Retired in the Peljesac Peninsula In June 1997, I went to Dubrovnik for a relaxing 2-week holiday, little did I know what fate had in store! We met a Norwegian who had been with the UN during the war in Croatia. He told me he had returned to buy a holiday home. After a long discussion on this, I decided to try the same. I concluded that the southern most part of Croatia was the best for me because of the wonderful climate. I explored all of the area from just north of Split to Cavtat south of Dubrovnik over a number of days. On one of my discovery days, I traveled along the Peljesac Peninsula arriving at the end; I drove over the mountain and saw the most incredible view I have ever seen, dropping down to the Orebic Riviera and the Island of Korcula. I soon decided that I wanted a house in this area. Following a lot of searching, I found a fantastic 200 yr old Croatian Villa on the seashore in the village of Viganj. After 6 months of negotiation with the owners both directly and through my Croatian lawyer, the house was eventually purchased. That was when the work really started! I had bought a 200 yr old house with no services connected, no bathroom, a huge backlog of maintenance work (it hadn't been lived in since 1980). Croatia is a fantastic country with a wonderful climate and friendly people, but it's a VERY different way of life, nothing there happens as it does in the UK, something I really like about the place! However, sorting out all of the issues takes a great deal of time and patience. "Croatian time" is very different; as a result nobody suffers from stress there! More than six years later, every time I arrive I have to pinch myself to check that I am not dreaming and that I really did find paradise. Having retired from the ceramics industry in 2000 and spent 2 years there, I am now helping other British people to buy houses. I would like some British neighbours! A large number of Germans and other European Nationals have second homes in my locality because they understand how wonderful Croatia is and what a bargain the houses are.