Croatia - the pearl treasury of the Adriatic
“On the last day of Creation, God wanted to crown his
work and from tears, stars and breath created this country"
(J. B. Shaw)
About the country and its people
Croatia - the place where the Mediterranean, the Alps and Pannonia (Slavonia) meet, is considered a Balkan country, although only 49% of its territory is located on the territory of the Balkan Peninsula. It borders with Slovenia and Hungary in the north and with Serbia in the east. The border line in the south encircles Bosnia and Herzegovina in a wide triangle. The western border of Croatia runs along the Adriatic Sea with one 25-kilometer gap, giving Bosnia and Herzegovina a small stretch of sea coast near the city of Neum. A small piece of Croatian territory with the city of Dubrovnik, cut off from the main part of the country, has a short border with Montenegro.
Croatia was formed as a state in the 9th century, became part of Yugoslavia in the 20th century, and in 1991 became an independent country. This is a small country both in terms of territory (56.5 thousand square kilometers) and population (4.5 million people), but very rich in its sights, where unique natural complexes and historical monuments coexist in such a wonderful way, beautiful sea coast with hundreds of islands and numerous castles, dense forests and many thermal springs. Here you can enjoy the islands of Dalmatia, the tranquility and beauty of the caves and the crystal clear sea, stroll through the streets of medieval cities, admire the beauty of its national parks, taste delicious Croatian cuisine and excellent wines.
What can be said about Croatians? According to the citizens of the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Croats are a cultured, hospitable people, but politicized, militant, and lazy (it is interesting that everyone except Slovenes believe that Croats are hardworking, and only in Slovenia Croats are considered lazy). In the East, Croatia is perceived as a developed country that brings culture from the West, but is a bit closed in relation to the Balkans. Croats think best of Hungarians, Italians and Austrians, and treat Slovenes a little worse because of territorial disputes, but Croats admit that Slovenes have a more developed economy and democracy. Croats often perceive Serbs as militant nationalists, patriotic and aggressive, and Bosnians as very religious, hospitable, conservative and cheerful.
The total number of Croats is 5.65 million people, of which 4.05 million live in Croatia itself. The country's population is 90% Croats. The language is Croatian, which for a long time did not separate from Serbo-Croatian. Of the three ancient dialects - Shtokavian, Chakavian and Kajkavian, the latter is considered the most ancient. Writing based on Latin graphics. On the Istrian peninsula, Italian has state status, and there are also two endangered Romance languages - Istro-Roman and Istro-Romanian. Among believers, mostly Catholics (87.8%), there are also an insignificant number of Orthodox, Protestants and Muslims.
The ancestors of the Croats - the Slavic tribes of Kachichi, Shubichi, Svachichi and other participants in the "great migration of peoples" - settled the interfluve of the Sava and Drava, as well as the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic Sea in the 6th-7th centuries (before them, warlike tribes of the Illyrians conquered by the Romans lived here, who, in turn, succumbed to the large number and pressure of the Slavs). The first mention of an independent Croatian principality on this territory dates back to 825. In 925, the first Croatian king, Tomislav, recognized by the Pope, united two parts of Croatia - Pannonia and Dalmatia. In the XII century, the Croats were part of the united Hungarian-Croatian state, which at the beginning of the XV century launched an unequal struggle with the Ottoman Empire. By the beginning of the 16th century, the Ottomans captured most of the Croatian territory, while the smaller part became part of Austria-Hungary (the Habsburg empire) in 1526.
Getting to know the capital city of Zagreb
We stay overnight at the Karlstadt Hotel in the city of Karlovac, located close to the Slovenian border. But in the morning our path will not be to a neighboring country, but to the capital of Croatia, the city of Zagreb. On the way, we passed houses damaged by the recent fratricidal war, as well as either an open-air museum or simply abandoned military equipment. These echoes of the war left in our hearts pain and regret about how two fraternal peoples caused so much grief to each other. We take an evening stroll through the quiet streets of this small but cozy city, where nothing reminded us of the sad events of the recent past.
In the morning we head to Zagreb. We start the tour... from the cemetery. The Mirogoj Cemetery is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Europe, impressing with the unique architecture of arcades, tombs and family crypts made by famous masters. Everything here breathes with calmness and tranquility.
This is not just a cemetery, but a real pantheon, where outstanding figures of the country found eternal rest. You walk as if in some beautiful, very well-groomed park.
