In addition to wine , the Brautović family produces a variety of brandies and liqueurs .
Right : The Brautović family has lived on this estate for 500 years , and today , three generations care for the property . chores . Dogs bark in the distance , and cats make lazy patrols through the streets .
This is a place where the people care for each element of their home , from the food they eat to the homes they live in . They keep to old traditions and styles , for the most part , and their houses show their love of the past . Many homes have had the old plaster gently peeled back , revealing the craftsmanship of the stone underneath . This is the work of their great-grandparents , who built these homes with their own two hands , and so each home is treated like an heirloom to be cherished . Some homes have , sadly , begun being reclaimed by the land . Stone ruins wrapped thick in green ivy is a common sight . After so many generations , some families simply dwindle into the past .
Yet other families — like the Brautović family — have called Močići home for over 500 years , and the past three generations have lived on and run the agricultural Brautović Estate . The land boasts a vineyard , orchard , and verdant vegetable gardens . All of this fresh produce finds its way onto the plates of the estate ’ s tavern , truly embodying the popular farm-to-table movement . This is a perfect example of how the people of these villages seamlessly blend their traditional and natural lifestyle with today ’ s trends .
The Konavle Valley Way of Life
Visit this rarified region with O . A . T ., and our A Day in the Life experience will drop you right into the unique day-to-day lives of one of these two village families — ether Marijana ’ s or the Brautovićs . You ’ ll get an intimate view of rural Croatian life , making personal connections as well as rolling up your sleeves to help with daily tasks at one of these two agricultural estates . Whether collecting eggs from the family ’ s chicken coop , plucking fresh vegetables from the garden , or helping feed the farm ’ s animals , our hosts will ensure everyone feels involved and — most importantly — like part of the family .
And family , of course , always feeds its members . Make yourself at home in the kitchen to help bake bread , or learn to make traditional dishes such as paradizot , a Croatian cold layered dessert made of biscuits , egg white
Traveler ’ s Perspective : Dalmatian Coast
Created by John Balza , 19-time traveler from Fort Collins , CO
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26 DISPATCHES • AUGUST 2022