7 days, 7 adventures! Back in: Split, Croatia

Well we made the jump across the pond about a week ago - and a busy week it's been! 

Leaving Vancouver, BC is never one of our favourite things, but arriving in Split, Croatia definitely is! So its always a bit of a bittersweet trip! Except this time...when many of our friends & family are due to arrive in a just a few short weeks to celebrate....our wedding! 

That's right you may remember us mentioning a while back that we are getting married this summer in beautiful Split!  Only a month or so away now, and still so many preparations to do!  We did manage to squeeze in a bit of fun our first week back amongst it all!

A send-off from one of my favourite people, my little cousin!
And what a sweetheart she is!!! 

A fully stocked fun pack for our 
24hr trip over!!!! 

A day trip to the City of Omis, Croatia - 30 minute drive from Split 

A day spent on the beaches of Markarska Riveria - a popular destination for locals & tourists.  Only a 50 minute drive from Split!  And for you Europeans - 45kms. 

Cooling off in one of the many cafes lining the Makarska promenade!

Back in Split - dinner at one of our favourite spots - Dalmatino Here an appetizer calamari salad.  Absolutely delicious!

Newest addition to the family!

A day picking fresh, organic peaches in the hills of Podstrana - 10km out of Split.  You North Americans, its about a 15minute drive!

And a road trip to the capital city of Zagreb.  Pictured here is the National Theater. 

And now we're back on this beautiful Dalmatian coast, ticking things off the errand list in Split as the wedding approaches!

Hope you're all enjoying your summers...wherever you may be!

xo

SUMMER in SPLIT 2012

35C+ Weather...
         bright sunny skies...
               warm Adriatic beaches....
                        tourists a plenty....
                                 summer festivals...
                                           & breath-taking views....

just another July in Split, Croatia!

Cruise ships dotting the Adriatic coast during the busy summer months.

Original stone alleys & paths in Split, Croatia.

History at every beachfront corner - Split, Croatia.

Sea Festivals in Split's neighbourhoods - this one is in Radunica, close to our fave Buffet Fife restaurant.

Clear Mediterranean skies.

Plenty of greenery in and around Split, Croatia.

Top of the city views from Sv. Duje in the heart of Split.

A glance at Split's Promenade (Riva), a tourist pauses for a moment to take it all in.

Another view from Sv. Duje, the towering Cathedral in Split's core.

It's a long way down from Sv. Duje's top!

Climbing the maaaany steps to Sv. Duje's top in Split.

Tourists in the square outside Sv. Duje, Split.

The main square in Split's inner historical core, at the entrance to Sv. Duje.

A tourist group coming through the heart of Split's old city.

Views of Split's Promenade from Matejuske, with Sv. Duje towering above the old city walls.

Just a 1700-year old building. No big deal.

A popular beach in Split, Obojena Svjetlost.

And the epic start to each of these fantastically warm and relaxing July Split days...a tasty espresso at a local cafe.  Obojena Svjetlost.

A **BIG** Thank You to our friend and photographer extraordinaire, Jaksa, for these latest shots of our beloved Split!  

And if you're still on the fence about this truly authentic Mediterranean city, an article from today's paper -> today's temperatures: 37C outside, 28C in the sea.  Ahhh summer in the Med!

xo

A SPLIT FAVOURITE

If you're like me, you prefer to walk through city centers instead of drive through narrow streets with double parked cars, pedestrians spilling over onto the roads, street lights every few meters and in this case...in Croatia.  Driving in Europe is an experience all on its own...but I won't go into that today!  

My suggestion for Split: spend some time walking and venture outside the pedestrian-only old city walls.  You just might come across incredible buildings like the one pictured above (my personal favourite!).  I'm lucky as this historic house-turned-hotel is on my route to the market, which means I get to admire it very often!  

