WOO HOO!

For the 2018 World cup Croatia somehow made it to the FINALS!!!

It’s been a long time coming…

If you’re busy cheering on Croatia now, you can save it to Pinterest here.

Dreams Can (and do) Come True:

Tiny Croatia with its 4 plus million inhabitants – by some twist of fate and a lot of hard work – has reached the finals – yes – the WORLD FIFA championship!

(The whole population of Croatia equals 1/3 the population of city of London alone!)

VATRENI!
(full of fire!) That’s what Croatian football fans are!

WHAT IS FIFA
For those who aren’t sports fans, FIFA is an annual soccer competition each summer, with teams assembled by country. Each participating team sends a representation of its home soccer players to compete on the world stage.

For example, Luka Modrić, the Croatian team starter, normally plays for REAL MADRID in Spain. But for FIFA, he plays for the Croatian team, his country of origin.

No less than four members of the Croatian soccer team are from ZADAR! I don’t know what that means – that our climate breeds great athletes, or that the water has lots of enzymes in it… I only know that we are kicking ass this season!

Past VICTORIES

In 1998 when Croatia was a brand new country, we won the Bronze medal.
Now, once again, Croatia will stand on the pedestal with no less than a Silver medal if it loses to France.

My own FAMILY TIES

My mom is French (descended from Orange, in the Provence region) and my dad is Croatian (from Dalmatia, specifically Vis Island where Mama Mia II was filmed last year)! Yes, I truly love the French, but in this case, for the 2018 World cup, Croatia has my full support.

Ever since the victory against England, men, women, and children of all ages are swarming to the store to buy and get dressed in team clothing.

The boys and men usually wear T-shirts and the women too, or else long tank top dresses in Red, white, and sometimes blue.

We call this team clothing simply “dress” which could be translated to mean “outfit”.

RED AND WHITE CHECKS EVERYWHERE

The favorite emblem of all is the red and white checks, from the Croatian coat of arms. This coat of arms goes back to perhaps as far as the 8th century AD when Croats were self-ruled. The era of Kings began during this golden age, and King Tomislav was crowned in Biograd.  King Peter Kresimir was crowned in Sibenik in 1064, and many of these ancient landmarks (such as Klis, just outside of Split) are often used to film episodes for Game of Thrones.

THE COAT OF ARMS OR GRB

Here is the design, which Croatians refer to as their Grb (gerb). The triangle pieces or crown above the grb represents different regions within Croatia, namely, from left to right…

1. The oldest Croatian coat of arm used
2. The Republic of Dubrovnik
3. The Republic of Dalmatia
4. The Republic of Istra
5. The Republic of Slavonija. (Slah-VOE-nee-yuh).  This is not SLOVENIJA / SLOVENIA which is a neighboring country.  It has extremely fertile farmland. The little animal between the two rivers is the kuna (something like a mink or a squirrel) who was prized for its pelts (nice soft fur) and was used as a monetary exchange unit. If you look on the kuna (it’s a small silver coin in 1 and 2 kuna denominations) you’ll see him 🙂 or her 🙂 We like to say “kunas have legs!” which means the money sure knows how to run through your fingers…They are possibly extinct now, or at least, extremely hard to find.

Psst… THE GRB is Everywhere –
It’s used on official documents and on government buildings for the Republic of Croatia.

SEMIFINAL GAME (A REAL NAIL-BITER) UK vs. CROATIA

What’s more -Croats generally do not hold grudges; living well is the best revenge.

Never mind that the game went into overtime more than once, and everyone was exhausted.

Fouls and other nasty business. A good example of this is when Mario Mandžukić was “accidentally” slammed by British goal man Pickford “He f.-ing fell on me” but the replay tells a different story.

More importantly, instead of just getting mad, yelling at the judge and getting a red flag, although he was in extraordinary pain, Mandžukić kept himself together just long enough to score the decisive goal against the UK just a few minutes later.

That’s the way we do it 🙂

2018 World cup Croatia SQUAD

In my humble opinion, the top names to look out for are:

Perisic

Mandžukic

Modrić

Vida

A little bit about LUKA MODRIĆ

The most famous is Luka Modrić. As a child, he and his family were refugees during the Homeland war in 1991. Therefore, he knows what it’s like to fight for what you want. After their family home was burnt to the ground, Luka, who was six at the time, ran for his life with his family where he grew up and became an expert soccer player.

Here is his story:  Luka Modrić

VIDEO UPDATE

What some experts conclude the 2018 World cup Croatia vs. France will look like, click on the link below and see for yourself if you agree with them. Besides that, the French are strong (at least for defense) but the Croats are a bit hungrier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dtbO5KTCgo

DEMOGRAPHICS

The average age of Croatian citizens is 41 years old.

The average birthrate is 1.5 children per mother, among the lowest in all of Europe.

UNDERDOG MENTALITY

Croatia has – for centuries – been the underdog.
But like all Croatians today – we are all holding our heads up high.

Heck, even a silver medal wouldn’t be bad.
But after a near miss 20 years ago, in the 2018 World cup, Croatia wants GOLD!!!!

Did you enjoy this article? Then save it to Pinterest, and if you like, follow me on social media. I am most active on Instagram.

Do viđenja! (See you later!)

Anastasia

COFFEE CULTURE

The coffee culture in Croatia is really quite remarkable. If you want to save this later to read, you can save it to Pinterest here.

