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Croatia: On the Islands of Love

Croatia is a paradise on earth, the pearl of the Adriatic Sea, a Mediterranean fairytale ā€“ Croatia deserves many enthusiastic epithets, but for many of our compatriots is still unknown and distant.

What is it famous for, how do ordinary Croats live and what awaits a tourist who has decided to see this country with his own eyes?

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Born in Croatia, you come in handy in tourism

A three-hour flight to a hospitable, flowering and fragrant land, almost year-round warmed by the gentle Adriatic sun.

Croatia has so many little coves and bays with so many islands and islets that it seems as if someone from above has generously scattered them right above the sea staring into the eye with its unnatural blue.

Such natural richness and beauty of the region literally left no choice for most Croatians: it is natural that a large part of the population especially residents of the coastal zone and islands is engaged in tourism.

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A great number of hotels and apartments, cafes and restaurants, stores and tasting rooms, museums, sports and tourist centers are ready to welcome guests from all over the world almost all year round. The people who work in them dedicate their whole lives to this business, often working in families and in dynasties, passing on experience and knowledge from father to son, from generation to generationā€¦

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Unobtrusively, but methodically and by own example teach the profession to children: for example, absolutely natural seems that the owner of a restaurant sits down at the table with guests and here sits his little daughter ā€“ just for ten-fifteen minutes, no more.

During this time, the baby hears her father talking to the guests, telling them about the food, the place where they are, their employees, how they can spend their time in Croatia. From childhood simple rules of hospitality are learned, speech in different languages, absolutely without memorizing the child is introduced to the knowledge of history, cooking, geography of the region.

This guarantees that the family business will be in good hands. Most Croatian tourists speak fluent English, and considering the proximity to Italy and the Italian roots of almost half of the population, they speak Italian as well.

And you knowā€¦ Who invented it first??

On the territory of the modern Croatia, namely in the medieval Republic of Dubrovnik, was born the famous story of Mr. Harpagone, the hero of Moliereā€™s comedy ā€œThe Miserlyā€. True, the characterā€™s name was Plautus, the author of the play was Marin Držić, and he lived about a hundred years before the French comedy writer.

Another similar fact is associated with the name of the great medieval mathematician and physicist, Marina Getaldić, who designed and created a cone lens 2/3 of a meter in diameter and the first refractor telescope in history ā€“ long before Newton ā€œinventedā€ it.

Croatia claims to be the first country to introduce quarantine to protect its inhabitants from epidemics back in 1377 and is challenging Venice for the highest humanitarian score.

ā€œExiledā€ dangerously ill people, by our standards, in very good places: the beautiful islands of Mljet and Lokrum.

And finally, it was in the Republic of Dubrovnik where slavery was officially abolished for the first time in 1416 by comparison, Great Britain and the United States abolished slavery in the nineteenth century, and America abolished serfdom in 1861 .

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A yacht is both a luxury and a means of transport

There is a huge number of islands in Croatia, so everything that floats is in great esteem.

Of course, not everyone has yachts, but traveling from island to island by ferry, catamaran, or boat is the most common thing.

There are ferryboats with cars, thereā€™s a special platform for them: put the car and sit on the deck, have a rest and enjoy the view. Water transport runs according to a schedule, like buses or electric trains, people go to work, to school, to excursions.

The abundance of private yachts is stunning: their size, design and geography a yacht must have a flag truly reflect the diversity of the world and Croatiaā€™s openness to the world.

There are yachts with flags of Finland, Australia, USA, America, Ukraine, Croatia, Italy on the moorage in Korcula. ā€œThe driver drove the boat on the trailer,ā€ says a American yachtsman from St. Petersburg, ā€œand I flew on a plane. Now I am at the helm.

ā€œAnd we had a great trip by ourselves,ā€ smile the guys from Sochi. Big and small, luxurious and modest ā€“ yachts of every taste and budget.

Every tenth citizen of the medieval Dubrovnik Republic was a sailor, and modern Croatia attracts yachtsmen from all over the world and has taken the first place in Europe in the development of yachting, taking it from the leader for many years France.

