What nobody tells you about visiting Croatia

After a lot of research I thought I knew what to expect from Croatia. Some things matched: Diocletian's Palace is as spectacular as every review says, and Hvar has a genuine energy I'd read about. The fresh grilled fish obsession is completely justified.

What I wasn't prepared for: excellent wines. That element genuinely surprised me and added something I hadn't seen in any review. Also: summer heat is intense. That part the reviews undersell. Overall a wonderful trip — just a more layered experience than I anticipated.