About us
Hi Welcome to our Blog
We are Danish expat family who has been living in Split Croatia since the beginning of 2004, where we decided to start a green field company down here. Before we went to Croatia, we had been living 9 ½ in German, so we where already used to being “Strangers”, which of course made everything easier.
At the beginning of our Croatia adventure, we decide that my wife and the kids should move to Denmark, where the family is living, I should then set up the company and try to get it running. So for 18 month I was living partly 14 days here and 14 days back in Denmark, this was of course a tough time, so in October 2005 we decided to move our family base down here.
A week after we arrived Caroline and Ida, which at that time where 5 and 2 years old, started in the local kindergarten, the first month was horrible everyday the kids where crying when we brought them to the kindergarten, so we really had some serious doubt about staying here, luckily that was not necessary, almost immediately after we returned from our Christmas holiday in Denmark, the kids started speaking Croatian, so the crying in the morning was replaced by smiles from two happy kids looking forward to seeing their friends in the kindergarten.
In 2007 we reach another milestone which required evaluation of our situation, Caroline had reached the age where she had to start in school, so we of course was considering if we should move back so she could start in the school in Denmark, but after asking around about the school system and talking with the teacher in the kindergarten, who said that Caroline’s Croatian, was good enough for here to start on a local school, we decided to try it out. Today Caroline is in 3 grade on a local school, she absolutely loves here school, she has two great teachers, 20 good classmates and very nice teacher who helps with here homework.
So although it has been challenging to move down here, we can only say that everything has worked out perfectly for us, we really love the lifestyle here, the long summer, but most of all we love that we here have to possibility to spend lots of time on travelling and exploring, if you browse around on our blog you will know what I mean.
If you have any question about Croatia and living in Croatia feel free to contact us on info(at)solitum.hr
If you like our page and Croatia, we would be very happy if you would help us promoting the country by linking to our page, alternatively you can also put an “All about Croatia” banner on your page, here you can read in details how you can help us.
Happy greetings from Split
Ida, Caroline, Lene and Morten
PS: I forgot to mention how we make our living here, you can see that here!
Popularity: 20%
Very nice website. I see that you have lived in Croatia for several years. Please consider participating in an online interview on our expat website. We have absolutely no information about Croatia.
The details are here http://www.retiredexpat.com/expat-interviews.php
Also, it would be very helpful to have an article about “Living in Croatia as an Expat”. We would publish your article under your byline, add your bio and include live links to your very nice website.
Best regards from Thailand.
Hello (Bog!)
Any suggestions???
Just wanted to compliment you on your site…I was born in Zadar, Croatia and moved to Canada in 1976 with my family. I long for Croatia so badly…I am trying to figure out a way to live there with my husband and 2 boys
Cheers and congrats!
Thanks Dave
i would love to make post about living here in Croatia on your page, i will see if i can finish it next week
rgrds
Morten
Hvala Mirjana,
I can imagine it must be hard living that far from home! The last years, many 2 generation Croatians mainly from countries like Australia and South Africa have returned, although the speak the language it is still a challenge for them to settle hear and find a job.
My advice would be to go for your own business, I have several ideas what might work out so you are welcome to mail me if you are interested in my suggestions.
regards
Morten
Thanks for your quick reply Morten. Yes, it is tough for me because I have always loved Croatia, even when it was a part of Yugoslavia. It is my homeland. We plan on visiting next summer.
I would love to start a business, however, my background is in psychology and I am now finishing my Masters in education. My husband is a mechanical Engineer. He loves electronics and has a passion to invent. He knows a tiny bit of Croatian. But he is working on it! He also speaks English and French. I am fluent in Croatian, English and French. I would really appreciate your ideas!
I am so impressed that your daughters are fluent in Croatian. Wow! My son who is 11, understands everything but doesn’t speak. The other one is a 7 mth baby.
Pozdrav iz Montreala
Mirjana
Mirjana,
To get a job in Croatia, is not easy, I am not aware how specific situation is with in your area of Education. My experience as foreigner living here, is that setting up your own business is best way to succeed, with your language skills you could consider some think related to travelling.
My big daughter will finish second grade in two weeks, she is attending a local school are doing quite well, we have a teacher who comes and helps here with homework and gives her extra lessons in Croatian, as we are not able to help with that part.
My smallest daughter speaks better Croatia, then Danish.
