http://www.croatia.org/crown en-us http://www.croatia.org/crown N/A nenad@nenadbach.com Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:01:14 -0700 20 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9541/1/Spectacular-Monument-to-The-Sun-in-the-city-of-Zadar-by-Nikola-Baiae.html Nikola Ba¹iæ is the author of probably the most beautiful monument dedicated to the Sun that exists on the Earth. The monument is placed in the city of Zadar, on the Croatian coast, along with equally famous Zadar Sea Organ. This is one of greatest achievements of contemporary Croatian Art and Architecture. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9451/1/Put-Zagreb-Croatia-on-the-Monopoly-Board-Game---Help-our-tourism.html HELP OUR TOURISM. Every day you can vote again at  monopolyworldvote.com click on Zagreb, and then add to my cities and then VOTE to Vote to have Zagreb on next WORLD MONOPOLY gameboard it takes 30 seconds maximum. Ivobach2@aol.com (Ivo Bach) Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9438/1/Enriching-experience-The-cream-of-Croatia-provides-a-fascinating-experience.html With miles of pristine beaches framed by dramatic mountains and impossibly clear Adriatic waters, more than a thousand picturesque islands ripe for hopping, and town upon ancient town bursting with faded Habsburg grandeur and dazzling Byzantine churches, Croatia provides a fascinating experience for any visitor. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9433/1/Help-Cora-Yanacek-explore-the-Dalmatian-Coast.html   Cora Yanacek (left) wants to explore Croatia's Dalmatian Coast in May but hasn't been able to decide on the best approach: Stay at one resort and use that as a base? Travel by bus along the coast? Take a cruise? She'll be traveling by herself and needs to stay under $2,000, including airfare. larryvote@aol.com (Larry Cirignano) Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9404/1/No-exaggeration-Croatia-truly-the-Jewel-of-Adriatic.html I had read that Croatia was called the "Jewel of the Adriatic," to which I had rolled my eyes thinking it another trite and  exaggerated description. But it had become clear from the moment we got in our rental car in the marble streets of Zadar to begin our drive south that the description was in fact quite modest. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9380/1/Who-Needs-Venice-When-Zagreb-Beckons.html   Take Vienna's florid architecture, throw in Budapest's bubbling cafe culture, and you get Zagreb, Croatia's grand capital. A showcase of fin-de-siecle architecture capped by two hilltop medieval towns, Zagreb's unexpected beauty is drawing sophisticated weekenders. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9378/1/1925-elegance-lives-in-Zagreb.html   The Regent Esplanade brought glamor and elegance to Zagreb in 1925 when it opened to cater to passengers of the famed Orient Express train route between Paris and Constantinople. Today the Esplanade offers a luxurious gateway to one of Central Europe's hottest destinations - Croatia. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9377/1/Watch-Croatia-in-primetime-on-the-Amazing-Race-tonight-on-CBS.html   Croatia will be featured on the December 9, 2007 episode of the Amazing Race.  The Amazing Race is an Emmy award winning reality program on CBS that features teams of two in a race around the world. Tune in to watch! stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Sun, 09 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9367/1/Newsletter-of-the-Croatian-National-Tourist-Office-December-2007.html Gorski Kotar is relatively less known region of Croatia located in the continental part, just half an hour drive from the Northern Adriatic Coast. With parks of nature and rich wooded areas, it is a great alternative for coastal vacation. During winter months, ski-lovers can enjoy in any of ski-resorts, like Platak or Bjelolasica. cntony@earthlink.net (Nena Komarica) Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9364/1/Vinjica-estate-offers-riding-of-Arabian-horses-and-looks-for-investment.html Guests of Vi¹njica on the north of Croatia can, beside visiting the fallow-deer breeding site and the stud farm, enjoy riding beautiful Arabian horses or spend a day walking, jogging or riding a bike through the nature. To bring the entire estate to its purpose we need capital investments. vladom@xnet.hr (Vladimir Mihajloviæ) Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9359/1/Nikola-Baiae-author-of-the-Zadar-Sea-Organ.html Nikola Ba¹iæ, on the left, is one of the pioneers of cultural tourism in Croatia, author of the project of the Zadar Sea Organ, the newly built urban musical attraction in the city of Zadar, Croatia. His principal collaborator was Ivan Stamaæ, expert in acoustics who contributed musical solutions to the project. The random music is created by sea waves and tubes. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9346/1/Introducing-mobiExplore-Croatia.html A new mobile travel guide - mobiEXPLORE, developed in Split, Croatia, was officially presented. More than 300,000 tourists walk around Croatia with mobile guide in their hands, reserving table in a restaurant, booking room in a hotel, sightseeing, listening stories about sights. vedran@gideon.hr (Vedran Prazen) Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9335/1/Scenic-Projection-for-Croatia-in-Edinburgh-Scotland.html   Thye Edinburgh company projected images of the country onto a building opposite the city's Balmoral Hotel. The event coincided with a visit to the Scottish Parliament by Croatia's president, Stjepan Mesic. The projection used images of Croatia, its flag and the Croatian Tourist Board's branding. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9256/1/Croatia-is-a-standout---by-Jon-Durbin.html   We actually traveled through five countries, beginning and ending our trip in Venice. In addition to Italy, the other four countries, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Montenegro are all part of the former Yugoslavia. While we have wonderful memories from the whole trip, Croatia is a standout. