The Western Balkans are connected politically, economically and culturally, and are also connected by a beautiful long coastline, the largest part of which belongs to Greece and Croatia, where the Adriatic Sea is the most beautiful, and Greece boasts the pearls of the Ionian Sea.
Of course, we must also mention Albania, Montenegro and Slovenia, which also share the western Adriatic and Ionian seas, and only our southern neighbor and Greece can boast of many islands. Where to go on vacation depends on wishes and financial capabilities, but there is a place for everyone under the Mediterranean sun.
Beaches
If you are going on vacation with the intention of lying on the beaches, then the right address is the Greek island of Kefalonia, the largest of the Ionian islands. The coastal strip is particularly attractive due to its long sandy beaches. The most famous are Myrtos in the north and Antisamos in the east of the island, both of which, even before we visit the island, can be seen in the film Captain Corelli's Mandolin, which was filmed on the island. Smaller beaches are also attractive. The sea is crystal clear at Foki Beach near the picturesque port of Fiskardo, Xi Beach on the Paliki Peninsula is less crowded than the others, but has beautiful reddish sand, Petani Beach is surrounded by steep cliffs, and Vatsa Bay is particularly charming, where we must indulge lunch at the Spiaggia tavern. If we want a beach very close to the hotel, then the right address is the White Rocks hotel in the immediate vicinity of the sandy beaches of Platys Yialos and Makrys Yialos. The Dalmatian island of Korčula is much more familiar to us, but few people know that Korčula and the Ionian Islands are historically closely connected . Melaina Korkyra, which means Black Corfu in Greek, was the name given to the island by Greek settlers when they colonized the island in the 6th century BC, because it reminded them of their old homeland, and the nickname "black" the island earned due to the forests of dark pine. Usually, the locals like to keep the most beautiful beaches with the cleanest sea for themselves, do not advertise them and brag about them. Such a beach is Bilin Žal in the northern part of the Lumbarda settlement. One part of the beach is concrete and suitable for lying down, while the other part is pebbly. In addition to the refreshing sea, the beach also offers a beautiful view towards the Pelješac peninsula, and the hungry and thirsty do not have to go far, as there is a bar and restaurant on the beach. Near Vela Luka lies the islet of Proizd, which is an oasis of untouched nature with stone beaches. Batala bay on the western side of the island is best suited for children and lovers of picigino, a water game invented in Dalmatia, and there is also a restaurant on the island. If we do not have our own vessel, a water taxi runs from Vela Luka to Proizd three times a day. In 2009, a British-Croatian couple opened one of the best hotels on the Adriatic coast in the old town center of Korčula, where the famous traveler Marco Polo was said to have been born. As the name Palača Lešić Dimitri suggests, it is a palace from the 18th century and a few neighboring bourgeois houses, in which the owners arranged only five apartments. Each of them has its own name, and all of them are connected to the lands that Marco Polo visited on his travels. The smallest apartment Ceylon measures 45 square meters, and the largest, called Venice, measures 124 m2. The sixth suite has been transformed into a wellness center where you can relax after a busy day at the beach.
Peace and quiet
Paxos, the smallest of the seven Ionian islands, is a pleasant refuge from the crowds of tourists brought to Corfu by large cruise ships. Although Corfu is a beautiful green island, all of us who are looking for remote places will have no hesitation in just getting on the ferry and driving to Paxos. On an island with more than 30 beaches and bays and three harbor villages of Galos, Lakka and Loggos, we will easily find a piece of nature for ourselves. We will retreat to solitude the most if we drive from the beaches to the interior of the island through peaceful olive groves (it is said that every family on Paxos owns at least 500 olive trees). Near the village of Loggos, we will indulge in complete rest at the Zakspitaki lodge, and nearby is the ideal retreat for those who don't like crowds, the renovated 18th-century residence Torri e Merli. On the beaches, you can also indulge in gourmet pleasures: Ben's Beach bar and tavern on the Monodendri beach is famous for its fish specialties, and in Lakka you should not skip at least one meal at the Alexandros tavern.
Croatia has more than a thousand islands, but only a little over sixty of them are permanently inhabited. The once remote and secluded islands have become unbearably crowded during the summer months during Croatia's tourism boom, but on some of them you can still get away from the crowds and leave yourself to the sea and the sun. One of them is Vis, the farthest island from the Croatian coast. On the southern part of the island is Stiniva Bay, which is best reached by boat (but not in August, when the bay is crowded). Ten kilometers from the town of Vis, near Rukavac bay, stretches one of the most beautiful beaches in Dalmatia, the pebbly Srebrna beach, which got its name from the silvery reflection of the white sand in the moonlight. It is much easier to reach by car, as it is only 250 meters away from the road, which of course means that in July and August it is much more crowded than other, more difficult to access beaches. A small restaurant is open on Stiniva beach in the summer, but for true gourmet pleasures, the best place to visit is the Pojoda restaurant in Vis, which is visited by lovers of fish specialties from near and far and accompanied by Vugava wine, which the ancient Greeks already called the best wine in the then-known world , to enjoy the charm of Dalmatia, far away from tourist settlements.
An island of romantic stories and good food
Marco Polo is not the only hero associated with the island of Korčula. The inhabitants of the town of Korčula still continue the tradition of the medieval dance with swords, called moreška, which spread from Spain all over the Mediterranean, but was preserved only on Korčula in our vicinity. The story is simple: a girl named Bula is kidnapped by the Black King, and the White King fights for her freedom and honor. The two armies clash and the result is an attractive dance with swords, during which, on warm nights, when the young boys from Korčula "come to grips", sparks fly from striking swords. Between July 1 and September 1, Moreška can be visited twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays.
As already mentioned, the Greeks were the first to recognize the beauty of Korčula and started viticulture on the island. Wine and olive oil are two of the most recognizable products, while Pošip and Grk are among the best island wines. In addition to wine, the town of Korčula has also found its place in sweet and sour drinks. In the Cukarin confectionery bakery, run by the energetic "Aunt Smilja", we will eat our fill of cukarins, traditional Korčula cookies, and Smilja is also a master at preparing klašuns (filled with walnuts and the aroma of homemade rose liqueur), amarettos (made from ground almonds). , Marco Polo bombic (calorie bomb made of cream, walnuts and chocolate) and harubic (rosemary cake). Smilja bakes goodies every morning and offers them fresh in her small shop, which is already completely "looted" in the morning hours, so we have to make an effort and get in line early for sweet pleasures._