We start the walking part of the tour from the square with the tallest building in Zagreb and in all of Croatia - the Cathedral, the full name of which is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saints Stepan and Vladislav. Its dimensions are really impressive: the towers of the cathedral rise to a height of 108 m. It has a truly dramatic history. In 1217, it was built in the Romanesque-Gothic style, but the cathedral stood in this form for only 13 years, then the Tatar-Mongols destroyed it to the ground. In 1287 the cathedral was restored, but in the Gothic style. Over time, the cathedral fell into disrepair and in the XIV-XV centuries it had to be rebuilt again. It was fortified in the 16th century with walls and towers, and in the 17th century it received a massive spire in the Renaissance style. In 1880 there was an earthquake, during which the cathedral was badly damaged. After that, the cathedral was thoroughly restored, this time in the neo-Gothic style.
I really liked the monument in front of the Cathedral.
We get acquainted with the historical part of Zagreb Hradec, the center of which is the Gothic church of St. Mark. Its beautiful roof is impressive, on which the coats of arms of the country and the city are lined with tiles. Nearby are small two-story buildings of the Croatian National Assembly (1908) and the presidential palace of Banski Dvori, in other words, the main buildings of the country. No pomposity, modest, comfortable. There are no guards around, no crowds of people.
In this part of the city you can visit the Croatian Historical Museum, the Primitive Art Gallery, the Natural History Museum and the City Museum.
The most famous sights of Zagreb include Ban Jelač ić Square with its monument in the center. There is also a tourist center on the square.
Zagreb was formed from two medieval settlements that developed over the centuries on two neighboring hills. The first mention of Zagreb dates back to 1094, when a diocese was established on Kaptol, until in 1242 Hradec became a free royal city. Two settlements were surrounded by fortress walls and towers, the remains of which have been preserved to this day.
During the Turkish raids on Europe, from the 14th to the 18th centuries, Zagreb was an important frontier fortification. The baroque restoration of the city in the 17th and 18th centuries changes the appearance of Hradec and Kaptol. Old houses are being destroyed, luxurious chambers, monasteries and churches are being built. The wealth of the city is facilitated by many trade fairs, income from estates and many craft workshops. Rich aristocratic families, royal servants, church dignitaries and wealthy merchants from all over Europe come to the city. Schools and hospitals are opened, the cultural traditions of European capitals are accepted, the first parks and dachas are being created. Zagreb is established as the administrative, economic and cultural center of Croatia. The administrative unification of Kaptol, Hradec and the surrounding settlements into a single city of Zagreb in 1850 accelerated its development even more. The devastating earthquake of 1880 prompted the reconstruction of many aged areas and buildings. Representative public buildings are being built, parks and fountains are being equipped, public traffic and public services are being organized. In the 19th century, the number of inhabitants increased tenfold. With the growth of wealth and the development of industry, the city expands into a spacious lowland near the Sava River, where a modern city arises.
In 1991, after the collapse of Yugoslavia, Zagreb - the largest city in Croatia with a population of 780 thousand people - was the capital of the independent state of Croatia.
Split and Trogir - two diamonds in a Dalmatian necklace
On the coast, where sea and continental routes converge, Salona flourished in prehistoric and ancient times, and for many centuries was the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia. Between the 5th and 2nd centuries BC. e. Greek colonists found urban-type settlements on the islands and the continent. Not far from Salona, Emperor Diocletian, who went down in history as a reformer of the state system of the Roman Empire, ordered the construction of a large palace, which he moved to in 303. Diocletian's Palace became the center around which grew the medieval city of Split, which is currently the main attraction of the city of Split.
The guide introduces us to the palace, which is well preserved. This is a quadrangular mini-city, separated from the rest of the city by high walls, in which the most preserved are: the peristyle - a quadrangular open-air square, the vestibule - a round hall crowned with a dome, the Temple of Jupiter and the Cathedral of St. Douai (Domnia) - an octagonal cathedral with a high belfry. The central historical part of Split is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Currently, Split is the largest city in Dalmatia, sea and airport, the center of the resort region, the second largest in Croatia after the capital Zagreb.
