Our journey brings us to Croatia, a stunning Mediterranean country shaped like a horseshoe that hugs the Adriatic Sea. There are around 4 million people living here, and the capital is Zagreb, a city famous for its vibrant street life and historic “Upper Town.” The official language is Croatian, and they use the Latin alphabet.

Croatia covers about 56,594 square kilometers, or 21,851 square miles. To imagine its size, the country is roughly the same size as the state of West Virginia in the U.S.. It features over 1,000 islands along one of the most rugged and beautiful coastlines in the world.

The most popular sport is Football, with the national team reaching the World Cup final in recent years and being led by legends like Luka Modrić. Their national animal is the Pine Marten, a small, agile forest mammal; interestingly, the country’s former currency, the Kuna, was actually named after this animal because its pelts were used as money centuries ago.

The flag consists of three horizontal stripes of red, white, and blue with the national coat of arms in the center, where the red and white checkered pattern is a centuries-old symbol of the Croatian state.

The food is a delicious mix of Mediterranean and Central European flavors. You must try Peka, a dish of meat and vegetables slow-cooked under a bell-shaped iron lid covered in hot coals. On the coast, you’ll find amazing Black Risotto, which gets its color and rich flavor from cuttlefish ink.

Croatia is home to the Plitvice Lakes National Park, a world-famous chain of 16 terraced lakes joined by waterfalls that change color from turquoise to emerald depending on the sunlight. The city of Dubrovnik, known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” is surrounded by massive stone walls and is so well-preserved that it was used as the filming location for “King’s Landing” in Game of Thrones. Croatia is also the birthplace of the necktie (cravat), which started as a scarf worn by Croatian soldiers in the 17th century. If you visit the city of Zadar, you can listen to the Sea Organ, a giant musical instrument built into the stone stairs of the wharf that plays music using the energy of the waves!

From the ancient Roman ruins in Split to the crystal-clear waters of the islands, Croatia is a land of history and sapphire seas. Hvala! That means “Thank you!”