When three friends decided on an impromptu holiday in Croatia, they knew they were in for something special. Upon reaching the tiny Central European nation, however, they discovered a land that was far more charming and delightful than they could've ever imagined.
Zagreb City Sqaure
When you land in the capital of any country, you expect highrises, mind-numbing malls and a typical urban buzz. Not in Zagreb, Croatia! The airport is small by international standards, but efficient, very clean and opens out to a lovely park. The drive to the centre of town takes an hour during which all you see is the colour green on the ground and blue above. Trams still ply from the city square to various parts of the city.
Wet day in Zagreb
A slight drizzle brings down the temperature considerably. Summer peaks at about 28 degrees Celsius in June-July, making it the most popular season for tourists from other parts of Europe. For us from India, the cooling down was welcome.
Roadside cafe, Zagreb
A central marketplace leads off to side streets that are dotted with cafes offering everything from coffee and snacks to meals and delicious ice-cream. Often the cafes occupy the centre of the road - since no motoring is allowed here, the solution is perfect.
Motifs on buildings
Buildings with offices and homes have interesting motifs on the facade depicting a facet of life. A bookstore on the ground floor, for instance, has a statue of a man reading a book near the entrance.
An original Renoir
Apart from several government-sponsored museums housing works of art and craft, there's an impressive Mimara Museum named after a philantrophist who funded it. A couple of original Renoirs make it worth a visit.
Streets of Croatia
Zagreb - or any place in Croatia - requires you to walk, walk and walk! Wear sensible shoes before you venture out; stilettos will find their maker soon on these cobbled streets.
Village of Kumrovec
A few hours drive from Zagreb brings you to a historical and important village in Croatia. This is the place where Josip Broz Tito was born in 1892. Croatia was part of Yugoslavia then and farmer-turned-soldier Tito became statesman and later dictator (benevolent, say Croatians) of Yugoslavia. The village is preserved as it was in the last century - but people live in it to the present day! We saw typical kitchens, tiny and constricted, perhaps great places to be in during bitter winters. The beds were tiny too, and our guide informed us that in the olden days people used to sleep either in the foetal position or sitting up, huddled together to keep warm.
Josip Broz Tito
Statue of Tito, loved by Croats because despite being a socialist who drove homelessness out of the country, he could stand up against the Russians when they wanted to dictate terms. Tito is also known in India as a friend of Jawaharlal Nehru.
Village of Kumrovec
Visitors come to this village from all over the country and from across the world but its charm remains intact.
Rovinj
Rovinj is a typical waterfront town, attracting tourists who want to do little but cycle down the old-fashioned city or go motoring on boats. Since the water all across the Croatian coast is super-clean, swimming and diving are major draws.
Motovun
Our final destination was Dubrovnik, perhaps the most popular destination in Croatia. The drive from Zagreb took us through several interesting regions, including the Istria region. The Italians dominated it for several years and it's not surprising that pizza is one of the most easily available food options all over Croatia. We stopped by at Motovun, a medieval town in this region that is beautifully preserved.
The walled city
Motovun is a walled city, with a typical castle, homes sometimes dating back three centuries, shops, cafes and quaint hotels manned by eager-to-please young Croats. All young Croatians speak English well, so it's not a problem getting by anywhere in the country. When you ask for vegetarian food, they understand. Sometimes they ask if you would like to try fish - which my friend had practically every single day of her stay there and is the freshest she has ever tasted.
Truffle hunting in Motovun
The forests around Motovun abound in truffles, a delicacy so expensive one can buy it only in slivers! Truffles are of the mushroom family and are found under trees. This woman is a truffle-hunter who goes in her very very old car and trusted dog into the forest. The day before we met her, the dog had sniffed out truffles that she shoveled out and sold for 350 euros but which would quadruple in price by the time they were retailed.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik was our final destination. The main attraction is the old town that abuts right into the sea. The wall surrounding it is so wide it's become a walkway for tourists. Within the town, life centres aound tourism and most people here make their living catering to tourists, offering apartments on rent or running restaurants, selling artifacts or being their guide.
Boats in Dubrovnik
From Dubrovnik you can visit several islands - all beautiful and offering gentle water sports to those interested. The boat ride is fun, with tourists from all over the world making up the passengers while the crew of two doubles up as cooks, waiters and sundry entertainers.