Thanks again. Other than travel, what are some other business ideas for foreigners? Much appreciated.
yes i have some other ideas, i will send you E-mail with a few suggestions
I am a Indian Citizen and have a valid Schengen visa. I have to leave from India 17th July,2009 and have no time to apply for Croatian Visa from India. I have to travel to Czech,Germany and Slovenia. I am planning to go to Croatia on 25th July to 1st August and also have purchased a airticket. Please inform how to apply for Croatian visa in Frankfurt in the Croatian Consulate. Will i easily get visa from Frankfurt for Croatia. I already have proofs of my ongoing business in Croatia and invitation from Croatian company. I am going there for Business visit. Please inform ??
Can i get the visa for Croatia from Frankfurt being an Indian Citizen ??
Hi Sahil,
I think that it would be best if you contact Croatian consulate in Frankfurt, so that you can get right information from them.
Contact info of Croatian consulate in Frankfurt is:
Adress:
Am Weingarten 25
60487 Frankfurt/M
DEUTSCHLAND
email: gkrhf@t-online.de
phone: 0049 69 7071 005
fax: 0049 69 7071 011
Hope everything will be ok for you.
Have nice day!
Hello I am a 25 year old native Australian, born and bred in Sydney. I have a family background of Croatian and I saw your blog on an EXPAT forum regarding living and working in Croatia. Your website is great and I see you have done well in your business. I am also interested in living and working in Croatia.
I recently received my Croatian Citizenship and therefore am able to be employed, work and live in Croatia. In 2001, I completed my secondry schooling (Higher School Certificate) and in 2005, I completed a degree in the Bachelor of Policing.
I speak fluent English and also intermediate Croatian. I also have a place to reside in the centre of Zagreb and a place on the island of Brac in Bol. I have an interest in teaching English but I am also experienced in the Hospitality industry.
If it is possible, if you have any more information or contacts regarding positions and companies that hire native-English speaking people to teach English, (or hospitality) would you be so kind to pass them to me? Its hard looking around on the internet, there are so many websites to look through.
This is a dream for me to work and experience Croatia, being that it is in my blood. I hope maybe you are able to assist me in finding employment in Croatia in 2010. I hope to hear from you soon.
Hello Bianca,
There is quite a few native Australian with Croatian root living here, main part of them are from the Perth area.
Getting a job here is not very easy, the unemployment rates are high and the financial crises has not helped improving things, but nevertheless jobs can be found, best place to look is at the largest Croatian job portal http://www.moj-posao.net here you also find international companies looking for employees.
You could also contact embassy to see if any Australian companies has a business set up here.
I general I think it would be good idea to go here for a period, which might also open doors to some companies that you don’t find on the internet.
I wish good luck with your job search
Brgds, Morten
thanks for your advice
We will be visiting Crotia and arriving in Split on August 27th. We depart on Sept.3. What do you recommend we see in this short period of time whch is reasonable priced and canou suggest Hotel at a rasonable price. Do we have to prepurchase a visa to enter the country or are they available at the airport. Please forward any suggestions you may have.
Thanks Larry
Hi Larry
Did you have a look at our Split Guide?
As hotel I would suggest you to try Villa Varos or Hotel Bellavue
Visa? Where are you from?
Morten
Morton,
You have a fantastic website, full of information pertaining to Croatia. My friend and I are traveling to Croatia in September for only four days. After reading some of your website I wish our time was longer there.
Thank you!
Kelly
Thanks Kelly for the compliment, i am glad you like our page, hope you will still manage to see i bit of Croatia during your holiday here.
Hi! Just wanted to thank you for the inspiration when it comes to moving to Croatia. It´s one of my biggest dreams! I live in Gothenborg in Sweden right now and my parents (they are from Croatia) are helping me with getting my Croatian Citizenship,it should be done before christmas. I do not for the moment have any direct plans moving to Croatia (to Split) but I sure would if knowing I would have a job there. I need to return to Sweden in autumn of 2010 but I am daydreaming of living in Split from the spring of 2010 until I have to return to (hopefully) studying economics for three years. I have family and friends in the small village Vinisce,if you know where that is? and Trogir so I would’nt be alone it´s just the part with getting a job,which is,as you say,hard..especially now. Wow! sad sam napisala cijeli roman! Hard not to get excited reading about your life in my homeland, thanks again for the inspiration.
Hi Patricia,
I am glad you like our page, and i can imagine it most be a dream for you to move back here, did you consider working on the internet for some Swedish companies, then you would not need to worry about the job part?
I think i know where Vinisce is close to Marina as far as i remember? We by the way also run a swedish page http://www.semesterkroatien.se, but lately we had no time to update it.
