Journey to the Adriatic Pearl

'It is as if the mountains were gently dipping their toes into the Bay,' said a guide book describing the coastal drive to Montenegro.

Croatia offers a Mediterranean holiday at prices lower than those in central Europe. This writer thinks Dubrovnik is more romantic than Venice, as it has equally charming architecture and none of the crowds.

WHEN I broached the idea of going away to Croatia with two friends, one asked me simply, where is it? And the other one said, “Isn’t that in Eastern Europe?” A question loaded with assumptions of derelict cities lined with boxed-shaped functional architecture associated with the Soviet Era, no English speakers to speak of, and no real beauty or history to imbibe.