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9243/1/Americans-Flock-to-Croatia.html    nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9230/1/Croatia-The-New-Riveria.html With summer upon us, we face a serious question: where is the hottest place to soak up the sun?  martina.sola@sanmina-sci.com (Martina Sola) Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9175/1/Croatian-National-Tourist-office-Newsletter---August-2007.html     cntony@earthlink.net (Nena Komarica) Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9169/1/Interhome-expands-Croatia-offering.html  Croatia remains at the top of the "wish" list for many British holiday-makers and now there's even more choice for those who want the "home away from home" experience. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9170/1/Beaches-to-dive-for-with-Hidden-Croatia.html Hidden Croatia, the leading specialist tour operator, brings you the most outstanding beaches and diving spots along this rugged and breathtaking coast.  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9165/1/Summer-2007-Hvar-Croatia.html  In our new resort report series we look at Hvar, Croatia and get the lowdown on the best places to eat and stay. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9160/1/A-Thousand-Leaps-of-Faith-in-Zadar-Croatia---World-Record.html     letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9152/1/ATP-18th-edition-of-Croatian-Institution-Studena-Croatia-Open-Umag-2007.html As we enter the 18th edition of the tournament...we proved the world that Umag's tournament is not only about tennis. A new look of the main square, an entertainment program just like those in the main world capitals. A Croatian Institution Studena Croatia Open Umag. Croatia Open Director, Slavko Rasberger (photo).   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9149/1/Children-play-with-a-dolphin-in-the-sea-off-the-Adriatic-coast-of-Croatia.html Children play with a dolphin in the sea off the Adriatic coastal town of Krilo Jesenice, Croatia. The baby dolphin was separated from his mother but later rescued when the school of dolphins returned to collect it   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 22 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9136/1/Czechs-love-Croatia.html Croatia is a country that Czech people love. The Croatian seashore helps Czechs restore their physical and mental condition, and Czech money helps Croatians to restore their post-war economy.   c.mateo@verizon.net (Martin Cvjetkoviæ) Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9135/1/Flyglobespan-offers-new-route-to-Pula.html     stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9134/1/Croatia-All-at-sea.html  We left British shores as six strangers, split into two crews on a flotilla holiday across the azure waters of Croatia's spectacular coast. We returned as friends who had learnt a bit about sailing. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 08 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9128/1/Special-Deals-for-Australian-Tourists-to-Croatia.html    nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9114/1/Two-Americans-living-in-Dubrovnik.html Andrew and Michelle Kehoe have swapped the "big apple" for the peace and quiet of Dubrovnik. They first came here in 2006 and as they say fell in love with the city.   c.mateo@verizon.net (Martin Cvjetkoviæ) Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9115/1/Iowans-on-the-go-Croatia-finds-peace-old-self.html nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9107/1/The-vulture-man-of-Croatia.html  Goran Susic runs an operation that helps conserve a surprisingly large local population of griffen vultures, which have become a tourist attraction, since he set up his centre in 1993. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9106/1/Get-fit-the-fun-way-with-an-Activity-Holiday-in-Croatia.html If you are always promising yourself an activity holiday, why not try one with a more adventurous edge? letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9051/1/Heritage-and-genealogy-of-Croatia-tour-hosted-by-Robert-Jerin-October-4---17-2007.html Join Robert Jerin, for this exploration of Croatia's history and heritage. Meet with local professionals working in genealogy while cruising the coastline and tour this country rich in culture.   rjerin26@yahoo.com (Robert Jerin) Wed, 30 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9005/1/Europe-2007-Zagreb-the-Continents-new-star.html  Now, in person, the capital of an at-last independent Croatia shows off its colors and vibrancy. Maybe it always was thus, but it never came to mind as one of the must-see cities on the Continent. no_e-mail@email.com (Ana Petercic) Wed, 28 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8971/1/Hidden-Croatia-Releases-Honeymoon-Brochure.html Hidden Croatia is pleased to announce the launch of their honeymoon brochure. Hidden Croatia have hand picked a selection of unique hotels nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 07 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8952/1/Online-Route-planner-For-Cycling-Trips-To-Croatia.html   Holidaymakers thinking of visiting Croatia can now get information online about cycling tours in Istria. Istria's tourist office in Porec has a multilingual service online, where a list of cycling routes can be found. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8951/1/A-View-With-a-Room.html The spectacular coast of Croatia is studded with centuries-old lighthouses. Eleven of them have vacation rentals that allow guests to play keeper for a week.   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8919/1/Le-Meridien-Lav-Opens-First-Hotel-In-Split-Croatia.html   Le Méridien Lav is taking over the resort previously known as the Hotel Lav, giving it a $150 million renovation. The resort has 364 guestrooms with 17 suites and a Presidential Suite. The beach-front resort has seven bars and dining areas, tennis academy, private yacht marina, a casino and indoor and outdoor pools. