Author Archives: jmatie22

Croatia / Bosnia – Vodice / Dubrovnik Day 13

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We left our hotel in Vodice around 10:30am and headed to Dubrovnik Airport (to drop off our rental car)

Really the only areas of interest along the way during the drive was the gas station stopped (to get some supplies, refuel, and throw things away), and crossing Bosnia. (Also the trip did affirm that Croatia’s highway system is pretty modern, but with a lot of tolls (the inner city roads however are a different story, since they are all small and tight).

Crossing Bosnia was really easy (we gave them our passport, and they didn’t even look at all 3 or scan them). It was a 9 minute drive to Bosnia, so super short. Going back to Croatia, they did check and scan all our passports.

After the border, it was about an hour till the airport. At the airport, when returning of our rental car to XL rental cars, we did have a bit of bad luck (guess because was Friday the 13th). There was two slight scratches on the hood of the car, which cost $400 USD (we really don’t know how they got there). Hopefully Chase Sapphire reserve will be able to cover it.

We then took an Uber to our AirBnb (what had crossed our minds is to take a ferry from a close city called Cavtat to Dubvrovnik, but decided against it since the port is far from the AirBnb).

We got to our Airbnb in 20 minutes, and then got some food at a place our host recommended called Belvedere. Details can be found here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/15/belvedere/

After dinner, got to the AirBnb, and I actually booked a separate hotel (for logistical reasons). Booked Arch B&B (super close to the AirBnb), but they then moved my reservation to Studenski Dom (a really awesome new dorm). It was great, from the newness, to no mosquitos, to the free breakfast. The only thing I did have to do is ask them to allow me to have the AC be able to set at a lower temperature (lowest was initially locked to 28 degrees Celsius!).

I did ask the receptionist at the AirBnb what club he recommends to go to. He said Revelin. I looked it up, and I was convinced (they do bring in famous DJs like Tiesto, and the website said it was in a castle).

Revelin is in the old town (which makes sense since it’s on/in a castle). The Uber ride was 12 minutes. The DJ did not disappoint (some refreshing progressive house and deep house). Great way to end the night.

Croatia – Plitvice Lakes / Vodice Day – 12

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We woke up at 8:30am to get to the Plitvice Lakes park entrance for 9pm (got there at 9:30ish). There are two entrance (we went to entrance 1 as it was closer to our AirBnb). It’s suggested to get tickets ahead of time online (the ticket line was really long).

We decided to do the “hardest” advertised hike (Hike K). All trails advertises it as moderate. Note that you have cell reception throughout the park so you can use All Trails pretty easily).

The park itself is really well maintained (lots of wooden and stone paved trails). As well as lots of places to get food, coffee, ice cream and restrooms. (Although we ended up packing everything for a traditional hikes like wraps, water, beef jerky, etc).

During the hike, we did end up going a bit off the K trail into a harder (less scenic route) called ST1. But we got back on it (the ST1 is more intense but less scenic).

The hike has a bunch of different sized waterfalls, as well as intermittent streams (difference between intermittent and active is that intermittent only happens some times during the year).

The large waterfall that is the most famous at Plitvice lakes is called Veliki Slap (literally means Large Waterfall.

As a side note, there is one part of the hike you have to use a boat (which is provided) to cross the lake.

It took us about 4.5 hours to complete the hike. Here is the Strava link: https://strava.app.link/76shb33JGib

After the hike, we went to the pharmacy to get some supplies.

Because of some unforeseen circumstances, we then decided to go to Vodice and get a hotel. (We stopped by Zadar Airport so I could get my official COVID test for the states). We got to Vodice around 9pm.

To end the night, we got got food at Konoba Porat. Details can be found here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/13/konoba-porat/

Some notes about Vodice is that it’s mainly a beach town, and seems quite “residential”. Definitely a different feel from Split, Hvar and Plitvice Lakes.

Croatia – Tisno / Zadar / Plitvice Lakes Day 11

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Started the day by checking out of our mobile apartment at The Garden Resort, and then caught an Uber (after multiple attempts). The cost was 600 Kuna, so not terrible. Next time I would either have the front desk reserve a taxi, or go to Tisnotaxi.com and reserve it there (price is about the same as an Uber).

After getting to Zadar, we ate lunch at a place called Eat Me (it took a while to find a restaurant. Most of the “eating” places we found were cafes that only served drinks. Details about the restaurant can be found here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/11/eat-me/

After eating, we went to the west part of Zadar to check out the Sea Organ and the Sun Salutation. The Sea Organ sounded interesting (ie. notes were a bit random), and the Sun Salutation is supposed to be over Ed during sunset or sunrise.

