Jelena and Šime complete their 1,200km journey across Croatia

After 52 days and more than 1,200 kilometers on foot, Jelena and Šime Čerina have reached Savudrija, completing their journey across Croatia from Ilok in the east to the country’s westernmost point.

They set out from Ilok on August 17, and as they look back on the extraordinary adventure, they say the thing they will remember most is not the distance they covered, but the people they met along the way.

“We will remember all our angels,” Jelena said, while Šime made no secret of his pride in both the journey and his country.

“This is the most beautiful country in the world,” he said.

“We Won’t Remember the Kilometers; We’ll Remember the People”

Jelena and Šime, Croatians from Australia whose journey was followed by Glas Hrvatske (Voice of Croatia), spent 52 days walking from Croatia’s far east to its far west.

At the finish line in Savudrija, they struggled to hide their emotions.

“Today marks the 52nd day since we set out from Ilok. Our hearts are full. It was a wonderful experience, and it went by so fast,” Jelena said.

Although the distance they covered is difficult to comprehend, Jelena says the kilometers themselves will not be what stays with them.

“What we’ll remember most from this trip are the people. Not the kilometers. We covered 1,200 kilometers, but it’s not the kilometers we’ll remember. We’ll remember the people.

“We’ll remember all our angels — the drivers, everyone who opened their doors to us, fed us, made us coffee, invited us in, and everyone who asked, ‘Are you okay?’” she said.

“Not Once Did We Say We Couldn’t Do It”

Walking more than 1,200 kilometers required considerable physical and mental strength. Yet Jelena says there was never a moment when they seriously considered giving up.

“Not once did we say, ‘We can’t.’ We can. We’re doing this because we love our country and want to get to know it even better. Through this walk, we’ve come to know Croatia — the whole of Croatia — in a way you can’t see from a car or any other way... except on foot,” she said.

That was one of the defining features of their adventure. They did not simply travel through Croatia; they experienced it step by step — through its towns and landscapes, but above all, through the people who welcomed them along the way.

Šime: “I’m Proud of My Wife”

Šime was equally moved as the journey came to an end.

“My heart is full. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished. And I’m proud of my wife — after all, this was her project. It didn’t take much convincing for me to say, ‘Yes, let’s go!’” Šime said.

After thousands upon thousands of steps, however, it was the people they encountered and their connection to Croatia that remained closest to his heart.

“We are proud of what we’ve done and the people we’ve met, and we are so happy with Croatia. It is the most beautiful country in the world,” he said.