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8918/1/Croatia---The-New-Foodie-Frontier.html Croatia has been my second home for nearly three decades. I learned to cook from my mother-in-law, in the tiny kitchen, two blocks from Zagreb's bustling, colorful open market. She taught me that the key to any successful dish began with selecting the freshest ingredients, preferrably local. Herbs and spices were also important.   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8917/1/Terra-Incognita-Croatia-2007.html   Terra Incognita is an Expedition Adventure Race that covers over 400 km through Croatia - one of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes on the European Continent. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8903/1/Croatia-The-best-of-Europe.html Does Croatia cross your mind while you use a ball pen or knot your tie? Probably not, but not too many know that these mundane, every day things originate from this Mediterranean country (the ball pen was invented by a Croatian and the latter by Croat soldiers).  stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Thu, 18 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8896/1/Croatia-vs-Greece.html Greece has sharpened up its image, but Croatia needs no makeover. Summer holidays here are hype-free, a throwback to the Med as it used to be. Few bits of Europe compare with the southern Dalmatian coast. It has the cleanest seas in the Med (sorry, Greece); the sunniest islands in the Adriatic (Hvar and Mljet); and the longest, whitest beaches.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 14 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8836/1/Ten-best-places-in-Croatia.html     letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 24 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8810/1/Plitvice-Lakes-National-Park-Croatia.html In Croatia's rugged interior, a stone's throw from the Bosnian border, hides one of Europe's most exotic hikes: through Plitvice (PLEET-veet-seh) Lakes National Park. There's nothing like this lush valley of 16 terraced lakes, laced together by waterfalls and miles of pleasant plank walks. Years ago, after a dozen or so visits, I thought I really knew Europe. Then I discovered Plitvice, and realized you can never exhaust Europe of its surprises.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 10 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8785/1/Croatian-lace.html The annual exhbition of Croatian lace in the town of Lepoglava near Zagreb, showed amazing skills of our women in knitting, using subtle patterns of breathtaking beauty. The 10th International Lace Festival - Lepoglava 2006 has been very successfuly organized. The oldest testimony of lace making in Croatia is from the 15th century, mentioned in the minutes of the Dubrovnik Senat.   darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 04 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8770/1/Truffle-fever-hits-Croatias-Istria-peninsula---for-their-supposed-aphrodisiac-effect.html   MOTOVUN WOODS, Croatia - It's 5:00 am and dawn is still far off, but Keti and Bela are already at work and don't seem to mind the cold autumn mist shrouding the Motovun woods in the heart of the Istria peninsula. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 03 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8702/1/Croatian-Highlights-and-History-Tour.html Are you interested in traveling to Croatia next year, but don't want to deal with the hassle of making an itinerary? Croatian-American photographer Don Wolf will be offering a guided tour of Croatia in 2007. Interested? Read more.   stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Wed, 13 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8649/1/Touring-Croatia-on-a-Bicycle.html   Increasingly tourists are asking for more from their holidays and gone are the days of merely lying on a beach for two weeks. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Sun, 03 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8648/1/Visit-Croatias-Grandest-Coastal-Town.html  Opatija is one of northern Croatia's grandest coastal towns and is an ideal place to see beautiful buildings, take in sea views and wander around colourful gardens.   stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Sun, 03 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8650/1/Yachts-and-Hot-Croatia.html  While there are bundles of cheap, more traditional holidays to pick up in the country, there is an alternative, swash-buckling way of enjoying Croatia's verdant beauty - that of a yacht race.   stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Sat, 26 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8610/1/Mario-Ancic-on-a-Zagreb-Tour.html Mario Ancic tours Zagreb, 3 minute video letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 13 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8595/1/E-Croatia-27-countries-at-2006-International-Finn-General-Assembly.html Croatia. 