Моя история о Хорватии My story about Croatia

My Croatia.
“Dalmatia! The ship landed on a rocky shore. Diocletian quickly, like a boy, ran down the gangplank. Dalmatia!! ! I wanted to fall on my knees and stroke the rough ground with my palm. Once his father was a slave here. Diocles returned as emperor - Caesar Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletian Augustus. Caesars are not supposed to show sentimentality in front of the troops... And yet he knelt down and stroked the stones.
I have a completely different story!
When you type in Split in Yandex, you get air conditioners and split systems, it is not so easy to find any historical information about such a wonderful city rich in history.
Having visited Croatia for the first time, I did not quite understand it, but it became close and interesting to me. You will recognize the real Croatia in central Dalmatia, where true Croats live. Croats are a Slavic people, but they look a little like Russians. Realizing the common origin, you understand why they are so close and cute.

We lived near the small town of Sibenik. During the day it is just a fairy tale - quiet, empty, romantic... in the evening all the sights are illuminated, which makes them seem even more ancient. Narrow streets paved with rubbed white stone, an abundance of plants in tubs placed right along the streets. From there, from the local bus station Kolodvor, we discovered the real Croatia. Only 20 minutes and you get to the Krka National Park - a miracle of nature, crystal clear water, emerald lakes, views from which you can’t take your eyes off, the singing of rare birds, the scent of flowers and the sound of water, a boat trip, in places where tourists rarely wander, where no people and only mountain goats greet us at the edge of the cliff. They left their signature in an ancient book intended for tourists in the Franciscan monastery.
And, undoubtedly, the most vivid impression of the entire trip is the fabulous, majestic city of Split. It strikes, it does not leave indifferent. The energy emanating from this city is breathtaking. Having passed through an underground tunnel, formerly a place of imprisonment of Christian martyrs, he “blows the roof off” from what he saw. Once upon a time, the son of a former slave, Emperor Diocletian, after his abdication, built a palace for himself, more reminiscent of a fortress or a military camp, and 1700 years ago, the walls of the palace seemed to grow out of the water, in the center there was a gate access to which was only from the water. Passing through them, a view of the “modest” dwelling of the emperor opens. Libraries, baths, a cathedral and a “magic” bell tower, to climb which, you need to have more than a dozen shares of courage, all made of white stone, battered by time. It is about him that a legendary saying has been preserved: when Diocletian was begged to return to the throne, he refused, when asked why? - Oh, if you could see what kind of cabbage I have grown in Split. Actually this famous phrase he went down in history. After his death, the palace began to be inhabited by ordinary people and the emperor's dwelling turned into a city. Now, it is strange to imagine that these walls are 1700 years old, that once behind the windows, between which the laundry is now being dried, there was the residence of the Roman emperor. But, nevertheless, despite the time difference, you understand that the same people lived there.
Lots of cute, little islands living a quiet, leisurely life. Nudist beaches. Everyone knows that Croatia is a country of nudists. Nobody is embarrassed to “undress beautifully” here, even on ordinary beaches you notice that the Croats themselves rarely use changing cabins.
The purest sea. There are practically no such purest waters left in the world, therefore all Dalmatian beaches are under the protection of UNESCO. Croatia is a country that is impossible not to fall in love with, a country that you always want to return to.

Ancient cities that are 2000 years old, friendly, kind people, emerald blue, gentle, gentle sea, cool wind, peace and quiet, only the sound of the sea, no one around - only you and small islands on the horizon, you can’t believe your eyes, you are afraid to blink, it seems that you are in heaven, that this is a fairy tale, and you want it to never - never end.
The brightest impression:
City - Split Palace, climbing the bell tower, boating on the river and Krka canyons, clear sea, very handsome men, hitchhiking, night swimming, meeting a real navigator - artist.
Most delicious:
Hobotnitsy (squid) with potatoes, meat dried in the sea wind - prosciutto, salad with arugula, pancakes, coffee and wine, freeze-dried ice cream.
Most tasteless:
Pasta casserole, pancakes made from semolina or wheat flour, freeze-dried ice cream!
Amazing discoveries: The Polos are from Dalmatia, Marco Polo was born on the island of Korcula, the first thing a child born on Korcula learns is that he is Marco Polo's countryman. The first hydroelectric power plant in Europe, invented by Nikola Tesla, who is of Croatian origin, is still in operation and is located in the Krka National Park; the ballpoint pen was invented by the Croatian inventor S. Penkale. The tie is also an invention of the Croats. The island opposite our beach, which we called the gray block, turned out to be a very famous place with a coral reef - it was Zlarin.
A spoon of tar:
She stepped on a hedgehog and caught a cold.