lost love or lost friends.

The Croatian Men's Choir!

The Croatian Men’s Choir!

We fell asleep to the rumble of the boat engines and the sound of the choir singing in the lounge after they had their dinner. It was really a special part of the cruise.

Should I Book a Cabin?

Cabins onboard our Jadrolinija Ferry

Cabins onboard our Jadrolinija Ferry

That depends on you. Do you like roughing it? Can you sleep even when there are lights on? Are you traveling with a pillow and blankets? Do you feel comfortable sleeping on a hard, slightly-dirty carpeted floor next to a man who is eating prosciutto? If you answered yes to all of those questions, then just book the cheapest passage possible – a “Deck” seat. “Deck” doesn’t mean you’ll be sleeping outside. It just means you have to hunker down and sleep in the boat’s common areas – the lounge, the chapel, the children’s play area, the dance floor. MOST people who seemed like ferry regulars seemed to have just Deck tickets, and they made themselves at home in the lounge.

The Lounge on our Jadrolinija Ferry, the "Marko Polo".

The Lounge on our Jadrolinija Ferry, the “Marko Polo”.

We booked the cheapest cabin, a couchette, and were SO glad we did. We’re traveling pretty light, so we don’t have things like blankets or pillows to make a deck ticket do-able. It was also nice to be able to lock our bags in our room and explore the boat without all our stuff. Also, I think there is a time and a place for the smell of prosciutto. Two in the morning is not the time.

Ferry Veterans, hunkering down for a night in the lounge.

Ferry Veterans, hunkering down for a night in the lounge.

Our simple couchette cabin didn’t have a sink or bathroom, it was just a room with four bunks which we had all to ourselves. We were just down the hallway from a shared bathroom that was a bit rustic, but not a nightmare. Added bonus? If you book a cabin you get free breakfast onboard in the restaurant! (Note: other travelers have reported that breakfast is no longer included in cabin tickets – please verify yourself and potentially bring backup food.)

Sunrise Breakfast - Complimentary with Cabin Purchase!

Sunrise Breakfast – Complimentary with Cabin Purchase!

Seat tickets are also available, but literally NO ONE had one of these on our ferry. The seat room is a brightly lit room full of tightly packed seats that recline slightly. I do not recommend this option.

Here’s a peek at our Cabin:

Our Couchette Cabin. Small but Mighty.

Our Couchette Cabin. Small but Mighty.

Cabins on a Jadrolinija Ferry. Moderately comfortable.

Cabins on a Jadrolinija Ferry. Moderately comfortable.

To book tickets, do it ahead of time directly with Jadrolinija.

So What Is the Price Breakdown?

Our Jadrolinija Ferry

Our Jadrolinija Ferry

First, everyone pays a bare Per Person Fee called “passenger taxes” (You pay this no matter what accommodations you book) of 114 HRK (about $16).

Then, on top of the bare per person fee, you have to select your “accommodation”. Here are some options we considered:

  • Deck Ticket: 301 HRK (about $43) per person
  • “Seat” Ticket: 361 HRK (about $52) per seat
  • Cabin 4-berth Couchette: 811 HRK (about $116) for 1 person, 540 HRK ($77) per person for 2, 3 or 4 people
  • Cabin 2-berth outside with shower/toilet: 1484 HRK total ($212) for 2 people or 1114 HRK ($159) for 1 person
  • Berth in a Unisex 4-berth couchette: 540 HRK ($77) per person

The couchette ended up being most cost effective for us. So the total fare for Kevin and I for the Ancona to Split ferry was 2*114 HRK for Passenger Taxes plus 2*540 HRK for our private couchette cabin, which came out to a grand total of 1308 HRK, or about $187. Not bad when you consider it was an 11-hour journey with beds to sleep in and breakfast included. It sure beat the cost of flying! And it was a lot more fun.

Can I Bring Liquids or Sharp Objects Onboard?

Our Boat, the Marko Polo.

Our Boat, the Marko Polo.

We saw so many things onboard that made us do a double take. One man had a huge butcher’s knife to prepare his dinner in the lounge. Another group had a full sized rolling cooler with drinks and dinner supplies. Another group brought a couple big chocolate cakes onboard with them. One guy had a handle of vodka.

