Dubrovnik, croatia

Last look at Hvar before we made our way to the Makarska riviera.. we missed the ferry & had to take a bus across the island to Stari Grad to take another ferry to the mainland.

Thank god we had no grand plans for Makarska except to soak in the water & do some jetski! Wind on our faces, sun in the eyes, the velvet blue of the ocean, we went far far away until the Makarska coast became a painting.

Fresh seafood on the coast... grilled squid is a Dalmatian specialty... delicious!

Our last stop is Dubrovnik, possibly the best-known Croatian city because of its walled old town & fortress. 

The view from our terrace was well worth the 20-min climb up everyday!

Dubrovnik is amazing. Every corner had us gasping in awe... even though they suffered a terrible bombing in 1991, resulting in damage to the old houses & architecture, alot of the old town was still intact.

Rector's Palace.

Exploring one of the monasteries... if i may be honest, Dubrovnik was probably the least preferred town on the list even though it is the most well-known. There were just too many tourists milling around, especially from the big Mediterranean cruise ships which would dock near the harbour each morning & unload hundreds, even thousands of red-faced tourists for the day.

On our last day, we escaped into the cool walls of the monasteries & took a boat to a nearby island for an afternoon nap...

Say goodbye to this beautiful country was so difficult but responsibilities were calling us back to reality. And my reality is fast becoming a blurrrr.

Hvar, croatia

Having been pampered in all senses in Split, we took the ferry to Hvar, one of the Dalmatian islands. There, we realised why it has always been popular because it is beautiful beyond words & photos. In fact I was so disappointed each time i clicked on the camera because nothing I did could capture what my eyes saw.

Many people owned a boat or yacht & would take off to sea from the crystal clear port.

Sunbathing is a religion here and we came to worship the sun god too.

The waters around the port & island are shockingly clear & unpolluted, even if hundreds of yachts & catamarans come in everyday. This is really testament to how much the Croatians take care of their country. And how tourists respect the land too.

The ancient town square of Hvar, with the cathedral of St Stephen. Our favorite place to have a coffee or beer, people watch and soak in the medieval architecture.

Rocco became our favorite Italian restaurant there.

The Pakleni islands off the coast of Hvar.

We climbed to the top of the fortress where you can get a bird's eye view & a coffee as well. We stopped at cafes before lunch, after lunch, after dinner... not to forget aperitifs before dinner... it was safe to say that our waistlines expaaaanded after a few days lol.

It's amazing how the Croatians integrate modern lounge chic into centuries-old stone, & still manage to retain its authencity. They excel at this in every town we explored, kudos to them!

Little bays to escape to, where the waves literally shimmered like diamonds.

Hvar was the perfect blend of Mediterranean sun, turquoise sea, afternoon naps, Italian cuisine, easy chic, cool winds, tan smiling people everywhere... just writing this makes me miss every single moment there.

We felt like we were playing truant from daily life & didnt deserve to have such beauty around us when the world was working. Such was the charm of Hvar.

Split, croatia

Having been the summer playground of Germans, Italians & french for a long time, I was not quite sure what to expect of Croatia. It felt a little bit like a real adventure. We flew into Split, Croatia from Paris & was greeted by a wave of hot Mediterranean sunshine. What bliss!

Because of its proximity to Italy, Croatia has been greatly influenced by its Adriatic neighbour. We dined in Italian restaurants almost everyday & marveled at architecture which would not have seemed out of place in Venice. I, however, was the odd one out. Everywhere we went, people stared at me as though it was the first time they'd seen an Asian.

Split is best-known for the Diocletian Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one which truly lives up to its reputation.

It was amazing to see locals still living in 4th century Roman palace ruins & going about their everyday business like hanging clothes. I was obsessed with spotting Croatians hanging their clothes or leaning out of their windows. When i spotted one, I would shout : Look! Princess!!! Meanwhile F the history buff would shake his head & lament about the Serbian war which led to many years of misery for Croatia.

The peristyle of the palace where you can now relax on cushions & have a coffee. My favorite place of all, especially when i am constantly jet-lagged.

Climbing old stone structures & stairs is de rigueur in Split but we soon discover that the best views are really from the top.. like this one over the city from the narrow bell tower.

Ladies afternoon tea.

Split is also a busy port and we loved hanging out at the promenade & just watching people, eating gelatos.

We practically burn our skin just walking under the sun... not a cloud in the sky.

After 2 nights in Split, we take a ferry to Hvar, one of the many islands dotting the Dalmatian coast.. and there, we fell in love. You'll soon see why :)

Croatia

How have you been?

I've left a piece of my heart in Croatia & cannot wait to go back again. Unforgettable days of lazing in the Mediterranean sun, exploring old ruins & palaces & fortresses, trying to understand the war, marveling at the crystal clear waters of the ports, having fresh grilled squid & seafood, the smell of lavender in the air... it was magnifique.

I will share more pictures in the days to come... for now, i need to sew purses & fulfill all my orders! xx