Trogir is a city famous for its small historical part with a unique cluster of palaces, temples, towers and ancient buildings. The streets of the old town, intertwined into a labyrinth and intersecting with each other at different angles, make Trogir unlike any other city on the Croatian coast. The central historical part of Trogir is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Trogir, which is called the “Croatian Venice”, is a city with a clear silhouette, located on an island, giving the impression of a palace on the water with numerous domed towers and belfries.
Dubrovnik - the pearl of the Adriatic
Excursions to Dubrovnik were very interesting - an ancient city with a rich history - the most majestic and sophisticated city in Croatia, which is called the "Pearl of the Adriatic". Dubrovnik was founded in the 7th century on a small island off the coast, called Laus Lave (Greek rock) for its rocky southern coast, and named it Ragusium. The city acquired the name Dubrovnik in the 8th century, when Slavic tribes settled in these parts. It came from the oak forests that grew here.
This is a fortress city, a city-monument, which is under the protection of UNESCO, where each house is of historical value. In terms of the number of renaissance monuments perfectly preserved to this day - fortifications and towers, public buildings, churches, houses and palaces - in Europe they can only be compared with Venice or Amsterdam, along with which UNESCO is included in the top three most beautiful cities - monuments of Europe of the Renaissance . In 1000, Dubrovnik, which had previously recognized the power of the Byzantine Empire, took an oath of allegiance to the Doge of Venice. From the 7th to the 12th centuries, Dubrovnik was under the rule of Byzantium, retaining a certain independence in public and political life, but already starting from the 12th century. Dubrovnik was ruled by an elected local prince.
Since the Middle Ages, the prosperity of the city has been based on a well-developed maritime trade and skillful diplomacy, which has allowed the Republic of Dubrovnik to become the only city-state in the eastern Adriatic that can compete with Venice. Art and science flourished in Dubrovnik, the city became one of the centers for the development of the Croatian language and culture.
The city developed over the centuries, and thanks to a highly developed merchant fleet, by the middle of the XV century. became an independent republic, the motto of which was the words: "Freedom is not worth all the gold in the world! ", and, perhaps, that is why none of the conquerors could conquer it until 1808. During these years, the architectural appearance of the city was formed, the Slavic science and art, for which Dubrovnik was often called the "Slavic Athens". One of the brightest examples of this is the eighty original summer residences of the nobility, built in the Republic of Dubrovnik in the 16th century and which are monuments of art of world significance.
Despite formal subordination to various states, until its abolition in 1808, Dubrovnik was actually an independent state that played an important role in trade in the Adriatic and the Balkan Peninsula. In 1808, the Dubrovnik Republic, as a result of annexation by France, ceased to exist for more than four centuries and in 1809, according to the Treaty of Schö nbrunn, it was included in the Illyrian provinces, a French territory created in the eastern Adriatic on the lands conquered by Napoleon. From now on, the city became the administrative center of the Dubrovnik-Kotor province, headed by the Napoleonic marshal Auguste Marmont, who received the title of Prince of Raguz. During the period of French domination, the oligarchic political structure of Dubrovnik was liquidated, the equality of citizens before the law and the progressive code of Napoleon were introduced, the use of the Croatian language in official correspondence was allowed. However, the city's economy continued to decline, moreover, French indemnities and sharply increased taxes greatly undermined the well-being of the townspeople.
After the fall of the First Empire in 1814, the city became part of the Austrian Empire and was included in the Austrian crown land of the Kingdom of Dalmatia. Napoleon's reforms were canceled and Italian became the official language again. In 1918, at the end of the First World War, Austria-Hungary collapsed. Dubrovnik, along with the rest of Dalmatia, became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (from January 6.1929 - the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). In 1918, another significant event took place: the former Ragusa began to be officially called Dubrovnik - a Slavic name known for several centuries and used in everyday speech by the local population. In 1929-1939, as a result of the territorial reform carried out in the kingdom, Dubrovnik was part of the Zeta Banat, which united the lands inhabited by Bosnians, Serbs and Croats on the territory of modern Montenegro and its surrounding areas. In 1939, the city was assigned to the Croatian Banat, formed in the same year, where it remained until 1941, the year of the collapse of the Yugoslav kingdom. From April 1941 to September 1943, Dubrovnik was occupied by Italian troops, and then by German troops who replaced them. In October 1944, the city was liberated from the Germans by the Yugoslav partisans. In 1945, Dubrovnik became part of Yugoslavia, and the Constitution of 1946 referred it to the composition of the established Croatian People's Republic. The collapse of Yugoslavia was a difficult test for the city. Croatia's declaration of independence on June 25.1991 and the war that followed led to one of the most dramatic pages in the history of Dubrovnik. On October 1.1991, units of the Yugoslav People's Army surrounded the city and began bombarding it, which continued until May 1992, despite the fact that the historical center of Dubrovnik was demilitarized back in 1970. The strongest attack came on December 6.1991, when 14 residents of the city were killed and 60 wounded in one day. In total, during the months of bombing in Dubrovnik, according to the Croatian branch of the Red Cross organization, the death toll was 114 people. In addition to human casualties, the result of the war was the destruction and damage of many historical monuments.
