Citizens of the World: A Stoic Podcast for Curious Travelers - Croatia’s Coast: Traveling to Zadar, Šibenik, Split, Dubrovnik, and More

Episode Date: April 12, 2019

Croatia is more than Dubrovnik, which Game of Thrones fans and cruiseships have been flocking to for years. On this episode, Ashley Colburn, an American now living in Istria, helps us explore more of Croatia’s coastline.  (show notes at postcardacademy.co)   Ashley is a two-time Emmy award-winning TV producer who has traveled to more than 50 countries. She earned one of those Emmys for her first TV travel show WOW Croatia. She then produced seven, one-hour episodes of a documentary called WONDERS OF CROATIA. This work has endeared Ashley to the Croatian people, and turned her into a national celebrity — she’s even competing in the TV series Singing with the Stars!    I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and get your free guide to cheap airfare.    Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insuranceDo you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Welcome to the Postcard Academy. I'm your host, Sarah Mikital. I love podcasting for so many reasons, and one of them is the accountability that I feel when I say things on this show, and then I have to get organized and make them happen. A few months ago, I did an episode on my must-see travel destinations of 2019, and I am happy to say that some friends and I will be heading to Albania, Italy, and possibly Turkey in May. And this road trip is going to begin in Croatia. So I called Ashley Colburn, an American now living in Istria, to help me plan the perfect Croatian itinerary. Ashley is a two-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, who has traveled to more than 50 countries. And she earned one of those Emmys for her first TV travel show, Wow Croatia. She then produced seven one-hour episodes of a documentary called Wonders of Croatia. This work has endeared Ashley to the Croatian people and turned her into a national celebrity. She's now competing in the TV series Singing with the Stars.

She is wonderful. I mean, can you imagine singing in a national TV competition in a language that isn't your own? I just find that so incredible. So I will see if I can find a video of this and I'll share it in the show notes. This episode is brought to you by my other podcast, podcasting step by step? Are you interested in podcasting but feel afraid, overwhelmed, or confused about where you're even supposed to start? Every week on podcasting step by step, I break down how to podcast with a little loving motivation to give you the skills and confidence

you need to finally launch that show of your dreams. Now into my conversation with Ashley. Welcome, Ashley. Thank you so much for coming on the podcast. Thank you for having me. Happy to be here. So you're an American living in Croatia. Where did you grow up? So I am originally from San Diego, California, and have no Croatian roots at all. So it's actually funny that I ended up calling Croatia my home. So how did you end up spending so much time there? Well, it started out.

I came here to film a travel TV show. So I'm a TV producer and host. And that was back in 2009. I came here for one week to film a show called Wow, Croatia. And that show ended up winning an Emmy back in the States. And so what happened was everyone in Croatia was so excited in the media, was covering it like crazy, wow, this American came to Croatia, filmed this documentary, and now it won an Emmy.

So after that, they kept inviting me to come back to see other parts of Croatia and wanted to show me more since one week really wasn't enough. But since I was working at a TV station, obviously I didn't have time to just go wherever, whenever I wanted. So after three years of filming travel shows around the world, I decided I would sort of ride the wave because Croatia still was inviting me back even years after and decided to come to Croatia and film a whole documentary series about the country. So I came back for three months and filmed the whole country and made seven one-hour episodes. And then after that, I guess you could say I really got acquainted with the country and the people and felt like I belonged there in a way. And so for many years, I would just come here and spend several months, typically in the summertime, and had different projects here. And it was three years ago when I decided, you know what, I'm happiest there.

I'm going to buy a place and call it. at my home. And they have actually turned you into a star, or you have become a star in Croatia. You're actually competing on a show called Singing with the Stars. Tell me more about that. Yeah, I mean, I never would have. I remember a cosmopolitan magazine here was calling me, asking me to do an article with them, and I was on TV all the time, on their morning shows, and it's kind of crazy how it all happened, but it wasn't really like a celebrity status. It was more of thank you for what you did for our country. So that was kind of nice. And I enjoyed that. You know, thank you for promoting our country around the world. But yes, I did become quite known because I was in the media

lot. And it was last summer, I was filming some travel show. And one of the producers heard me singing in a car and they said well I think you should be on this show singing with the stars you can sing and I was singing a Croatian song actually and I said well I don't know about that

