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Croatia and the USA
People frequently ask me, “What made you start a business connected to Croatia?”
It was ten years ago while my life was being turned upside down that I found myself having to reinvent myself. I basically “started over”. Rebooted. At the time, the US economy was suffering horribly, and I had to decide what I wanted to do, while learning how to function under all new circumstances. I have been a travel addict for my entire adult life, had already visited six continents and traveled through most of Europe. However, I really had no idea what to expect from a planned trip to Croatia.
My family spoke of our Croatian relatives who came to the USA in the 1920’s to work the silver mines of Nevada but like many American travelers, the Balkans were a bit of a mystery to me.
What I discovered in the history I learned, the coastline I sailed, the islands I visited, and the National Parks in the interior ended up being far beyond my wildest expectations. I fell in love with the food, the wine and the people immediately! This was “Old Europe” in every sense. I recognized right away, Croatia was a very special gem, and this would absolutely become a “Hot Spot” destination for Americans who have been to the more typically visited European capitals.
After a number of years in my position as a US representative for a Croatian tour operator, I could see that I have much better sensibilities as to what American travelers are looking when they commit their time and money to a major vacation or holiday. My Croatian partners did not fully appreciate how uniquely Americans travel and it became apparent to me that there was room in this business for someone who better understood the American traveler. With that in mind, I decided to launch my own brand of travel to this gorgeous region.
It has been an incredible journey and I feel so blessed to connect with this part of my heritage and to have been given this opportunity to share something I love so dearly; travel and new experiences with new cultures. It’s been a labor of love, with constant inspection tours evaluating the best properties for lodging and dining and constantly cultivating relationships with the highest quality drivers, guides, services, activities and immersive experiences.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to speak with President Bill Clinton and to thank him for his work in bringing about the end of the “Homeland War” in the Balkans. Without the US’s involvement in the conflict, tens of thousands more Croatians would have been driven from their homes and/or killed in the fighting. Most Croatians feel a very special bond with Americans and regularly express their gratitude for our nation’s friendship.
With each new visit to the region, we learn more about Croatia’s uniqueness; not only the crystal clear blue coastal waters but the widely varied islands along its spectacular coastline. The Italian influences in the northern peninsula of Istria, the spectacle of pristine water filled national parks whose landscapes flow with streams, falls and pools of every shape and size, the cosmopolitan buzz of its capital Zagreb and the imprints that the collision of the Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Soviet cultures have left throughout this country over the centuries.
Croatia holds a very special spot in my soul. It makes each day sending our clients on what we know will be magnificent experiences, so fulfilling. I could not be more pleased that I chose to venture out on my own, that I chose Croatia as my focus and I am forever grateful to the many clients who have shared their experiences with us. We at Adventures Croatia continue to strive to be the best we can be and hope that you take the opportunity to let us create a magical adventure in this truly unique region for you, for your family, for your friends.
Croatia is calling!
