Now the fun part. When it comes to food, Croatians have A LOT to offer. You are not going to stay hungry, especially if you have the chance to eat at any Croatian grandmaâs place (they are known to cook for a small army even if they have only two people coming to lunch). Here in Croatia, we still eat and prepare some meals the same way we did hundreds of years ago. Keep on reading, you can thank us later.
CHEESE
Cheese lovers, where are you? You canât leave Croatia without trying our cheeses! Strong in smell, but tasty as hell, Croatian cheeses are something else. We can only guess all the secrets in the making â so far we know that they are dried in special conditions under the wind called Bura and that our farmers have fields where sheep can roam free. We suggest before buying try one of these and pick the one you like the most; PaĆĄki sir, Trapist, Figurica, Dinarski, and PaĆĄka skuta. Donât be surprised, because the flavors are intense!
OLIVE OIL
As one of the essential ingredients in the Croatian diet, especially through the Mediterranean, olive oil is a great gift. Besides cooking, olive oil could be used for cosmetic purposes as it is very healthy. Make sure to get extra virgin oil; and cold pressed from local producers as this way you will get the highest quality product.
AJVAR
Ajvar is a typical Balkan condiment; either served as a side dish or as a bread spread. The main ingredients are bell peppers, garlic, and eggplants. The original traditional taste is sweet, though picante ajvar is the most common one. Ljutica â the hottest one is only for the brave. Packaged in glass jars, ajvar is easy to tuck in your luggage and share with your loved ones back in your country.
FRANCK BRICK
Hey there coffee lovers! Meet Croatiaâs favorite coffee for generations. Packaged in a bright red color, Franck Jubilarna is the most famous one. Something Croatians would typically buy as a gift when visiting family or friends. As Croatia truly is a coffee-obsessed culture, getting one is of great importance when going back home. We believe there is nothing a good cup of coffee canât fix.
RAKIJA
Rakija is a strong-smelling alcoholic drink that comes in many flavors; usually made out of herbs and fermented fruits. Homemade rakija can contain close to 50-60 % alcohol. But rakija is not only for celebrations, it also has medical purposes. Or at least thatâs what we like to tell ourselves. For best Croatian rakija look for LozovaÄa, Travarica, Medica, ViĆĄnjevacâŠ
BAJADERA
We are going to finish the list with the chocolate, of course. If you are looking for truly Croatian then opt for KraĆĄ; a Croatian industrial giant. The most famous one is Bajadera praline next to Dorina chocolate and Napolitanke wafers. Bajadera is a creamy, chocolaty treat with a scrumptious filling made out of nuts and cacao. An interesting fact is that the original recipe hasnât changed since 1911. More than a hundred years of love means Bajadera should be definitely on top of your list!
p.s. Try not to eat it all by yourself.
MONEY BELT
Maybe the most innovative product lately when it comes to traveling is a money belt bag. If you donât know what it looks like, Google it right now! You can keep all your small valuables around your waist. Even better; tuck the bag under the shirt since the bag is really thin. Your most important documents like ID, passport, cards, or even phone can fit inside, are easily reachable, and unlikely to get lost.
LEARN ALL THE NUMBERS
Before even coming to your destination make sure to write down all the important numbers or even better; memorize them! You never know when you could need the help of the police, firefighters, or emergency. We hope you wonât, but just in case!
DO NOT HITCHHIKE
This is a brainer. We all heard the horror stories that started with some happy travelers happily deciding to hitchhike. And we sure know how it ended. Seriously though, hitchhiking could be very dangerous. Not to be paranoid or anything but going into someoneâs car or a truck is the easiest way for things to end up badly and go out of control. On the other hand, yes, it could be a lovely and authentic experience. But still, we wouldnât take our chances.
NIGHT OWLS
Walking at 4 am in a foreign city is yet another unwise decision and a recipe for disaster. Always look for a cab, Uber, or any other alternative rather than walking in the middle of the night through the streets you donât know anything about. A suspicious neighborhood is not the best place for a lost tourist.
ANIMAL SAFETY
Letâs say you are in Thailand surrounded by goofy monkeys or in India surrounded by puppies and cats. We understand they are cute but be careful if petting them since stray animals are known to carry different diseases. If you see an unattended or hurt animal make sure to call local animal rescue centers and see what they can do.
LOCATION BUDDY
You must have someone who always knows your approximate location. Give them the address of your hotel, your agency contact (if you have one), or the phone number of your Airbnb host. Itâs okay to be relaxed and disconnected when on a vacation, but try not to go too much under the radar.
TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS
Lastly, trust your gut. We all know the feeling of suspecting something is not right even when we canât tell exactly what it is. Itâs okay to listen to that voice and get out of the situation. Most of the time, we realize that this feeling was here to help.
We donât want to make you paranoid. These are just precautious and âgood to knowâ measures that could make your life easier if you find yourself in a situation no one would enjoy dealing with. In the end, we travel to have fun and experience the unknown. So be careful and be smart.
HUCK FINN EXPERIENCE
Traveling in a small group of 10 people with a local guide always there for you is a perfect mix of safety and adventure. Experiencing small villages, intact paradise islands, and scenic landscapes far away from the city buzz could be the best way to see the most while caring less. We do our best to minimize the risks above, allowing you to fully immerse into new experiences and enjoy the benefit to the local community.
ââI want to see the world. Follow a map to its edges. And keep going. Forget the plans, trust my instincts. Let curiosity be my guide. I want to sleep under unfamiliar stars and let the journey unfold before me.ââ -unknown
