A Couple's Adventure to Croatia - Top Notch!
There is a reason (in fact many reasons) why Croatia is the most popular trip in the world right now for Backroads Adventures. My wife, Chelsea, and I were so fortunate to experience this beautiful, rugged and ancient country this September with 4 other awesome couples, whom we’ve known for decades.
For Chelsea and me, this was our first trip together sans kids in 10 years, and it was one to remember. We celebrated birthdays and wedding anniversaries, so, yes, there were lots of treats and toasts. And, the boys sported some seriously touristy outfits for a bunch of good laughs (the fellas photo just has to be shared 🙂
We were blown away by the islands, the friendly people, hand crafted marble buildings and streets and picturesque islands. Our stomachs were happy and full with fresh seafood, pastas and desserts. Our hearts were happy and full by spending quality time with amazing people and friends.
The most impressive story was one about the country’s history. Our guide in Dubrovnik told us his family has lived in the same apartment in old town Dubrovnik for the past 5 generations, eating at the same dinner table, looking out the same window to the Adriatic Sea. Over that time, this same dinner table and same window has been part of 6 different countries, as Croatia has a long and storied history, being prime real estate for controlling shipping lanes for the region.
Here’s a brief history lesson (the full history goes back much farther):
Napoleonic Rule (1809–1813): Napoleon dissolved the Republic of Venice (1797) and Dubrovnik (1808), creating the Illyrian Provinces directly administered by France.
Austrian & Austro-Hungarian Empire: After Napoleon’s defeat at the 1815 Congress of Vienna, the Habsburgs took control of the entire Dalmatian coast and Istria.
Dual Monarchy (1867): When the Austrian Empire reorganized into the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Croatia-Slavonia was placed under the Hungarian part of the monarchy.
State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (Late 1918): As Austria-Hungary collapsed at the end of World War I, South Slavic lands broke away and briefly formed an unrecognized transitional state.
Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918–1941): Months later, this state united with the Kingdom of Serbia to form the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929.
World War II & the “Independent State of Croatia” (NDH) (1941–1945): Following the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia, Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy partitioned the country and set up a puppet regime called the NDH.
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945–1991): After WWII, Croatia became one of the six constituent republics—the Socialist Republic of Croatia.
Republic of Croatia (1991): Following the fall of communism and rising ethnic tensions within Yugoslavia, Croatia held a referendum and declared its full independence on June 25, 1991.
If you have gotten this far, you need to follow your instinct and visit this amazing country. Happy travels.
