What to include in a holiday reveal box?

[InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest]

I am planning to take my OH to Croatia for his 50th next year. I would like to give him a 'reveal box' when I tell him about my plans. What would you recommend I include? So far I have maps and tourist brochures of the region and a phrasebook. I am also looking to try and find some Croatian wine (we are in the UK). But what else can I include? It doesn't need to be expensive, but it should be themed to Croatia. Any ideas gratefully received. Thank you!

Will you be travelling around Croatia? A scratch map of the country or a crumple map with the route drawn on?

A covid test kit??

Recipe for "peka" the Croatian national dish

Some Croatian kuna.

Something Games of Thrones-ey?

A picture of Dr. Luka Kovac.

@denverRegina we won't - we'll be driving from the airport to our destination but we'll be doing day trips, hence the local map

@TreacsPotNoodle and @BarbaraofSeville thanks - I'll look into that.

@cleckheatonwanderer we never watched it, not our thing really...

I would make a booklet with schedule of your trip and some things you'll do on your trip.

A cravat, a piece of decorative clothing originally invented by Croatian soldiers.

A CD with croatian songs. Something like this

Bi li pošla za me (Would you marry me)

Moja posljednja i prva ljubavi (My first and last love)

Zvona moga grada (Bells of my town)

Galeb i ja (Seagull and me)

Croatian olive oil

A book by croatian author, something like How we Survived Communism and Even Laughed Café Europa by Slavenka Drakulić or On the Edge of Reason by Miroslav Krleža.

I hope you'll have a lovely time in my country and if there is anything you need to ask to make your trip more memorable, I'll be glad to help.

@kavalkada thank you so much! Some olive oil and a book are great ideas. I'll see what I can find online. Again, thank you. I am so excited about this trip!

Plum brandy

Model yacht?
I’d go with a little dragon for the GoT connection
Something lavender if you’re going to Hvar
A little jar of the red pepper stuff that they serve with pretty much everything

Croatia is the most beautiful place, you’ll have a fantastic time!

A lonely planet book on Croatia?

@chesirecat99 - thank you, I'll get some

@Boood Not sure we'll go to Hvar although I have been and it is so pretty. No idea what the red pepper stuff is but I'll try and find some

@Strokethefurrywall I bought a LP phrasebook, which arrived today. Very cute as it's not too big so you can easily carry it around.

Short history of croatia in general, just as an over view? I know its not particularly useful, but it has some interesting recent history

A mini Croatia flag
A keyring
A fridge magnet

@Juneisjoyful

A covid test kit??

I shouldn't laugh but this made me giggle. 🤣

The red pepper stuff is Ajvar, available in regular and hot. Do you have local Eastern European/Turkish supermarkets? There are often a lot of Croatian foods available (alongside those of lots of other countries, so if you can't recognise Croatian, that might be an interesting challenge). You can get nice biscuits/cakes.

A recipe for black risotto.

Something to do with Odysseus (he spent a lot of time there (apparently)), or Marco Polo (born on Korcula), or the theory of everything (an idea invented by a Croatian monk).

Me

@DappledThings

A picture of Dr. Luka Kovac.

My first thought too!

Croatia football kit?

Wetsuit shoes, the beaches are lovely but the rocks ripped my bare feet to shreds

@ImperfectTents

Wetsuit shoes, the beaches are lovely but the rocks ripped my bare feet to shreds

Definitely these. There are only a few sandy beaches (although that may depend on where you're going).

@cleckheatonwanderer

Totally of topic but do you remember Real Cleckheaton? My favorite football team name ever.

Link to Dr Luka

static.wikia.nocookie.net/erwikia/images/e/e4/Goran_Visnjic.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/400?cb=20120918204311

Dalmatian

Could you include a link to this? It's absolutely beautiful, a folk song from Dalmatia? Sometimes you can get links or QR codes put on a keyring or mug or something...