My trip to Croatia

 This summer vacation, I went to Croatia for a week. I chose to stay at Pula (Pola). I arrived at the airport and took a taxi to my hotel. As it is my custom, I engaged in conversation with the driver. My thermometer questions are always, “what is the average salary?” and “how much does it cost to rent or buy an apartment?” So, people in Pula make between 800€ to 1200 € a month. Renting an apartment on the beach (50-60m²) can cost 450€ a month, in addition to another 150€ for utilities and internet. At the moment, Croatia uses its local currency called “kunas.” During my time there, it was approximately 7.5 kunas to 1€. Don’t let that fool you though, the prices for food and services are just as expensive as any western European city. This is because Croatia depends on the economy from tourists during the summer season. Indeed, the food and hospitality industries work arduously from May until September and relax the rest of the year. The war between Russia and the Ukraine has led to a 30% increase in prices. As of January 1, 2023, Croatia will join the Schengen countries and will adopt the Euro as its currency. I wonder how this will affect life, since banks and moneychangers thrive on fees of exchange. I have heard from other Europeans who experienced the change between currencies; they told me that life become more expensive. 

 

Croatia has many peninsulas and islands. There is a beautiful beach everywhere you go. I had the pleasure to visit two beaches on the same day.

Valkane Beach does not have sand. It has a rock pier and if you want to swim, to just have to climb down and push off the rocks. It is also very deep and cold, not to mention the cold wind. If you’re used to the Caribbean beaches, you probably will not want swim here. The second beach that I visited was in Medulin. This is a beautiful shallow bay with many boats docked and restaurants along the coast. The view is absolutely gorgeous. Like Valkane beach, there is no sand, just rocks! 

 

The next day, I visited Rovinj. The bus ride was also 50 minutes from Pula. This city was breathtaking. The center of town is situated on a hill, overlooking the ocean. It felt like an Italian city. In fact, Italian culture and influence is felt everywhere. People greet you and each other with “Ciao.” The food is so tasty and authentic. The portions are very generous. If you’re from the USA, you know what I mean! The fish and vegan food here is so savory. Compared to other Balkan countries that I have visited it was not difficult to eat here. Ah, don’t forget the Rakija. You can taste it in all your favorite flavors: plum, quinces, raspberry, apricots, pears, figs, and more. This is a great shot as an aperitivo or digestivo.

 

Pula is known for its Roman anthropology. It is one of the few places in Europe which has its own colosseum/amphitheater. They call it arena. Whereas 2000 years ago gladiators gashed each other’s blood there, today it is used for huge concerts. Have you ever been lucked out on tickets to your favorite concert? The natives of Pula have no such problem. The stand on the backside of the area or sit along the walled fence and peep through the columns to see the spectacles going on inside. There were at least 20,000 people inside and another 1000 on the streets. Every time the songs ended, the claps and roars were felt inside and outside the colosseum. As I stood there with thousands of people, I thought to myself that this experience was actually better than being inside. The people clap, dance, shout, and share drinks as one big family. Summer concerts in at arena is a communal event. It was an amazing experience!

 

                                        

The forum in Pula has very old ruins and architecture from the Roman period. I was aghast upon seeing Augustus’ temple to Diana. I was transported to the time when people would bring their offerings there and engage in hierogamy (sacred marriage ritual). About 700 meters from the forum, there is a church which was built in the sixth century. It is called Basilica of Santa Maria del Canneto or Santa Maria Formosa. Did I say, “sixth century?” That’s old! The blend between pre-Christian and post-Christian Roman sites excited me very much. Another Roman site which stands as a monument of its glorious past is the Golden Gate, which was erected between 29 and 27 B.C.E. by the Sergi family, in honor of three members of the family who held important positions in Pula at the time. This arc was built in Corinthian style with visible influences from Greece and Asia Minor. This is even older than the aforementioned sites. Just wow!

 

Now back to the present. Many Europeans make Pula and its surrounding towns a place of retirement or even relocate there after having discovered this Balkan paradise. First off, there is no need for having guns here. People resolve their issues through heated speech or the traditional street brawl. According to one of the taxi drivers, there are no more than two cases of crime per year in Pula. These are burglaries. Only law enforcement officials and hunters who belong to a special club (with a license) can purchase guns. Therefore, parents are not afraid to let their kids play outside until late. There is no fear of mass shootings in schools nor in public places nor abduction of children. Public education is awesome.At school, kids learn history, botany, zoology, fishing, and swimming as part of the school curriculum. They learn history by going on field trips to the historical sites throughout Europe. It is hands-on. They ride on buses to Italy, Germany, Austria, and as far as Russia. How about that?! If you are an expat, you will pay 1000€ per year and then 120€ every month. If you are a resident/citizen, you pay 10 euros a month. Besides the wonderful things that I have mentioned thus far, what draws many expats to Pula is the opportunity to make a killing in real-estate investments. If you have access to 75,000€ and something more for remodeling, you can buy a property in the touristic city of Pula. You can then rent it on airbnb every day during the summer season, and secure your investment. In the post-Covid-19 pandemic age, many people continue to work remotely. If you are able to work remotely and make 2000€  or more a month, you will livecomfortably. If you are retiring and have no debts, this can be your paradise.

 

Those of you who know me, know that I love Latin dances. I was surprised to find that Pula has more nights of Latin dancing than many cosmopolitan cities in western Europe. I couldn’t believe that they have Salsa, Kizomba, and Bachata parties from Wednesday to Saturday night. On Wednesday night, they meet at Koliba Restaurant in Verdula. On Thursday night, the same DJ plays music at Valkane beach. Friday night, they meet at Zeppelin on Saccorgiana beach. And on Saturday night, dancers meet up wherever the party was planned.

 

I want to end this blog entry with what I think is the best feature about Croatia. The people are really nice, cordial, and warm. Even if they don’t know you, they will greet you, acknowledge you, and invite you to sit with them. Croatia is an extraordinary land with ordinary people, yet it is its people that makes it remarkable. Hvala!!!