I always loved coffee, but since relocating abroad, I may be entering the realm of a coffee aficionado, I love it so much. Drinking coffee means socializing and people watching – seeing and being seen!

It’s no secret that coffee helps us move and function – but here in Europe, specifically Croatia, it has a culture all its own. Foreign guests may only begin to get a glimpse of this coffee culture after a few days visit here.

One cup of coffee can stretch out for quite awhile – at least 45 minutes, because Croatians really nurse their coffee – and they don’t gulp their coffee – they sip.  It would be unthinkable to multi-task coffee with driving or any other activity.

Besides that, coffee dates can be totally spontaneous! I will explain more, below.

LOOKING GOOD

When people go outside, they try to look presentable if not snazzy, that means makeup, cologne, and clever accessories. No baggy-butt sweatpants when you get out of the house because you never know who you will run into.

DEJA VU

Did you know that if you run into a person for the third time you are destined to sit down to coffee with them? The belief is that destiny is bringing us together to discuss some matter of vital importance.

COFFEE is both Cheap and Expensive

The cost of a cup of coffee is 1-2 € (generally 8 to 12 kunas). When I was a poor student, I had a coffee allowance!

If you make it at home, it’s a lot less, but people usually have pocket money for coffee as a social necessity.

LUXURY OR NECESSITY?

My newest toy is pictured to the right, a Mitaci i4 coffee machine, which uses Illy coffee capsules. I bought a good, used professional coffee maker on Njuškalo, our online marketplace. By the way, making coffee at home using capsules is at least 50% cheaper than that made in the coffee shops (the Kafić (kaa-FEECH).

COFFEE ECONOMY

Many purchases are justified with “it came to two cups of coffee”. New hairdryer? “It came to three cups of coffee” Movie theatre ticket? “The matinee price was only two cups of coffee”. Friends who haven’t seen each other text urgently – “when shall we meet for coffee?”

Never mind if we drink coffee, tea, cappuccino, beer or wine!  Coffee = means time to socialize – coffee, and more coffee!

What to order? Here are some popular choices – so feel free to test your coffee knowledge:

TOP COFFEE DRINKS AROUND THE WORLD

Black coffee/Cup of Joe – American Coffee
Black coffee is good for a morning shock or afternoon jolt. It may also represent a rite of passage from childhood to the sometimes bitter realities of adult responsibility.

Espresso  – Some Like It Strong
The best way to make espresso is to use an espresso machine or an Italian coffee maker. In Croatia, a short black coffee is also referred to as “Turkish coffee” probably because coffee first came to us through the Turkish invaders.

WHEN IN ROME

Did you know that it is a big no-no to drink a cup of coffee with milk after lunch? Italians cringe when they hear foreigners ask for a cappuccino, or any coffee drinks made with milk like the macchiato. After lunch, only a short black cup of espresso is considered acceptable. Nothing else makes sense to them on a full stomach of food.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN – A History of Coffee and its Development

Coffee has been in fashion for at least 500 years! First discovered in Ethiopia, it made its way to Turkey and the East, then to Europe.

By the 1700s coffee was making its debut in the New World, first in the Caribbean then to Brazil by way of Africa.

There is a legend how one man’s determination to plant coffee in Brazil met with resistance from the governor until finally, the governor’s wife gave him some coffee plants disguised as a bouquet. From these few humble plants, plantations of coffee thrived making Brazil a top global producer.

WHITE COFFEE (Espresso with milk):

Brushed Suede is a caffè crema (long espresso) with steamed milk, finished off with a dusting of cinnamon. I personally find the ones at McDonald’s in Zadar to be sheer perfection.

Flat White – same thing.

MORNING COFFEE

The morning coffee ritual is an international one, thanks to the widespread acceptance of the coffee bean as a light, but effective drug.

Caffeine enables students, workers, housewives, and executives the pickup and go they need to get started in the morning, usually after not enough sleep or a stressful work week.

Coffee quickens the pulse, getting the body in a mode to face a new day. If one cup is not enough, by all means, have another! (and another.. lol..)

EUROPEAN COFFEE CULTURE
A big coffee drinking culture evolved from the economic reality that a meal out was simply out of reach. Instead of “let’s do lunch” it became “let’s go have coffee”.

Coffee shop ambiance is very important. Thatis why the coffee on the town square or facing a lovely scenic view will invariably be more expensive since it adds to the experience.

Coffee is not something to gulp down in traffic, hurried and distracted. NOOO. Instead, coffee is savored. It requires sitting in a lovely spot, preferably with a friend or colleague, savored slowly and partaken with tiny, tantalizing sips.

Other Preferences

White sugar? Brown sugar? One or two? These are important matters of consideration. Some coffee drinkers take great pride in having their own special combination.

Cafe Latte

A cafe au lait consists of half brewed coffee, and half warmed milk. It looks like a cappuccino, but it’s not!

POPULAR COFFEE TOPPINGS
What to sprinkle on top of the foamed milk? Here are some favorites:

cinnamon
shaved chocolate
powdered vanilla
nutmeg (sparingly)

Middle Eastern Specialty – Turkish coffee

When you think about the sweet middle eastern pastries like baklava, drinks like Turkish coffee really pair up well with them. Dark as hell and sweet as love, Turkish coffee is brewed up in a tiny, metal pot on the stove. It doesn’t require a filter.

