- Listening to the Sea Organ (Zadar): Waves move water through this organ's undersea pipes, creating music. Add a set of white stone steps descending into the crystal water above the organ and a sky full of stars, and you have a matchless venue to enjoy the moonlight. Let the water lap at your feet, and luxuriate in the organ's haunting sounds.
- Viewing Mummies (Vodjnan): They are billed as the bodies of holy people who died centuries ago and miraculously never decomposed. They look a little like skeletons shrink-wrapped in leather, but they are compelling. You can't get too close to these relics, but you'll get close enough to recognize them as being human. They're stored in the curtained-off area behind the altar of St. Blaise Church, where the light is dim, the music soulful, and the piped-in commentary a little exaggerated. The setting contributes to the atmosphere, which is creepy but riveting.
- Exploring the Village of Hum (Istria): It calls itself the smallest town in the world, and population-wise, it might be. But so many people visit this village high in the Istrian interior that it always seems crowded. The village fathers have done a wonderful job of restoring the buildings in town and making it tourist-friendly.
- Strolling Through Mirogoj Cemetery (Zagreb): As much sculpture garden as burial ground, this 19th-century cemetery was designed by Herman Bolle. It is home to Croatian patriots, common folk, and people of all faiths and nationalities. The tombstones range from small and simple to enormous and elaborate, but each is a story in itself. Don't miss the black granite slab at the grave of former president Franjo Tudman or the sculpture-rich arcades on either side of the entrance.
- Descending Into Ilocki Podrumi (Ilok): You'll get the chills in this second-oldest wine cellar in Croatia from two sources: the temperature and the history. The cellar was looted by the Serbs during the Homeland War, but not before the owners concealed bottles of the best vintages behind a false wall. Today those bottles are out of hiding and on display along with the barrels and vats used to store the winery's newest vintages.
Croatia Travel Experiences
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Explorations in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina.
We rose early on day 3 to get on the buses once again and head towards Dubrovnik, Croatia. It was a long bus ride but as the Italians say... Continue reading »
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Croatia
June 11. We left Lujubljana on a morning train to Zagreb, Croatia. The train was uneventful. Getting our rental car was another matter. J... Continue reading »
