Laurel House
READ MORE ABOUT:
More than a magical destination, with all of the beauty, but minus the pretension of Portofino, Croatia's coastal community of Dubrovnik is unquestionably green. In other words, it's not a question of "why go green?" but instead, "what else is there but green?" Respecting the environment, living off the land, keeping waste to a minimum, reusing and recycling are not newfangled concepts. In fact, they are very old world ideals. But over there, it's a different mentality all together. Less driven by money, and more by happiness, ask your average Croatian winemaker (which includes a significant percentage of the community) where they sell their wine and the likely response is "Why would I sell something so good? I?d rather enjoy it myself!"
Living off the Land
Image courtesy of Laurel House.
Farm-to-table dining is simply the way it is in many of the villages in Dubrovnik and surrounding islands like Sipan. Forget about manicured front lawns—a total waste of space and resources; herbs, vegetable gardens, and vineyards dot the landscape. Locals live on what their land and sea provides: wine, olive oil, cheese, vegetables, line-caught fish, and meats. Waste? No. What isn't personally consumed is either traded within the community, sold at local farmer's markets or simply at a corner stand—a one-man shop selling excess ingredients. Even the pulp and seeds from the olive press are dried and used as nourishing mulch for the soil. Chemicals? Puh-lease. Unless extraordinary circumstances require them, goods are grown organically...it's the way it's always been. Farmers understand cover-cropping and how certain plants attract specific bugs and which deter them, negating the need for pesticides. More than dissuading plant predators, a garden filled with an assortment of vegetation helps maintain nutrient-rich soil—a problem for single growth farms.
Key-Powered Energy
Image courtesy of Laurel House.
Common practice at any hotel?posh (like the waterfront Excelsior) to "sope" (translation: room for rent in a local's apartment) is the key-powered air conditioning and electricity concept. Not only does it save power, but it saves money. Perfect for travelers who forget that turning off the lights still applies when leaving the hotel room, unless your key is in the wall-slot, you're sitting in the stagnant dark.
Dual Flush for Everyone
Dual Flush toilets are not a luxury in Dubrovnik. In fact, even the public restrooms provide them. And it makes sense right? Dual flush means less water is wasted. Which means less money is flushed down the toilet. Duh!
Plastic...What's That?
Though America's single-use influence seems to be infusing the town, few stores and almost no hotels offer plastic water bottles. If you order a bottle of water, you get a glass bottle of water. Plastic bags are a rarity too. Even farmer's markets dole out produce packaged in paper sacks—that is if you forget your own reusable bag: a dead giveaway that you're not from around here.
Walk this Way
Image courtesy of Laurel House.
All roads lead to the old city of Dubrovnik. Well...most of them at least. The town is situated on a hill terraced by walkways and staircases all leading down to the old city or the marina (and even the road from the marina leads to the old city). Because few of these terraced paths are suitable for cars, locals use them as safe passageways to and from their home, to the market, the pizza shop, even to the night clubs. If the trek is too much, just wait 10 minutes on one of the main roads and a bus will swoop you up in no time. Yes, there are a lot of cars, but they belong mostly to the tourists who generally end up driving them in then paying an arm and a leg to leave them in a parking lot for the duration of their stay.
Eco-Luxe Escape
Image courtesy of Laurel House.
Some think you have to swap out luxury in order to experience green. Not so in Dubrovnik. Overlooking old city, the sea laps up onto the 5-star Excelsior—one of the town?s most uber-luxury hotels that is also a glimmering example of green lodging. As is to be expected, the lights and AC are key-powered, but they go one step further: If you choose to throw your windows open so that you can take in the cooling sea breeze as you feast your eyes on the panoramic view of idyllic old town, your AC will turn off. Windows open= AC off. Like it or not. And, yes, dual-flush toilets are in the bathrooms and towels are only washed when tossed on the floor—a consistent theme in Dubrovnik. Feeling parched in the humid heat? Grab a glass bottle of water to hydrate or take a dip in the Sea Water Pool. Yes, the outdoor pool, situated right along the water?s edge, is closer to the sea than you may realize. It, in fact, is part of the sea thanks to a hole cut out, allowing the sea water (plus a few little fish) in. So for those of you who want to wade in the Adriatic, without completely surrendering control to the sea, this pool is perfect for you.
Dubrovnik may be off the beaten path and not the easiest of destinations to get to. But if you are looking to be moved, greened, completely swept-off-your-feet-enchanted, you should go.
More on Green Travel:
Ashrams Aren't Just for Hippies?They're Great Green Getaways
Green City Guide: Stockholm
Green City Guide: Oslo
What I Did On My Summer Vacation: Notes on the Green Aspects of My Trips to Paris and Dublin
How to Go Green: Carbon Offsets
Got a tip or a post idea for us to write about on Planet Green? Email pgtips (at) treehugger (dot) com.
