Many of us are creatures of habit. We have a favourite mug, local restaurant, or Sheldon-esque spot on the sofa. We feel more settled when we’re walking on familiar ground. But sometimes you need to throw your hands up to your inhibitions and adventure.
Well, when it came to choosing 2016’s summer holiday, Miles and I decided that if we planned far enough in advance, we could have a more adventurous, unique holiday than we’d ever been on before.
So, one chilly evening in March, as the lamp post beams spilled into our kitchen, we opened up the laptop and began searching for what Croatia had to offer.
Over the next few months, we gradually booked flights, AirBnBs, coach tickets and day tours.
I’ll be the first to admit that I love finding one apartment abroad, getting settled and making it my own for a week or two but I was determined to keep an open mind and embrace our Croatian adventure.
| Dubrovnik |
Upon arriving in the capital, we took a drive through the most picturesque landscape I’ve ever seen and were immediately swallowed up by the city’s beauty. It was then onto our apartment, where our host greeted us and recommended his favourite restaurants and cafes – we tried not to get distracted by the fort that we could see from our bedroom window!
We spent most of our time in the Old Town, marvelling at the brick walls and marbled floors. Stepping in and out of side streets, we stopped to take photos that required #nofilter whatsoever or to try out a new flavour of ice cream - and yes, that was a daily occurrence.
On the second day, we climbed the city walls which took about two and half hours and provided us with the most unbelievable views. The majority of my photos from Croatia were taken on these walls!
Our favourite night in Dubrovnik was spent at a cave bar, where we sipped cocktails and watched the sun set.
| Split |
Our second location was a slightly more buzzing version of Dubrovnik. The same buildings and magnificent views were on offer but there was even more to see and do. This is where we signed up for some day trips, the first of which was a day at Krka National Park. The waterfalls were the main attraction here and whilst I'm not the biggest lover of swimming, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a dip - we also really needed to cool off after the walk to get to them!
The second trip was the sunset kayak tour. I'd never been in a kayak before, so was very pleased when I discovered that Miles and I could share one, although he didn't feel the same when he realised how weak my arms really are! We travelled to a cliff that was about half an hour away from the start point and had the chance to jump from them and take photos with the GoPro. This would have been where the photos were inserted, had I not decided that I wasn't a strong enough swimmer to jump from the cliffs or take my life jacket off in the middle of the sea. The giant red jacket did not make for the best of photos, hence the lack of photos from this day. It was a wonderful experience and being in the middle of the sea as the sun set is a moment I'll never forget.
The second trip was the sunset kayak tour. I'd never been in a kayak before, so was very pleased when I discovered that Miles and I could share one, although he didn't feel the same when he realised how weak my arms really are! We travelled to a cliff that was about half an hour away from the start point and had the chance to jump from them and take photos with the GoPro. This would have been where the photos were inserted, had I not decided that I wasn't a strong enough swimmer to jump from the cliffs or take my life jacket off in the middle of the sea. The giant red jacket did not make for the best of photos, hence the lack of photos from this day. It was a wonderful experience and being in the middle of the sea as the sun set is a moment I'll never forget.
| Zadar |
Whilst I have few photos of Zadar, that's not because I didn't love the time we spent there. It's just that I mainly took photos of ice cream, recorded the sea organs and shot some night time photos on my phone! But we loved Zadar just as much as everywhere else in Croatia and it might just have the best ice cream we have ever tasted, so there's one more (huge) reason to go.
Whilst I have few photos of Zadar, that's not because I didn't love the time we spent there. It's just that I mainly took photos of ice cream, recorded the sea organs and shot some night time photos on my phone! But we loved Zadar just as much as everywhere else in Croatia and it might just have the best ice cream we have ever tasted, so there's one more (huge) reason to go.
| Hvar Island |
When I close my eyes and think of "paradise island", this is now most definitely it. After spending our first 24 hours on this perfect little island, I had well and truly reached relaxation mode. Any worries in the back of my mind had disappeared and I could only think about the winding side streets and bright blue sea. If you stop and take a moment to look around Hvar, you see chilled locals, beautiful boats, inviting gift shops, and incredible scenery - it's almost impossible to think about anything else when surrounded by all those things!
We spent hours popping in and out of tiny shops selling gifts and food, walking by the sea, peeping into yachts that you'd have to win the lottery to own and sunbathing on the rocks. Whilst we spent little time in our apartment, it had a balcony that boasted great views of the island and surrounding scenery, meaning we could wake up to breakfast with a view or sit under the stars and talk about how much we enjoyed our day.
From now on, whenever I'm feeling worked up about small things, I close my eyes and think of the main square in Hvar. It really grounds me and makes me feel relaxed. Being able to extract myself from my day and take time out to envision that spot is something I am so grateful for.
As our trip drew to a close, I thought about how Croatia made me feel so connected with this big floating rock we’re all on; it told an incredible story, and made me a part of it. It’s almost as though the places we had visited had an aura, or their own special kind of energy. I revelled in the way that it disconnected me from everything simply so it could reconnect me to something new, something clearer. When you find yourself somewhere so remote such as Hvar, you’re able to see and appreciate what’s right in front of you far more vividly.
The best adventures are definitely the ones that will find you anyway.
Hayley x
Hayley x