27 voting countries attend 2006 International Finn Association Annual General Assembly   Wednesday, 12 July 2006 Corinne McKenzie:The 2006 IFA Annual General Assembly took place on Sunday in the spectacular Archaeological Museum assembling over 70 participants and 27 voting countries (Finn class decisions are democratically taken on a yearly basis by the countries members of IFA). The Executive Committee members were re-elected with the inclusion of top Swedish sailor, Daniel Birgmark in the role of Vice President Sailing. He is replacing Ali Enver Adakan who after committing to the Finn class during many years has decided to reduce his sailing activities.Among the decisions taken, the Council voted to adopt the new Olympic format for the European and Finn Gold Cup, but will include providing racing on the last day for sailors not qualified in the top 10 final.For their last Olympic qualifying event which has to be outside of Europe, the Finn representatives have decided to return to Black Rock Yacht Club, Australia, for the 2008 Finn Gold Cup and chose the newly built Etrusca Marina in Puntone di Scarlino, Italy for the 2008 European Championship. Representatives from the Moscow Sailing School and Moscow City Sport Management presented the 2007 Finn Junior Championship. To respond to the increasing number of Juniors and with the limitation of entries imposed by ISAF for the 2007 ISAF Worlds in Cascais, the IFA executive committee has proposed to create a separate Junior World Championship every 4 years (in the year of the ISAF Worlds). With 100 complete boats available for racing in Moscow, it was logical to enjoy this opportunity to organise this inaugural Junior event there. Based on the same system as the ISAF Youth Worlds, participants will only have to organise their trip. Accommodation and food will be provided on the premises for all participants for a good rate while the equipment and coach boats will be provided at no cost. “It is a great development opportunity for the class and sailing generally, the Finn class will organise a clinic to increase the level of junior sailors” explained IFA President Dr. Balazs Hajdu.Other step towards development includes the “Web based Finn clinic” elaborated by Gus Miller and Jane Walker. All sailing topics will be covered in this tutorial interactive web based tool, where still and motion pictures will be available along with comments and interviews of top athletes and coaches in different languages.The Finn class welcomed the project and will participate with US$6,000 on an overall estimated budget of US$30,000. This great development tool will be available free of charge to any sailor at the end of 2006 and is predicted to be used not only by Finn sailors but also by other dinghy sailors and coaches.In order to generate sufficient income to cover the Finn development items, administration, measurement expertise and regatta organisation, IFA has voted in favour of increasing the equipment building fees for boats, masts and sails. In the last 3 years, the ISAF grant for Olympic classes was enough to cover these items. The decision by ISAF to cancel it this year is forcing most Olympic classes to find other source of income.The high demand from sailors to see the football final forced the AGM to be adjourned after the St Francis YC bid presentation for the 2009 FGC which received high interest from sailors and will be voted for in 2007 along with other bids. The remaining items in the agenda will be discussed on Tuesday evening.http://jklabud.hr/2006/index.php?regata=finn/ Last Updated ( Wednesday, 12 July 2006 ) http://www.bymnews.com/new/content/view/32214/48/ nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 12 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8594/1/E-Ecotourism-on-the-rise-in-Croatia.html Ecotourism on the rise in Croatia  07/07/2006Most visitors to Croatia come for the beaches and islands. But an emerging trend in tourism is drawing more and more of them inland, while also helping to boost ecological awareness.By Kristina Cuk for Southeast European Times in Zagreb -- 07/7/06Snowboarder_Brezovica_Croatia.jpgA snowboarder hits the slopes in Brezovica, Croatia. [Getty Images]Ecological tourism is a rapidly developing branch of tourism, appealing to those eager to follow the road less travelled, see natural treasures firsthand, relax in the countryside, enjoy traditional cuisine and -- most importantly -- preserve the environment. Such tourists are drawn to locations offering natural rugged beauty and diversity of animal and plant life. They enjoy activities such as cycling, mountain climbing, horseback riding, swimming, fishing and hiking. Alternatively, some come to plant trees or clean up the area.Because of its unique geographical location, Croatia stands to benefit from this emerging trend. It is a country of great regional diversity, with mountains, lowlands, coastlines, rivers and lakes. Summer tourism is usually concentrated along the coast and centres on the sea and islands. Now, however, ecological and rural tourism is leading more and more visitors to turn their focus inland.Across the country, cabins, motels and even small castles are being opened, while traditional old houses are undergoing renovation. Guests can relax and take in the scenery while enjoying domestic cuisine prepared according to the specific customs of each particular area.Ecotourism is growing rapidly and will be profitable in years to come, says the owner of one rural house near Zagreb. Croatia's coming entry into the EU means more financial support for these endeavours, as well as the likelihood of more visitors.However, this style of tourism is not only about enjoyment. It also aims at developing greater awareness of and responsibility towards the natural environment. The United States, for instance, has an organisation called "Green Hostels" that how to travel responsibly by following certain ecological rules. These include using organised transport rather than renting cars, cleaning up waste, and conserving water while showering. While eco-tourism remains a new phenomenon in Croatia, over time it may help foster similar awareness in this country too.http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2006/07/07/feature-02   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 07 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8593/1/E-Croatia-Glows---A-simple-appreciation-of-life-and-love-that-requires-no-analysis.html Croatia Glows  SIMONA RABINOVITCH A simple appreciation of life and love that requires no analysis, a sensibility Croatia continues to embrace.From Saturday's Globe and MailZagreb — Two groomsmen duck into the courtyard for a smoke. I watch them from the restaurant doorway, taking in their black tuxedos, champagne grins, and stumbly ease with one another. The serene, magnolia darkness offers