Also known as “cowboy coffee” it is brewed up quickly and simply and will wake you up in a jiffy.

How to Make Turkish Coffee
Brewed in a pot with boiling hot water and plenty of sugar. Once the coffee grounds fall to the bottom, the contents are carefully poured into tiny cups.
The bubbly coffee foam (the “best part”) is individually spooned out to each guest.

My Impressions of American Coffee Culture:
Americans love newfangled, Europeans love the tried and true.

Americans love good old-fashioned watered down coffee, which I honestly don’t care for – but that’s OK – coffee keeps the working world alive and well.

Coffee King Starbucks offers interesting varieties, like pumpkin pie spice and other seasonal favorites. The Christmas blend is nice too. Just like ham with pineapple and brown sugar in a “whatever floats your boat” approach, it would probably not go over here too well.

As an alternative, Mocha coffee is a chocolate hint in the strong brewed coffee combined with milk and preferably, milk foam. Containing more calories than a normal cup of coffee, it can serve as an afternoon boredom breaker at the office when blood sugar level is low. One of the easiest ways to make this is mix half a package of instant cocoa into a freshly brewed cup of coffee, add cold milk and stir so that no lumps are formed from the cocoa.

COFFEE TALK (as Linda Richman says in a thick New York accent on Saturday Night Live)…
Most Americans use a coffee maker like Mr. Coffee. It uses cold water, and with the help of electricity, boils the water and brews it through a coffee filter which sits in the upper compartment. The result is a great brew, but you will need more than one cup. Americans tend to gulp their coffee, dumping what they don’t drink or watering their plants with it (my mother’s plants were always perky!)

Resembling brown water, it is less effective than Turkish coffee or espresso which is much more concentrated. There is a Croatian expression – “Manje ali slađe” – literally, it means “less but sweeter”, but in reality, it means, better a little of something great than a lot of something mediocre.

A FEW PLACES KNOWN FOR GOOD COFFEE

Wellington, New Zealand
Buenos Aires, Argentina
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Paris, France

My House

Sarajevo, Bosnia & Hercegovina
Vienna, Austria
Trieste, Italy

Calorie Tip: For those who drink a lot of milky coffee drinks, consider using Non-Fat or Low-Fat milk. Coffee drinks with high milk fat can add up. A sneaky source of calories, most coffee houses automatically serve whole milk unless you tell them otherwise.

Easier on the Stomach
The short black and Turkish coffee versions are great after a long night or for those who have a pretty strong, ironed clad stomach. Depending on how sensitive the person, a little bit of bread, biscotti or similar can be eaten before the first black coffee – especially when taken first thing in the morning. There are those who have a short black with a cigarette at 6 am, which is too much of a shock for me, at least.

Milk – also known as “Clouds in My Coffee”

You’re so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You’re so vain,
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
Don’t you?
Don’t you?

Oh, you had me several years ago
When I was still naive
Well, you said that we made such a pretty pair
And that you would never leave
But you gave away the things you loved
And one of them was me
I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and

You’re So Vain, by Carly Simon

If you need a little cushion first thing in the morning, there are levels of milk cushioning. The macchiato contains the least amount of milk – just a dab to mark the espresso. It’s great for an afternoon wake-up call, too, especially if you find yourself dozing off at your desk after lunchtime!

The cafe au lait is half warmed milk and half brewed coffee, which is still kind of a lightweight coffee drink. It’s a good choice for an exec that has to meet with clients all day with the obligatory cup of coffee. You won’t get wired on this baby, and because it’s larger, it can be leisurely enjoyed and savored.

Even more milk? Well, the cappuccino uses 2/3 milk BUT the drink is made with dark and strong espresso beans. So technically, it’s practically a tie with the Cafe Au Lait.

The Cappuccino especially lends itself to an optional spice or chocolate topping, adding to the flavor combinations.

1. Short black espresso
   Brew ground espresso in an Italian coffee machine and serve, with or without sugar.
   Good any time of day. It may cause sleeplessness, 4however, and may be limited to daytime only.

2. Coffee with milk – steamed
Brew ground coffee in a similar machine. In a separate pot using a long nozzle, bob the pot up and down to create foam and serve.
Acceptable to drink any time of day, only not immediately after a meal. (Milk after meals is not recommended.)

3. Coffee with milk – cold
Same as the above, simply add cold milk from the carton and gently stir.
This is a good choice in the summer when it is hot, and milk may go bad when reheated more than once in a commercial coffee shop.

4. White Coffee / Cafe Au Lait
Consisting of Brewed coffee with heated milk, at a 50-50% ratio.
Commercial whiteners may be substituted.

5. Macchiato (mak-kee-yah-to)
Consisting of a shot of brewed espresso, it’s “marked” with a teaspoonful of milk foam.
Macchiato means “marked” in Italian.

6. Cappuccino
Prepared in three layers, first is brewed espresso, then latte (warm milk) and finally, milk foam.
The top of the foam can be dusted with cinnamon, chocolate powder, etc.

MILK, LECHE OR LATTE

Allergic to Cow’s Milk? There’s always Soy Milk

Many lactose sensitive or intolerant coffee lovers have turned to the surprisingly tasty substitute of soy milk. Some types of soy milk are even flavored – vanilla, chocolate, and low-fat varieties, so have a ball. In Europe, soy milk is usually a bit higher (latest – 2€) but in the US the prices are much more reasonable. Best of all, it foams up like a dream!.

