Along the Adriatic coast — The Coastal Promenade
Episode 2
✍️ Shariq Ali
Valueversity
He seemed to be around twenty-five — a fair-skinned young man with distinct Yugoslav features. His name was Mario. He was the manager of the house we had booked through Airbnb and was already waiting for us at the door, keys in hand. With a warm smile, he welcomed us in, opened the door, and helped us with our luggage.
The house turned out to be more spacious than we’d expected — three well-sized bedrooms, a large living room equipped with Netflix and other TV facilities, and above all, a balcony that became the highlight of our stay.
Though not perched atop a hill, the house stood at a considerable height. Sitting on the balcony chairs, tea cup in hand, one could soak in the sights of surrounding hills, lush green trees below, and the far-stretching coastline. It felt as though nature had spread out a vast canvas of colors before us.
This small southern European country — Croatia — is a captivating blend of blue seas, green islands, and rocky mountains. It’s as if nature herself composed a visual poem out of light and color.
Croatia also takes pride in its ancient written tradition. Its early Glagolitic script is considered the first written system among Slavic nations.
After settling our luggage in our chosen bedrooms, we inspected the kitchen, fridge, and other amenities, while Mario briefed us on the house arrangements. Once he left, our next mission was to head down and find a nice seaside restaurant for lunch.
Between the house and the shore lay dozens of descending steps — steep pathways lined with colorful flowers, decorative shrubs, and tall trees. Walking up and down that path was in itself a refreshing and memorable experience.
Our accommodation was in a modern seaside town, popular among tourists and equipped with all contemporary facilities. The distance from the house to the sea was roughly the same as that between Karachi’s Sea View apartments and the shoreline — though the resemblance ended right there!
At the bottom of the steps, we found ourselves on a lively promenade — a wide pedestrian path connecting the bustling town area to the beach. No cars, no motorbikes, no honking traffic — just the rhythmic sound of footsteps and chatter.
The long stretch was filled with tourists from different countries, mostly fair-skinned Europeans, strolling in their colorful beachwear and speaking in a symphony of accents.
At one end, the blue sea sparkled under the sun, its waves gently kissing the sand and retreating. On the other side, closer to the city, rows of shops and cafés lined the promenade — souvenir stalls, ice cream parlors crowded with children, small stores selling keepsakes, and booths offering water sports. Alongside fast-food chains were traditional restaurants, their glass walls open to the sea breeze, bamboo chairs occupied by diners enjoying their meals in the soft sunlight. The whole scene shimmered with the cheerful energy of a festival.
After a bit of searching, we found a restaurant that also served halal chicken. We chose a cozy corner and opened the menu — the traditional dishes immediately caught our attention:
Ćevapi — small grilled rolls of minced meat served with bread.
Peka — beef or chicken slow-cooked under a heavy iron lid covered with hot coals.
Being a coastal city, seafood dominated the menu — especially the famous Black Risotto, made with cuttlefish ink, renowned for its unique color and flavor.
We, however, opted for chicken and vegetarian dishes. The spicy South Asian flavors we were accustomed to were absent, but prioritizing nutrition over nostalgia, we made peace with the milder fare — and the meal turned out quite enjoyable.
— To be continued…