I'm not really a singer but I mean I like to sing but and then I got asked to be on it and here we are we're in the so on Saturday it will be the sixth episode and there's only four couples left and yeah I'm singing in Croatian speaking in Croatian. It's really an amazing experience and one that, I mean, I'll be really

sad when it's over because there's nothing like it. I mean, even though I'm on TV, when you have to sing on live TV on the stage in a foreign language in another country, let's just say it's really a thrill. And so I am really enjoying it. That is incredible. And I love that you're finding it thrilling. I think a lot of people when they hear, okay, you're going to go on a stage in front of an entire country and sing in a language that is not your native language. People would be like, uh, no thanks. And I love that you're in the mindset where actually this is really exciting and a fun opportunity. I love that. Well, I mean, as long as I'm prepared, that's the biggest thing. So if I wasn't prepared, then I would really be, you know, wouldn't be able to do it. But I'm taking creation lessons every week

And I mean, I don't understand everything, but luckily I have my partner, so the star. His name is Boya Nyomroshich, and he's a famous singer here in Croatia. And so whenever I struggle with something, he just kind of speaks for me. So we managed to get through the program. But I will say the first week, I was scared to death. I mean, and you can see it in my face. I mean, I've never felt so nervous in my life. But I can say that on the six week, it is getting better now.

That is so wonderful to hear. So how are you allowed to stay and live and work in Croatia as an American? So I don't work here. I mean, my company is a U.S. company. So any, I mean, I'm basically traveling all around the world. I mean, I'll do different projects here in Croatia. But let's say I were to get paid for that, they would pay me in the U.S., you know, to my U.S. business account.

I'm not like running a business here in Croatia, but I'm basing myself here. So really I work all over the world filming travel shows. So I can, as long as I have internet and an editor and we're able to communicate and near an airport, I can really live anywhere. So that is why I decided to live here in Croatia and just go from here.

But for people to, for Americans to stay in Croatia, I mean, I haven't done too much research on how it is in other countries, but I think it's quite similar where you have to first get temporary residency and then you can apply for permanent residency. And it is quite a process, lots of paperwork and lots of trips to the police station to get it right. I wouldn't say it's an easy thing. But I think that it's difficult no matter where you go, to be on it. I mean, I would think. I can't imagine what it's like to be in the U.S. and try to stay, you know.

So, I mean, as much as it can be frustrating sometimes, I think that, you know, if you want to make it work, you have to make it work. Are there any historical facts that might surprise some of us about Croatia? It's really hard to believe when you're here that there was a war here, you know, less than 30 years ago. I mean, it's just unbelievable to think that because it's so much more even developed and functional. as a tourist destination than the other countries in former Yugoslavia. So for me, that is quite fascinating because that's all in my lifetime that happened. And then I see it today. And I mean, for me, it's a paradise.

So that is something that I think people, even Americans when they visit, I think my parents' generation, you know, when they tell their friends that I'm living here, they remember seeing what happened here on the TV and they say, oh, you're letting her live there? And they're like, she's safer there than she is here. And I truly believe that too. I mean, Croatia is an extreme, I mean, statistic wise too. I mean, people can check online that there really is no crime here. And I feel completely safe, middle of the night walking anywhere.

I mean, it's, I just, I really trust a lot of creations too. And I don't know. I feel very safe here. And Croatia has such an interesting shape. Could you give us a visual snapshot of Croatia? Where is it geographically? How would you describe the postcard? So I describe it as a backwards seven as far as the shape.

I mean, that's kind of a bizarre description. but there's this store at the airport in Zagreb and they have this bag that and I love I love the saying it says far from Russia close to Italy because I think a lot of people really have no idea I remember someone told me like on an airplane like isn't that in South America and I was like oh man I really need to give you a lesson but so yeah I mean I when I'm describing it and people don't know I just say it's next to Italy because it really is just across the Adriatic there's Italy and then because a lot of times I think even Americans if you were to say Bosnia-Herzegovina Serbia or whatever they might think like oh that's where Poland is or something you know I mean or Russia or something so that's why I like that saying far from Russia close to Italy because I think that's a pretty good description and then you know the best thing about Zagreb is in just a few hours like let's say three to five hours, you can be in Budapest, Vienna, Munich. I mean, it's very well located for

other amazing cities in Europe. Your home is in Istria, but you're currently in Zagreb for singing with the stars. Why should somebody visit Zagreb? What are some experiences that we could have there? They're unique. Well, they actually really do have some innovative and new museums to visit if someone likes that. But I think what people will appreciate the most is the nature that is within the city as well. So it's a city with a little bit less than one million people, but there's only four million in all of Croatia. So this is where you'll feel like the life of Croatia, I think, because some of the smaller