a much-needed break from the heated conversation at our table.I'm dining with two other foreign journalists and a group of locals at Okrugljak, an eatery just outside Zagreb. We had all met for the first time a few hours earlier in the lobby of the Regent Esplanade hotel, but any awkwardness at dinner is soon soothed by the relaxed chatter and laughter of the families filling the dining room — not to mention the bevanda, a traditional Croatian mixture of red wine and water.In fact, we feel so at ease that our uncensored chit-chat reveals cultural differences. For instance, the New Yorker in our entourage can't understand why requesting a doggie bag for my dessert might be a faux-pas. "You've heard of fast food? This is slow food," says our hostess Amelia Tomasevic, graciously looking us each in the eye, as Croats do.The evening was the first of many that would highlight the contrast between North America's rat race and Croatia's laid-back lifestyle. A decade removed from civil war, the union of Old World warmth and modern sophistication — everyone, for instance, seems to own fancy cellphones — is one reason Croatia is regaining its A-list status among jet setters and discriminating European travellers. Actors Sean Connery, Gwyneth Paltrow and Tom Cruise have been spotted vacationing (separately) on the Dalmatian Coast. Princess Caroline of Monaco is reportedly buying one of the 1,185 islands in the region, and Robert e Niro, Clint Eastwood and Sharon Stone are also rumoured to be eyeing real-estate along Croatia's 1,778-kilometre Adriatic coastline.Many influential publications — from GQ and Condé Nast Traveler magazines to National Geographic and the New York Times — are dubbing this Adriatic country "the new Riviera," equating Croatia with what Western Europe once was, before the onset of commercialism and gaudiness. The Dalmatian Coast — notably lavender-skinned Hvar Island and the ancient resort town of Split — is being referred to as "the new CÃ'te d'Azur." Dubrovnik, the thousand-year-old seaside city of marble streets and stone walls that poet Lord Byron called "the pearl of the Adriatic," is "the new St-Tropez." Inland, the green hills and wineries of Istria make up "the new Tuscany."Despite the recent hype, Croatia remains refreshingly inexpensive compared with such Mediterranean destinations as Italy, France and Spain. Main courses of grilled sea bass and roasted lamb in the finest restaurants, for example, usually remain well below the $20 mark.Wine with dinner is also quite inexpensive ($10 to $20 for a bottle of Istria's white malmsey or red teran), but a round of cocktails in a popular club may yield a Toronto-esque tab. Of course, prices in Zagreb and the country's popular coastal towns jump drastically during the crowded summer months, but during the off-season — September through May — are well below Western European levels.Croatia's position between Eastern and Western Europe has allowed Italian, German, Hungarian, Mediterranean, Balkan and Slavic customs to surface in its art, food, architecture, and society. The latter is noticeable in the hospitable and strikingly attractive population. Visitors hoping men will measure up to Croatian actor Goran Visnjic — sexy Dr. Luka Kovac on TV's ER — won't be disappointed.Which brings me back to the tipsy groomsmen, who had been part of a wedding taking place in a banquet hall adjoining the restaurant. Theirs was the seventh ceremony I had come across earlier that day, strolling through the city's medieval Upper Town. (The Lower Town, meanwhile, is home to most of the city's 50 museums and galleries, as well as countless parks, shops, cafés, and trendy nightclubs like Boogalo, Sokol, Saloon, and Gap club.) Weaving my way through the Upper Town's cobblestone laneways, wedding parties spilled into the streets, drawing me into flurries of flashbulbs and satin, then spitting me out the other side. Truth be told, walking through moments of other people's happiness made me feel like the ultimate tourist. I realized I was a stranger not only to this country, but to the ease with which Croats interact and rejoice.But life in Croatia isn't all easygoing dinners and wedded bliss. The other side of this kuna (Croatia's currency) is rampant unemployment, relatively low wages, corruption, and declining standards of living. Some of these problems stem from the civil war and transition from a socialist-communist economy. But nobody talks about the past. At least, not to me. Things they do talk about: Whether or not to join the European Union. Art, music, movies, sex, sports.Leisure is certainly important here, and most Croats love to sit with their coffee. In Zagreb, I did just that at the elegant Regent Esplanade, a five-star, art-deco hotel built in 1925 for passengers of the Orient Express. (The train station is still across the street).For handicrafts, housewares, and fresh fruit and vegetables, don't miss Zagreb's outdoor Dolac market, nor the beautiful Mirogoj cemetery, which is also a flower-filled park and houses an outdoor sculpture gallery. For people-watching and café culture, Trg Jelacic is the bustling town square linking the city's upper and lower halves.Leaving the capital with Nino, our driver, at the wheel of a rented car, our dinner group heads north into Istria after two days in Zagreb. This region is so close to Italy that it feels Italian — its population includes a 10-per-cent minority of ethnic Italians. Asparagus grow like dandelions in Istria's hilly green interior, where other culinary specialties include cheese and truffles.A pair of villages — each perched on a mountaintop, separated like estranged cousins — have witnessed the region's slow evolution since medieval times. Motovun, which local legend says was once inhabited by giants, was fortified by the Venetians in the 14th century. Every July during the Motovun Film Festival, fans of independent cinema overrun the town and pitch tents in the surrounding foothills (a practise that has yielded the