Croatia 101: Fun Facts + History + Language

With food and wine like Italy, parties like Ibiza, and prices like Mexico, it’s hard not to fall in love with Croatia. 

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Croatia is full of vibrant culture, fresh seafood, under-the-radar fine wines, charming people, glimmering coastline, lush parks and turquoise blue lakes. You should go as soon as you can - and don’t forget to bring back some lavender oil ~ a sent that will forever bring me back to The Pearl of the Adriatic :). 

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

My Favorite Facts about Croatia

  1. The fictional city King’s Landing in the show Game of Thrones was inspired by Dubrovnik and a ton of GOT scenes were actually filmed there (Khaleesi, where you at!).

  2. Nikola Tesla (the guy Tesla Motors was named after) was born in Croatia.

  3. The longest operating pharmacy in Europe (and one of the oldest in the world), is in Dubrovnik and you can still buy creams and herbal teas here prepared the same way the monks back in the 1300’s prepared them.

  4. Mike Grgich, world-renowned as "The King of Chardonnay", spent most of his adult life growing grapes in Napa but grew up in Croatia and is known for putting California chardonnay on the map. Grgich Chardonnay has always been my family's go-to Chardonnay for holidays and nicer occasions so I was very pleased to discover this!

Krka Falls

Krka Falls

Croatia Notable History

It’s tough to imagine quaint little Dubrovnik surrounded and attached by Serbian bombs and even harder to imagine it happening a mere 25 years ago. Luckily, the city (and country) has mostly recovered since The Croatian War of Independence (1991 - 1995) - called the Homeland War by Croats - but it wasn’t an easy recovery given 25% of Croatia’s economy was ruined and 20,000 people died during the war. The positive outcome: Croatia gained its independence from the Yugoslav Socialist Republic, formed during WWII, and is now a free country and a beautiful and safe place to visit.  

Mali Ston

Mali Ston

Language 101

Croatian's speak Croatian and these are the words we used the most: 

- Hi - “Bok”

- Please - “Molim” (“mo-leem")

- Yes / No - “Da / Ne"

- Good Morning - “Dobro Jutro” (“do-bro jew-tro”)

- Thank You - “Hvala” (hva-la)

- Beer - “Pivo” (pee-vo)