We also passed by St Anastasia’s Cathedral, which looked in a bit of rough shape since it was bombed in World War II.

We then picked up our rental car from XL rent a car (found through Priceline). Cost of the rental car is $550.

It took about 2 hours to get to Plitvice Lakes. Gotta say the road infrastructure all seems very modern (like the tunnels, which unfortunately I didn’t take a pic).

We had a bit of trouble finding our AirBnB at first (first time Google Maps failed us in this trip… but still wayyy better than Apple Maps in Croatia).

For dinner, since the line up was long at a restaurant we wanted to check out, we went to a local grocery store called Market Ivka and bought ingredients for wraps (salami, ham, prosciutto, wrap bread, Mayo, and lettuce).

Also did laundry in the evening. The wash cycle is pretty king (it’s 2 hrs!). The dryer “Gentle Care” setting is 50 minutes, but unfortunately didn’t fully dry my clothes.

Croatia – Tisno Day 10 (Defected Day 6)

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Last day of the Defected Croatia festival!

Started the day (pretty late) by going to brunch at a restaurant Milly recommended called Bona Fide. Details can be found here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/10/bona-fide/

After, spent time packing up our place (so we could maximize sleep for check out the next day).

Then we headed out for the last party with Gorgon City (and Eats Everything). Gorgon City played the two songs I wanted (Dreams and You’ve Done Enough). Eats everything did play a song called Get Get Down which is now stuck in my head).

After the boat party, grabbed food. Got the poke bowl and the spring rolls. Probably would not get either of them again. We then chilled at our place to drink (the girls we met, Kaz and Aphrodite) brought champagne over.

Afterwards, we headed to the main stage to see Riva Starr and Inner City (can’t say I was thrilled by either). Then headed to the beach stage to catch Horse Meat Disco. Actually thought he was ok (and as his name implies, he played disco house).

Then headed back to the main stage to see Gorgon City. Definitely liked their set better at the main stage (since they didn’t go B2B with Eats Everything). Eats Everything played next, and set was similar to the boat party.

After, there was a B2B2B2B set with most of the DJs (it was pretty cool to see all of them stage). We saw Gorgon City, Eats Everything, Simon Dunmore, and Sam Divine go back to back (there were more, but wanted to head to bed a bit early for the next day). Great way to end the festival.

PS. Gorgon City posted on Twitter that they think Defected Croatia is the best festival.

Croatia – Tisno Day 9 (Defected Day 5)

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Started off the day by getting brunch at Carmen’s (yea, it’s a great restaurant). Apparently the dog at the restaurant is not Carmen (its actually named after the grandmother, Carmella). Details can be found here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/09/loca-villa/

After, made our way back to our tent. We talked to the guys in charge of the tent and mobile apartments, and they said they had a mobile apartment available for the last two days of the festival for 200 euros. We obviously took it (and yea, it was fully air conditioned :)).

We then headed to the beach behind the beach stage. Didn’t get into the water, but thought it was chill (although didn’t really dig the set).

After, took a nap in our new mobile apartment (which they called it a “hostel style” sleeping arrangement).

After, chilled in the patio of our apartment, drinking wine, and ate dinner (got the Smokey burger again). We also met up with our American friends, and took some poloroid photos.

Around 9pm, headed to the beach stage and checked out Lovebirds. Totally digged his set and songs he produced (it’s like a deeper disco sound).

After, headed to the main stage and saw Carl Craig, Honey Dijon and Luke Solomon. Really liked Carl Craig (he played a good range of house music, except progressive. He played deep house, disco house, tech house, and some techno). Didn’t really enjoy Honey Dijon. For Luke Solomon, mainly a techno set, which I also enjoyed.

Croatia – Tisno Day 8 (Defected day 4)

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Started off the morning by going to Carmen’s for brunch (haha, this place is amazing). We also asked some friends we met to join us. Details here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/07/carmen/

After, we got drinks at a place called Loca Villa. More details here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/09/loca-villa/

We then went to a grocery store called Djelo (since Studenac is closed after 2pm on Sundays apparently).

After, we chilled for a bit at our tent, and then headed to the bit party. On the boat, we saw David Penn and Ferreck Dawn. Ferreck Dawn was amazing. He’ll be one of the DJs I see again.