Holidays in Dalmatia
Baska Voda (Central Dalmatia) is one of the coziest villages on the Makarska Riviera, which is 40 km long. It is this coast that has been awarded the largest number of UNESCO blue flags - here is the cleanest sea in the world. Baska Voda many years ago was a small fishing village, and today it has become one of the most popular resorts in Croatia with very hospitable residents, many hotels, restaurants, bars. Coniferous forest surrounds Baska Voda on three sides, and on the fourth side there is a sandy beach and the cleanest sea.
We stayed at the Urania 2 * hotel, located on the coast among the Mediterranean vegetation. The hotel is a complex of double and triple bungalows: bathroom with shower, balcony or terrace. Several times black squirrels were seen on the territory, which clearly felt like full owners. Unfortunately, not all bungalows in 2007 were air-conditioned, and the heat at that time was unbearable even for Croatia. The canteen was very reminiscent of my distant past in a pioneer camp, but the food was good. In general, if there was air conditioning, it would be quite good.
We examined the village: it is beautiful, colorful and is a real decoration of the coast. The ancient architecture of the buildings is in perfect harmony with the Biokovo mountain range approaching the city and numerous olive groves and vineyards. There are also interesting excavations of the 1st-7th centuries, the churches of St. Lovro and St. Nicholas - excellent examples of Dalmatian rural architecture, an interesting ethnographic museum has been opened.
After getting acquainted with the village, you can go by bus to Makarska - the center of the Makarska Riviera, as well as take a small sea cruise to one of the nearby islands: Mljet, Hvar, Brac.
During my second visit to Croatia (beginning of May 2011), we stopped in another, no less picturesque place in Northern Dalmatia - the city of Voditsa, the first mention of which dates back to 1402, and located 12 km northwest of the capital of the province - Sibenik and about 100 km from the city of Split.
Unofficially, the inhabitants of this small town call it "our little Barcelona", due to the numerous art galleries located in the central part of the city. Vodice owes its name to numerous sources of fresh water, some of which are located right in the center (for example, the old fountain). The central square is the center of all life, here are the most famous restaurants in Vodice, disco bars, cafes, jewelry stores and souvenir shops. On the quiet picturesque streets, almost all the houses have advertisements for renting apartments.
Our hotel "Punta" 4 * is located on the seashore among the pines. It consists of the main high building, which houses a reception, a restaurant, a sauna, a conference room, paid internet, etc. The building is clearly visible from anywhere in Voditsa. There are also several buildings lower, in which only rooms are located. We lived in the "pink house". The room has a good view of the sea.
From the central square in the northern and southern direction there is a sea promenade. The Adriatic Highway passes through the city, and it is connected by regular bus service to the largest cities in Croatia. Not far from the city are the Krka National Park and the Vransko Lake Nature Park around the largest lake in Croatia.
Sea cruise to the island of Brac
In the morning, from the pier of Baska Voda, we go on a small cruise to one of the many islands of the Adriatic coast of Croatia, which is not without reason called the country of a thousand islands - small islands and larger islands are bizarrely scattered along the entire sea coast. The island of Brac is the largest island in Dalmatia (the area of the island is 394.57 km² , the length is 40 km, the width is 12 km, the length of the coastline is 175.1 km), the third largest in the Croatian Adriatic after the islands of Krk and Cres and the third in population after Krk and Korcula. On Brač is the highest peak of the Croatian islands - Vidova Gora (altitude 780 m). Currently, there are about twenty villages and several settlements on Brač .
The island of Brac is known for its mild Mediterranean climate, sandy and pebbly beaches, pine groves and beautiful scenery, making it an attractive resort. The island has many pine forests, vineyards and olive groves. The traditions of making unique rose wine and exotic fish dishes have been kept here since ancient times.
