First of all, we woke to a totally blue sky, bright sun and an amazingly warm temperature!! After our usual leisurely and delicious breakfast, we headed out, with our funky black car, to explore some coastal villages. The one we enjoyed the most is a very short drive from here, and is called Trsteno! We found an incredible 'Secret Garden-type' path that led us down, down, down to the shoreline. The path going down was ancient stone steps and there was stone walls as well as lush, jungle-like vegetation! There were some gated yards, along the path, that looked soooooo inviting....soooooo beautiful with fruit trees, Palm trees, amazing flowers and lush, lush greenery accenting stone walls and patios! There was also the sound of a gushing creek, along the path.....everything looked, smelt and felt like we were in a secret world!!
The view of the sea was , as usual, stunning and captivating! It actually can't be captured, no matter how many pictures I take!!
From there, we walked and found an ACTUAL SECRET GARDEN!!!!!!.....well it isn't a ''secret" but, it is an AMAZING GARDEN and it felt like our own secret garden as we entered and walked through it! It turned out to be a major cultural and historical sight in Croatia! Called 'THE TRSTENO ARBORETUM', it is the ONLY Arboretum along the Adriatic coast that unites culture and history in plant form!! It has a 500 year old history, having been the garden estate of some wealthy Croatian dude (Ivan Marinov Gucetic-Gozze), in 1494!!! On these 70 acres, there are AMAZING Mediterranean, European, Asian and American plants, trees, flowers, vegetation, that are simply mind-blowing!! Basically, this garden's collection of cultivated plants reflects 5 centuries of botanical history!!! It is such a beautiful place!!! (There was even an amazing bamboo forest!!) We enjoyed our walk through it and were mesmerized by the natural beauty and history within those garden walls!!
After this enchanting adventure, we returned home, to make and enjoy a late lunch on our sunny deck, looking over our beautiful Zaton Bay! We wished our darling Michelle a very Happy Birthday as we dined al fresco and savoured our last Sunday in beautiful Croatia!!
If only walls and plants could take an share their history with you. I love visiting the older cultures. What an experience you are having. Can't wait to hear more about it in person.
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