Croatia is the destination that’s currently on everyones lips at present – everyone has either been or wants to go.
The country has changed significantly since the first time my sister and I visited in 2001 to visit our Great Aunt and we were the first family from my Grandfather to go back to visit Croatia from New Zealand since he left the former Yugoslavia as a young boy.
We are extremely lucky as we have an amazing Aunt and cousins who live in this beautiful country so we try and visit every year.
Everyone wants to visit the Dalmatian coastline which for most people includes Dubrovnik i.e. the Pearl of the Adriatic and the Island of Hvar and they then think they have seen Croatia. For me these two places are the biggest tourist traps in the whole of the Adriatic – over priced and not the real Dalmatia / Croatia.
If you want to visit the real Dalmatia you need to stay in the little villages dotted along the coast line to soak up the real feel of the country.
Our family lives in the gorgeous village called Zivogosce which is stunning all year round and a place that you never want to leave once you have arrived. The sunsets looking over to Igrane are magical.
Croatia has a lot of things to offer – not just a stunning coast line. There are the National Parks with stunning waterfalls and gorgeous cities to just to name a few different things to see.
This year my sister and I did a day trip up to Sibenik and Krka National Park which are stunning and well worth a visit.
Sibenik is a city that most tourists don’t really venture too as its north of Split (most tourists head south!) so its a little hidden gem with a beautiful cathedral and narrow little alleys just waiting to be discovered.
Thought I would include this photo as this is the top I bought in Greece (it’s actually made in Greece so I supported the Greek economy while on holiday)
When we stay in Zivogosce and we need to go into town we head into Makarska, which would have to be one of the biggest towns between Split and Dubrovnik. There’s not a great deal to do however its just nice to sit at one of the cafes on the Riva and have a drink or ice cream and watch the tourists and locals.
It was my beautiful mummy’s birthday while we were in Croatia so Mum and I popped into Makarska to do some window shopping and have lunch and I got her to pose (it wasn’t that hard to convince her) for her birthday photo.
Before we left Croatia we decided we would do a trip to the top of the Biokovo which runs down the Croatian coastline. It was a hair raising experience with all the tight turns driving to the top however the views are amazing and I don’t think the photos do the views justice.
Tip – if you are are staying in the Makarska Riviera area then book yourself on a trip to the top of Biokovo as the views are gorgeous and you can see the islands of Hvar, Brac and Korcula.
Croatia is a photographers paradise as the scenery is breath taking and the sunsets are truly mind boggling.
Tip – bring your tripod! This was my favourite photo from my trip to Croatia this year taken in Makarska.
xxx