(Health Note: It is said that Soy Milk is great for women going through the change of life,  i.e. menopause.)

Rice Milk

The South American and Mexican cultures are long familiar with rice milk. I have never used it but it could probably be a delicious milk substitute to dilute your cup of Joe with.

Other Milk Substitutes

My mother used to use Mocha Mix – that is the only other one that comes to mind (except for dry powders like Coffee Mate).

You can try “Oatmeal Milk”!

It’s not bad! Moistened oats produce a type of milk when soaked overnight in water. You then use a strainer or cheesecloth to squeeze out the milk product from the oats.

That’s it!

I hope you enjoyed this article!  Be sure to leave a comment and if you like, follow me on social media! I am most active on Instagram.

CROATIAN LANGUAGE Bonus:

In Croatian simply say “Jesi za kavu?” (are you for coffee) or “Hoćemo ići na kavu?” (shall we go to coffee) and you will immediately meet new friends!

Three cheers for Crowdfire! It’s been great for better time management, thus saving my sanity and second, for helping me to grow my following.

Full disclosure: I was paid $20 to write a Crowdfire review post – but I never endorse anything unless I really love it. By the way, if you don’t have time to read this now, you can save it for later on Pinterest

So Hello, my dearest readers!

You know, I rarely do this – but I do believe that ap’s can make a person’s life easier. Whoever said “There’s an app for that!” was right. I had never heard of Crowdfire until my friend told me; her husband is a Belgian artist (imagine Van Gogh) and uses it to promote his artwork. As he is a very quiet person – shall we say a non-sociable user of social media, I figured it must be very efficient since I can imagine he hates spending time on social media.

I do happen to like it, but it can be a huge time suck.

So, first things first. Is Crowdfire free?  Yes, it is! Crowdfire paid plans are available, from Plus to VIP, but I will get to that later on.

Being online, I knew I would have to share my posts, and until recently, I was quite confused about social media posting, sharing, and hashtags; I admit that I still am, but there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Things are beginning to (finally) click, no pun intended.

HENCE – MY CROWDFIRE REVIEW

Crowdfire, a relatively new application, has finally given me some sanity in regards to sharing my posts. How?

It’s free – and it’s easy. I load up a post, and it posts for me three times over the next few days at a “best time”.  It has simplified my approach to online posting and sharing.

Second, it notifies me when I need to post. I open the iphone ap, choose one of my blog posts, someone else’s article (there is a feed for related topics) or create something new with an original photo. Add hashtags.

STEP BY STEP

Set up include authorizing access to my social media accounts. There are many that I don’t use yet, and I get to pick and choose what gets posted where.

Does Crowdfire work? Well, for me it has. In one month, my Instagram followers have doubled and my likes have tripled.The results? Well, my amerikanka_in_croatia following on Instagram doubled in one month. So – I mostly attribute Crowdfire for that.

Being an online presence, it’s really necessary to promote what you are putting out there. Otherwise, who will read it? I feel I have a message to share, so naturally, I needed help in getting the word out.

NEW BLOGGER SYNDROME

There is a word that many new bloggers know all too well, and that word is Overwhelm. That doesn’t mean I don’t think blogging isn’t worth it – au contraire! It is fun, but a little like learning how to drive a tractor with a stick shift in a muddy pond. You need another pair of eyes, ears, etc. because there are things to master that you never even heard of. (SEO? Hashtags? Reach? Engagement? Social networks? ay, yi yi….)

Throwback – if you were around in the 1980s people used to say, “We should have a kid so that he/she can teach us how to program the VCR”. (VCRs were the forerunners of DVD players, and you could record a movie on TV or HBO and watch it the next day and fast forward through commercials.) If it wasn’t for my 13-year-old daughter Jelena, I would never have probably heard about Instagram until 2029.

THANK YOU CROWDFIRE

For those of you who follow me, I don’t go on and on about things unless I really like them. Well, I do like Crowdfire – it has been a timesaver and a lifesaver.

Since I decided that Crowdfire was worth it, I just upgraded to a paid plan, which includes RSS and Pinterest, which is really the biggest game player as a very powerful search engine and second most powerful arena just edging up behind Facebook.

I either use another related post or write my own composition, using a photo for example. For those who want to extend their reach, it’s good to add hashtags in the description. In my case, those are #croatianblogger or #travelbug and #croatiafullofnature as an example.

WHAT I LIKE – EFFICIENCY

I can post to all of these accounts practically simultaneously, adding to my queue for the next few days. I can decide how many times a day it will post to Twitter, for example. I also like that Crowdfire figures out the best time for my social media feed activity. I really like that.

True confessions: Until last month, I hadn’t posted to LinkedIn since 2012, it seems.

NOTE:

Twitter has a smaller window, so you may need to manually adjust the number of hashtags in your comments for it to fit. I use copy/paste to use the same hashtags of choice for whatever post I am adding to my queue.

DIFFERENT POSTS FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS

I can pick and choose which venues will receive my post (i.e. more newsy pieces – like air travel deals, for example, would be posted on Twitter and Linked in, and maybe Facebook). Social media friendly photos would definitely go on Instagram and Facebook, or all of the above.

