Gradoc 2010

Gradoc itself is nothing special, but it’s a good place to stop on the road to Dobrovnik. We ate at Restoran Marinero No.1 under an outside awning right on the beach. They had free wifi, quite unusual in this part of the world, and it was fast and stable (another oddity).

My husband ordered a spicy ground beef patty stuffed with cheese and ham (a typical Balkan main dish), and I ordered the chicken with gorgonzola sauce. Both were generous portions, well prepared and with fries. My husband asked for the fries to be cooked crisp and the results were pleasing. A good lunch for 157 kuna before tip (this included a beer, a coke, and 5 kuna charge for mayonnaise which my husband requires for crisp fries). The waiter was friendly and helpful although his English was limited.

A Quick Stop in Bosnia-Hezegovina

One of several restaurants along the coastal road in Neum.  This restaurant is popular with buses.  In addition to the restaurant (which has a great view), it has large bathrooms and a grocery store under the restaurant.

Neum is Bosnia-Herzegovina’s attempt at tourism, briefly interrupting the Croatian coast. We’d heard the prices were lower than in Croatia, and we looked in two grocery-type stores, a clothing/souvenir shop, and a restaurant. The prices seemed to be slightly cheaper than Croatia, but nothing worth traveling to obtain. Gas prices appeared to be identical, and the selection of available merchandise was very limited considering how much tourist traffic drives through the area. 

We drove down by the water where most Croatian villages have a promenade and beach and we found neither. In fact, we got the feel that it was off season in Neum because most of the hotels and restaurants looked empty. There are new buildings and active construction, but Neum gives the impression that Bosnia has not recovered from Communism at the same rate as the rest of the Croatian coast. Businesses accept kuna, the Bosnian mark, and Euros, but don’t go out of your way to stop unless you want to say you have set foot in Bosnia!

for more information on Neum and the history behind this coastal strip of Bosnia, see the 2009 post on the  Makarska Riviera.

How Do You Like Your Eggs?

We were amused by this menu…notice the final entry. You will find that most menus are in Croatian, German, Italian and English.