WHAT DO I MISS ABOUT CROATIA? THE STORY OF BIG EMOTIONS AND SMALL THINGS

 AUTORICA: Aleksandra Misztalska 

    I wanted to write about it for a long time, as I miss being in Croatia every single day. It is so hard for me, especially since now with the pandemic it would be much safer to be there than in my home county. I miss a variety of aspects, for example, the pomalo culture - coffee, chill, thinking about the day, enjoying life. I really would love to think that way right now, but that state of mind is only and is noticeable only in Croatia, and I cannot help it. I miss the sea, going to see sunsets, traveling by car, exploring unknown places, being excited when I hear my favorite music in the local supermarket.

    I am always surprised when someone says that he/she has never been to Croatia. But I have many friends who have been, and their view is always the same- once you go to Croatia, you never go back and always pick that country as your holiday destination. It is not an overstatement, there is something unique about plavo more i sunce, that once you experience it, you will always remember it. 

    I am so nostalgic, and you can see that, but those small aspects create an accumulation of wonderful, extraordinary memories. I will always recommend visiting this country, meeting local people, risking, exploring, swimming, having espressos there. In fact, once I sat to write that post, I cannot even concentrate and focus on everything I wanted to say, as now I am in my hometown and I know everything there. And there is always a glimpse of massive excitement and happiness that I experience nowhere else. 

    Imagine hearing seagulls, not knowing what you will be doing the following day, that feeling of excitement, as every day is a new start and you never know what you will experience. I miss that feeling of uncertainty, as to be honest, you feel happier and more satisfied when you get to know a place you have never seen before. For me traveling is mostly about risking, exploring new, but on the other hand, being able to come back to the place you visited as a child and being thankful for what you have experienced.  And the list is never-ending- I love Croatian food, the weather, the people, the supermarkets, the cities, and the villages. I am looking forward to being back, speaking my limited Croatian, and going off the beaten track. 

    What is weird but true is that by having small pleasures you can be happier than having everything in the place you live in. Especially now, during those hard times, we should remind ourselves every day that sometimes being able to go for a walk is enough to make us feel better and less sad. Sometimes having all the things is not what you need. From time to time, what makes you happy is unexpected moments, meeting a kitten, taking photos of a monument that you consider one of kind, even though it may be just a small tower, an old castle, and a river.