I am one of the luckiest girls in the world – not only have I been traveling since I was a little girl, but I am surrounded by amazing women who have traveled all over the world. Travel is a constant in my life. Whether I am traveling for business or pleasure - I am reading up on the latest places to visit, I am writing this blog or I am working on my next getaway – travel is always at the core of my conversations and drums up the most excitement and passion in those around me.
Tonight, I was blessed to be visited by a good friend who is on her way to spend the holidays in the South Pacific. She is going on a two week adventure to New Zealand with a stopover in Australia. This same woman – Carolyn Gill – spent her sophomore year of college studying in Spain. She later went back to live in Spain and has since traveled all over this great planet. She is the epitome of a Spirited Woman – smart, vivacious, independent, passionate, enthusiastic, and a consummate travel lover. She has even spent some time as a flight attendant for Delta - which gave her the opportunity to travel extensively to Spanish speaking countries and fuel her love of Spanish culture.
I asked my friend Carolyn what her favorite place in the world was – and to my surprise and without any hesitation she said – Croatia! I was wowed by her matter of fact response and the conviction in her answer - since she was only there for eight days! Her whole face lit up as she started recounting her stories and adventures from her memorable trip. You could tell that this place rocked her to the core. In a nutshell, Croatia was amazing because it was spectacularly beautiful, bold and outgoing and full of energy without the high price tag of other European hot spots. It clearly changed her life. Here are some of the highlights of her trip:
Carolyn went at the height of the summer to take advantage of the warm weather and beautiful beaches of Croatia’s Southern Coast. She took an overnight ferry from Italy to Dubrovnik, called the Pearl of the Adriatic. Dubrovnik, or the “Old City," is surrounded by a huge wall that used to protect it from conquerors. It is a gem of culture and beauty, with sweeping views of the sea. Carolyn then travelled to Hvar, an island filled with lavender, rosemary, and wine - also known for its spectacular beauty. And later on she went to the island of Korcula, – a fusion of beautiful beaches and bays with culturally rich towns and cities - a combination of relaxation and urban adventure.
So, this is a very quick summary of my friend’s trip, but it has left me wanting more! Croatia is now stamped in my brain as the must-go-to-place for me this coming summer. After her tales – and the fact that the currency is not the Euro making it an economical hot spot - I am calling my travel agent today! I hope you will too!
Monica Rohleder
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