Wandering in westeros

Fashion entrepreneur Nilisha Bhimani tells us about her experience in Croatia with husband Karun Raman, the sights and smells of the region, and their excitement visiting the Game of Thrones locale!

Croatia has been on our bucket list for a long time. We love the sea and we couldn’t wait to explore a country that has more than 100 islands. We couldn’t be more glad that we visited, because the Dalmatian coast and Adriatic Sea are beyond beautiful and distinctly different from mainland Europe.

We were privy to some stunning sights and sounds that we had never experienced in our earlier travels to Europe. From strolling on the Riva Promenade to going island-hopping to Hvar and Milna, from the Sea Organ at Zadar to the stunning old city walls and towers of Dubrovnik; we were in for a sensory treat beyond compare.

Croatia is a melting pot of cultures. The Greek, Romans, and the Ottomans ruled it. It also shares cultural similarities with all the countries that were a part of erstwhile Yugoslavia. The cities along the Dalmatian Coast have a thriving maritime culture with many private catamarans and yachts anchored at the marinas. No wonder it is such a popular destination with Hollywood celebrities and footballers!

Each city we visited had something unique to offer. Since this part of Europe has long days, we enjoyed sunlight until 10 pm everyday! Also, since the Euro 2016 was on, people thronged the street cafes every evening to enjoy a game of football. We joined in on the fun as Croatians are a lively bunch and are extremely friendly.

The city of Split is home to the stunning Diocletian’s Palace and the Riva Promenade. There, we decided to visit the island of Hvar famous for its cove beaches and yacht parties. We rented a scooter at Hvar and visited the beach at Milan. There is also an option to rent vintage cars to explore the region! Hvar is also popular for its lavender products and authentic lavender oil. The next day we boarded a bus to Zadar to visit the famous Sea Organ, which is a 230-foot-long music instrument built under a set of stairs by the Adriatic Sea. It produces harmonic sounds when the waves crash ashore.

My husband and I are huge Game of Thrones fans so I would be lying if I said that wasn’t one of the reasons for visiting! We couldn’t wait to do the Game of Thrones walking tour where we were shown the locations of some of the most epic scenes from the show. We were also thrilled to find Buza Bar, a one-of-a-kind cliff bar with unparalleled views of the Adriatic Sea.

Since Croatia has had Mediterranean, mainland European, and Ottoman influences, the cuisine is a mix of all three. I particularly enjoyed the vegetarian sandwiches, pizzas and soups, as I’m a vegetarian. The local beers are great and a must-try! Croatia has a huge cafe culture much like rest of Europe, so food and drinks are cheap at these cafes unless you go to a big restaurant. Croatia also has a kebab culture, which Karun really enjoyed.

Our final destination was Dubrovnik and we were blown away by the beauty and old-world charm of the city walls and towers. The entire old city is on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites; it’s that beautiful. We stayed in an apartment within the old city walls and immersed ourselves in the local culture!

There are so many beautiful sights to see along the Dalmatian coast — it is not possible to plan everything. Create a basic structure for your trip and figure out the rest once you get there. Go for walks along the promenade, explore the old towns on foot and be lost in its charm.