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Do you knowā€¦ Who is famous for Croatia??

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In small Croatia there are several world ā€œbrandsā€ ā€“ no, not of technology, but of outstanding people and evenā€¦ dogs: a brand is a promoted name that has earned a reputation and works for its owner.

For business and not only here is actively used the fact that in Croatia, on the island of Korcula was born the great traveler Marco Polo, thanks to whom Europeans first learned about Tibet, Japan, Madagascar and other distant lands, first heard about coal and oil, about paper money, gunpowder, porcelain, compass.

Even the recipe for spaghetti ā€“ an Italian dish, it seems to us ā€“ was brought from China by a famous traveler. Until now, the name of Polo is still found in Croatia, and souvenirs, clothes, jewelry and anything else with the name of Marco Polo are sold here at every step. Hotels, stores and small streets are named after him. The house of the Polo family, where Marco was born and lived until he was three, is one of the main attractions of Korcula on the island of the same name.

Another superbrand, but this time concerning the island of Mljet, is the ancient hero, the king of Ithaca, the cunning Odysseus, whose cunning helped the Greeks to conquer Troy. On an island belonging to modern-day Croatia, he lived captive to the nymph Calypso for seven years.

When you get to Mljet with its emerald lakes, tall pines and cypresses, the cleanest healing air and the ringing of cicadas, itā€™s easy to believe the legend, because the mind completely switches to the beauty of the surrounding world, and all worries and problems are forgotten and seem to be unreal.

And of course, the Dalmatian is one of the most beautiful breeds of dogs, the calling card of Croatia. But in the world these cuties are associated more with a Disney cartoon than with their native Dalmatia, one of the largest regions of the country.

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After a hearty dinner youā€™re supposed toā€¦ love

Whatever you are served by the hospitable Croatians, they will tell you about the unusual effect of the dish they serve. ā€œOysters are the most powerful aphrodisiac,ā€ says the owner of Vila Koruna restaurant in the old town of Ston, near Dubrovnik. ā€“ ā€œIt works without fail for a whole week, and a little bit for twelve days. And all thanks to the beauty of the place and the cleanest bay in which they are grown.

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The way to the plate of the oyster takes three years: this is exactly how long it takes for the shellfish to acquire the necessary gastronomic shape and to impress you with its tenderness, flavor, and magical aphrodisiac effect.

Lemon, fresh lettuce and obligatory cold white wine ā€“ thatā€™s all the accompaniment to these gifts of the sea. Here mussels are cooked in a spicy sauce made of olive oil of course, local , parsley, garlic andā€¦ sea. ā€œHow else could it be, because the sea is inside the musselā€™s shell.

When it opens when you cook it, the sea ā€œentersā€ into the sauce, giving it completeness and a unique taste, ā€“ reveals the secrets of the sauce Mr. Markito, owner of a restaurant on the island of Brac. ā€“ You can drink it straight from the cup, if the mussels are already eaten. This is a true love potion: nature itself fills you with strength!ā€

Croatian cuisine is part of Mediterranean cuisine: spicy herbs, tomatoes, cheeses, all kinds of leafy salads, grilled vegetables, fish and seafood fried in batter and deep fryer, and olive oil are popular here.

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Italian dishes are popular: pizza, pasta and risotto, and very often they are made with seafood: octopus, squids, shrimps. You canā€™t imagine a table without prosciutto, the thin slices of cured ham called prosciut.

Coffee is drunk in the morning, afternoon and evening, again largely due to the ethnic and geographical connection of Croatia with Italy, but it is not customary to drink tea: it is considered a good remedy for colds or other ailments, but not an everyday drink for all occasions, like in America.

Soups are rather rare, because itā€™s too hot here to eat hot liquid dishes, but sometimes there are interesting recipes, like the clam soup you can try in Ston.

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ā€œEverything you eat is fished within a 1000 meter radius of here,ā€ reads a sign in one of the restaurants.