places, you know, you'll see more of the tourists where here you'll kind of. really get a look at what Croatians are like because it is the most, you know, the most people and there are tourists here, but because a fourth of the population is living here, I think it kind of gives everyone a nice perspective on the way of life. But as far as like what I recommend people to do here, you can also rent bikes and stroll through the parks and, and then not far from Zagreb, there's lots of really good day trips. So if I tell someone if they're coming to Zagreb, for a few days, you know, two days in the city would probably be enough to see everything. And then if you wanted to do day trips, you can do, they have tours that take you to Plifeitsail Lakes

for one day. You know, you drive there and back and they'll bring you back to Zagreb. So that's a great option. But then in the north or a little bit north of Zagreb, there's a wine region that is really beautiful that people can go and tour around. There's lots of castles surrounding Zagreb as well. So there are things to do. I mean, you could easily spend a week in Zagreb and do several day trips and I think really see a lot of Croatia and you don't necessarily have to go to the sea. What is the castle that we should be checking out? So Trakosjan Castle is one of my favorites and it literally sits up on a hill and there's a reflection on it over. There's a small pond, well, pond or small lake below it. And so you can even see the reflection on the water. And then also

Vadishdin is another town that has a great castle to visit as well. So castles are not something I think that people think of when they think, oh, Croatia, but there's really some great ones. I love a good castle, especially when you can go inside and tour them. So are these accessible to people? Can we go inside? Oh yeah. Definitely. All the rooms are how they were. I mean, it's a great tour. I've been many, many times, especially to Troxian. Where else do we need to explore in Croatia? Let's say we've got a week. And we're starting in Zagreb and then we want to see some C-Said. So on the way, I always recommend, if you're going to the coast, I recommend stopping at Plyfitsail Lakes on the way. And what you can do is,

so the highways are very, very good in Croatia, but they kind of, the way that they, run, I mean, you have to drive off the highway quite a bit to get into Pleipidze Lakes. And then what makes the most sense is to continue on that old road to the seaside instead of going back tracking to the highway to go, you know, continue traveling and then going down. So, and this is also a great opportunity to see what continental Croatia looks like. There's lots of little grandmas on the side of the road selling things, homemade honey, homemade deracchio, which is like the, the schnops of of Croatia.

So it's kind of fun to just stop and see the little villages and the countryside. So on your way, so you can do, you could technically do all of that in one day. So you drive, it's about two hours to Pliwitsa Lakes, do a, I mean, if you don't want to see all the lakes, which I don't think it's necessary. You could spend three, four hours at Pliwitsa lakes, doing either upper lakes or lower lakes and then getting in the car and continuing to travel to, let's say Zadar, Shibinik or Split those are places I would recommend on the seaside

Zadar is really beautiful there's lots of islands that you can access even one that has the best beach in all of Croatia it's on Dugi Otok it's called Saharun Beach and it literally looks like the Maldives because I think one thing

that people are kind of confused when they come to Croatia they think oh the sea and swimming but most beaches here are rocky, which is great because that's what keeps it looking so beautiful. But on the island of Duguiotok, you actually can find a white, fine sandy beach. So that's really nice. And then Shibonik, for me, is a great city for young people. Just really cool bars and a vibe that is almost like a hipster vibe.

I feel like there's a lot of young people in Shibinik. the whole city has fortresses surrounding it. For me, it's something really special. And I will say in my time in Croatia, it's the one city I feel like that has developed the most and made itself, or really put itself on the map for tourists. And then there's, of course, split, which is one of the most popular seaside towns. Very hip. It has access to maybe the most popular island, like Clare, Braj, Bees.

And many Americans especially find their way to split at some point. They also host the ultra music festival, or not film festival, ultra music festival. So it's quite a popular place for young people these days. And then you can always access islands by catamaran. You don't have to have a car. So that's also nice. When you're already in split, you can drop your car and you really don't need it.

you can walk everywhere and then access the islands by Catamaran. That is so cool. Yeah, that was going to be my next question, actually. Do we need a car in Croatia? It sounds like that's helpful. Or can we get by with trains and ferries and different things like that? Definitely you can't get by with trains. I would not recommend the train system.

