My Dalmatia. Bella biondina. Providenca. Gustan.

What can I say.

I am a fool for the sea and the sun.

Salt in my hair.

Sea breeze that gives you chills when you get out of the water.

The smell of coconut sun spray.

Living close to Dalmatia helps me feed my sea addiction.

Maybe some of you will dare to say that four and half hours drive is not close enough.

Trust me.

It is.

  When Bosnia changes its landscape to Herzegovina, my mind becomes all bubbly.

Bosnia.

Herzegovina.

And when greens change into rocks and stones - this.

All the way to the coast.

Listen.

And just like that I enter so called Gustan state of mind.

Enjoying.

Me gusto...

Hehe.

Notice how he sings like a woman.

Croatia has a magnificent coastline.

I've been all places - from Dubrovnik to Split and lot of islands (Brac being most favorite).

Except the remote island of Vis.

If I have only few days of vacation - I go anywhere near Split.

It is the closest.

The best thing to do is to start early.

At 4:00 a.m.

Beautiful landscapes you pass by.

Sunrise over the mountains.

Busko lake on the way.

And time for coffee.

Hmmm, how I wish I was there now.

*In couple of days I will be, yeey!

And when you cross the Croatian border - the tradition is you start counting hills to the sea view.

I can recall these trips when I was a child.

Me, my brother and sister in the back of old Skoda.

Mum, counting things she forgot to bring.

Dad, stopping by all the historical and other sights.

Brother,  all over the car.

Sister, mostly car sick.

 And me - asking about this and that - why is this here, why it is not there, how much longer, are we there yet?

Mum saying 'will you just shut up for at least a minute?'

Brother and sister fighting in the car.

Dad talking about revolution, partisans, Tito's secret hide out.

And then - counting hills to the sea.

The first view you get to see is this one.

In between tiny cities of Makarska and Omis.

And just across the island of Brac.

Beautiful beaches with little pebbles and rocks.

Beautiful curves by the sea.

Villages Stanici , Mimice.

Brela village.

Famous for it clean water, greenery and little pebbles.

Makarska is the largest.

Long beach, nice paths to walk by the sea.

Breathing in the salty air.

And in the morning, coffee and magazine.

Feet in the sea.
Head under the green shade.
Just the way I like it.

When it gets really warm I like to take a walk.

* Nudists in the back. Croatia has many spots for nudists. Even entire camps in Istria.

On these walks - you get to meet people.

Usually someone you already know.

Friends.
In my case - family.
And friends.

Sometimes it feels like home, only by the sea.

You always have someone you know there.

I mean ALWAYS.

Like my favorite little persons admiring the sea view.

And what a view!



Then you head for coffee, lemonade and ice cream.

The city of Split is half and hour drive by the coast.

Split I just LOVE.
Old town especially.

You have everything there - bars, restaurants, summer theatre. 

There is just something so magical about these old cities by the sea.

Besides Split, I love the old town of Dubrovnik, Rovinj, Porec, Primosten, Trogir, Hvar.

Kotor in Montenegro.

Narrow streets, slippery streets and that smell of lavender and grilled fish.

This video was taken in one of those old cities in Croatia.

I love this song.

And his shoes!

Dalmatia holds that special place in my heart.

The smell of pines and sound of those little crickets.

And that silly language of theirs.

Instead of M they pronounce N.

And they tend to lose the vowels.

Dalmatian.....Proper...........English

Rojen = Rodjen = Born

Gustan= Svidja mi se= Like

Piva=Pjeva=Sing

Lipa=Lijepa=Beautiful

Pasi=Psi=Dogs

In Dalmatia, men are called either Roko or Stipe.

And they yell when they talk to each other.

And like any southern men, dalmatian men like to flirt with women tourists.

Galebari is a famous nickname for them.

In Makarska there even is a  statue down by the riva dedicated to galebar men.

Galeb = sea gull.

Chasing innocent tourists...

From Makarska I visit islands Brac or Hvar.

And it is always by Calypso.

On board you get one meal *fish they caught and some salad.
Last time we took Calypso ride to Brac the cook was singing all the way. Funny man.

I love sailing.
And mountain Velebit looks magnificent from the sea.

Zlatni rat beach at Brac.

Ajajajajaj...

This is soooo difficult.

The most difficult post to write.

I wish I was there now.

Maybe this will help, Providenca, my favorite dalmatian song.

Ajajajaaaj...

It did not help.

If I want a quiet vacation, last year that was, I rent an apartment in one of the villages near Omis.

Omis is a tiny city on the river Cetina.

And by the sea.

Close to Split.

19km.

Because of the river bed, here you have long sandy beach.

 

 

I still have a massive collection of seashells and driftwood I found there.

I turn them into wind chimes, boats, candle holders...

Yes, silly person I am.

When I choose a place to stay - the only thing that I care is having a few steps to the sea.
Like here.

By the sea I do not care about being in a fancy place with big TV.

I can sleep on a couch.

As long as the thing that farewells me to the land of dreams and greets me in the morning is the sound of waves.

This one was my far most favorite flat.

Very modest, but right on the beach, tiny cafe in the house next to it.

It was June, the beach was almost empty.

Just perfect.

  

 I liked sitting here at night, watching random boats passing by, listening the waves.

And this.

....Duran u inat...

Tedy's amazing instrumental.

My Dalmatia.

Where I feel like 'bella biondina'.
What can I say.
 Gustan.

................

Omis offers much to tourists.

Tiny old city.

Nice path to walk towards the old tower.

If you are an adrenalin junkie then you must come here.

Many reasons why.

Rafting on the river of Cetina.

Zip line.

Paragliding.

Hiking and spectacular views.

  

And if you are not up for any of these - go to Split.

From there you take a ferry to anywhere.

Italy, Greece.

Though I suggest you go to island Vis.

I will.