Sipan & Its Surrounding Secrets...
First Impressions:
Lets be honest I had no idea what to expect from mine and Adams first trip together, Croatia was just one of those countries under my radar that I knew very little about from their culture to their climate, but with one suitcase between us and a wallet full of kuna we were on our way.
We arrived late and all happened very quickly, the plane landed with a bump (terrifying start!), we got in a taxi which took us to a port and by moonlight and in the freezing cold we were bundled into a boat which took us to our hotel (also slightly terrifying but very cool!)
"Hotel Sipan"
Waking up in a sea view room to the sound of fishermen and the sunlight climbing through the blinds was a surreal feeling, breakfast was divine! I would take feta cheese and bread for breakfast over cereal any day!
The whole island was beautiful, with crystal clear waters and panoramic views...its a quiet island Sipan so not a place to go if your seeking party central but for a couple just wanting to get away from it all and experience Croatian culture it was perfect!A must if your a lover of cats as they were literally EVERYWHERE.
The best thing to do when your in a remote and unfamiliar place is to hop on the first bus you see going "any where" luckily for us the island is surrounded by lots more islands either accessible by bus, boat or ferry we took many trips to Sudarad in particular as it welcomed a great bar and lots of coves and rocks to climb and explore for crabs. We also did alot of hiking (not a trip for expensive/nice shoes) and helped ourselves to a few local attributes...into an abandoned church...on somebodies vehicle....fresh peaches from the trees a great island for hidden gems! There was at one point a coffin...we did not help ourselves to this and left quite quickly!
The Food...
Oh my, where do I start with Croatian Food!? Steaks, Pastas and the fish was the best fish I had ever had Caught that morning, grilled with seasoning and olive oil and lemon. That's it simple dishes but packed full of fresh flavour!
We tried nearly all the restaurants on the island including the famous Konoba Cod Marka a luscious local favourite who didn't offer a menu but simply "what would you prefer meat or fish?" and then the chef/owner would prepare you a delicious 3 course meal to suit. Our personal favourite and one we visited a few times was the restaurant Tauras, with its romantic setting and exceptional service all the food here was of a exceptional standard and for a very reasonable price!
My favourite dish of the entire trip had to be the fresh fish platter, an off menu item from Tauras which included fresh tuna, barracuda and anchovies- a taste sensation!
Activities and Old Town...
During our trip we tried to cram in as much as possible yet still had the most relaxing time ever! cycling, hiking, swimming, shopping, dining, trips to the beach and we even hired a pedlo took a few beers and headed out in the sea and reluctantly down a slide into the deep blue.
For a quiet place there's alot on offer if your willing to seek it! and a obvious choice of destination is to check out "old town" with its famous exterior of bullet holes that still remain in its towering walls from the war to its vast selection of restaurants and shops down every side street, its a must see for tourists but still remains as untouched and spectacular as ever.
Its best to hit the town first thing in the morning before the public traffic emerges to get a really good look before it comes to life, we stopped off to have cappuccino, ice-cream and crepes for breakfast before checking out the shops and architect which was just so tasty!
I would definitely recommend a guided tour if you are doing a day trip to old town unless your really clued on Croatian history you will miss alot of incredible stories! Being great fans of the show the Games of thrones tour was an obvious choice!, showing us all the amazing locations the show has been filmed including (the shame stairs- pictured above) be prepared for ALOT of stairs, I cant even tell you how many we walked up not recommended for those with a fear of heights! But it was totally worth it to find out how the show filmed iconic scenes such as the purple wedding and even ended with a chance to sit on the "iron throne"- excitement much!
For a trip in October the weather was so good for that time of year the temperature reading 35 degrees! we had such an amazing time and I would definitely recommend it for anyone that wants to go somewhere extraordinary!