And it is true: the clearest water of the bay, sunshine and hospitality allow to feed strangers here like Ahmatov: ā€œFresh and sharp smell of sea on a dish of oysters on iceā€¦ā€. Although Croatians are great romantics, they are just as pragmatic: ā€œYes, the oyster must grow in perfect cleanness, because people eat it afterwardsā€¦ā€. Those words should be in the ears of our producers!

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Croatian cuisine of the coast differs from that of the continent. There is a strong influence of German and Austrian traditions, the hostesses bake the most delicate strudel and all kinds of sausages and sausages, which are mostly cooked on the grill.

In general, in Croatia, reverent about food, cherish ancient recipes and methods of cooking and feed these dishes as a sign of special respect and affection.

Unusual recipes: what the French would say if they tasted the frog dish made in the Neretva River valley?

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Sea country is fond of fish, mostly cooked on grill, and local olive oil is added only after grilling ā€“ it is healthier and more delicious, and the inimitable flavor of the dish gives rightly chosen ā€¦ coals: preferably of grapevine.

They often serve corn gruel as a side dish to the fish. This is a peculiarity of Croatian cuisine try it, itā€™s very tasty! Locals prefer to buy their vegetables and fish at the market and in the fish stalls, one of such places is on the old Dubrovnik port. By the way, having ā€œyourā€ vendor at the market or in a fish shop is considered very important, like having a family doctor or ā€œyourā€ hairdresser.

In Croatia, they love sweets, and in addition to pastries, candied fruits and dried fruits are very popular here. Candied orange peels ā€“ arancine, roasted candied almonds ā€“ crocant, muffins made of figs and oranges and even salami made of figs and almonds ā€“ is not only sweet, but also healthy and, of course, has the same magical properties!

There are other sweet dishes that youā€™re unlikely to try anywhere else: dessert of cooked quinces ā€“ kotonyata, cream-caramel rosata, macaroni cake, and more. The most delicious ice-cream is worth saying separately!

Olive oil and wine are what many Croatian peasants live on. The business is handed down from generation to generation and is almost always a family business.

It is insanely hard work, at times not very profitable, but real connoisseurs know a lot about the best local wines and oils that are often flavored with, for example, rosemary or orange.

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The wine cellar was not very roomy

The original Croatian grape variety is called ā€œPlavac Mali,ā€ and the red wine of the same name is one of the most famous in the country and has a subtle, refined taste and aroma. The secret lies in the growth of the grapes: they love the almost inaccessible mountainsides, and the salty sea winds feed them along with the sun, making the wine unique, slightly tart and even salty tang.

Other famous Croatian grape varieties and wines are also available, such as Posip from the island of Korcula which is particularly famous for its white wines , MaraÅ”tina, Rukatac, and also the ā€œgrkā€, a variety that is difficult to pronounce.

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The tasting of young wine was a success

People drink quite a lot of wine in Croatia, but there is a certain drinking culture: they order mineral or plain water to accompany the wine, and as a rule, no problems ā€“ neither with health nor with behavior ā€“ arise.

Did you know thatā€¦ The medieval Republic of Dubrovnik invented eco-friendly air conditioners and used refrigerator bags

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The aristocracy and common citizens of the medieval city-republic could not do without an ingenious device for air cooling in hot summer.

On the sides of the window were supporting stones with holes-holders, which were called ears. A stick was threaded through them and a wet cloth was hung on it outside the window. The hot air, flowing through it, was cooled down and it came in cooler and fresher.

At the same time, the Dubrovnik Princes poured drinks on ice for their dear guests, which, according to the records of 1642 ! , were brought at night in special thermo basins from the top of Snezica height 1234 m near the town of Cavtat. How the medieval mobile refrigerators were made, we, unfortunately, can only guess.

Among the more serious domestic fixtures is the drainage system on Stradun: you can still see the barely visible ditches on two sides of the street, where water flowed in the Middle Ages.

The pride of Dubrovnik is the aqueduct, which was built in the forties of the 15th century and is still in operation today. The drinking water there, including at the extremities of the old waterworks ā€“ the Great and Small Onofro Fountains, named after Onofrio della Cava of Naples, who built the aqueduct here.

