Micro-Mini Guides: Croatia

CROATIA:

To Do:
1. Cliff-jumping; you don’t have to go off the forty-footers. Stick to a smaller one and you will still feel the rush of jumping off a cliff into the Adriatic Sea. Make sure to go where other people are partaking in the activity; cliff-jumping can be dangerous.
2. See the peacocks at Lokrum Island (off the coast of Dubrovnik); they will let you touch them, if you are so inclined. There are an abundance of rather ugly females, but the male peacocks are quite spectacular and fun to watch.
3. Stay out at a club or bar until 6 AM; Croatians can party.
4. Snorkeling; few of the fish are colorful, but the Adriatic has the perfect temperament for this water activity, as well as others, including:
5. Go kayaking; rent one yourself so you can set your own pace. First-timers beware: this is an intense workout.
6. Travel to Bosnia or Montenegro; Mostar, Bosnia is just a three-hour bus ride from Dubrovnik, and Montenegro is even closer. Both are supposedly undiscovered gems.
7. Visit Old City in Dubrovnik; it is classically beautiful, and truly Mediterranean in style. There is good shopping and food, and the nightlife is not by any means tame.
8. Take a private boat tour; night ones are particularly fun. Many of the boats have glass bottoms so you can see what you are floating over, which is very intriguing. Those in Old City are rather inexpensive, and sometimes they will let you:
9. Go night swimming; the Adriatic stays warm all the time during the summer, and it is both scary and exciting to swim in it after dark, especially when you are on a boat, far from land!

To Eat:
1. Pizza; Croatia has surprisingly good pizza, and it is very, very cheap. Many places will offer discounts if you return.
2. Seafood; it is a bit more expensive than other Croatian food, but very good, especially when combined with pasta. Croatian Italian food is as good as the real thing in many places.

To Buy:
1. Coral Jewelry; you will find it everywhere, and it is high-quality, colorful, and very fun. Styles range from subtle to the very obnoxious, and one piece will likely be enough. Specifically, the rings are lovely.
2. Olive Oil; venture into Dubrovnik’s Old City to find the homemade olive oil stands that line the street. The flavored ones are especially delicious. Other foodstuffs are also offered, such as fig marmalade and sage honey (all are amazing).
3. Maps and other street artwork; it is cheap and high-quality. The art is good and the maps are interesting (I am a map-lover) and antique-looking