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Silver Travel Book Club

January 2023 – My Family and Other Enemies: Life and Travels in Croatia’s Hinterland

We’ll explore a different destination for each Book Club, and a lucky Silver Travel Book Club reader can win a free copy of that month’s book.

Please note: this prize draw is now closed.

This month the Silver Travel Book Club is reading My Family and Other Enemies: Life and Travels in Croatia’s Hinterland by Mary Novakovich.

Set in Croatia’s hinterland this book recounts award-winning travel writer, Mary’s experiences to the country where her parents were born. She’s been visiting Croatia for the last 40 years and has met family and friends in places decidedly off the beaten track. She explores an area of karst mountains, thundering waterfalls and dense forest, filled with larger-than-life characters and glorious food.

My Family and Other Enemies is a fascinating dive into Mary’s family history and uncovers a part of Croatia not often seen by tourists. It’s a personal memoir and travelogue offering insights into a region that’s seen wars and communism yet it has retained its own unique Balkan beauty.

Croatia

Croatia is an enchanting holiday destination, whether you take a tour on land, a cruise around the breath-taking islands, stay in a gorgeous villa or enjoy a short break visiting the capital city, Zagreb. Talk to our Silver Travel Advisors to find out more and to book your trip: 0800 412 5678.

Split, Croatia
Cavtat

How to win a copy of My Family and Other Enemies: Life and Travels in Croatia’s Hinterland by Mary Novakovich


Comment below to tell us about a place in Croatia you’d like to visit and why (or maybe you’ve been lucky enough to go there already). There really is so much to explore .

A winner will be chosen at random in early February 2023.
The competition closes on 31 January 2023.

Read more about all our Silver Travel Book Club reads.

  1. The Book Club is open to residents of the UK, aged 18 years or over, except employees of Silver Travel Advisor and their close relatives, partners or friends and anyone otherwise connected with the organisation of the prize draw.
  2. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter.
  3. By entering, an entrant is indicating his/her/their agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
  4. This competition is not in any affiliation with any other company.
  5. The prize is as stated, and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. The prize is non-transferable and is subject to availability.
  6. If a winner does not claim their prize within one week, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected.
  7. By entering each entrant accepts that the winner’s name and city of residence may be used for promotional purposes by Silver Travel Advisor.
  8. No responsibility is accepted for entries, notices, acceptances, tickets, goods or other documentation lost or delayed in the post.
  9. Winners will be solely responsible for any tax liability incurred as a result of this offer. The organisers’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered.
  10. Entries will be accepted until the closing date as stated.

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34 Responses

  1. Only got to visit Dubrovnik for a few hours on a cruise 20 years ago and would love to go back and explore what looked like a beautiful & interesting country, as we sailed in.

  2. I would love to return to Dubrovnik as it’s so beautiful with amazing architecture and history. I wonder whether it’s changed as I haven’t been there for over 10 years!

  4. We would love to explore Split. We have been on a cruise down Croatia however Split was not included which was a disappointment. Hopefully one day………

  5. Having only had a 1 day taster on a cruise, I would absolutely love to explore all that Croatia has to offer.

  9. The Plitvice National Park loks absolutely stunning, I’d build my visit around it.

  11. Been to Zagreb with mum and dad in 1965 when we drove home from Kuwait. A new visit would be great.

  12. Have been to Croatia twice, stayed on the Dalmation Riveria , beautiful coastline. Would like to go Baska Voda, a small area near Markaska. (in 2001 and 2005).
    First went to Croatia when it was still Yugoslavia in 1966 and stayed on the Istrian Penisula, Would like to see Pula again and spend more time there to explore the history.

  13. I have never been but have heard so much about the beauty of Croatia and its people. I’m happy that I have booked a 2-week visit for March 2023. I gladly await the visit. I would like to visit the many UNESCO World Heritage sites dotted all over Croatia, see the outstanding Diocletian palace in Split about which I have heard so much, and finally drive along and enjoy the breathtaking Adriatic coastline. My guide has also booked a tour of Ston, Mostar, Omis and Trogir where he has promised to surprise me. So, the month of March will present me with a once in a lifetime holiday. I am excitedly waiting for it.

  14. Have been to Croatia in the past and it is a wonderful country with some beautiful areas.

  15. Went to Split and Dubrovnik on a cruise a long time ago. Both were lovely and would love to go back for longer

  17. Have never been but planning to go this year; a two centre Dalmatian coast and inland mountain and lakes. The book would help decide where.

  18. Sounds like a fascinating book. A return to see Porec would be good and it appears to be in Croatia. I was there in 1986, before the break-up of Yugolavia and I remember Porec as being more interesting than Portoroz where we were staying. We had a couple of long coach trips in Istria and Slovenia and during one of them the coach was stopped and boarded by soldiers. It was beautiful countryside and coastline However, returning from the holiday was awful: in those days we had to fly Air Yugoslavia to and from (I think) Pula airport. Coming in to land at Gatwick the landing gear failed and we flew round and round to use up the fuel with passengers having hysterics while an trap door near my seat was opened up and the wheels manually wound down. On landing two fire engines raced alongside the plane until we came to a halt. It took me several years before I plucked up the courage to fly again.

  19. I have twice visited Milner on the island of Brac but would love to travel to the interior of the mainland.

  20. I have been to Yugoslavia twice and then to Croatia . We stayed in Cavtat which is a lovely fairly small town on the Adriatic Coast, southeast of Dubrovnic. It was fun to take a water taxi to the beautiful city of Dubrovnic and to walk along the walls and visit the many museums. I am actually going back on a cruise visiting the islands and Dubrovnic later this year. I have lovely memories of what was my last holiday with my husband and seeing some of the most spectacular sunsets I have ever seen.

  21. I went on a tour of Croatia for two weeks. Was fascinated by the history of Dubrovnik and Split and blown away by the beauty of the Dalmatian coast and island of Brac. I would love to discover more of the islands and parts that I did not go to.

  22. Dubrovnic is a must place to visit with its historic walls and lots of side streets to seek out souvenirs or have something to eat.

  25. Never Travelled to Croatia before , But We Talked in October 2022 about Visiting Brac one of the Islands Sounds Lovely we are Looking For Sea Sandy Beaches and History To Enjoy

  27. Would love to visit. I have a close friend from Croatia and the conversations and pictures make it all sound magical and lovely. Would love to visit!

  29. I have never been to Croatia, but would love to visit Zagreb, and from there explore the wonderful Balkan countryside. My cousin married a Croatian, so would tell me about all the best sights to explore.

  30. I’ve never been to Croatia and know very little about the area. This book sounds like a great introduction.

  31. I’d like to see the cultural sights of Zagreb, and also take a cruise around the beautiful coastline and islands.

  32. We have yet to visit Croatia.
    This book would give us a ”taster” of what to expect.

  34. Although I’ve only spent a week in Dubrovnik, I’d really like to visit the inland national parks of Plitvice Lakes, Paklenika and Krka.

Comments are closed.

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