DOMOVINA DAY 4

Postcards from Croatia – Split & Sinj

Our fourth day began in Brela with another buffet breakfast before hopping on the bus. By this point, everyone had learnt the hack of packing snacks from the breakfast buffet for the bus ride. Anna and I wrapped up a bunch of grapes and a couple of chocolate croissants to take with us before making our way to Split. As soon as we arrived, we headed straight to a café for a kava (coffee). There were so many of us that we basically took over the entire outdoor seating area before walking to the Meštrović Gallery.

Before arriving in Croatia, I didn't know much about Ivan Meštrović, but learning about his life and seeing his sculptures gave me a whole new appreciation for his work. It was another reminder of how much history, culture and creativity is woven into everyday life here. One thing I loved most about the Domovina programme was that it introduced me to places and stories I probably never would have discovered on my own.

Julie, Ella, Anna, Lucy & Kristina

From there, we walked to Bokeria for lunch. We had the upstairs dining room all to ourselves, and I remember sitting around the table with Mia, Lucy, Ella and Julia while lunch was served. The truffle pasta is one I'll remember for a long time. Afterwards, we stood outside with a cigarette (purely for digestion, of course) before making our way back out to continue exploring Split. By this point, laughter had become our default.

Filip

That afternoon, we explored Diocletian's Palace on a guided tour and wandered through the streets of Split's Old Town, learning how it had transformed from a Roman emperor's residence into the heart of the city today. Walking through spaces that have existed for centuries while still feeling so alive was something special.

Before dinner, we stopped in Sinj to visit the Church of Our Lady of Sinj and the Museum of the Sinjska Alka, learning more about one of Croatia's most enduring traditions.

That evening, we were welcomed into OPG Plazibat, a traditional family-run konoba. Lamb was served for dinner, and by the end of the meal Janko somehow seemed to have a mountain of bones stacked on his plate. I couldn't stop laughing at the amount of meat he managed to consume. Poor Ella, the only vegan in the group, was in desperate need of some tofu, surviving mainly on rice and bread that evening. The food just kept coming until we were well past the point of full, before finishing with everyone's favourite, palačinke (Croatian crepes), which somehow we all found room for. By then, dinner had become one of my favourite parts of each day. We'd all sit around the table talking about everything we'd seen, laughing over the smallest moments and making the day's memories last a little longer.

Ella, Anna, Lucy, Mia & Julia

Sharing a meal there felt incredibly special and reminded me of my Grandpa's konoba that he dug out beneath their house, and all the memories made there over the years with family gathered around the table. The more time I spent in Croatia, the closer I felt to my family and to the generations that came before me. Memories I hadn't thought about in years kept resurfacing, and with each passing day I felt a deeper connection to Croatia, its people and the culture that has shaped so much of who I am.