We would be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary trip in March/19, so one year ago – yeah, literally – we decided to plan this once-in-a-lifetime trip to celebrate this special occasion in high style. Our picked destination was Africa, so we selected the excellent Gilt Edge Agency to plan it for us. Vernon, our designate agent, has pacientfully hand-picked every detail of this dreamy trip, with marvelous 5* services and absolutely meticulous planning, exactly what we were looking for.
Cape Town from the Table Mountain
Our itinerary has started in the lively Cape Town, where we saw the most amazing sunset from the magnificent Table Mountain, played with penguins at Boulders Beach, had the most scenic drive through the Chapman’s Peak Drive and savoured the most delicious meals of our lives.
Cycling through Chapman’s Peak Drive
Then we headed to the famous Winelands, the beautiful wine region only about 50 minutes from Cape Town. With its particular geography and more than 500 wineries, this region is definitely a must go place for wine lovers who also admire stunning landscapes.
Living the Dream in the Winelands
The third part of our trip was certainly one of the highlights: an authentic safari experience in the beautiful Kruger Park, more specifically in a private game reserve called Timbavati. It was our first safari and we were blessed with great game viewing. Everyone says it’s a marvelous and unique experience and now I can definitely affirm that’s more than true. We loved the energy and pure relaxation we absorbed from the bush.
Magical Moments in the Bush
At last, but not least, we headed to the most secluded island of our whole lives at the Indian Ocean, in Mozambique. We’ve been to many beautiful beaches before, but this place… Oh boy! It’s definitely Heaven on Earth!
Lost Paradise in the Indian Ocean
We were able to learn with this trip that even in a place with so much diversity and sometimes injustice – like the one I live – people can be happy and proud of their origin. South Africa has such a sad recently history and tourism is definitely the best thing these places could ever dream for. It brings a chance of a new beggining.
So Many Friends Along the Way
I think it’s not needed to mention that we left this place in tears… We are back, but half of our hearts are still there. Africa, you are special. We will remember this trip forever!
Ocean Front Bungalow
Read my whole itinerary in detail, beginning from Cape Town.
We spent a week in Croatia. Was it enough time? No. Definitely not. It’s a country where a 15 day itinerary can only cover the basics of getting to know the coast from north to south, but it was the time we had, so we enjoyed it as much as possible.
Croatian Architecture
Our trip to Croatia was put together by a very competent travel agency from the US called Adventures Croatia. They not only made the hotel reservations and transfers, they also took us to hidden and exclusive places that we would have never discovered on our own. They made all restaurant reservations, even those most difficult to get.
Olive Oil Tasting Experience in Split
It’s worth mentioning that we bought some tickets on Croatia Airlines to fly from Athens to Split and I definitely wouldn’t recommend it. I had read that the company was terrible, but I didn’t want to believe it. It was stunningly horrible. Our flight was 7 hours late and we were stuck at the airport with no explanation. And was not only ours. Every flight was delayed for at least one hour. Not to mention how apathetic the employees were.
Oyster Farm in Ston
We started from Split, the second largest city in Croatia, after Zagreb, the capitol, that unfortunately we didn’t have time to visit. It’s the city where, 2 thousand years ago, a long named Roman emperor lived and died: Caio Aurelio Valério Diócles Dioclecian. That’s why the main tourist attraction is the Dioclecian Palace, a sort of mini city where everything at the time happened.
Beautiful Split
We headed for Dubrovnik, in the South, a 3 to 4 hours trip through scenic roads. On the way, we stopped at Ston, a walled historic city. Nearby, we experienced one of those agency’s hidden gems: a quick boat tour that led us to an oyster farm, where we understood why they are so expensive and enjoyed a truly feast of Goods.
Boat Tour in Ston
We came back from heaven and finally arrived at the most wanted place: the charming Dubrovnik. It is absolutely everything I have imagined before and captivated us for complete. So small, with just 45 thousand inhabitants, t’s plenty of life and joy and full of history. A thousand posts wouldn’t be able to transcribe in every detail what this place has to offer.
Picturesque Dubrovnik
Leaving Dubrovnik, we return a little bit to the north, through the Peljesac Peninsula, where we had lunch in a 500 years family run tavern, in the region that they call Napa Valley of Croatia. We continued through scenic beach side roads until Orebic, a small village where we took the ferry boat to Korcula, our next destination.
Scenic Roads
Korcula is the name of the island and also the name of charming village where we stayed for the night. They say it’s where Marco Polo was born, hundred years ago, before he had to Italy. Luck for him, cause the small village is a delightful place to stay for one night or even more. With intense relation to the sea, its little marina is plenty of beautiful sailing boats with families enjoying the great atmosphere.
Sunrise in Korcula
By the way, it’s important to mention that Croatia has a strong connection with the sea. Everywhere you go you see beautiful and well-organized marinas. The perfect way to get to know this winderful country is by boat as it has many islands close to each other. You can either rent you own boat or take a ferry boat, a popular and efficient way to move around.
Korcula Port
We chose to rent our own boat to move between islands. So we took it from Korcula to our next and final destination, the trendy Hvar (read: “ruar”). Along the way (about 2 hours by boat), we made a stop in Brac, another famous island, in a beach called Bol. Extraordinary sandy beach, with that spectacular water. We had lunch “like a local” in front of the beach.
Bol Beach in Brac Island
At the end of the day we arrived at the famous Hvar Island. As Korcula, it’s the name of the island and also the name of the port (Hvar Town) where is located the most variety of restaurants and beach clubs. The village is full of charm, with small ochre houses perched in a hill in front of the bay and its sailing boats. I loved this place!
Hvar Town seen from Adriana Hotel
To get back to Split Airport, which is located about an hour from Hvar, we rented our own private boat, but you can easily take a ferry boat that leaves Hvar Town every hour.
Beautiful Hvar Island
And that’s how we finish our fast but remarkable trip through Croatia. A country full of contrasts and charm. Mountains and rocks, blue crystal sea and green forests. Beautiful cities full of history. You can match with Greece or Italy, or maybe only Croatia, the country itself has it all, whether you are seeking for parties and lively atmosphere, history, gastronomy or just relax.
