Croatia: Most Diverse Travel Destination
Croatia is located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea in the South East of Europe. Bordered by Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro and Slovenia, the country is a melting pot of cultures and a treasure trove of European history and politics. Its unique location and its varied landscape of low mountains and highlands, flat plains and islands, rivers and seas, make Croatia a unique and interesting place to visit.
Its turbulent history has left a mark on Croatia's demography and culture and today, the population is as multifarious as the topography. While Croatian is the official language, other languages such as Serbian, Czech, Italian, Hungarian, Slovak and Romani are accepted as minority languages. The cuisine is heterogenous and hints at various distinct culinary traditions. Travelers through this land, can sense the country's willingness to live with differences, to put past strife behind them and to forge ahead in unity. The term "harmonized diversity" is likley to come to the mind of careful observers as they tour the Croatian cities, countrysides and islands.
Yet the most recent of Croatian wars was not fought that long ago. Between 1991 to 1995 the Croatian War of Independence racked this small nation. It resulted in Croatia's independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the dust settled, over 20,000 people lost their lives and over US$27 billion of material damage was done. However, much of Croatia's architecture and landscape remained untouched and these have become the backdrops of many well-known movies.
Game of Thrones and Star Wars: The Last Jedi were filmed in the city of Dubrovnik. Mamma Mia Two was videoed on the island of Vis. Sophie's Choice was filmed in Eastern Zagreb. An episode of Doctor Who was shot in the coast of Trogir. The architecture of these cities have been preserved and are as visually appealing as when they were first built. These cities are a major source of tourism revenue and continue to gain popularity because of their natural beauty and their claims to fame in films. Year round, tourists explore these regions trying to decipher the exact spot from which a scene was shot. If you are a fan of any of these movies, it is a good idea to stop by and enjoy the breath taking views first hand. If you prefer quieter, untrodden paths, head out to the smaller, more remote villages.
The town of Labin is a quaint village located in Rabac.
Although not frequently visited, it offers a fair amount of adventure to get tourists excited. The town is divided into two parts; the Old Town is located atop the hill while the New town is located at the base of the hill. The population is no more than 12,000 and the narrow, cobblestone streets and old buildings boast of a strong Roman heritage. Moving around the Towns and between the Old and New Towns is easily done on foot and visitors can casually stop by the Town Museum to learn the archeology of the region or they can visit the art displays. When the feet grow weary, coffee shops and small restaurants serve tasty foods from the region.
If Labin is too low-key, nine minutes from Labin, water sport lovers can find the beaches of Rabac.
Stretches of white sand, glistening under the sun's rays invite the quiet wanderer to get creative with sand castles. Warm waters welcome swimmers, fishers and sailors and restaurants offer freshly prepared seafood at a reasonable price. Rabac is the place to be for hikers, beach hoppers, sailors, divers, sunbathers and those who enjoy seafood.
The Rabac beach area is not as quiet as Labin and becomes quite crowded during the high seasons of summer. For a quiet relaxing experience, it is best to visit Rabac in the period of September to October when the weather is mild and there are less tourists.
Until next time
Venture Out. Keep exploring. Travel Smart and Stay Safe.
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