Other forums which Crowdfire will post to include Tumblr, Wix, Vimeo, and I should probably sign up/activate so I can widen my reach. Just sayin’.

A PREVIEW /  HISTORY OF POSTS

I like that I can see which posts are coming up (“Scheduled”) and which posts have already been Published.

If for whatever reason I don’t like a scheduled post for that day, I can either adjust it or delete it. It’s almost like having my own personal robot or VA. I did buy a Roomba last year (which I would gladly also review) and it totally changed my life with the two dogs and two teenagers, so Crowdfire is fulfilling a similar function for me in the virtual world.

OTHER SCHEDULING APPS

In all honesty, I still use Tailwind Tribes (though I feel I haven’t quite gotten the hang of it yet). Either my brain cells are slacking off a bit or it’s a little too much for me. I will keep at it though.

Pinterest – same story. I expect I will learn how to make ads in Canva and all that in the next few weeks. I treat the world of blogging and establishing an online presence (or “brand”) a little like a college course, some of this is best learned in layers.

OTHER APPS I USE AND RECOMMEND:

I use My Fitness Pal to count calories and carbohydrate grams (in the Macros section). It’s convenient for those on a Keto diet with a small percentage of carbs (it shows up as a pie chart so you can easily eyeball it whether you are in range or not).

I also like STEPZ which magically counts the number of steps you take in a day and calculates how many calories burned. It’s only for the iPhone so far. Needless to say, wherever I go, my iPhone is in my pocket. It works if you carry it in your purse, as well or backpack. The only thing I noticed, it can’t tell the difference between walking and bike riding.

I also love my XE currency exchange ap for getting a comparable rate for translation projects.

I downloaded Evernote, which everyone is raving about, but haven’t taken the time to learn how to use it yet. Amy Lynn Andrews raves about it, and I follow her Knowtbook and Uselettern full of handy technical tips and reviews.

Thanks to my iPhone, my life as an entrepreneur is becoming more manageable.

I really hope you enjoyed my Crowdfire review! Tell me below if you have ever heard of it or would consider using it.

WORDS OF THE DAY:

There’s no more silicon in Silicon Valley. It’s all iPhone apps.

Mary Lou Jepsen

Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/iphone

Be sure to leave a comment and if you like, follow me on social media! I am most active on Instagram.

Here are my links: Facebook  + Pinterest and Instagram!

See you online!

Anastasia

amerikanka in croatia

Hello Springtime! In Croatian the expression Pozdrav means greetings.  So – to say it in our language it is Pozdrav Proljece! (Prol-yech-cha). It’s as if Spring is an actual person we greet upon his/her arrival!  One of Spring’s great gifts is wild asparagus, with its many asparagus benefits. Today I want to talk about some of the best ways to cook fresh asparagus.  By the way, if you don’t have time to read this now, save it to Pinterest and read it later: Pinterest

This blog contains affiliate as well as informational links. If you click, I may receive a bonus at no cost to you.

When we talk about asparagus, most people are only familiar with the fatter stalks of the domesticated versions, but this wild asparagus produces tinier, thinner and very green stalks, almost bursting with goodness. Besides having an enjoyable walk or hike in nature, there are also many asparagus benefits to improve your health and the health of your family members.

Advice:  Be sure to wear sunscreen and bring a water bottle 🙂 I carry the first bunch of asparagus in my left hand as kind of a trophy, but once I find more, they go in a plastic bag with the flowery tip on one end and the strong base on the other. You can actually keep them in the refrigerator for a long period of time (about a week) if you like.

Note: If you happen to be in Croatia in April, and see people (men, women and teens) on the side of the road holding up a bunch of something in their hand, raised out to the passing drivers, it is very likely fresh asparagus. If I don’t have time to go pick my own, I try to buy it from the older people since they are usually living on a very limited pension and every little bit helps.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS

The bright-green veggie is packed with good-for-you vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, as well as folate, iron, copper, calcium, protein, and fiber. Thanks to all these nutrients, asparagus offers some serious health perks.

It’s also good for your urinary tract, and like the artichoke (which will appear in May), it has the health benefit of detoxifying one’s system. Alcohol and fatty foods from winter need to be flushed out.

Asparagus benefits include “manly” things, and many men look for this wonderful vegetable. There is no waste, because asparagus we don’t eat because it is either too tough or woody, is cooked in water to make a really healthy tea.

THE ELUSIVE FRESH ASPARAGUS

Shadows and light in early spring will turn you into a first-class detective.

Some are towering above a bush of some other unrelated plant (like “how did you get here?”) or below a shrub or bush.

That being said, in order to cook asparagus, you will first need to find them. That is part of the fun of it 🙂 A little healthy competition never hurt anyone. Go with a friend and see who finds more, first.

The asparagus plant is a vine, so think telephone line. It can start over here and end up over there. The best clue is to seek out the long spindly shape of the asparagus. The second best clue is to look for asparagus leaves because, where there is smoke there is fire, and where there are leaves asparagus can’t be far.

Another thing I have learned. If you find one, look for another! Sometimes his twin brother is just behind – so look twice.

Asparagus vines and asparaguses themselves turn into the bush – so it’s now or never.