That's the one thing I always say that, like, ways that you can improve Croatia has some better train system. Because people think it functions so well in Europe. And I'm like, well, here it doesn't. But buses are great. I mean, honestly, if I take the bus and it doesn't, I mean, sometimes it's maybe an hour more than it is you driving, but when it comes to the prices, because fuel in Croatia or in Europe is generally much more expensive than in the States. And then the highways are so good, but they're toll roads.

So I think that's important to note too. So by the time you pay the tolls and you pay for gas, if someone really was trying to do it, you know, a little bit more on a bus. budget, then taking a bus would be complete. That would definitely work out fine. So to any of those cities from Zagreb to split Zadar or Shibnik, they have direct lines. So, and that would probably take anywhere from three to five hours to get to those places by bus. So it's not bad. Yeah, I've become a big fan of Flixbus. That's all over Europe. Yeah. I'll actually be taking them when I fly in. So I'm flying into Zadar because it was cheaper than Zagreb. And then I'll just

bus it on over to visit my friend. Then I think we're going to hit the lakes. I am so excited to learn about Shibinik. Is that how you say it? Yeah, Shibinik. Yeah, that place sounds cool. It was not on my radar at all. I really recommend it. It'll take you maybe an hour by bus from Zadar to Shibonik. And it's really cool. It's really a nice city. And then towards the bottom of Croatia, we've got Dubrovnik, the most popular tourist destination. While there are tons and tons of tourists, I think it's a must-see. Like, the walls are just incredible. I've got Game of Thrones music playing in my mind whenever I'm walking through there.

What would you say? Yeah, Dubrovnik, yeah, Dubrovnik for me is definitely a must. I mean, never will you see such a city in such. pristine condition. I mean, it's unbelievable that people like live there in the city. It has become a little bit flooded with tourists during the season. But I say, I mean, I will be honest with you, all of February, March, and April, we have had the most perfect weather here in Croatia.

I mean, I consider wearing a light jacket if they call that winter, but the sun is shining to be fabulous. So when I see this, I think, oh my gosh, this is the time that people should go to De Brovnik and really enjoy it. As long as you don't care about swimming in the sea, for me, De Brovnik in the off season is really the time that people should go. June, July, and August, it just gets really, really crowded. And I think then just builds frustration when people go to visit it because it's been built up so much like, oh, this is such a great place. but when you can't find a place to sit for dinner at night because you didn't make a reservation. These are things that can really be frustrating, I think. But it really is a marvelous, marvelous city.

And I'll actually be living there from the end of May to the end of June because I'm teaching a course for an American university that's based in Dubrovnik. So I'll really kind of get more acquainted because it will be sort of high season then. So I'll find all the places I need to go to escape the tourist then. And then I'll come back and ask you, what did you discover? So while we're in Croatia, what are some of the foods that we need to try? So my favorite food here, well, one of them, well, is the seafood. I'm a big seafood fan. But I make sure to try octopus salad because that, for me, as an American coming here at first,

I was like, say, what, octopus salad, you know? and every place kind of makes it their own way, but it is very, very delicious. I mean, it's a texture that's kind of chewy, but it's very good. Traditional food, peka is something, it's basically meat and potatoes that's cooked under an iron bell. So you can have it with veal, lamb, even octopus, but definitely a must to have pecca. lamb is probably the most famous peka that you can have and especially down in Dalmatia. Here in Zagreb they have Struckley.

They like a lot of the hearty, cheesy. It's kind of like a pastry, like a puffed pastry that's filled with a soft fresh cheese. And it's called Strucly. And I highly recommend having that here. In Zagreb, it's nice because, well, as a full, or living here, I will say that they finally, the past few years, have gotten some more international restaurants because otherwise you would go to restaurants. It was kind of like everyone had similar menus. They all had the pastas and the pizzas. And I mean, because especially

where I live, Istria, I mean, it was once ruled by Venice. And so the Italian influence is very, like, I mean, you see it everywhere, even the people's second language or maybe even first language was Italian. So you'll find lots of pastas and risos and even, you know, wood-fired pizzas throughout the whole country. But I would say great traditional food is pecca and they have a lot of influence in their food also from Ottomans or so even coming from Turkey like Sarma, which is stuffed cabbages, stuffed peppers. They have something called burrique, which is kind of a pastry filled with either meat or cheese. So these are things that definitely are worth trying here.

But I would say one of my favorite traditional foods is definitely this peka, which can be cooked in many, many ways under the bell. Yeah, it sounds like Croatia is a nice little mix of the Italian influence and the adamant influence, because I've fallen in love with. the Balkans. And so I remember reading Strucli in Slovenia and having, you know, a lot of bread in Bosnia. Yeah. So, yeah, so I'm looking forward to trying that. You'll never go hungry here and great wine, really good wine. What is the sort of going out drinking culture like in Croatia?

Croatians definitely like to drink and smoke. As an American, And that's one thing I never really get used to is all the smoking in the bars and stuff. Just because you smell like a cigarette when you leave. But I'm kind of used to it now. But yeah, it's the, let me put it this way. Like creations are just very generous and welcoming people. So I feel like they like to offer for drinks, for you to have a drink. You know, it's kind of like a way of welcoming you and being good hosts all the time.

So that was something that was a little bit different for me. I mean, usually I would like to think that if someone came to my house in America, I offer them something to eat and drink. But I couldn't really remember like, do I? As soon as they walk in, did I offer them something? Where here it's just like it's instant. I mean, it's almost like they're handing you the glass when you walk in. So for me, that was kind of funny.

But now I've definitely got into the habit of that. but the nightlife goes well into the morning, that's for sure. And they just love to have a good time. And I don't know. I don't know if it's something where like the drinking age is younger here. So maybe they started drinking younger. But I wouldn't say that people get out of hand. It's like they can control themselves more than in some places.

I don't know. It's more of, it's just like a cultural thing. Like it used to be very odd for me to ever have wine at lunchtime because in America, I just never did that. And here it's almost like a disgrace if you were like, no, no, I don't have. I mean, I'm saying like on a business meeting or something. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Every day. But yeah, I mean, it's drinking is part of the culture, to be honest. And so you'll see that when you come. Croatian business meeting sounds a lot more fun. I had a thing yesterday and it literally was five hours long. Thank God I didn't have more plans for the day because I was a lunch. and it turned into a dinner.

I mean, literally, it was, but that's the best because it's, you know, we got a lot done. And it just felt like a real experience, not just a meeting, you know. We enjoyed food and wine and solved what we needed to solve. Perfect. There's no better way. So what is your favorite place in Croatia? My favorite place in Croatia is a small town called Rovine, and it's in Istria. And for me, if you were to Google it and see it, I mean, you'll go, oh, wow.

I mean, it definitely kind of looks like Italy, like something in Positano or something like that. But for me, it's just perfect. Last summer, I even stayed maybe four or five days in Rovine. And it is touristy, but like I loved staying in the old city, even in the high season. because there's no cars driving around because it's kind of up on a hill. And I just felt like I really truly got to relax. I would go for an afternoon swim. They have little boats that you can go to nearby small islands where there's beaches.

And it was just fun to go out to dinner every night and take a nap in the afternoon, go for a swim. It's really a nice place to visit. And many people just come for the day and walk around. but I can say it is a place worth staying for a while. That sounds like the, you know, perfect definition of a vacation. Definitely. So is Istria a region or I was thinking it was a town, is it not? Yeah, it's a region.

So it's the northwestern peninsula. So when I say that there's like a backwards seven, it's kind of that point. And it's literally, like it takes me 15 minutes to the Slovenia border from my front door. In 40 minutes, I'm in Trieste. So that's why I like living in Istria because I'm very well connected with the rest of Europe. It's even a two-hour drive to Venice from my front door. So I can go do a day trip to Lake Bled in Slovenia, Vyubiana. I can come to Zagreb if I had to for the day.

I've done that before too. So it's just nice. I mean, it's a good location and I have total peace there. I mean, I have kind of a hectic travel schedule. And so for me, it's really nice to be able to unwind. Dinistria. When you were driving all over Croatia recording your documentary, what's an experience that really stood out for you? Well, maybe the first time I got in the car and they brought me a stick shift car and I didn't know if I'd drive it. And I said to the guy, hey, we have a problem

like, I don't know how to drive this. And he was like, oh, it's okay. It's easy. And he, 10 minutes, he like gave me some lesson. And I had to drive three hours. Oh, wow. On the highway. And I remember emailing my mom being like, so they brought me a stick shift. If you don't hear from me, maybe call this hotel. This is where I'm saying.

