Our final days in Croatia were a blast! We started in Split, a city abutting the Adriatic Sea, and went on a walking tour and learned a lot about Split’s rich history. For example, Split has the largest preserved palace which now holds apartment buildings, stores, restaurants, and town squares. Croatia was also interesting as it marked a shift in cuisine that we had not experienced, yet. Croatia’s position on the Adriatic and proximity to Italy heavily influences their food, so Croatia provided us the opportunity to sample a Mediterranean diet built on seafood, pasta, and pizza. Many of us enjoyed the chance to try frutti di mare or popular locally-caught fish like sea bass. We wrapped up our last night in Split at a restaurant near the waterfront, where we watched the Croatia soccer team beat Russia in penalty kicks!
After Split we traveled south and made a quick stop for lunch in Bosnia and Herzegovina (we actually went to 5 countries!) before continuing to Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is famous for its city walls, which have been a prominent filming location for Game of Thrones. The city also has had some of the best views of the entire trip, as it is located between hills on the north and the Adriatic Sea on the south. The vantage points from the hills overlooking the castle and the sea were absolutely breathtaking. Many of us enjoyed listening to live music at our hotel at night, while others explored the narrow streets of the old city.
The following day we flew out into Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, for an exciting day! Our group enjoyed a walking tour of the city where we learned about the Croatian government, the local history, and the Roman influence on the city. The highlight of our time in Zagreb was the final banquet. Our amazing Croatian guide, Damir, set us up with a buffet in a private room with a terrace overlooking the central square! We were able to bond one last time over our favorite pictures from the trip, an award show, and sharing our best moments from the trip. The night ended with watching the Croatia-England World Cup match. When Croatia stunned England in the last 20 minutes to win 2-1 and advance to the final for the first time in their history, getting the opportunity to witness the celebration in the square below and partaking in the festivities was a once-in-a-lifetime experience none of us will forget!
It has been an incredible journey through central Europe, and we are fortunate to have experienced it together!
Below, several trip members reflect and share their parting words:
Jacob L. – “I can’t put into words how amazing this summer was. I never thought I’d experience historical sites and be a part of sport history in the same day.”
Kaitlyn – “17 days of an entire year or lifetime is practically nothing, but the memories and relationships that were formed because of this trip are worthy enough to be valued for a lifetime.”
Amanda – “Canyoning in Slovenia was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I wouldn’t trade it for the world!”
Emily T. – “This trip taught me to have confidence in myself and in others.”
The Westcoast Blogger
Does traveling through Central Europe sound amazing to you? Find out more about our Croatia, Slovenia, Austria and Czech Republic trips here!