After the boat, we went straight to the main stage. Highlights were John Summit and Ferreck Dawn (both deep tech house sets, which was great). Lol, also got fries while seeing Ferreck Dawn, and someone commented how amazing that combo is.

Croatia – Tisno Day 7 (Defected Day 3)

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Started the day grabbing brunch at the on-site restaurant in the Garden Resort. Details can be found here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/08/wabi-sabi/

After brunch, chilled at the beach near the beach stage for like 15 minutes (got a Pina colada to go with this, but would not recommend getting it again. It had Pineapple juice in it, but no hint of coconut). We then checked out the Tisno bridge, and grabbed a late lunch at a place called Hotel Brovonik. Details can be found here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/08/hotel-borovnik/

After, went to our first boat party. On the boat, really enjoyed Rimarkable and Offaiah. The boat party lasted 3 hours.

After the bot, took a power nap, then ate chicken curry from the on-site food venue.

For sets, saw Purple disco machine and Bob Sinclair. By far the two best sets (and really wished we were ____).

Croatia – Tisno Day 6 (Defected Day 2)

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Started the day by leaving the festival grounds to get brunch at a place called Carmen. Details can be found here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/07/carmen/

Then spent the first part of the day chilling in the water near the beach stage of defected (between 2pm to 6pm). Water was great, chatted with some people from the US, and the music was great.

Then we chilled at the Olive Grove stage for a bit, where a more deeper type of music was played by a DJ named Sef Kombo. It was a really great set.

Then we got dinner (got a burger). Burger was good, but waited almost 15 minutes for it.

Then went to the beach stage for a bit (no notable DJs).

After, went to the main defected stage (also no notable DJs).

Lastly, we took a (200 Kuna) taxi to Barbella at 1am, then left at 4am using an Uber (about 100 Kuna). Nearly lost my phone (dropped it on the floor of the Uber, a d the Uber driver was closing the door on me! Ugh).

PS. We created a drink mixing White wine and Red Bull, which White toro

PSS. Sneaking alcohol was possible. Got Ballantine’s whisky and wine, and snuck it in by throwing it over the fence.

Croatia – Hvar/Tisno Day 5 (Defected Day 1)

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Last day in Hvar. We checked out of our apartment at 10am, and got brunch at the same place we got brunch on the first day:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/04/bb-club/

We then caught a ferry back to Split at 1:00pm to catch our ride to Tisno. We hired our Uber driver (that picked us up from the Airport), which cost 850 kuna (compared to 1200 kuna on Uber or Bolt).

We got the festival entrance, and at first got tested for COVID (it was a 10 minute test). Fortunately all of us were good.

We got to security, and they made us throw our opened alcohol out.

The tent was relatively good, but initially was missing a fan (we had to ask for one). The general store was also useful for toilet paper, water, and wine (they had not hard liquor unfortunately).

The festival itself has 3 stages. There is the classic stage (beach stage), olive grove, and defected stage. The first and last were good since they played more deeper music (like tech house).

The food itself was good (got gyoza and fries). However the wait for gyozas was wayyyy to long (like 20 minutes). But didn’t get food poisoning, so that’s good.

The DJs I remembered seeing (that were good) are mainly in the defected stage are Monki, and Armand van Helden.

Croatia – Hvar Day 4

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Started off the day with brunch at 2pm. We went to a place called Bepo. Details can be found here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/04/bepo/

Afterwards, we headed to a couple of beaches that were close by. The first one was Pokonji dol Beach. The beach was pretty busy, so we stayed on the side part of the beach where there were more rocks. The beach did have several restaurants, where I was able to get a pina colada to go (and it had real coconut in it). The restaurant was called Mustaco.

After an hour, checked out another beach for like 15 minutes called Strand Mekicevica. It was a tiny beach that I wouldn’t really recommend. Along the way though to that beach was an interesting restaurant that had a Cabana I would try out (it was called Pachamama beach).

During the walk to the first beach, I did notice several nice looking houses (see below for pics). They could easily be worth $7 million in LA.

After the beaches, I dropped of my laundry at a laundry service called Praonica-samaposluga. I thought the service was pretty good, but a bit pricey (160 kuna for a while load).

We then explored the old town area (see picture below for references). Checked out:

-Arsenal (a terrace with a good view)

-Trg Sv Stjepana (a town square)

-outside of St Stephen’s Cathedral

-Fortica (a castle on top of a hill). The view was alright, but not ask good as the view from the Napoleon fortress hike.

Afterwards, got dinner at Alviz. More info can be found here:

http://food.johnmatienzo.com/2021/08/05/alviz/