Things we learned in Croatia
Each FitCation has a recipe. We combine a generous scoop of culture with a dash of sweat, a splash of regional spirits, and a balance of sweet and savory seasonings. These staples are consistent with each of our destinations but vary from each other by the unique local flavoring endemic to the region.
Where the recipe goes off-book is with the individual permutations that occur with the varied personalities of our guests, our hosts, our partners, and the uncontrolled X factor of weather.
What did we learn about Croatians?
This is a hardy culture that doesn’t believe in mincing words. You’ll never wonder what the game is. They are straightforward, kind, and accepting. They are children who survived a brutal war and grew into adults who discuss healing and bridge-building.
Ana, our Dubrovnik storyteller, shares that as a child, she delighted in going to the aquarium with her mom and siblings. As an adult, she understands she was sheltering there while the city was being pummeled in a bombardment that destroyed 80% of the rooftops. As a child, she took pride in being the smallest kid to jump from the cliffs into the sea. As an adult, she marvels that compared to the siege of Dubrovnik, her mother decided that cliff diving was an acceptable pass time.
Danielle, our guide in Krka Waterfall Park and the tiny jewel of an island, Trogir, shares the story of the Serbian family that saved her uncle and how her sister’s love of a Serbian man led to the true end of the war for her family.
“I was taught not to hate.” our beautiful partner Ines shared.
We learned that Croatian family ties are deep. It is widespread for extended families to live together in family compounds or close proximity so that each generation supports the other. In Konavle, we experienced a family farm where two sisters-in-law run cooking lessons with meals built around ingredients harvested in the garden. Three generations roamed the property, and our visit culminated in explaining their family tree, dating back to the 15th century.
We learned about oyster farming, winemaking, the varied practical uses of rakija, and how many beautiful ways seafood can be prepared and presented. We ate outdoors on a tiny island, were force-fed fresh cheese and prosciutto in an open-air market, and enjoyed meals indoors in an 18th-century wine cellar and up against the backdrop of the 1700-year-old wall of Diocletian’s palace.
What did we learn about each other?
We learned that “smack-talk” is a form of emotional support. We shared laughter that interrupted our meals. We decided that a cold beer or glass of dry white was the best way to refuel after sweating. We posed for 100,000 drone shots and about a zillion group photos. We also learned that sometimes activities outside our comfort zone were our favorite part and that pushing our limits creates a glow.
And that sometimes, staying behind to sleep in makes the experience perfect.
We Exerted.
We Explored.
We Indulged.
And we created an experience together that we’ll never forget.