Croatia part 1 - Dubrovnik and Korcula

It was interesting to arrive in Croatia because it came with so many expectations. So many people had told me that I would love Croatia, that it was one of the best places they had ever visited and that everything was so cheap. My first stop in Croatia was Dubrovnik and it was particularly moving to hear about the experiences of the Croatian people during the war of the early 1990s. They were completely outmatched and were using Coke cans for bombs, buses for tanks and hunting rifles for weapons against a well-armed Serbian military and yet they were able to hold their ground. Dubrovnik is a beautiful city but it is also very crowded with a constant stream of tour groups from visiting cruise ships. I found that Dubrovnik's beauty could therefore best be appreciated earlier or later in the day or by climbing up the Srd Hill behind the city and looking out on the ocean (which I did!). After a couple of days I met with the tour group which is very small (six including the guide) and a nice mix of people. They are all quite independent so we are often doing our own thing but meet up and share stories which I am happy with.

After Dubrovnik we caught the ferry to an island called Korcula and I have to say that I preferred the island. We stayed in a beautiful little town and there were less tourists and more breeze because it is not a walled city so walking all around the town was much more pleasant and it had a more relaxed feel to the place. That is not to say that Dubrovnik wasn't beautiful but I think I liked the more relaxed pace of the islands. From Korcula we did a day trip to Mljet National Park. This can be accessed by ferry and was stunning. The water in Croatia is so clear and blue and there were some great walking paths all around the park. I started on one path, got lost (this is a regular thing for me and just adds to the adventure) and then picked up another path which led me to a solar-powered ferry that runs within the park to a small island. We had the whole day so I was able to wander and then go for a swim later in the afternoon to cool off. Another fun thing while we were at Korcula was that we arrived while there was a cultural festival so we saw a free performance of their sword dance with some traditional Croatian singing. I have included a photo below so you can see some of their costumes. 

My feelings on Croatia so far? I am really happy that I included it in my trip. It is very beautiful and they are a very proud nation having been through so much. It is interesting to see the various influences of the Ottomans but also a very strong Italian influence. The food is delicious but it is not cheap. Since introducing the Euro in January, prices have gone up about 300% and while it is cheaper than Switzerland, I still have to be careful to keep to my budget. What is interesting is that my favourite meal so far was at a local cheap place. I had Cevapi which was like kebabs with delicious spices. This post was longer than I intended so I will sign off now. See below for photos from Dubrovnik and Korcula. Also, apologies for the lack of variety in my selfies. I am very uncomfortable taking photos of myself and so I do it as quickly as possible which doesn't allow for me to experiment with angles!

Dubrovnik:

 

  

  

Korcula: