I lived further inland, in the rural areas west of Osijek. My family still to this day grow their own vegetables. And they share vegetables among the villagers. So if you have too much paprika, you give to others, they have too much cabbage, they give to you. It's amazing for a city dweller like me to re-visit that world.

And my family near the coast grows olives. Every summer in Croatia there is this constant bartering of olive oil, rakija, vegetables, wine, back and forth between your visits with various family members. You can't leave one place without having some in your car's boot.