ASPARAGUS PHILOSOPHY

Just like the Lotus blossom which emerges from the dirty, muddy pond, (and not a hotel swimming pool) I often find asparagus in a grassy mess, aka chaos. There must be a message in there somewhere…

WHEN TO FIND THEM

I’ve been told by a Croatian woman (native) that the best time to find them is in the early morning and around 5 pm when the day is starting to turn into dewiness.  Just to show you that it can be done, I made a small video. It’s my first ever blog video, so I hope you enjoy it.

Hollwood, here I come.. 😀

….and now for the 6 ASPARAGUS RECIPES

The asparagus benefits are greatest when eaten raw, so don’t forget to add them to a plate of raw vegetables for dipping.

Raw veggies are best, healthiest and  most nutritious, but if you like to eat them cooked, and I have looked around, here are the best ways to cook asparagus:

1. ASPARAGUS SALAD

2. SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH ASPARAGUS

3. ASPARAGUS SAUTEED

4.ASPARAGUS – BOILED AND THEN GRILLED

5.ASPARAGUS RISOTTO

6.ASPARAGUS SOUP

ASPARAGUS – BOILED – this is the basis for many dishes

Preparation: Rinse them gently in the water. From the bottom up, roll up the asparagus until it snaps. This breakage point is where the tough part of the asparagus meets the tender part. Place the tough part into another container; it will be used to make tea.

The tender top sections need to be boiled in salted water, I add garlic, and boil about 1/2 hour till asparagus stalks are softened. You may want to halve the stalks lengthwise to speed up the cooking process. Plenty of water to cover is essential so they keep their light green appearance. Discoloration is caused by oxidation.

1. ASPARAGUS SALAD

Place the cooked stalks in a shallow bowl and mix with salt, pepper, olive oil and vinegar, gently so as not to break the tops, and then arrange in a plate with sliced hard boiled eggs for a garnish. I also add capers if I have them 🙂 Very nice for guests or family members, anytime but particularly Sunday lunch.

2.  SCRAMBLED EGGS

After boiling (see above), I use scissors to cut them up into bite-sized (i.e. fork sized) pieces. Do not season, simply set them on the side.

I often sautee mushrooms, then add the asparagus sauteed together to make a wonderful base for omelets. You can make asparagus in a blanket (with the scrambled eggs enclosing them).

Another way is to use some of the asparagus broth and mix it with the scrambled eggs mixture then add asparagus pieces inside the omelet, along with a few slices of provolone or Emmenthaler cheese. Sliced tomatoes are a nice side, along with a dollop of Genovese sauce.

If you eat meat, add bacon or ham on the side for a really luxurious eclectic cultural feast.

3. ASPARAGUS SAUTEED

This is another tasty way to go. I love them just as much, but avoid excess oil, try it – you may love it!!

4. ASPARAGUS – BOILED AND THEN GRILLED

This is a nice variation if you are planning to serve them with grilled fish.

5. ASPARAGUS RIŽOTO –  Instead of chicken or meat, substitute minced up baby asparagus tips for a yummy vegetarian risotto with cream and parmesan cheese grated on top.

6. ASPARAGUS SOUP – MMM – MMM- GOOD… You need to saute the middle part of the asparagus until it becomes a paste, then smash and add a bit of butter and flour to make a roux. I also add the green Genovese sauce and a fingertip of tomato paste, then half and half. Reserve the tops to be added at the last moment of cooking, it is lovely and delicious.

CONCLUSION:

It’s great weather now, so even if you need a sweater, go out and inhale some of those wonderful natural fragrances in the air.

WORDS OF THE DAY:

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
Maria Robinson

Spring is a great time to make that brilliant new ending!

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More reading:

Mediterranean Fruits and Vegetables

Spring is coming – but the weather is doing the cha-cha, one step forward, one step back! Have you seen the wildflowers along the highway?  I don’t know about you, but when I see wildflowers along the highway, I feel as if I am coming out of a long, dark tunnel.

Early Spring 2018

That being said, Winter has its place here. It’s time to regroup, recharge, and reformulate. It’s a good time to sit by the fire, eat basic foods like beans and brown rice, have a conversation with loved ones, and bond.  But the Promise of Spring is something like an explosion of new life – it’s such a drastic contrast compared to (our gorgeous Croatian) winter. Nature is practically shouting – respect beauty, nature and life! Come outside – and enjoy!   To which I say, “ok!”

THINGS TO DO IN CROATIA IN SPRINGTIME

Early Spring means – dress in layers. It’s hot at mid-day, with breezes, and chilly at night.

There is a hike being planned on April 8. The 3-hour walk is suitable for anyone without any major disabilities, offering stupendous views of Lake Vrana, the peninsula between the Lake and Sea – and – far into the distance, the Kornati Islands. Unbelievable! This will take place the weekend after Easter and I plan to go.

Anyone who visits here knows that it is unthinkable to not bring a camera. We bought a fancy one during Black Friday, but overall, I use my iPhone with great results. Plus, it is so handy to carry and use…

So, if you are in the area and want more details on the hike, click here:  HIKE

THING TO DO IN  BIOGRAD

There are always things to do in Biograd, Croatia, particularly if you like to move.

Many bicyclists from our colder neighbors to the north have already arrived, zipping around in their super-light bicycles, biking apparel and helmets. One group traveling on the Coastal highway #8 was being followed by a minibus from the Czech Republic.  Many times, we don’t realize what we’ve got right under our noses, then see how people travel hundreds of miles to be right here.