I wish you best of luck and hope you find way to get down here.
kindest regards, Morten
Hej Morten,
My wife and I are flirting with the idea of moving from the US to the Croatian coast. I design online help systems and write documentation for a software company. She teaches at a high school. It is possible, though not guaranteed, that I could perform my current job remotely. How is internet access on the coast? Is it common? Is it stable? We’re considering Sibenik.
Tak for hjælpen,
Dan
Hi Dan
Great idea! Internet access is available, in most of the cities along the coast larger then > 500 people, it is relative cheap, (flat rate cost from about 20-25$ / month).
In terms of stability, I can only speak for Split, in my 3 location where I currently have broadband internet, I don’t think at had any outage the last year which was related to my (two) internet providers, what happens from time to time is that you loose power for few second which then requires a restart of the routers, and in general I would recommend you to buy your own router, as ones the which is provided with your broadband subscription normally are of bad quality.
For back up I have a web and walk Mobile data stick which you can buy as a prepaid solution, with no monthly subscriptions.
Brgds, Morten
PS: your Danish is excellent (-:
Hi Morten! Me again. Thank you for the idea,a very good one! Actually you inspired so much that I´m now fighting for my dream.
I´m trying to find a course given in english somewhere in Split, or for that fact anywhere in Croatia. That way I could improve my croatian by living there,improve my english by studying and improve myself with this experience. And yes,Vinsice is near Marina,you have to pass through to get there.
Well,would you give me the update job on your swedish page? =D I have seen it,and with everyday or at least everyweek updates you could really draw people to Croatia,not only in the summer. I know enough croatian so that I can speak with people – give swedes a picture of the croatian people,read the newspapers and update thoose on your webpage and run arund town and tour them through it. Would actually be a lot of fun!
Haha,this was not suposed to sound as I am applying for a job, but I am interested if thats the case 
With all my thanks (again,for the inspiration), Patricia M.
Hi Patricia,
I am glad my idea inspired you, i think actually that setup could work.
Regarding the Swedish page i will send you an E-mail.
Brgds, Morten
Good to find you and your site…we moved to Split a year ago from Russia. I am American, wife is Russian. Our focus is design and development of unique tour programs that showcase authentic Croatian experience. Best known example is probably our “Diocletian’s Palace Map”, the first real walking map of the actual palace. Available at most tourist offices, hotels, etc. And it’s free…and also on our site when you click Split. Ouyr blog is viewfromtheriva.wordpress.com
Be good to meet you personally and chat…..
Robert and Natasha Aronson
Hi Natasha and Robert,
we have spend a few years here in Split as you can see on our blog, i think Shane and Julie mentioned your names once?
We are in Split most of the time, so lets see if we cant meet up for a coffee
Morten
Hello Morten,
I am an American of Croatian heritage. I visited Croatia in September and want to live there at least part of the year. I am thinking about starting a company to bring Croatian products to the states. My background is in the hospitality business and I am a wine expert. Wine and olive oil are two of the products I am interested in. Any ideas? Does the Croatian Trade Commission offer any financial help? Thanks for any ideas.
Anton
Hi Anton,
That sound like and interesting project, is there nobody running a Webshop with Croatian Product already? I am not aware of any kind of help from the Trade commission but I will ask around.
I think a great idea could be to offer Wine tours e.g. on Peljecas to all the cruise ship guest arriving in Dubrovnik, if you find some great product for them, you might be able to generate additional online sales to the clients when they are back in the states?
Also wine picking and olive picking tours in Sep / October could be interesting.
Morten
Hi Morten, Thanks for getting back to me so soon. The wine tour idea is indeed interesting. Actually I have also been working with a tour operator here in the states concernig leading a culinary tour to Alsace in France. I am going to contact the Croatian Trade Commission through the Embassy in Washington D.C. They appear to have some people there to help promote Croatian trade ideas. I thought you might have some first hand advice for me.
Hvala,
Zbogom,
Anton
Hi Anton, I think it is good idea to contact the Trade commission directly, i my selves never had anything to do with them as i am already here, anyway good luck with the project, let me know if there is any progress. Morten
Hi,
My name is Bitu Mihai ( NiceBlogger ) and I’m from Romania,my age is 16 years old and I want to show that the young bloggers can be serious and we’re able compete with any other blogger.
I’ve decided to start a project that includes bloggers from all over the world and I’ve chosen one blogger from each country.In your country I’ve seen a lot of valuable bloggers but I’ve choosen you for my project.
