Fly Away Cafe » Croatia

Matchbook Monday: Dubrovnik, Croatia

Mary Jo Manzanares — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:57:00 +0000

I picked up this matchbook earlier this summer when I was visiting Croatia. There is still a fair amount of smoking is this country, and it is not looked down on as much as it is elsewhere. Since many of the restaurants where we ate were outdoors, it didn’t seem too overwhelming, however it was still an adjustment.

These matchbooks were picked up at a little corner store in Cavtat, a town on a bay just south of Dubrovnik. Matchbooks weren’t available for FREE restaurants or bars, they were sold in local shops. They cost about 10 kuna, which is the equivalent to about two cents.

Do you have a matchbook that you’ve found in a drawer somewhere? Or maybe you’ve picked one up in some recent travels? I’d love to feature it in an upcoming Matchbook Monday. All you need to do is take a photo and email it to me, including any odds and ends of details about where you got in and when. It’s getting harder and harder to find new matchbooks, so dig deep into your collection and help me out!

Photo credit: personal collection

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Postcard from Dubrovnik, Croatia

Mary Jo Manzanares — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:59:00 +0000

One of the highlights of my vacation has been the opportunity to visit Dubrovnik, Croatia.

I’ve been interested in Dubrovnik for years, long before Croatia separated from the former Yugoslavia. The area was, at least I was led to believe, the area the maternal side of my family hailed from.

I have lots of restaurant, hotel, and attraction recommendations that I’ll be sharing over the next couple of months.

Photo credit: personal collection

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Visiting Dubrovnik

Mary Jo Manzanares — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:53:00 +0000

With only 4 sleeps before flying off to Europe, I’m busy with last minute packing and doing some final organization with my guide books and information. As part of my travels, I’ll be spending a number of days in Croatia, primarily in the city of Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is know as the Pearl of the Adriatic, a tribute to its prime location on the Adriatic Sea and its status as one of the most popular vacation spots on the Adriatic.

Dubrovnik has a history based in large part on the maritime trade, making it, through the years, a fairly prosperous city. With prosperity came an appreciation for the arts, literature, science, education, history, architecture and scholarship. In 1979 the city was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I’ve heard that there’s lots to do in Dubrovnik. from sightseeing in the Old City, to visiting nearby islands, to walking and hiking, to enjoying the clear, blue Adriatic Sea. I’m soon to find out, and I can’t wait!

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How Twitter Can Help Travelers

Mary Jo Manzanares — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:01:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, I twittered about an upcoming trip to Croatia. I’ve never been, and I was just putting the word out, hoping that one of my travel blogging friends, or soon to be friend, might have some information that would help me make some travel decisions.

I very quickly had a bunch of responses. Some from people that I knew and some from strangers. All were passing along information or a referral, and all were most helpful.

Eventually I connected with Peter Czinkan, from On the Globe. Peter is a tour organizer, guide and event planner, whose geographic areas of interest include Hungary, Austria, Croatia and the Czech Republic. Peter has been great with recommendations about transportation arrangements, things to see and do, and most recently has been instrumental in helping us secure hotel reservations.

Although this is primarily a vacation, as every travel blogger knows, we are never truly and completely “on vacation.” This trip, like all the others, will give me photos, material, and inspiration for many, many stories. You can count on me sharing stories about Croatia – from a hotel review, to the location, to traveling there, to the food, lots of photographs, and all that there is to see and do in this country on the Adriatic.

This is just one way that Twitter connect travelers, so remember to keep it on your list of research places. Whether you’re seeking general or specific information, there’s someone out there with the answers you need. Give it a try. Throw it out to the twitter universe and see what comes back.

NOTE: You can follow me on Twitter as @flyawaycafe

Photo credit: wikimedia

Post from: Fly Away Cafe