NATIONAL PARKS

This area is home to many of Croatia’s 8 national parks. I prefer Spring due to the full rush of water thanks to all the melted snow.

Within 100 km you can easily visit Paklenica, Krka, Plitvica, Lake Vrana, and the Kornati Islands. All are under state and UNESCO protection as national treasures.

OVERVIEW OF 8 NATIONAL PARKS

Here is a link explaining the eight parks: CROATIAN NATIONAL PARKS

PLITVICA NATIONAL PARK This is the big daddy of them all, though you will need plenty of time to explore the many trails, boat ride and more. Most visitors who come to Plitvica plan to spend the night at any one of the hotel or BnB’s in the area, and believe me, you will work up an appetite, so those offering an all you can eat buffet are well worth it.

KRK NATIONAL PARK For those with limited time, you can try to see Krka instead, which is kind of a mini-Plitvica and also quite breathtaking. The entire excursion (depending on whether you opt to have lunch in the ancient town islet of Skradin) should take you no more than six hours. Well worth it!

WINE TASTING TOURS

We have some ideas in progress – from the coast to the inland vineyards, with plenty of interesting scenery along the way. More to be discussed in future blog posts!

ADVICE FOR TRAVELERS / GROUPS and FAMILIES

Though many people think of Croatia as “the place” to visit in Summer – yes it is for those who love the beach and hanging out at night – if you really want to explore the ancient cities, hike around and check out the true beauty of Croatia, the best time to visit is Spring and Autumn.

Take my advice – I am a licensed professional tour guide here, with loads of experience!

From Easter to June is an ideal time to come, plus you avoid the big crowds.

**** YEAH – and now for the RECIPE Section —

Sharing with you some of my favorite SPRINGTIME RECIPES 🙂

Seems we are all eating a bit lighter now, and – here is a Springtime favorite, Vegetarian Cheese Pie!

It goes extra well with a nice serving of Homemade Tomato soup – it is much easier than you might imagine!

Hope you are feeling a new energy that Spring brings!

All the best!

Dear Readers! <3 <3 <3

Dear Expats! Dear wanna-be expats! Dear Friends! Dear Lovers of Croatia!

Dear Wanna be Visitors of Croatia,

If you ever dreamed of visiting Croatia, there are some cheap flights now that you need to know about.

Norwegian: LA – London one way $189 click

here:

If you don’t have time to read this now, save it on Pinterest:  Here

CHEAP FLIGHTS NOW FOR SPRING TRAVELLERS (limited availability)

OPTION 1 – Europe then Croatia

Visit Croatia in two hops.  Ryan Air is having the sale of a lifetime. 15€ tickets to Croatia are possible if you travel in the early Spring, first come first served.   I would suggest a trans-Atlantic flight with any of the long-haul carriers, and I know that Ryan air has connections in Belgium, France, Germany, the UK and Sweden, so if you wanted to come to Croatia in two steps, you could (for example) spend two nights in Frankfurt and then hop over to any of the places where Ryan Air flies to here in Croatia.

At this time, Ryanair flies into four Croatian cities.

They are:

1. Rijeka (Hungarian  influence, architecture, an intellectual city, Trsat castle with panoramic view, seaport), 2. Zadar (a walled city, with Sea organ, Greek influence, archeology, Romanesque (9th and 10th century) churches, Roman ruins – all on a lovely peninsula), 3. Pula (Roman arena, on the sea – once home to Austro-Hungarian naval fleet), and the latest – 4. Osijek (a new destination, in the Croatian heartland).

**OR **

OPTION 2 – Direct to Croatia

For long haul air carriers, I personally reccommend Norwegian Shuttle – I flew with them in 2016 and I was highly impressed.

The link above on Norwegian Shuttle page has the Low Price Calendar. Yes – Zagreb to LA is only $290 – but only on March 16, so when you book, choose travel dates wisely!

(I chose the option of Zagreb – Los Angeles, only because Zagreb has flights year round (others destinations in Croatia begin in summer) – check others – I am not sure about Dubrovnik, so use the link.   I highly recommend the Low Price calendar. It may shave hundreds of dollars off your air ticket.

WEATHER RIGHT NOW

Croatian weather is more or less a lot like California. Not everyday is hot, but we mostly have sun.

Weather link. 

You may need a lightweight coat, if you want to drink coffee and sit outdoors, but that is about it.

Not every business is open, but things are just starting to pick up right now.

BIOGRAD FUN PARK / nee MIRNOVEC

I heard that the amusement park in Biograd will open its doors opens on April 6th – Link here (in English).

It’s former name is Mirnovec, tons of photos can be found on Instagram: #mirnovec

Basically, the season  has started to awaken from its semi-hibernation as we are approaching Easter (April 1 this year), seasonal business is begining to resume and eventually click into high gear for the summer.

DREAMS CAN COME TRUE

So, if you ever dreamed of visiting Croatia but money was an issue, or getting time off work during summer, it’s not impossible. You can probably get a discount on accommodations at this time of year as well.

The locals on VIS were ecstatic to meet (ex-James Bond) Pierce Brosnan and his lovely, full figured wife, Keeley Shay Smith, who combined the filming of MAMMA MIA II “Here we go again!” with an idyllic summer vacation. Click here for the story in English.

