Visiting Balkans Will Shake (Flavours) Up
Well, it does for me.
You see, I no longer live in Croatia, but still, get hyped up just like any tourist when coming back to visit my family and old friends. Croatia has some pretty awesome experiences and places to visit, just like its surrounding countries.
No more talking — I will rake you by the hand.
First things first, a little bit of school geography.
The Balkan region is countries located in southeastern Europe. Think Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Greece, and Slovenia. Too long to remember? Just take a look at the map.
But that is just a Wikipedia-entry story. Let me tell you what my Barcelona friend Anna Paloma loved about Balkans when coming with me last summer. And just for a bit of credit, they are coming back this summer as well!
Balkans make people better — here is how.
Savour the Flavours Again — Croatia Slow Food
Just look at my profile picture — does not it scream “foodie”? Well, that’s how I will start — with the best ever cheese tasted. Well, maybe the French Camembert is good as well. Trying Croatian Pag Cheese is a whole different story when you are there on Pag Island in the Adriatic Sea where sheep are milked.
And off we go.
…and Taste Good Wine to Up Your Standard
Foodie experience does not end there. Croatia is a famous winemaking country, just like Romania and Bulgaria. Wine is good and inexpensive there, and you can have a quality glass just for a few euros (or kuna, or leu). Make sure to taste the world-famous Cuvee Charlotte of luscious Merlot (36%) and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. Lose yourself in the vibrant and complex taste of wild, dark fruit, mocha, and potpourri.
Your Favourite Beach Will Now be Bright Blue and Wild
Because, yes, there is a beautiful Medditarean sea and loads of world-class beach resorts around Barcelona, but it is overly crowded. Nor Anna (nor me, to be frank) could understand how Croatia can still have some pretty wild beaches, given its bright blue sea and crowds of tourists visiting Dubrovnik for Game of Thrones.
And More Food…
It is me, after all. Taking Anna to all places food. When we were to Bucharest in Serbia for a weekend getaway on a budget, there was no better go-to snack for our hikes in Tata and Lazar's Canyon than buying a fresh baguette in the local bakery, a jar of Ajvar and hopping in the bus to discover the beauty of Balkan mountains.
And burek. No explanation needed. Just try it.