Just look at the pristine kept original stone walls, the vintage green shutters, the 3 rare dormers (windows peeking out at the top!), the palm trees framing its shape and welcoming you up the perfectly paved path....  A real Split treasure.  It has a restaurant & patio on the main floor, but we have yet to head down and try out its specialties.  Will make sure to report back when we do, but in the meantime enjoy the visual!  Villa Diana always puts a smile on my face.

xo

SOUTH-BOUND

After visiting Bibinje, Zadar, and Split we are now heading further south in Croatia!

Driving from Split 12 km south, you enter a small town named Podstrana. Podstrana is  right on the Adriatic as the city shape is fully coastal, houses curving on the left and right, and a ways up the mountain.  Podstrana is full of beautiful beaches, restaurants, bars, night life and is growing in popularity during the busy summer months!  Every year there are a number of concerts with both local traditional Klape & popular artists.

Its a great destination for a relaxing vacation; its a town that has everything you need and want! Its thriving with hotels, apartments & suite rentals, dive shops, boat rentals, restaurants with fantastic seafood (most of it freshly caught in the Adriatic that same morning!), popular bars, welcoming and friendly people, nice beaches with clean water, and the newest shopping center only minutes away.  And of course the Mediterranean climate of warm temperatures and beautiful sunny days can't be beat!  This is the most important part of a beach vacation!

While some of us are swimming in the rainy and cold confused June Vancouver days, some are spending their vacations with sunny skies and beautiful beaches!

If you continue further south, the next biggest town is Omis. Omis is a popular destination for river rafting as the river Cetina flows right through its town's center.  Because this is where the river meets the sea, the water is a bit colder than in the other places (which is a refreshing change after weeks in 40C weather!).

When entering the town of Omis you cross a small bridge over the river Cetina.  If you turn left right after the bridge and continue driving along the river for ~20km you'll find one of our favourite places to go for a good traditional meal & drink - "Kremenko"!  The drive is stunning, varying quite a bit from the coast as it takes you into a more lush & green setting than the rock mountainsides along the coast.  Just gorgeous.

Omis, being a coastal town, also of course has beautiful beaches.  It's town center is full of great family-owned(for generations upon generations!) cafes and restaurants serving traditional meals, with traditional Croatian service in hidden stone alleyways.  Any one you pick you can't go wrong, we've tried them all at least once and have yet to find one to complain about! :)Make sure to try one of Croatia's beers - Ozujsko or Karlovacko - when in Omis, do as the locals do (or is that Rome?...)

Now a few pictures to help you imagine these two towns we've shared with you today! 

For future questions or help continue to write to us via email or leave us a comment!

Podstrana Croatia

Podstrana beach

Omis

Heart of town Omis

Omis

  xo

BEST PLACE TO LIVE ....hmmm....SPLIT!! :)

What do you think, which city is the best to live in...for you?

We say Split in Croatia! And we're not the only ones!! Why!?

Here is why....

Take a look here

If you don't agree with us, tell us your pick and send us a photo.  The best one and with the most votes we will publish!!!

Sv. Duje in the heart of old town, Split

MORE PICTURES FROM BIBINJE

BIBINJE

Bibinje. A small & beautiful town, in Dalmatia, and only 5 km from Zadar! 

A quaint & picturesque town, during the summer season Bibinje becomes a very busy destination! Why? Because it provides everything tourists are looking for in a great vacation; a warm, crystal-clear and clean sea, nice beaches, restaurants, concerts, excellent food, and a large pedestrian zone with multiple promenades for evening summer strolls. Not to mention the locals are always welcoming and friendly!

Bibinje is unique in the locals' recognizable accent & specific dialect; it takes a while for even Croatians to understand at times, but has a wonderful flow & rhythm to the words!

Bibinje has its own marina(lucica) which is one of biggest in Croatia! Bibinje in Croatia is a very popular and famous town, known as the birthplace and hometown to a number of musical legends like Tomislav Bralic, who happens to be one of our favourite Dalmatian singers...

But enough talk about this fantastic Croatian seaside town, see for yourself below!

Bibinje promenade

Bibinje

Beachfront Restaurant on the Adriatic

 

xo