Croatia: Ellaria Sand
HBO has filmed scenes for Game of Thrones in Croatia, and while those scenes weren’t set in Dorne, the climate of this country isn’t dissimilar from Ellaria’s birthplace. Croatia is one of the sunniest places in Europe, making it hot hot hot. They say that in July and August locals can expect up to 13 hours of sunshine a day. There’s no escape from that blazing heat.
There are also plenty of entertaining options to beat the heat, making Croatia a perfect fit for a worldly woman like Ellaria Sand. In Croatia, she could take in everything from amphitheaters to world class beaches to open-air festivals.
Also like Ellaria, Croatia has a darker, sobering side to it. The Croatian city of Dubrovnik was besieged by the Yugoslav People’s Army for eight long months in 1991. You can still find shrapnel damage on some of the old buildings there, and visit a memorial honoring those who gave their lives for the country’s independence.
Just lately, Ellaria too was involved in some brutal stuff. She killed Myrcella Baratheon and Doran Martell and had Trystane Martell murdered by the Sand Snakes. In a way, she, like Croatia, was fighting for a touch of independence. Her cause wasn’t exactly noble, but when she didn’t agree with Doran’s politics she took matters into her own hands. Unlike Croatia, she did not get to enjoy her independence for long.