Within reason, you can bring anything your heart desires onto the Jadrolinija ferry. I prrrrobably could’ve smuggled Kevin onboard in a big suitcase to save money. But we’re not quite THAT cheap… Yet.

Where and How Do I Check In?

Jadrolinija Ferries, where you board by just walking on via the car ramp and roaming around until you find the right stairwell. Very organized.

Jadrolinija Ferries, where you board by just walking on via the car ramp and roaming around until you find the right stairwell. Very organized.

Ugh. The Jadrolinija ferry check-in process is just awful. Imagine the run-around you get when dealing with health insurance in the United States. Now take that experience, and change the context to traveling, and change the language to Italian and Croatian. THAT is the joy that checking into the Jadrolinija ferry will bring you. There’s a reason we opened our wine and started drinking midday before we left on our ferry:

Day drinking outside the Jadrolinija Ferry Check-in Building.

Day drinking outside the Jadrolinija Ferry Check-in Building.

UPDATE 2/21/2018: I fixed the map! Unfortunately, it has been several years since we’ve been in Ancona, so I don’t know any longer if this is accurate. Please leave me a comment to let me know!
I made a google map showing all the important locations for Jadrolinija ferry check-in:

Here’s what you should know to get through check-in without wanting to strangle someone:

  • Arrive more than 2 hours early! Do not even think about cutting it close. You want to allow lots of extra time to account for unhelpful employees, slow check-in lines, busses that run infrequently, and last-minute trips to the store to get extra wine.
  • If you arrive by train, you’ll arrive to the main Ancona Train station (the red pin on the map). If it’s raining and the timing lines up, you can connect on a train to the Ancona Maritima station (the blue pin on the map), which is much closer to the main Ferry area.
  • The ferry check-in building is nowhere near the ferry departure point. On the map above, Ferry check-in is at the red star, while the green star is the main ferry area where the ferries dock. At the main ferry area (green star), there is luggage storage (EURO 2/bag) and free bathrooms, and this is where you’ll go through passport control before boarding your boat.
  • There is a FREE BUS that runs every 20 minutes or so between the Check-in Building (Red star) and the Main Ferry Building (Green star). We were glad we used the bus, because I would EASILY get lost in the area around the Check-in building and there are no sidewalks.
  • Passport Control opened 2 hours before our boat departure. Unless you have a deck ticket and want to stake out a nice sleeping spot in the lounge, there’s no rush to board. Take your time exploring Ancona, have some dinner at a local cafe, buy some biscotti from one of the town’s many bakeries, then get on the boat when there’s less than an hour before departure. Once you’re onboard, head to the reception desk to pick up the key to your cabin, and hunker down for the night!

Updates from other helpful travelers:

  • Booking a cabin no longer comes with breakfast.
  • Make sure you take your passports when going to pick up the tickets.
  • The ticket office closes from 12-3.
  • The bus #20 doesn’t run from 2pm to 4pm.
  • Our ferry in early May was almost empty except for trucks and maybe 30 tourists.
  • If they bang on your cabin door that means you are 30 minutes out of port. (We arrived in, half an hour early and had a mad scramble to pack)
  • The ticket office is a long way from the boarding area but it is now very well signposted in several languages including English
  • Getting the tickets was easy, we booked on line turned up at the ticket offline showed our ticket confirmation and passports and bike docs and got issued our tickets.
  • To embark on the ferry you have to know what dock your going from follow the well signposted route and join the chaos.
  • The queue area for passport control straddles a roundabout but as we were on a bikes we were pushed to the front.
  • Showed our passports and we were directed to our ferry.
  • No cabin for us no issues half the passengers slept all over on blow up beds.
  • It all went quiet just after midnight and we managed to get 5 to 6 hours sleep.
  • Bring your own food and wine our beer it’s not cheap on-board.
  • Getting off in Split was easy and 10 mins after we got off the ship we were on our way.

We Want to Hear From You!

A Jadrolinija Ferry docked here in Split, Croatia

A Jadrolinija Ferry docked here in Split, Croatia

Do you have any interesting cruise stories? Are you planning to take A Jadrolinija Ferry from Italy to Croatia? Leave us a comment to let us know!