2-Croatia

Basic Info:

• Locally known as Hrvatska,the republic of Croatia is a country situated at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, on the Adriatic Sea
• Capital city-Zagreb
• Currency- Kuna and Lipa. Kuna being bank notes in the denomination 5,10,20,50,100,200,500. Kuna also comes in silver coins of 1,2,5 and Lipa-1,2,10,20,50. 100 Lipas make 1 Kuna. Euros are secondary currency and accepted in a few places.1 Euro=7.4 Kuna 1 OMR=15.7 Kuna
• Place in the world:

• Languages spoken:Croatian and I'm hoping English
• Visa-Schengen works and passport must be valid for at least another three months after the planned departure from Croatia.
• Geographically significant structure to keep in mind: Adriatric sea
• Main places of interest:Zagreb,Dubrovnik, Istria,Island of Hvar
• Best months to visit:February,March,September,October,November
• City card:YES!But all the major cities have their own cards.
• The flag of Croatia:

Random Trivia:

• The necktie was invented in Croatia!It used to be called the cravat,a word which was coined from the word Croat.
• Dalmatians originated in Croatia.
• Croatian money-Kuna is named after a rodent,a ferret-like little creature prized for its luxurious fur.In the ancient times,trappers traded the furs widely and it became practically synonymous with money itself. Lipa on the other hand is Croatian for the linden lime tree.
• The largest number of Neanderthal fossil bones were found in Croatia.
• The mechanical pencil and fountain pen was invented in Croatia!It used to be called Penkala named after the inventor Slavoljub Eduard Penkala.
• The amphitheatre in Croatia is one of the only 3 preserved in the world(the other two are in Italy and France)
• It has a beach called Zlatni rat which changes shape and colour depending on weather conditions!
• They have a script which is not a language-Glagolitic. Official documents and religious texts are written in the phonetic Glagolitic script.It was the first attempt to unite the Slavic people under one written script.

Croatia seems to have a lot of islands and beaches.From what I've read,it has about 1246 islands,isles and inlets.So at this point,I'm not really sure what it is that I'm looking for in this holiday because clearly there is so much to see and the whole trip here sounds like it's all about relaxing and absorbing some sun.Which sounds fantastic except that I live in a country that has beaches and sun so we do enough of that here.Compiling a list at this point seems daunting for some reason!So I'd put Zagreb,Split,Pula,Dubrovnik and Pazin on my list.
More to add probably when I actually take this trip I think!This looks helpful!
Kids might like:

• Geocaching activity involving of finding find as many water pumps in Zagreb as possible.Check pimp my pump .
• The coastal city of Šibenik hosts a renowned International Children’s Festival in late June/early July, with craft workshops, music, dance, children’s film and theatre, puppets and parades.
• Museum of illusions-My kids loved the one in Oman so I'm pretty sure this one will be fun too.Also in Zagreb
• Zip lining minimum age 7
• Swim in a waterfall-Krka National Park, located near Šibenik, is famous for its Skradinski Buk and Roski Slap waterfalls.
• Go in a submarine in Split
• Paint at Lauba house in Zagreb.

Food not to be missed:

1. Crni rizot-Crni rizot is basically a squid risotto where the rice is coloured with squid ink.Besides squid, this risotto contains other seafood, particularly mussels, clams and other shellfish.
2. Strukli-This is a pastry, filled with cottage cheese and sour cream.
3. Buzara-means stew,this is basically a dish of mussels in a wine broth with garlic and breadcrumbs
4. Peka-Ispod peke’, or ‘under the bell’, is usually lamb, veal or octopus placed with vegetables inside a dish with a metal lid. The dish is then cooked in an open fireplace by the hot coals and embers which are placed over the lid. The dish is left to cook slowly in its own juices until the meat is tender.
5. Rožata this is a Croatian custard pudding in Dubrovnik  that is similar to flan and crème brûlée. Its name is derived from the liqueur rozalin, which gives the cake its aroma.
6. Fritule-Resembling doughnuts, these little fried pastries are a popular sweet in Croatia. They’re flavored with brandy, raisins and citrus zest, and are dusted with powdered sugar when served.
7. Sljivovica-A plum brandy,usually served as an apertif.
8. Prsut-Air-cured ham similar to Italian prosciutto.
9. Palacinke-Croatia’s version of crepes, these thin pancakes are stuffed with different sweet fillings.

The food in this region seem to be full of sea food and pastas.Sounds perfect to me!
Souvenirs to look out for:

• Bajadera-Croatian praline
• Something in Glagolitic(the script I mentioned earlier).
• Pag lace-this is world famous for its beauty and quality and is part of the folk costumes of the island, whose canvas pieces adorn clothing in the form of meshes.Frame it to make a great piece of artwork for your walls.
• Morčić-This is the name of a small porcelain head of a dark-skinned person wearing a turban(hmmm..?)Morčić as a character is featured on earrings, rings, brooches, and necklaces and is supposed to bring good luck.
• Vucedol doves-The dove is a strange shaped ceramic dish on three feet. It’s the model of a ritual vessel believed to have been made between 2800 and 2500 BC.
• Lavender- Stuffed animals filled with lavender to lavender spray for your pillow and lavender honey,Croatia is the land of the lavender.
• Sardine Can Artwork
• Licitar Heart-this is one of the symbols of  Zagreb. Even though it is technically a dessert, it is not to be consumed. Instead, it is considered a gift of love and is given to those you live as an ornamental gift.
• Pimp my pump mini replicas from Zagreb.
• Rakija – is a really strong alcoholic drink made from different herbs and fruits.

This is probably the hardest one I've ever worked on and I'm not too happy with the outcome.I'm sure there is a lot more information out there on the web but I cant seem to compile it all.More when I can.....I have a deadline to complete ;) 25 days till the 5th!

Vive Valeque♡

Kavita