Zagreb was my first stop in Croatia, and it immediately felt like a city comfortable with its contradictions: classic, creative, and a little defiant.

Between its squares, museums and cafés, I found a city where conversations stretch into the afternoon, where creativity hums quietly in the background, and where tradition walks hand in hand with a youthful spirit.

One of the things that fascinated me most were the colorful glazed roofs, especially the one crowning St. Mark’s Church. The red, white and blue tiles create mosaics that tell stories of Zagreb and the old Kingdom of Croatia. Seen from above, the city looks like a canvas painted with care —full of symbols, textures and a kind of pride that feels both old and new.

Zagreb carries elegance naturally. And it makes sense: the modern necktie was born here. In the 17th century, Croatian soldiers wore scarves tied around their necks, and the French admired the style so much that they called it cravate, in honor of the Croats. From there, elegance simply traveled the world wrapped in a knot.

From the capital, I headed southwest to Pula, a city with a gentle blend of Mediterranean warmth. For centuries it belonged to different cultures, and that mix is palpable in the air. The Roman amphitheater rises by the sea: imposing, intact, timeless. I loved it instantly. The streets smell of olive oil, wine, and salt, and life moves at a leisurely pace, like a long summer afternoon.

In 1904, James Joyce lived here briefly, teaching English while dreaming up so many stories that would later change world literature. I like to imagine him writing in a small café, letting the Adriatic light spill over his notebook and his face. Hemingway, years later, followed the coast and felt that same charm.

From the Istrian coast, we took a ferry to the islands. We arrived in Cres and then Krk, where the sky and sea share the same shade of blue and red at sunset. Thus the days lengthen and the sunsets slow down, resembling brushstrokes directly on the horizon. The water is crystal clear, the beaches rocky and shimmering, and the food bursting with summer flavor.

Croatia felt like a warm embrace, history, sea, art and humanity blending into one landscape. I watched the sun disappear into the Adriatic, and for a moment, everything in me went quiet, as if the world had paused just long enough for me to feel completely present.