Adriatic Paradise
Remember when I ended the last blog in Split saying we were going to Hvar Island for a few days? Well what I didn’t know then that I do now is that within an hour of arriving we would book to stay an additional week. After months of COVID lockdown, missed beach vacations, and lots of travel from St. Pete to Croatia, this island was exactly what our souls needed to just sit and “be” for a while.
Planes, trains, and automobiles – and now a ferry!
Let me just start by saying thank God the ferry from Split to Hvar Island is only 50 minutes. We didn’t have the calm seas one would have hoped for, especially when I am prone to motion sickness. Niya wasn’t exactly a fan either but she was a trooper.
Pulling into the harbor quickly remedied that, seeing the aqua water, seaside restaurants, rocky hills, and the terra-cotta roofs was just what the doctor ordered.
We Could Stay Forever!
If I had a dollar (or a Kuna – Croatian currency) for every time Dave or I said how beautiful it is here in Hvar we could turn our “Adult Gap Year” into permanent early retirement. There is blinding sunshine from the moment you wake up until the sun sets, sparkling water every where you turn, and the entire island smells like lavender because it was just harvested last month.
What was even nicer is how quiet the island was. Because of Covid, the locals told us it was considerably less busy and although they missed the business it was a welcomed break and allowed them to enjoy their island for a change.
Another picture of the water? Ok!
The water on the Adriatic is spectacular, unlike anything we’ve ever seen. It’s crystal clear, aqua blue, and sparkles like a diamond.
There isn’t a speck of sand to be found, instead almost volcanic like rock sticking out of the sea. Most people find spots that have been polished down by the wind and the waves to sunbathe on. At first glance that seemed really uncomfortable, but when we tried it was actually the opposite. We spent hours laying and napping on the warm rocks listening to the waves.
A place I would highly recommend for the day is visiting Beach Club Hvar. You can lounge on sun chairs with umbrellas for $50 per person in food and beverage consumption or splurge for a Wooden Deck Package that has a huge subbed with white curtains, lounge chairs, and a deck with access right into the water.
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Wine flies when you’re having fun!
We rented a scooter again to see more of the island and had the most amazing day. The winding roads between mountains mixed with the never ending views of the sea made for the best ride we’ve had in any country.
After about an hour or so we arrived on the North Eastern side of the island that is known for their vineyards. We stopped and did a wine tasting talking with some locals. Croatia is known for their dry white wines because of the hot dry climate. During our entire stay I didn’t have a bad glass and even found a bottle for $3.40 USD that I would argue is one of the best whites I’ve ever had.
Restaurant life runs in her blood!
You’ll have to make the journey to Hvar Island the next time you want to see Niya. She loved the island so much she decided to stay and will be working at Fig
bussing tables to pay her rent 🙂
The food was so amazing and as you can see, the company was just as good so we ended up having two great meals at Fig. For brunch we shared a fantastic Granola Bowl with local yogurt, local seasonal fruit, honey and cinnamon as well as an order of California Toast with poached eggs, roasted tomatoes and guacamole served on grilled bread. For dinner we had a Flatbread of slow roasted tomato and onion jam, pickled onion, balsamic glaze, arugula and fresh cheese and THE MOST AMAZING Chimichurri Potatoes which were basically steak fries with an Argentinian flair!
Parting is such sweet sorrow (seriously – we’re really going to miss it here). But onto the next adventure – and this one is a big one. We’ll be driving back up the coast of Croatia, through Slovenia, and attempting to enter Italy. Given the current pandemic Americans are not allowed to enter without special permission, however we’ve heard from locals that isn’t quite the case. So, we’re going to roll the dice and see what happens. Wish us luck!
From Abroad With Love – AG
