Friends
At DOMA Trading, we love connecting people. In addition to the artisans we’ve introduced you to throughout our website, here are some other awesome people you should really get to know. Be sure to tell them we sent you!
Croatian Language School
Croatian Language School offers immersion classes in Croatia and Skype lessons from anywhere. Linda does an amazing job of building an instant community that feels like family, integrating cultural experiences with on-site classes, and teaching a language that isn’t particularly easy! We found CLS online in 2006, when we were planning our first trip back to Croatia together. It seemed like a shot in the dark booking a week-long immersion class on the internet, but when the program started we immediately realized we’d come to the right place. Not only have we become repeat customers, but Linda and her family have also become a part of ours.
Peak & Paddle Croatia
Peak & Paddle Croatia offers multi-day, single-day, and custom adventure tours, kayak rentals, and ACA courses. Whether you’re into sea kayaking, climbing, cycling, hiking, skiing, SUP, or all of the above, look no further. Based out of Zlarin, Mladen knows all the good spots and is a skilled guide, not to mention a total sweetheart! We’ve had the pleasure of watching this business grow from a cool dream into an even cooler reality, and it’s always exciting to see the evidence of its success—photos of adventurers having the time of their lives in some of the most beautiful parts of Croatia!
Leslie Brienza Photography
Leslie specializes in professional food and product photography, but she’s amazing at capturing anything she chooses to point her camera at. The care she puts into her work is downright inspirational, and we’re thrilled to have a few of her gorgeous photos on our own site. Just as we have sought out our Croatian heritage, Leslie has reconnected with her own roots, right across the sea in Italy. Combining her passions for food, photography, and Italian culture, she has written two cookbooks. Her website also features fine art prints, cards, and stock images available for licensing.
Adriatic Travel, Inc.
Anyone who’s applied for Croatian citizenship from the US knows that finding a certified translator is not only important, it is essential. Luci Hazdovac was recommended to us by the Croatian Consulate in Los Angeles. Not only did she do a fantastic job with our translations, but she also went above and beyond to let us know when there were pieces missing from our citizenship application—and she was so pleasant to work with, we’ve kept in touch with her ever since. Luci and her family run Adriatic Travel, Inc, a travel and tour company in San Pedro, CA, that specializes in Croatia and the surrounding areas. With 46 years of experience, they’ve got the knowledge to create phenomenal custom tours of Croatia, whether you’re traveling by land, air, or sea.
Živo Naturals
One of the things we love about Croatia is its natural outdoor lifestyle—one that runs deep in our own veins. Živo Naturals was created by our co-founder Megan, who has an obsession with all things healthy. Guided by the belief that making healthy choices shouldn’t mean being stuck with products that don’t really work, she designs products to nourish, heal, and beautify using simple, natural ingredients chosen for their effectiveness. Her all-natural body care products are handmade in small batches in her kitchen in Nashville, Tennessee.
Apartments/Sobe
When you visit Croatia, it is common to stay in private homes or apartments instead of hotels. These are a great way to get a feel for the local culture while still maintaining some privacy. Rooms are often booked through agencies or tourist bureaus, but you can also book them directly or even find them on the spot when you arrive at the bus or ferry terminal. Here are some of our favorite places—run by our close friends and family, so we know they’ll take good care of you!
Apartments Galatea
If you’re visiting Opatija or Rijeka, check out these beautiful apartments run by the Jurković family. Sonja, one of our artists, and her sweet daughter-in-law, Sanja, are some of our dear friends. They’ve done a beautiful job decorating these apartments and we just know they’ll make you feel at home—we’ve used their Opatija apartments as our own home base more than once!
