Living the GOOD LIFE for the REST OF YOUR LIFE!
THE ISLANDS OF
CROATIA
THE ISLANDS OF CROATIA
Just off the coast of Croatia and dotted throughout the Adriatic Sea are a group of islands that have called out to visitors for thousands of years. Sailboats, fishing boats and hovercraft ply the waters beyond the Dalmatian Coast, and carry visitors and residents to a lifestyle far from the madding crowd. Or, perhaps they bring the crowd.
BRAC
The third largest of the Adriatic Islands, Brac has the reputation as being the windsurfing capital of Croatia. This brings out the visitors from countries around the world, as the watersport dominates the many beaches of Brac.
Brac has a connection to the United States as well. Known for its veins of stunning white marble, the stone was used in the construction of the White House in the nation’s capitol.
With a population of nearly 14,000, Brac’s typical island lifestyle revolves around tourism and watersports, as well as fishing, wine from its own vineyards, and olives from its groves. The offseason months leave the coastline to the locals, and this is when life is lived to its fullest. Harvest brings its celebrations, and the pace slows. Brac offers A Change of Lifestyle that is breathtaking, and affordable.
HVAR
Take a page from the glamour of France’s Riviera and every other known international playground, put them together and you will have an apt description of Hvar, the island off the central coast of Dalmatia.
Fragrances abound, especially of lavender which is native to the island. Yachts, sailing vessels, sleekly clad men and women parade the harbor walks of Hvar as if on parade. Which is what they are.
Yet the townspeople of Hvar, which number close to 5,000 know their place in the sun for other reasons. It has been their home for centuries and they have watched parades of people pass through with every generation.
The beauty of Hvar is unmistakable. And if a lifestyle akin to that of Miami's South Beach is your forte, then Hvar will meet your requirements.
KORCULA
In the southern Adriatic lays the island of Korcula. A three hour ferry ride from Dubrovnik, Korcula resembles Dubrovnik, only smaller, quainter, and much more quiet.
Dark green pine forests rise above the azure beaches, giving Korcula the texture that separates it from other Adriatic islands. It is rumored that the explorer Marco Polo was from Korcula and with the town’s link to past inhabitants from Venice, the Italian influence is dominant.
Catacomb-like passageways wend their way through the village, where ancient old women grill the daily catch, children play in the shaded corridors and twinkling lights sparkle overhead. Nighttime in Korcula, away from the crowd, brings back the reason people stay on the island. It is home. It is history. And it is a part of Croatia that will forever maintain its character.
However, Korcula is being discovered. French. Italian. Northern European. All are making a move, whether full-time or seasonal, to Korcula. Perhaps it is the reasonable cost of living. Or the freshness of the food. The wine. The figs. Or the pace of life that makes spending time on Korcula worth every minute.
History abounds along every nook and cranny of the Dalmatian Coast, and it is no wonder that Europeans, and Westerners are discovering and rediscovering a way of life that is kissed by the sun and splashed by the cobalt sea.