Brač is a real oasis of fresh air and virgin nature. The most typical for the island are vast areas of rocky terrain and numerous valleys, sharp and deep failures. Heather bushes and fragrant medicinal plants grow on rocky surfaces. The island is also known for its beautiful stone, stone slabs were broken in the Brač quarries for the construction of Diocletian's palace, from here stone was transported for the construction of cathedrals not only in Trogir and Sibenik, but also in Prague, Vienna, Budapest, the White House in Washington.
We make a stop on the northeast coast of the island in the village of Povlia, whose name comes from the Latin "Paulia", that is, it means "belonging to the Roman Paulian". On the shore of the bay there are fragments of an ancient market complex. The village plays an important role in the history of Croatia. We inspect the village, get acquainted with the Benedictine monastery, founded in the second half of the 11th century. The surviving portal of the church contains an inscription that mentions master Radonja, the first Croatian famous stonemason. This inscription contains the oldest surviving poems in Croatian.
The village of Povlja is surrounded by many bays (Travna, Smokvitsa, Tichya Luka, Tatinya, Luka) with small beaches, and there is a marina in the bay itself. In this radiant calm place, we stopped for a rest with a swim, and later on board our ship a delicious lunch was waiting for us, which we willingly shared with the numerous winged inhabitants of these places, gulls and cormorants.
The island, as well as the walk in general, liked it. I remember the verses:
"Far away, on the open sea,
Away from the tracks and bustle,
Hiding in the early morning mist
Islands of my ghostly dreams.
Rafting on the river Cetina
We devoted one of the days of our stay in Croatia to an active type of recreation - rafting on the unusually beautiful mountain river Cetina.
Our path ran through narrow canyons, when we were surrounded by majestic mountains (it was here that the famous film studio of the GDR shot a film about Indians with Gojko Mitic in the title role of Chingachgook), and through numerous rapids.
We often fell into strong whirlpools and we were completely immersed in the water, but the river inexorably carried us further downstream.
We also swam under the waterfalls, substituting ourselves under the jets of the purest water, making stops to go ashore, rest, have a snack, swim in the river or enter one of the caves hidden by the waterfall.
I especially remember the forced passage through one of the caves, when on a separate section of the path the rapids were so dangerous that we had to leave our boats. Then I had to first get through a narrow passage into a cave with cold water and swim through it in almost complete darkness, and then climb the steep walls of the cave, illuminated from above by a thin beam of light, in order to step through a narrow passage onto a ledge under a rather strong waterfall. And ahead was another test - a steep descent over the stones down to the river, where our boats with experienced instructors were waiting for us. It was not an easy test and it will be remembered for a lifetime.
After the extreme rafting, we set off along a winding serpentine mountain road to celebrate this extraordinary event, and at the same time satisfy our appetite, to the Dedici restaurant, located high in the mountains. We were expected and warmly welcomed. A delicious lunch is prepared, which we drink with red and white wine, which flows in an inexhaustible stream, reminding us of the turbulent Cetinje River. And we admire the surrounding landscape, getting drunk either from the purest air, or from drunk wine, we recall the recent adventures.
At the end of this rich day of impressions, we are handed prepared discs with photographs from rafting. Finally, some of us saddled a donkey and walked around the territory of a hospitable restaurant on horseback.
Excursion to the Plitvice Lakes National Park
There are 8 national parks and 11 natural parks in Croatia, which are located both in the mountainous region and on the coast. I managed to visit the largest (294.82 sq. km) and the oldest on the Plitvice Lakes twice.
When this natural beauty was formed, they still do not know. One version says that the Plitvice Lakes arose in the post-glacial period as a result of constant biodynamic processes of limestone tuff growth in specific eco-hydrological conditions. The continuous growth of tufa also forms majestic numerous waterfalls.
The color range of the lakes is huge: from grayish-brown to blue-green, turquoise. Depending on the depth, the sunshine, and the breeze that gently ripples the surface, the water can change its color in an instant. At the bottom, fallen Atlanteans-trees have found shelter, whose torsos peek out from the depths, bristling with branches. No one cleans this aquatic environment - so these branches, leaves, trees immersed in a picturesque environment live freely.
