Croatia

Split to Dubrovnik with National Geographic Expeditions

Bok!

Our route was Split, Hvar, Brač, Korčula, Pelješac, Dubrovnik. Most days we did some hiking but 1 day we splashed around in kayaks.

Six of us on the trip + a guide, who did everything, and kept us hydrated and sunblocked. The group was American-ish -- all well-travelled and interesting.
We learned a few words/expressions in Croatian: Hvala (thanks), mollim (please/welcome), bok (hi),
živjeli (cheers), čao (hi/bye -- like Italian).

The weather was excellent for hiking and touring -- about 23C +/- 2. No rain except one evening. And we were late enough in the season that most of the crowds had thinned out.

Split seaside

Our guide, Irena -- probably nagging us about water, hats, and sunscreen

rocks. And water.

prickly pear

Plants:

Figs, Pomegranates, prickly pear, agave, quince, carob, almond, walnuts, capers(!). Oh, and some olive trees and grape vines.

black risotto

Food and Drink:

All the meals were great. Lots of seafood (dorado, octopus, oyster, etc.) but also lamb, beef and chicken. A couple of lunches were cooked "under the bell" -- a woodfired slow cooker. Pasta was common, including a black risotto -- squid with ink to tint the dish.

seafood

The wine was a pleasant surprise. There is a dry white called Pošip and a full-bodied red called Dingač based on the plavac mali grape. The island of Hvar hosts the vineyards and the harvest was just starting -- all hand picked because the fields are so steep. Hvar is also world famous for lavender.

selection of grappas -- sorry for the poor picture, eh.

Grappa: Croatia has some flavoured grappas that are often served as a welcome drink: walnut, carob, herbal, cherry for example.

Fauna:

Not many animals. Tovar (donkeys), matchka (cats), pas (dogs). There are boars but none were spotted.

Tovar

Some highlights:

An uphill hike to a 15th century hermitage on Brač.
Kayaking in the Pakleni islands + swim/snorkel.
Ran into some friends from a previous trip (Peru) in the town of Korčula.
Wine tasting and tour of a winery.
Olive oil tasting.
Oysters
Salt ponds and great wall of Ston.
Hiking in a magical (rain) forest.
The Mystery ship (yacht A)
Swimming in the Adriatic.

Wine tasting

some old guy swimming in the Adriatic

Mystery ship following us around Hvar

Modern toilet at the hermitage

Salt ponds in Ston -- from the wall

ACAB

Dalmatia was very clean with very little graffiti. However I did spot three ACABs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.C.A.B.) and one rare 1.3.1.2. unfortunately.

Lots of Game of Thrones sites and souvenirs. We got haircuts and did the walk of Shame dressed accordingly.....