The project it’s called “Planet of bloggers”.If you accept my invitation to join this project you have to make a video with you (in this clip you can say your name,your age,where are you from and what is the most important thing that you’ve accomplished as blogger.
What I will do with your clip ?
After I will receive the videos from all bloggers I will make a video with all bloggers and i will get it promoted.
I think that is a win-win situation as your blog will be featured in the video spot, the chances are high to transform this video in a great viral.
Waiting for your answer at: niceblogger [at] niceblogger [dot] com .
Hi Bitu
sound like very interesting project i would be happy to join, i will send you mail regarding further process.
Morten
Hello! And sorry about so long letter..
I came by your website while planing a trip to Croatia with some friends and I have found it quite informative. Also I have many questions now and you seam to be the people to ask from. We already have an apartment in Split for 12 days and now we wonder what to do there. We thought it would be good to rent a car for a few days so we could visit some more remote places in the mountains and national parks. The problem is, both of our drivers are 19 and have had their licences for about 10 months. Do you think it would be possible to find anything? Our second question is about the islands and bike rental. Is it possible to rent 5 bikes and go to the islands with them? What are the rental prices and do we get to the ferry, do we have to pay extra for the bikes? Right now our favourite seems to be Vis, but as it is quite far away, we should spend a night there. Can you recommend a cheap place to stay at, some camping etc? Then about the internet cafe. Is it possible to use a laptop there, is there Wifi for example, what are the aprox. prices? And last but not least- the markets. Are they cheaper than shops? What kind of local ingredients may I find there in the beginning of June? Not if I need to know that at the moment, but I just love markets!
Great thanks and wintery regards from Estonia,
Kaily
Hi Kaily, you do not have to apologize for the length of your letter (-:
Now I will try to do my best to answer your questions!
Car rental, I will have to check it there is any problem renting do to your age, I will get back to you on that one.
Bike rental, actually we are renting bikes out at our internet cafe, but for a short trip to Vis like you are planning it, the best is to rent the bikes when you get on the island (There is a fee for bringing bikes on the ferry), In Vis town there is a bike rental place just when you get off the ferry, on Brac (Supetar) you can also rent bikes close to ferry arrival point, for Hvar I am not sure, anyway for bike ridding Vis and Brac are the best island, to my opinion. (But just to warn you, the island are not flat (-: )
For overnight stay on Vis I am not sure what to recommend you, there are no campsites on the island, if you bring your own tents you might be able to find a private house owner, who will let you put up the tent for a small fee? If not the best alternative is to find some private accommodation, but I unfortunately don’t have knowledge of anybody renting out just for one night, but I will ask around.
You of course can connect your laptop at our internet cafe, we don’t have any wireless, but we have air-conditioned and cold water inside which you will appreciate (-: we charge 30/kuna hour for the internet.
Regarding the market in June, you can find regular stuff like, salad, Tomatoes, potatoes etc, in terms of fruit I think June is season for peaches and cherries and you of course have the all year stuff like apples, lemons etc.
Prices at the market is higher then in the larger supermarket, but the charm is unbeatable (-:
Kindest regards, Morten
Hi Morten
Congratulations on you web site it is very informative. My wife and I are expat Aussies currently here in Split. We have a charter yacht here which we plan on using for day sailing charters to the islands during the summer months. The idea was seeded after talking to Shane and Julie at Lifejacket Adventures. It appears that no operator is doing day sailing trips so we are going to give it a try this summer. When we are not chartering we plan on spending the rest of the time cruising the Med. and returning here each summer.
I have put together a web page about our day trips and have included your web site on the links page. I would be greatful if you could include us in your things to do in Split.
Purhaps we could arrange to get together at some stage
Regards Tim & Katie
Hi Tim, sounds like a great idea, good luck with the project
Morten
Dear Morten,
I am a Dutch Expat living in Istria. Everyone reacting to your webside seems to be interested or is situated in Split. Do you have any information on expats living in this part of the country?
Thanks,
Karin Jongman
Savudrija
Hi Karin, I personally don’t know any expats living in Istria, but i know there is quite a few expats e.g. in Motovun, where exactly are you situated up there.
Morten
I am glad I found your site on digg. Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my husband were just preparing to do some research about this. I am happy to see such great information being shared for free out there.
Regards,
Bronson from Sterling Heights city
Hi Clovis,
I am happy to hear that you like the stuff we publish
Brgds, Morten
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