A trip around Croatia
By: Luca Garino
Tags: Travel, Summer, Friendship, Backpacking

When I was younger I always used to spend my summer vacations with my family in a small city close to the sea in Liguria, Italy. The sea was quite good but, above all, I had my friends who made those days beautiful. However, as you know, you grow up and the desire to discover new places and meet different people arises.

It was 2015, my first bachelor year summer. I met some friends at university and we decided to make a trip together. After some moments of doubts about the destination, I proposed Croatia. It was love in the first place. I don’t know exactly the reason why but I have always been attracted by those countries (I hope to make a trip around the whole ex Yugoslavia as soon as possible). Fortunately, one of us made available its car for the trip so the remaining part was to decide the cities to visit. One of used proposed Split because he had a lovely memory of this place. However, it was not enough because we wanted to see more places. Googling, we found a marvelous place close to our destination: Plitvice lakes. Trust me, this is one of the best places I have ever seen so far and the pictures do not represent their real beauties.

The day to leave arrived; at 6 AM my friends came to my house to start this marvelous trip. More than 8 hours of traveling were ahead because we live close to Turin, North-Est of Italy. Once we arrived in Slovenia, we stooped for a while to change our euro and then we got back to travel. The street to Croatia was one the best ever made: a small street where you can only get lost by looking at the trees surrounding the cement of the street defining its shape, awesome. Once we arrived in Croatia we had lunch in a motorway service area close to Rijeka. By looking at this city we could notice anything but the three skyscrapers overlooking the entire city. These three skyscrapers were crumbling but at the same time characteristics because it showed up a country still recovering from the war, for a Yugoslavia enthusiast person this was remarkable. However, this was not the unique emblem of the world; on our way back to home we saw several fields characterized by the warning mine symbol, stunning. Anyway, if you are in Croatia you have to drink either Karlovacko or Ozojusko, this is what went along with our saffron sandwich at the motorway service area. Our stop at Rijeka was very short, mainly addressed to both withdraw Kuna and eat. Back on the street, we were up to Seliste Dreznicko, Villa Hodak hotel. The way reach this city was simply amazing, according to the viewpoints. It was full of old houses with only plaster, dogs on the street and obsolete buildings.

Ruined building close to Seliste Dreznicko

Rijeka’s skyscrapers

Once we got the hotel, it was dinner time. I think when you travel you have to taste local dishes; that is why we ate spicy sausages, cornmeal mush and of course pivo, beer. The external porch was relaxing but the following day would have been full of magnificent places, therefore, we had to go to sleep early.

Me at Villa Hodak Hotel

The following day, after a filling breakfast, we were ready to go to Plitvice Lakes. I still have the map into my wallet. This enchanting place is part of Unesco World Heritage Site and it is composed of16 lakes in a row linked by waterfalls. This area is also famous for the so-called Plitvice Blood Easter, 31 March 1991, when the Serbian and Croatian army fought against each other giving rise to the Croatian independence war.

I thought I could have get lost by looking at this uncontaminated nature; this system of lakes linked by waterfalls was simply awesome.

One of the Plitvice lakes

One of the Plitvice lakes

Unfortunately, our time at this marvelous came to an end. Our next destination was Split. Before going to this city, or at least find out its beauties through google, I only know it for Hajduk Split and its first Ultras Group in the world, Torcida Split. Anywhere you looked at, you jumped into something related to Hajduk, it is more than a team for them.

Hadjuk Split

Torcida Split

That summer was one of the hottest ever. Therefore, our days were split in either resting at the beach or visiting the city. The splendour of Split was not only based on the famous Diocletian’s Palace.

Republike Square

Splitstreet

Of course, the main meeting point in Split is the Diocletian’s Palace which is full of restaurants and bars where you can have fun while you are into pure history. Instead, the seafront is mainly full of outdoor clubs and bars; you can have a lot of fun over there.

When we did not visit the city, we stayed at the beach. Beautiful beaches made by stones and crystal clear water. We have been also away from Split, for instance Makarska, oh Makarska. Imagine to walk for 3 hours in a different city in a different country and when you get back to your car you don’t find it. The funny story was our friend, the car’s owner, who called his father asking for help. We had to a bill because we parked the car where we could not. Trogir Island was another beautiful place, let’s say you can find whatever you want close to Split regarding walks and beaches. However, you cannot miss one thing in Split. That is, Marjan Forest Park. Reach its top when the sun falls into the sea is one of the best things you can do in Split. Simply amazing.

Marjan forest

Rock in the sea

Unfortunately, it was almost time to leave. We spent the last night hanging out among bars and clubs. I noted that people feel very safe in Split, guys coming back home alone in the early morning. Once we got back at the hotel, we forgot the ring and following morning we woke up late even though we had to leave.

The way back home was double-sided. The sadness of leaving was balanced by the desire to keep traveling. When you go somewhere, you want always more. When you finish a travel, there is not anything better than planning another one. That is, when you get back home and the newness of the trip is over, routine prevails. This is why planning another trip is the best thing you can do when one is over