Episode 174
Imate li ideja? We do! Let’s have a fun lesson trying to guess Tony D’s surname! We’ll learn a bunch of words that start with the letter ‘d’. We’re building our vocabulary! Malo pomalo!
Lesson
surname - prezime
To guess - pogađati
Letter - slovo
Word - riječ
Guessing game - Igra pogađanja
Tony, your last name begins with the letter ‘d'. - Tony, tvoje prezime počinje slovom 'd'.
Guess Tony’s surname! - Pogodi Tonyjevo prezime!
What is a word that begins with ‘d’. - Koja ja riječ koja počinje sa slovom ‘d’?
Good - dobro
Wonderful - divno
Dolphin - dupin
Camel - deva
Annoying/bothersome - dosadan
barbarian/savage - divljak
Super Slatko Report
For this edition of the Super Slatko Report, DJ Moe gives some attention and insight to the piece of Bosnia Herzegovina that borders Croatia and also shares a piece of the Adriatic Sea. We’ll learn many interesting and wonderful things about Neum.
Ok let’s go abroad and talk about the coastal town of Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s one and only handshake with the Adriatic Sea. The municipality of Neum spans roughly 225 square kilometers ( 87 square miles), though the coastline itself is a modest ~20 kilometers (12 miles) long. Its highest nearby peak is Žrvanj, rising to about 915 meters (3,002 feet), offering sweeping views that remind you just how close the mountains and sea like to mingle here. Its lowest point? Sea level of course, the Adriatic coast itself, specifically Neum Bay. Neum Bay is calm, it looks like a living postcard. Neighboring cities include Dubrovnik to the southeast about an hr away by car and Ploče to the northwest, 35 minutes away, also by car. Neums municipality includes a collection of small villages—like Hutovo, Gradac, and Broćanac, with a total population hovering around 5,000 people based on the most recent census.
Neum, being so conveniently tucked into the Adriatic coast shares a great deal of similarities to Its Croatian neighboring cities and towns. You’ll find rugged karst geology (My favorite kind of geology), the terrain is dominated by limestone hills—porous and shaped over a millennia of water erosion; giving us caves, sinkholes, and dramatic ridges. Vegetation too, leans toward classic Mediterranean: with olive trees, fig trees, low shrubs, and hardy grasses that thrive in dry, sun-soaked conditions. You’ll also find aromatic herbs like sage and rosemary growing wild, casually perfuming the air like nature’s own herbal diffuser. On land, expect small mammals, reptiles, and a healthy population of birds adapted to rocky terrain. In the sea, the Adriatic delivers—fish, crustaceans, and the occasional dolphin sighting. The waters here are notably calm thanks to the bay’s semi-enclosed geography, making it less “crashing waves” and a more “glassy mirror appeal.”
Neum’s existence as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s only coastal town is less about geography and more about history playing chess. Go back to the late 17th century, specifically the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699. The Republic of Ragusa—a maritime republic—ceded this narrow strip of land to the Ottoman Empire to create a buffer zone between itself and Venetian territories. In other words, Neum was a diplomatic cushion. Fast forward through empires, kingdoms, and the eventual formation of modern Bosnia and Herzegovina, and this little sliver of coastline simply remained intact. The result? Bosnia and Herzegovina with access to the sea… just not a lot of it.
Geographically, Neum splits Croatia’s coastline into two separate sections, which historically meant border crossings for anyone driving along the Adriatic Highway. This changed somewhat with the construction of the Pelješac Bridge, which I covered back in E81, which allows travelers to bypass Neum entirely. But by skipping Neum, means missing a quietly charming detour. You’ll miss out on seeing Neums best asset, Its naturally sheltered bay, with calm swimming conditions and that endless Adriatic sunshine; making it one of the more relaxed coastal spots in the region.
Today, Neum is a laid-back seaside town with a distinctly local feel. Getting there typically involves a coastal drive from Dubrovnik or Split, with scenic views doing most of the heavy lifting entertainment-wise. Driving through Neum itself? If you Blink long enough or nap in the back seat, you’ll miss it; with not much traffic and no stops, you could make it through in about 10–15 minutes during the non peak summer season, but linger, and you’ll find modest hotels, seaside cafés, and a slower pace of life that feels refreshingly unbothered. The population is largely Croatian in ethnicity, reflecting the broader Herzegovina region, and the town attracts a mix of regional tourists—especially those looking for a more affordable Adriatic escape. Traditions here lean into coastal living: fishing, simple Mediterranean cuisine, and a rhythm that follows the sun more than the clock. It’s not a flashy place, just a genuine one.
So there you have it—Neum, Bosnia & Herzegovinas only access to the Adriatic. A place where karst cliffs meet calm waters, just like it’s Croatian neighbors, time has done a marvelous job carving out a picturesque coastline, and also where Bosnia and Herzegovina quietly dips its toes into the sea. Think of Neum as the introvert of coastal towns: small, thoughtful, and surprisingly memorable once you spend a little time with it. And if nothing else, it’s proof that sometimes, 20 kilometers of coastline is all you really need (12 miles).
And that’s it for the Super Slatko Report.
