I was in Croatia last summer for a week. I stayed in Trogir (just north of SPLIT) for a week, renting a room on the cute/tiny island. It is such savage countryside, so beautiful. The language can be quite a barrier, and this is from a language expert. Get your maps!!! I do not have the link right now, but the Croatian Board of Tourism had great maps and info that helped me decide where to go. Although unfamiliar with the town you will be going to, I have to say that Split was only interesting for two hours to see the walled in portion of the city, Trogir was a great place to stay as it was so tiny (one or two NYC blocks) so it was manageable, had great summer night life with concerts every night in the open for free, restaurants everywhere - and one to recommend in particular if you go I will tel you, like miniscule Venice since it is only a series of narrow alleys connecting side to side, Sibenik was nice for the views at the top of an old fort, KRKA falls was a spectacular swim - yes I swam at this national park as do the locals - at the largest waterfall!!!, then on our way up to Opatija, we stopped at Plitvice Jezera - the Falls of Plitvice - and it was like Disney made its perfection!, A series of over 100 waterfalls, it is a paradise to walk through. I would have liked to spend more than three hours in the capital, it would have been worth it.
Stick to the coasts and the national parks with Plitvice as the best!!!!
Food is all grilled meat, and simple vegetables, it got boring everynight: do I choose grilled fish, prawm, chicken, or steak?
Their famous Dalmatian Salad s only onion, lettuce and tomatoe.
Try their "pancakes", ice cream (which they start eatingat 9 or 10 in the morning!), soups, and stewed beef with dark sauce on top - it is like Hungarian Goulash - very good. The wine is fair, but you must try the flavored brandies - you can buy them at the national parks too! Be careful of the herbal brandy - so strong!!!
I made nice with all the wait staff - it helps to be a decent looking 29 year old, and to know some Croatian - I got our table free drinks 5/6 nights!
You must be familiar with the basics of Croatian!!! Bathroom, DIRECTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, and food, well numbers are important too because they don't know you are familiar with the numbers and they discuss what prices to sell to you, and charge more since you are American. I would chime in with the price I wanted pedeset (20) - know high numbers as numbers are high for small goods even though exchange is good for us- and then they would realize I know the deal and not high ball it so much.
Sad though- caution about the devastation war has caused. Inland you can see a lot of destroyed buildings and sad old women selling everything because they need to survive. Lace, cheese, brandy - worth buying.
Okay, have fun, and reply I guess if you have another question.
Go with an adventurous spirit and do canyoning, and you will have a blast!
Keith
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