o u r e u r o p e t r i p
20 Days in 4 Countriescroatia > switzerland > paris > ireland. . . c r o a t i a . . .
ancient . coastal . stone-walled city . eastern europeWayne & I set off on our Europe trip the beginning of August [2019]. We decided to make it happen a year and half before, thinking about the stage we are in life; 30 & 34, no children yet, and feeling like this was as good of a time as any to travel and enjoy these kind of adventures. It’s exhilarating to plan and anticipate a trip like this. We scheduled the trip around a wedding of a dear friend of mine who I’d met volunteering in India. Sheena, has an Irish/ Indian background but decided to have a destination wedding in Split, Croatia - so this was our first stop!
w h e r e w e s t a y e d . . .
Balatura Split Luxury RoomsWe found this little boutique hotel just outside of town, on a quiet lane and it was just the right fit for us. It is family owned and the young couple who took care of us were incredibly friendly and professional, someone available 24/7 at the desk. They provided an airport pick up and drop off and were available for anything we needed including booking tours and taxis, tips for getting around as well as the kindness of making sure we had coffee and pastries even if we missed breakfast. The rooms featured a beautiful, modern style setting in a historic stone building. We loved the traditional windows we could crank open and enjoy the fresh air and view of the village rooftops. A lovely complimentary breakfast was served in the garden each morning. 
o l d t o w n . . .
Split's "Old Town" a beautiful stone walled city, was just a ten minute stroll for us down this beautiful alleyway. The heart of the town is Diocletian Palace; now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a beautiful stone palace with open courtyards, alleyways, and charming little nooks & crannies - a small city of sorts. Originally built in the 4th Century by a Roman Emperor as a retirement home, it is now the local marketplace hosting many visitors and locals alike with a vibrant fresh food market, handmade items, cafes, shops and museums. Most days started by a walk to Old Town to pick up an espresso and pastry or piece of fruit at the market or a bite to eat in the middle of the day. Some days ended here as well. One night after going out with the wedding party we came back to Old Town for dessert from a corner bakery and sat down in the center courtyard to listen to music and have a glass of wine. There is a lovely culture and atmosphere in Split, functioning just as much for the locals as tourists. 
t h e c o a s t . . .
During the day we explored local beaches, often by a long walk. Even in August it was lovely and quiet to walk along the coast. You can easily get a bus ride to the further beaches as well. Croatia's Dalmatia coast is a thick sliver along the Adriatic Sea (opposite Italy to the east). Our favorite was K'ashuni Beach, shown here. 
e v e n i n g s // c u i s i n e . . .
Evenings in Croatia were spent with our friends and the wedding party. Not the typical vacation where we go out alone for dinner daily - and we LOVED having a whole crowd to join every night. Mark & Sheena's friends gathered from all over, England, Ireland & Australia, and we and one other friend happened to be the only ones from the US. It was a lively crowd and I think we had enough rounds and laughter to make friends for life. Also - You could tell just what an impact the couple made on their close friends and family - over 100 guests showed up on wedding day to this destination wedding!
Local cuisine is amazing; ranging from coastal Mediterranean/ Greek and Slavic cuisine to delicious Italian (Venetian) food, including their amazing seafood! Some of the things we enjoyed were pizza (gosh, lots of pizza.. they just do it well there), sea bass, mussels, scampi, squid ink risotto, delicious cheese and prosciutto boards (charcuterie is a big part of their culture), thick cold cut sandwiches on fresh bread (they know how to do sandwiches too) and plenty of espresso and pastries. (Let's go back...)
k r k a w a t e r f a l l . . .
A short trip from Split, we took a tour to Krka Waterfall.
Friendly Disclaimer (It was beautiful! But I have to recommend skipping if you are traveling during peak tourist season (It was one of the most crowded experiences I have ever had touring, and with the tour we had to wait hours before the bus returned. We wished we would've spent the day on the beach). Perhaps they will begin limiting the amount of people they allow at a time. Until then - I've heard it is quiet and lovely in winter months. 
a d a y o n a b o a t . . .
Our absolute favorite day of our Croatia trip was spent on a private boat with the wedding party. A handful of us chipped in to hire a boat for the day (thank you LEAH!!) and headed out with our suits and sunglasses for a day on the sea. There is just nothing like being on a boat, warm sun and wind pulsing against your skin, wet, then dry, then wet, and a good crowd of course. We put the anchor down at the blue lagoon to do some swimming & diving, headed on to the quaintest little island for lunch, and took rounds skiing on the way home. 
. . . t h e w e d d i n g . . .
Villa Dalmajica, SplitMark & Sheena's Wedding was held at a beautiful villa in a quiet area of Split. A grand open-air ballroom with creeping purple Rhododendron framed the tall entryway, that opened to pillow-lined steps down to the sea. We enjoyed cocktails in the garden with guests (a well acquainted group by this time) before the ceremony where they got married on a long pier; a spectacular view! Sheena was stunning in her silk gown, followed by bridesmaids in Indian saris. We danced the night away. It was just gorgeous; an amazing evening. 
. . . t r a v e l i n f o . . .
Flight | Flight deals found through Next Vacay
Accommodation | Balatura Split Luxury Rooms
Beach | K'shuni - See Other Split Beaches Here
Boat Hire | from Stobrec Dock
(you can walk down and talk with anyone there about renting a boat and work out a deal)
Wedding Venue | Villa Dalmajica, Split
Wedding Photographer | Lily Bungay
Transportation | Uber (the quickest, most cost effective means)
Helpful Apps | Uber + Airline App