nickname "Film Woodstock").The other village is Groznjan, less famous, but in my mind just as alluring. Walled in the 12th century, this artist colony emanates stillness, as if the forces of modernism can't make it up the hill (I wasn't sure our car would, either). I fantasize about living there, just to write.I'm in good company. In 1904, James Joyce moved from Trieste, Italy, to Pula, the Istrian port town where Roman ruins stand beside busy, modern shops. (He lived there for a year with his partner Nora Barnacle, writing and teaching English to Austro-Hungarian officers.)In the town centre near the majestic Arch of Sergius (erected in 27 BC) and Temple of Augustus (2 BC to AD 12), we happen upon a brass band performing on a side street near the town square; a gastronomical festival; even an archeological dig beside the temple, where a woman in a red suit barks directions at archeologists who, just five days earlier, had uncovered the original pavement of the town's Roman forum. Pula's main attraction — its first-century Roman amphitheatre — is now used as a concert venue for big rock shows.The next day we drive to Opatija, a lovely seaside resort town in the neighbouring Kvarner region that was once the preferred playground of the Austro-Hungarian elite. Its 12-kilometre-long waterfront promenade offers great views of Cres, Croatia's largest island.Accessible by ferry, Cres is a rocky landscape of ancient towns and sandy beaches. Cres Town evokes an Italian fishing village, while northern Cres is home to the Eco-Centre Caput Insulae, a sanctuary for griffon vultures. An "outdoor museum" of walking trails leads us through forests, medieval ruins and stone sculptures inscribed with ancient Glagolitic script.Back in Opatija, the freshest of fish is served at Mali Raj, a family-owned seafood restaurant nestled into the coastline. For dessert, we sip sorbetta, a marvellous concoction of lime sorbet whipped with vodka. Our host is Ante Stampalija, a jolly, robust gentleman from a long line of fisherman who personified the Mediterranean way of life I am beginning to covet. "We say fish three times swim," he jokes. "First in the sea, second in olive oil, and third in wine — when you drink it."During the next day's four-hour drive to Plitvice Lakes National Park, a World Heritage Site of 16 lakes connected by waterfalls, Nino suggests we stop for espresso at a roadside bar. This break in the action reminds me of my favourite moment of the trip: Of that first night in Zagreb when I stood outside, smelled the flowers, and watched two guys share a cigarette.Suddenly, I understand what people miss when they reminisce about the old days: a simple appreciation of life and love that requires no analysis — a sensibility Croatia continues to embrace.!Special to The Globe and MailGETTING THERE Although Air Canada doesn't fly to Croatia, fellow Star Alliance member Lufthansa (www.lufthansa.com) operates flights to Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik from various airports in Western Europe. National carrier Croatia Airlines (www.croatiaairlines.hr) also operates flights to European hubs. WHERE TO STAY Regent Esplanade: Mihanoviceva 1, Zagreb; 1-800-545-4000; www.regenthotels.com. Built in 1925 for passengers of the Orient Express, this five-star property combines traditional elegance and contemporary chic. Rooms start at $200 a night. Hotel Kastel: Trg Andrea Antico 7, Motovun; 385 (1) 5268 1607; www.hotel-kastel-motovun.hr. Located in the town square of this ancient hilltop village. Rooms start at $55. Hotel Bristol: Lica Marsala Tita 108, Opatija; 385 (1) 5170 6300; hotel-bristol.hr. Newly renovated, this seaside four-star has retained its architectural highlights dating back to 1906. Rooms start at $100. WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK Okrugljak: Mlinovi 28, Zagreb; 385 (1) 467 4112; www.okrugljak.hr . A splendid traditional family restaurant with an adjoining banquet hall. Mali Raj: Opatija; 385 (1) 5170 4074. With a name that translates to "Little Paradise," this restaurant and pension specializes in seafood fresh from the Adriatic it overlooks.! THINGS TO DO Motovun Film Festival: www.motovunfilmfestival.com. Annual festival takes over the village from July 24 to 28. Eco-Centre Caput Insulae: Beli 4, Island of Cres; 385 (5) 184 0525; www.caput-insulae.com. This private non-profit organization houses a sanctuary for endangered griffon vultures, as well as an "outdoor museum" of walking trails. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060708.wcroatiatrav0708/BNStory/specialTravel/home nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 07 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8591/1/E-Cocktail-from-10000-feet-has-been-launched-in-Croatia.html HIGH-FLYING COCKTAIL The ultimate cocktail which can only be mixed by a barman freefalling from 10,000 feet has been launched in Croatia. The Wings of Zadar cocktail, based on the local Maraschino liqueur, is poured upside down so that the drink flies upwards into the mixer, and then shaken as the barman performs a series of somersaults. The drink is chilled by the freezing air rushing over the shaker - and then served on landing to the customer. Drinks creator Ante Butic, who has been serving the drinks to clients on the beach at Zadar, said: "The high altitude mix gives the drink a distinct flavour. "It is really popular, the service is sponsored by the local tourism board but who knows, maybe I might carry on if I can find enough rich customers who want to try the ultimate cocktail." source: www.ananova.com/ May 30, 2006 nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8592/1/E-Former-Derby-County-defender-opens-hotel-in-Croatia.html Former Derby County defender opens hotel in Croatia  (13 June 2006 15:52)Former Derby County defender Igor Stimac has opened a £10m hotel in his home country of Croatia, and is preparing to welcome some of England's national team to the hotel after the World Cup.Reopening the 111-year-old