BUT –

IN 1981, YUGOSLAVIA CAME TO ME!

In those days, the closest thing I came to visiting Croatia was when I worked as a waitress at the Denny’s Restaurant in front of Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. I saw a couple, decidedly European, toasting one another with a glass of red wine. The words “comerade” did not come out of their mouths, but it was plain, as Croatia was part of the six-country conglomeration known as Yugoslavia (jug means south, so southern Slav republic) that these people were good communist employees who somehow managed to take the dream vacation of a lifetime.

Sasha and Olga (let’s call them) were exuberant and I couldn’t help but ask them “How hard is it to come to the US?” They confirmed it was a small miracle to be here. I felt somehow a bit closer to my roots, and figured if they could home here with such highly restricted travel, then so could I, with my modest student income. In my heart I decided then and there “I WILL GO!”

YEARS LATER…

That day finally came, after finishing university and after working for a few years in Finance. It was in the late 1990s, after the war ended and Croatia was now an independent Republic for the first time  in over 1000 years. My Croatian cousins (we called them “the Yugoslavians” until they corrected us – whoops) came to visit the US for our cousin’s wedding.

Anyway, I realized that I had a place to stay, and it was all up to me to get my affairs in order to take time off work. I started to think about actually buying a ticket.

However – TICKET PRICES are 50% LESS than they were in  in 1999

By the time I was ready, a year had passed.  I really wanted to go there free of any obligations because I wasn’t sure how long I would end up staying. So I worked overtime, got debt free and saved as much money as possible.

The best price I could find for air travel back then ranged from 1200-1500 USD.  Not bad – but as you can see in the link above, it’s possible to fly from LA to Zagreb for half that price $290 with Norwegian.

************************************************************************

Another Suggestion: Check out flights from the USA (or anywhere for that matter) to Rome.

Connecting from Rome: There is the sea between us and Italy, but there at least two ways to go – 1. train from Rome to Ancona, then ferry from Ancona to Zadar (less frequent) or Split (more frequent).

Or, if you prefer the land route,2. take the train from Rome to Trieste, then a bus from Trieste to Zagreb (where there are hundreds of options).

Train then bus to Dalmatia: Train from Rome to Triest, then, here is also a break-your-hiney bus trip from Trieste to Split, I think it lasts six or seven hours, and takes you to Dalmatia in the wee hours of the morning, I took it once, and there are a few rest stops, you can stretch your legs and it was OK.

Tip: It’s good to go the opposite way too – from 9 pm-ish from Split to early morning in Trieste the next day. For more details, contact the Split Bus Station (Autobus Kolodvor): Link presented in English: Here

MONEY in CROATIA – the CROATIAN KUNA

XE Currency Converter  (there is free Ap for smartphones)

Exchange rate link: XE

At the moment, the US dollar – $1 = (around) 6 kunas, while the

EURO – 1€ = (around) 7,5 kunas

These are the main currencies we use here, but more than 90% of transactions use the kuna.

Yes we have this weird little guy on our coins, and he is called the Kuna. He is like a flying squirrel 🙂

Imagine the super soft mink fur – needless to say he is practically extinct. In medieval times, kuna pelts were exchanged for other things (for example, “I’ll give you a five hundred kuna (pelts) for your horse”). Croats have also been known to say “kunas have legs!” meaning that the money tends to run from your fingers .. OK we all know how that can be 🙂

KUNAS ON OUR FLAG

If you look closely on the Croatian flag you may be able to see the kuna. He is running (of course) in the part of the crown in the far right of the “crown”. There are two white lines toward the bottom, those are the rivers of Međimure in the area between the Croatian and Hungarian border. Međimure is particularly fertile, and much of Croatia’s good food is harvested there. In the middle of the two white lines you can see the kuna.

INSIDER TIP from Anastasia

If you’re into biking, bird watching or just like to avoid the crowds, now is a great time to come. You can  also save money on accommodations since it is still the offseason.

RECIPE:

Spring time can be particularly interesting around Easter. There are processions on Palm Sunday, which is exactly one week before Easter, the blessing of the bread by the Parish priest, and more. Easter itself is a major Catholic / Croatian cultural holiday.

EASTER BREAD RECIPE

Even if you don’t come to Croatia right now, you can do the next best thing and make some delicious Easter Bread!

The Easter bread, known as SIRNICA is delicious and easy to make. Here is a link to a recipe that I use every Spring. I eat it fresh, and freeze the rest. You can warm it up in the oven when guests come. It also makes a wonderful, citrusy and rum/vanilla flavored toast – excellent with a good cup of coffee!

Here is the Link – it’s a family favorite: Sirnica

This, along with other genuine Dalmatian recipes that I use myself, have been compiled into a mini cookbook, which I am providing as a gift to new subscribers to my blog. So if you haven’t done so already, add your email, confirm, and I will send you the free downloadable recipe book.

IF YOU CAN’T TRAVEL NOW:

Another good time to visit is in September, but the prices are usually higher than they are right now.

Iwant to hear from you..yes, you… and – SOCIAL MEDIA

==>  What would you like to hear more about? Tell me in the comments below.

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CROATIAN VOCABULARY

So, DO VIĐENJA (dough-vid-jen-ya) (see you later!) from the Amerikanka in Croatia! Hugs!

Don’t be shy! grab the recipe book! It won’t be around forever!