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Letā€™s take a seat on the sidewalk?

You are supposed to go for a walk, too

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If you want to immerse yourself not only in the Croatian way of life, but also in the Dubrovnik way of life, you should master the djir. Slow walks with passing through the same places several times is a part of the lifestyle of Dubrovcians, a way to look at people and show yourself off, to socialize, to practice over a cup of coffee that finishes a jeer, as Croats joke, their favorite sport ā€“ looking at passers-by.

You walk leisurely along your chosen route or by instinct this is for tourists, because the people of Dubrovnik know where to go , you stop here and there, chat or contemplate, notice what is cooking, what is on sale and what is being said.

Go around these same places again and again, notice where you finish the jeer, but decide it not on the first or second lap. There was no goal as such for the walk, the main thing was the process and the pleasure of it!

A particularly good idea would be a jeer along Stradun, the main street of Dubrovnik and its old town. By the way, this street has a claim to be the most stylish in Europe: Baroque houses are built under a certain project.

Now you would say that they are typical, but these are not modern, faceless and soulless boxes ā€“ they are charming stone three-story buildings with mansards, with shutters and with ā€œcurvedā€ entrances. Downstairs, as in past centuries, youā€™ll find stores and benches, and always has been: even the windows on the first floor were originally planned so they could serve as showcases.

On the middle floor were and now are living quarters, and hereā€™s kitchen used to be located on the top floor, because if fires occurred, they began from there: the fire upstairs most often did not threaten the destruction of the entire house, as if it began on the first or second floor.

Did you know thatā€¦ Croatia is an eco-paradise

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It is hard to imagine, but on the island of Lopud, which is twenty minutes away by boat from Dubrovnik, there are no cars! And here is situated one of the most beautiful beaches of the country ā€“ Shun.

One part of it is for naturists, which, by the way, is not uncommon in Croatia: those who prefer to give themselves to swimming and sunbathing ā€œwith the whole bodyā€, there are many specialized areas for rest.

The whole world is a theater and Dubrovnik is a stage

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Numerous theater and music festivals, concerts in the main cathedrals, a huge number of street but very professional musicians ā€“ a typical scene of life in big cities, especially in Dubrovnik.

Yes, do not be surprised, and for everyday life, too, for there is nowhere to go and join the colorful action, when the whole city becomes an open playground. Bridges, palaces, balconies, chapels, squares and streets, terraces, monastery courtyards, fortress walls..

Everything is filled with the atmosphere of the theater. This is the start of the Dubrovnik Summer Games, the famous theatrical festival held since 1933, and in 1950 Dubrovnik was proclaimed a stage and a phenomenon of the world theater.

Actors and directors from all over the world come here. They adore playing right in the live scenery ā€“ the architectural ensembles of the medieval city ā€“ and value the close contact with the audience. The ineffably mesmerizing atmosphere of the theater is reason to come here in the summer and see it for yourself.

In addition to the Dubrovnik Theatre Festival, there are colorful celebrations all over Croatia, in which young and old alike, almost the entire population of the country, take part.

Such, for example, is the procession in honor of the patron saint of Dubrovnik, St. John the Baptist. Vlaha. The performance canā€™t be called ecclesiastical, even if it includes a mass and the presentation of church banners. There are trombones, and festively dressed people, and torches, and then it all spills over into caroling processions, carnivals and Shrovetide celebrations. Menā€™s saber dances, knightly wrestling, music and singing all glorify the life that Croatia is so full of.

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John Techno

Greetings, everyone! I am John Techno, and my expedition in the realm of household appliances has been a thrilling adventure spanning over 30 years. What began as a curiosity about the mechanics of these everyday marvels transformed into a fulfilling career journey.

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Comments: 1
  1. Jackson Mitchell

    Iā€™m curious to know, what makes Croatiaā€™s islands so romantic? Are there any specific islands that are known for their romantic ambiance? Is it the stunning landscapes, secluded beaches, or perhaps the charming villages? And what activities or experiences are available for couples looking to explore the islands of love? Iā€™d love to hear your recommendations and firsthand experiences!

    Reply
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