There are 16 lakes in the park. They were arranged in the form of a gently sloping ladder. The highest of them, Farewell, the second largest, is located at a level of 636 meters above the sea, and the height of the last, lower lake Novakovitsa Brod is lower by as much as 100 meters.
But the most amazing thing happens when you come to the first edge of the water. It dramatically changes its color, while maintaining an unprecedented transparency. It seems that the depth, but it turns out with human growth!
Here a trout swims up, sadly looking at us and reluctantly sets off after us. Here one visitor begins to scatter bread and the fish lazily picks up a couple of crumbs. It is joined by the same well-fed brethren, whose figures slowly glide right at the surface. It is felt that the trout has already been fed, and the well-fed beauty selectively selects the diet offered to her. In the national park, trout will please our eyes all the way.
But we are already being called to the most interesting sight: we make a turn, and the elegant waterfall takes your breath away. It is not very large, only 76 meters, but is located in a beautiful horseshoe-shaped hollow. Streams of water flow from the very top, falling into a small lake.
There are many visitors in the national park, wooden decks are laid everywhere. The main task of the park is to preserve the ecology in general on a vast territory.
Everywhere water is surrounded by greenery: shrubs touching the water surface or jets of watercourses, grasses growing on land and under water, sometimes forming entire footbridges. This creates the impression that vegetation is advancing on land directly from the depths of the lakes. The richness of the flora is evidenced by 1267 species of plants known today and even 55 different types of orchids.
Finally, we got to the largest, with an area of .82 hectares, Lake Kozjak, whose depth is over 45 meters. We were invited to a spacious ferry. They were ruled by a real captain in uniform and a dashing cap, who saluted us on the pier. Lake Kozjak is really vast - our walk on the ferry took 10-15 minutes. But if you go around the lake along the shore, it will take at least two hours.
The park is famous for its caves, of which there are 36. They are concentrated mainly in the eastern part. It is worth visiting the Golubnyac cave, 165 meters long, decorated with stalactites. Or look into Mratskaya, the same depth, but interesting for its fauna.
If the number of lakes is known, then the number of waterfalls of different colors and rifts is unknown - there are too many of them.
The lakes are surrounded by mountains densely dressed in spruce and beech forests. Previously, there were more of them, but by the beginning of the 20th century, the number of trees had decreased due to constant cutting down. This is not surprising, since the first settlements were founded on the shores of Lake Kozjak in the distant past. Forests have long inspired fear among the locals. It is no coincidence that they even called the dense thickets "the devil's garden. " The Plitvice Lakes have always been associated with mysticism. The Croats were very reluctant to visit, cut down the forest and hunt around the Č ernaya River, as this place was considered enchanted. The surroundings of the White River, where people were not afraid to go, were subjected to more severe human influence.
Another important feature of the national park is the presence of brown bears, rare for the whole of Europe. One of the mountain ranges was even named after them - Medvedzhak. There is a belief that Plitvica will exist as long as at least one bear remains alive. The wars that took place at the end of the 20th century in the territory of the former Yugoslavia reduced the number of these magnificent animals, but it is possible that their numbers will recover in the near future.
Among the inhabitants of Plitvica, in addition to brown bears, one can name a large number of birds that freely live here: woodpeckers, thrushes, jays, nuthatches. There are predatory: sparrow hawk, white-tailed eagles and others. Migratory geese, mallards, bean gooses like to stop here. Mammals are represented by martens, badgers, squirrels and forest cats, patrolling their possessions in search of food and something interesting, because they are curious, like any other feline.
Here we come to the last waterfall - then the path winds up to the road, where small wagons await us, driven by a train, and soon we leave this wonderful place.
The next day we will leave this small but very beautiful country, taking with us vivid memories of a great vacation on the coast of the gentle warm sea, excursions to its legendary cities, boat trips to the charming islands, visiting one of the natural wonders of the Plitvice Lakes, about unforgettable rafting, about the hospitality of the fraternal people and about many other things, which are told and left unsaid here. During my stay in Croatia, I managed to see a lot, but I didn’t manage to visit many interesting places on short trips. I dream of relaxing on the Istra coast, visiting other national parks, especially the Krka National Park, the main highlight of which is the beautiful cascades of seven waterfalls, the total height of which is 242 m, and the Kornati parks. I don’t want to say goodbye to this country, but I say goodbye ! " in the hope that someday I will come back here again.
