Am I Dreaming?

Croatia

“She will be the one standing by the ocean with the sun in her hair, and a smile like a love song rising from the sea.” Mark Anthony

While I was in Paris volunteering for Team USA at The Olympics, I received not only one invitation to visit friends in Europe but two. This next invite came from my friend Maja in Croatia whom I met while walking the El Camino de Santiago in 2018.

If there is anything I've learned while traveling, it’s to accept an invitation from a local…doesn’t matter what it is…dinner, coffee, a hike, a car ride, or even an offer to stay at their home. The experience one can have while visiting a local is nothing like going alone or on a tour…it’s so much better. So when Maja reached out, I was super excited. I couldn't wait to see her homeland through her eyes.

Croatia has been on my list of places to visit for a very long time but you know how life sometimes gets in the way. But here I am, at last!

Meet Maja, my brilliant and beautiful Camino friend from Zagreb.

Maja and I haven't seen each other since August of 2018 when we said our goodbyes in Santiago after our long pilgrimage but we picked up like not a day had gone by. Of course, we've kept in touch over the years, sending funny Instagram memes and text messages but face-to-face is so much better.

Maja is an incredible human. She is kind, considerate, and a go-getter. She owns her own graphic design business (should you want to hire her, let me know and I'll connect you) and is making her life happen on her own terms. I love our conversations. She is versatile and knowledgeable so we discuss a wide range of topics and never seem to get bored with each other. Also, she is the kind of friend I can sit with in silence and not feel uncomfortable…and if you've ever had that kind of friend, you know what a gift it is. I'm very grateful for her invitation to Croatia to get to know her even better.

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If you know one Camino Pilgrim, chances are you know many. Not only does Maja live in Zagreb but so do two other pilgrims I hiked the Camino with in 2021. Meet Ivica and Katarina.

Maja and I met them out one night for drinks and to catch up. They are a fun and fantastic couple. It was so great to see them and update each other on our lives.

They have a cute love story. These two met years ago while hiking in Croatia and they are still hiking weekly with a hiking club. How cute is that? Omg, I love it. As they say, do what you love and you'll meet your tribe.

Their claim to fame on the Camino was their Croatian-style breakfast. Without a doubt, somewhere along the trail around mid-morning, we would find these two with a big spread and beautiful presentation of meats, cheeses, vegetables, and bread…that they carried in their backpacks! Julia Child and Martha Stewart would be impressed. I still have a photo of one of their meals.

Speaking of food, Maja and I have spent most of our time catching up as well as getting to know each other better (I mean hours and hours of good, soulful conversation) AND enjoying some amazing food around Zagreb. Just look at these gorgeous dishes. Also, check out the prices of the pastries - €1. These would easily cost $3-$6 in the US. The bread is amazing here as well. I'm going to leave here fat and happy, I can tell you that right now.

We’ve already taken our first road trip as well. We spent several days at her family’s cabin at the beach in Beli on the island of Cres. See, I told you that visiting a country with a local offers the best experience.

This little hidden gem, Beli is about a three-and-a-half-hour car ride from Zagreb plus a ferry crossing to the island.

If you've ever heard stories about how beautiful the Croatian coastline is, I'm here to tell you that all the rumors are true.

For three days I plopped my rear on a beach chair, relaxed, swam, and read a book under the sun. Quite a vast difference from the weather we were having in Norway.

I watched people paddle boarding with their dogs (ahhh, love!),

One early morning I watched as a man with a stellar mustache washed his beloved boat by hand.

Maja has mastered the SUP.

We watched sailboats come in the morning, drop anchor, and the passengers would swim and eat lunch at the local restaurant, and then they would sail away in the evening.

I could get used to this life.

The area is filled with beautiful, old olive trees which makes for a peaceful and serene setting.

Many of the locals are fishermen who dock their boats in the little harbor. One man is known for freediving to catch octopus for the restaurants. I ate octopus salad for lunch one day and it was fresh and delicious.

So far, Croatia has been better than any dream I could dream. Maja has been a wonderful friend, tour guide, and hostess.

I've even had a chance to meet her lovely family. She invited her parents, sister, and nieces over for a home-cooked meal and her parents had us for lunch as well. Her mom made stuffed peppers with homemade tomato sauce. Yum! The food was delicious and the company delightful. I rarely get home-cooked meals or to eat with a family on the road, so this has been a wonderful and memorable treat for me.

I cannot wait to explore more!

Good Things List

1. Camino Pilgrims turned good friends

2. Dogs

3. Dogs on paddle boards

4. Dogs on ferries

5. Floofy dogs with hair that blows in the wind.

Much love & gratitude from Croatia! 🇭🇷 Namaste 🙏

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I love dogs so much. Look at these floofs riding the ferry. They are so scrumptious!