Because I didn't have a cell phone here yet. It was, I don't know, times were just different. And I remember they told me to follow the signs to Kirk. But the sign said, Ota. Kirk and I thought oh is that it no they said Kirk so I'm gonna keep driving then I got to the toll booth and I was like excuse me does otok mean island and they were like yes and I was like oh no I missed it so I turned around and then of course I panicked because I had to go up a small hill because I was off the highway and I thought I just my life like flashed before my eyes and I was like oh my gosh the car is

going to roll back because I don't know how to drive up a hill so literally pulled off on the side of the road and flagged people down the first guy didn't speak English he was an old man so I like got nowhere with him. And then these two girls stopped and they were like, Ashley. And I was like, you know who I am. They were like, what's wrong? Because I literally like started to cry. I was like, I have this car and there's a hill and I don't know how to drive it. And they're like, where do you need to go? And one of the girls got my car, literally drove me to the bridge. And her friend followed and to where it was just going to be flat, you know, because I didn't know what was to come. I thought I was going to an island. I wasn't going to drive up a hill. And so to those girls

don't know their names or anything, but I'm very thankful for them and driving me that day. I mean, that just kind of shows like how generous people are. I mean, I remember my brother even saying the only reason I ever came to Croatia in the first place was because my brother told me it was his favorite place in all of Europe. And I was like, yeah, but why? And I remember he told me that he was staying in Dubrovnik and he had like a 5 a.m. flight or something from Debronik. So he asked his host family where he was renting an apartment or something, you know, what time do the buses start? And they were like, oh, they don't start that early. And my brother was like, oh, okay, well, can I have a taxi number or something? And they were like, no, no, no, we'll drive you. And so the guy got up at

like, you know, 345 to drive my brother to the airport and wouldn't take money or anything. And it's just, I don't know, I feel like nowadays you don't really find that many experiences like that. And it was actually a genuine, you know, favor that they wanted to do. And I feel like I experienced those things every day in Croatia. That is very special. And so those girls, they recognized you from TV. Is that how they knew who you were? Yeah. That's crazy. But I'm pretty sure they probably stopped just because I was just flagging them down. I mean, I don't think they realized it was me until they really stopped. I'm getting so excited for my trip.

Yeah. So if I go to Croatia and I want to buy something to remember Croatia by what's something that's typical from Croatia? What are like their artisanal products? So the tie was invented in Croatia, like the man's, you know, necktie. And so I always tell men that they should buy, they have a shop called Croathe, and basically it has like the traditional first written language in Croatia. I mean, it looks like just small designs on the tie, but I think that that's something special that the cravat is what it was originally called,

was invented in Croatia because women used to put it on their soldiers. They would tie a red scarf around their neck basically saying, you know, you're taken. It wasn't a ring, but it was a way of like showing their love to the soldier when he would go to war. So a tie or like a scarf, there is a shop called karate and they have things for women too. It's really nice. Even like female ties, but also just like nice scarfs that you could have around your neck. And then definitely olive oil is a great thing to, I think Americans don't. always appreciate good olive oil because they don't know what it is. And so when you come to

Croatia, you have to try it. And that's one of the best things that you can take back with you to as a souvenir. And one thing that I always bring back with me even today when I'm going back to California to visit. Coral is, if you like jewelry, that you can get coral earrings and coral jewelry. And it really is coming from the Adriatic Sea. So that's something nice to take home and then everything made out of lavender. I mean, from little things that just make your, you know, dwarers smell nice, you'll see lavender soaps and, you know, fun things made out of lavender because that all grows, a lot of it grows on the islands surrounding Croatia. Well, Ashley, this has been a great conversation you've made me so excited about Croatia. Great. Well,

I hope you have a great time. And if you have any other questions or need more tips, you can always reach out. And you can also follow me on Instagram, Ashley underscore Colburn, or visit Ashley Colburn's Croatia.com, because there I have video guides and then I'm always posting about where I am what I'm doing, tips and things like that. I was just about to ask where we can find out more about you, so thank you for adding that. Is there anything else that you want to add before we go? No, I think that's good. All right. Thanks again, Ashley. This has been so great.

All right. Thank you. I loved this episode with Ashley so much. And the Maldives have been on my travel list forever. I'm not sure why I haven't gotten there yet. But now I am psyched that I can experience the Croatian version in a month. So yay, thank you for that tip, Ashley. Also, Shibinek, I think I said that right. That wasn't even on my radar, so I cannot wait to explore that town.

I will share photos as well as show notes for this episode on postcardacademy.com. On the next episode, Ashley and I will dive a little deeper into Croatian culture and share a best-of-city guide on Croatia's capital, Zagreb. That's all for now. Thanks for listening and have a beautiful week wherever you are. Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free conversation sheet sheet with simple formulas that you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you're in a meeting or just talking with friends. Download it at sarah micotel.com slash blank no more.