“Vamos a bailar”
Rovinj, a coastal gem shimmering quietly along Croatia’s Adriatic edge. A place where pastel buildings lean over slick cobblestone streets, and sunsets paint the sky so vividly, they seem to melt into the sea.
Funny thing is, I’d never even heard of Rovinj until January 2025.
A good friend invited me to this hidden treasure with a twist: a high-energy, flavorful twist laced in Latin flair. That twist? One of the largest Salsa and Bachata festivals in the world.
Anyone who knows me knows two things; one, I’m no dancer and two, I never walk into anything unprepared. So, I did what I do, I trained. Took classes for months, hoping to at least look like I belonged. But what began as preparation quietly became passion.
There’s something unexplainably moving about Latin music. Whether it’s the “3-2, 2-3” clave rhythm, the layered percussion of congas, bongos, timbales in salsa, or the instantly recognizable shimmer of the güira in bachata, the music doesn’t just reach your ears; it pulses through your soul.
And suddenly, your body just knows…
Feet tracing brushstrokes across the floor. Hips and arms moving like the wind. Turns, dips, connection, all born from the freedom of letting go.
No thoughts, no worries, just the music, the moment… and the partner in your arms. Not even the guy in the middle of the floor with a camera could break the spell.