The New York Times published its recent visit to Zadar on August 6, 2019, running away from the advertised attractions for the discovery of something altogether more delightful.
There are many clickbait lists of places you have to visit on the Internet. 10 Places to Visit Before You Die, 10 Must-See Destinations in 2019, that kind of thing. Most exist purely for the clicks, and the content is usually thin to non-existent.
There are exceptions, and one of the most respected lists (and most eagerly anticipated) is the New York Times annual 52 Places to Go in... (Insert Year), one for each week of the year.
This year's list included Zadar, and Times journalist Sebastian Modak is currently on a tough assignment - visiting all 52 places to document his impressions.
His piece on Zadar, published three days ago, was both excellent and thought-provoking, for it showed a side to Zadar and its surroundings which was both idyllic and away from the crowds, as well as capturing aspects of the Zadar experience which are rarely - if at all - spoken about and promoted by the tourism chiefs.
While the selfie-stick owners headed in their thousands to snap what Alfred Hitchcock described as the most beautiful sunset in the world, Modak fled in search of a Zadar without the tourism stereotypes and outside of the guidebooks.
With a bit of luck, he found what he was looking for and more, and his article paints as charming a picture of the real Zadar away from the tourism crowds as I have read anywhere.
Read his article Giving Up the Battle for Peak Sunset here.