hotel Therapia in Crikvenica in the northern Adriatic last week, Stimac said Frank Lampard and Joe Cole were set to spend their holidays there after the tournament."I expect more celebrities,” he said at the launch of the hotel he bought two-and-a-half years ago.The four-star Therapia was built in 1895, when Franz Josef ruled the Austro-Hungarian Empire.It has 113 rooms, several apartments, two restaurants, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a massage centre, a dance terrace and tennis and miniature golf courses.Besides playing for Derby County and West Ham, Stimac won the bronze medal with the Croatian national team at World Cup 1998 in France.By Jim Glennhttp://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2006/06/13/307175/Former+Derby+County+defender+opens+hotel+in+Croatia.htm Hotel Therapia - www.therapia.hr  Hotel Therpia Contact and locationBraće Buchoffer 12, 51260 Crikvenica, Croatiatel: +385(0)51 785-063, fax: +385(0)51 785-072e-mail: therapia@jadran-crikvenica.hr , therapia@adria-crikvenica.hr , therapia@booking.hr nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 13 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8305/1/E-Croatias-so-hyped-that-prices-are-rising-by-the-minute.html See Croatia's Adriatic pearls from $20/nightVisit World Heritage sites, sleep in a lighthouse, take a kayak tourUpdated: 11:44 a.m. ET May 18, 2006Book by: ASAP Travel by: Through September 2006 The deal: Long gone is the time when Croatia was a no-go war-ridden zone. In fact, the country's comeback has been so glamorous that it currently ranks as one of Europe's hottest summer vacation spots. Since its economy doesn't rely on the euro, a visit here is definitely great value, but peak-season airfare can still be known to break the bank. You'll be able to discover this new "it" destination with the four deals we've found, ranging from an escorted eight-night air-and-hotel Adriatic combo from $2,199 to a historic lighthouse overnight from less than $20/nightDalmatian sunshine for $2,499The best-value summer fling to Croatia is currently on offer by Gate1Travel: the escorted 10-day Dalmatian Coast escapade for just $2,499. In addition to air from New York, known to run over $1,500 during summer months, this stellar special covers eight-night hotel stays; 14 meals; guided sightseeing with entrance fees; and all transfers. The itinerary includes sojourns in Dubrovnik, also known as "the pearl of the Adriatic"; the historic port city of Split; the breathtaking Plitvice National Park with its terraced lakes; Slovenia’s lake village of Bled; and Croatia’s picturesque capital of Zagreb. Other stops en route are the stunning Postojna Caves; the immaculately preserved historic town of Trogir; and the elegant Opatija sea resort.Lodgings provided throughout are at properties like the four-star Sheraton in downtown Zagreb. At this price, you can pick between the following departures: June 23; July 7 and 21; August 18; and September 1. Save $300 on fall toursSummer may be the peak season for visiting Croatia but what most people don’t know is that early fall is just as beautiful and less crowded to boot. So if you want to save a serious chunk of change, we recommend an autumn jaunt to this European treasure. Go-Today's deal is the best one going here, as $2,199 gets you exactly the same inclusions as above and it’s good for travel between September 15 and October 27. You’ll save $300 over summer departures plus you’ll have the Dalmatian gems practically to yourself. On top of destinations mentioned above, other highlights of the extensive itinerary include a visit to the Roman-era Diocletian’s Palace in Split, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site; a pit stop in Slovenia’s charming capital city of Ljubljana; and a stopover in Croatia’s Zadar, the oldest Slavic city on the Adriatic. Kayak around the Adriatic for $2,390How about a little adventure thrown into your Croatia stay? If the idea rocks your boat, we suggest Travel Time’s Dubrovnik and Dalmatian islands kayaking trip for $2,390. Valid for weekly Saturday departures through August, this 11-day odyssey covers air from New York, with transfers; three nights at midrange Hotel Lero in Dubrovnik; seven nights at privately owned guesthouses; daily breakfast, five lunches and three dinners; and all local taxes. But here’s the best part: This fun trip includes eight days of kayaking in small groups around Sipan and Lopud islands or Korcula Island. September is also a great time to go, with weather perfectly pleasant, sea temperatures still balmy and prices for the same package down to $1,990. Add-ons from other getaways are available at low prices: From Boston, it’s $50 more; from Chicago, it costs $110 extra; L.A. or San Francisco departures increase the price by $250. Lighten up with a lighthouse stay in Croatia this JuneWe also have a unique travel suggestion if you can pack up and head to Croatia in short order. Why not lighten up with a stay at one of the historic lighthouses along the Adriatic and save 10 percent off rack rates for stays through June? You can pick between 11 lighthouses, located both on the mainland and on small islets out in the open sea. Each property features well-appointed apartments with fully-equipped kitchens and TVs. Most of the lighthouses have a resident keeper, so you won’t have to play Robinson Crusoe, but you will have to bring your own groceries and drinking water and be prepared to cook as there are no on-premise facilities.Note that there’s a one-week minimum stay, from Saturday to Saturday only. Per person rates (before the discount) start at $17/night for a stay at Struga Lighthouse on the island of Lastovo and go up to $38/night at the hilltop Palagruza Lighthouse on a remote island of the same name.The dollars: See details above. The packages exclude air taxes and fees, while the lighthouse stays exclude boat transfers (if you pick one of the island lighthouses). The catch: Croatia’s so hyped that prices are rising by the minute. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12853420/  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 18 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8304/1/E-Jack-Nicklaus-will-build-Signature-Golf-Course-in-Croatia.html  Nicklaus will build course in CroatiaVartan Kupelian / The Detroit NewsJack Nicklaus was in Croatia last weekend for a meeting with Prime Minister Dr. Ivo Sanader in Zagreb, the capital city,where they announced the first Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in that country. A contract signing ceremony Sundaylaunched the project at Porto Mariccio Resort, a community on the Istrian Peninsula.Nicklaus' design firm has courses open for play in 28 countries. Croatia will be No. 29, and 19 other countries are beingadded to the roster."This is one more country that five years ago we, as a firm, never dreamed we would have the opportunity to be involved in asfar as developing golf," said Tim Kenny, executive vice-president for Nicklaus Design.There are currently three courses in Croatia, but with the country being touted by National Geographic as a top destination, thenumber is sure to spiral.Tribute eventJay Delsing finished fifth last week at the Nationwide Tour's Rheem Classic. Delsing was the halfway leader. It's noteworthybecause Delsing was mourning the death of his father, Jim Delsing , who played center field for the Tigers years ago. Delsingplayed as a tribute to his father."I didn't feel much like playing golf I don't know what I'm feeling," Delsing said. "I've never experienced anything like thisbefore. It's obviously life-changing."Robbins to OpenKelly Robbins and Michelle Wie have accepted special exemptions for the 2006 U.S. Women's Open, June 29-July 2, atNewport (R.I.) Country Club.Robbins, 36, a Mt. Pleasant native, was exempt for the 2005 championship but had to withdraw due to a back injury thatcaused her to miss most of last year. Robbins has played in the Women's Open 14 times and has won more money,$805,695, than anyone who has not won the title.Million dollar manLoren Roberts won $88,000 with his third-place finish on the Champions Tour on Sunday and, in eight events, has gone overthe $1 million mark. That ties Roberts with Hale Irwin for the quickest to seven figures to start a season.Roberts, who has a game fit for the TPC of Michigan in Dearborn, site of the Ford Seniors Players Championship in July, has10 consecutive top-10 finishes dating back to last year.Moore returnsIf you're wondering what's become of Ryan Moore , the young golfer who turned professional last June and earned his PGATour playing card in just 10 starts, he's back. Moore had hand surgery early this year.He will tee it up this week at the Bank of America Colonial, seven weeks after the operation.Ferris secondFerris State's women's golf team placed second -- its best finish ever -- in the NCAA Division II championships Saturday atThe Meadows Golf Club in Allendale, Mich.The Bulldogs finished six shots behind Rollins (Fla.), which was at 919 (55-over-par) in the 54-hole event and won its fourthconsecutive national championship. Lynn (Fla.) was third and host Grand Valley State was fourth.Ferris junior Casey McKinnon (St. Ignace, Mich.) and senior Elena Robles tied for third overall at 10-over 226. FreshmanMeghan Hunter (Dexter, Mich.) was 13th at 237.http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060516/SPORTS04/605160435/1048/SPORTS04  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 18 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8306/1/E-New-Night-Ferry-Services-in-Croatia.html  Night ferry services connecting islands to operate as of JuneZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) - The Croatian Government has decided that additional night ferry services be introduced for islands Cres/Losinj, Rab, Ugljan/Pasman, Brac and Hvar as of 1 June.The new lines will connect the islands with the mainland between 2300 hrs and 0400 hrs.The Ivo Sanader cabinet on Thursday decided to ensure 5.8 million kuna (approx. 789,000 euros) as state subsidies for this purpose. The new services will be in place through the whole year.|News|Hina| April 20, 2006 -  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 17 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8303/1/H-Arthur-Frommer-izdao-turisticki-vodic-za-Hrvatsku.html  Arthur Frommer izdao turistički vodič za HrvatskuWASHINGTON - Najpoznatiji američki turistički vodič Arthur Frommer's izdao je u ponedjeljak prvi svibnja i prvi samostalni vodič za Hrvatsku. U publikaciji "Frommer's Croatia" na 340 stranica su dane turističke destinacije u Hrvatskoj za svako godiÅ¡nje doba i svačiji džep. Autorica vodiča Karen Torme Olson započinje vodič s Dubrovnikom, predstavlja Dalmaciju i Istru, a nije propustila dati Amerikancima informacije i o kontinentalnoj Hrvatskoj, mjestima koja se mogu posjetiti u Zagrebu i okolici, Zagorju te Slavoniji i Podravini. Ovaj vodič će biti važno pomagalo američkim turistima i može potaknuti njihova putovanja u Hrvatsku. Frommerove vodiče američki turisti najčeÅ¡će koriste kao pouzdan izvor informacija kako za putovanja po Americi tako i inozemstvu. Na naslovnoj stranici vodiča je fotografija Dubrovnika s pogledom na katedralu, a u njemu je autorica uz korisne informacije i karte opisala zanimljivosti kojima je svjedočila putujući Hrvatskom. (Hina) nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 17 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/1/1/H-35-obljetnica-Hrvatske-Katolicke-Misije-u-New-Yorku.html Submitted by: fr. Robert Zubovic Date: Apr 28, 06 Category: Religion35. obljetnica Hrvatske Katolicke Misije u New Yorku   KONCERT: Povodom proslave 35. obljetnice Hrvatske Katolicke Misije u New Yorku na prigodan nacin bit ce obiljezena i 100-ta obljetnica rodjenja velikog hrvatskog skladatelja Borisa Papondopula. Na koncertu prije svecane mise njujorski ansambl "St. Raphael Cappella" izvest ce Papandopulovu skladbu Impresije za puhace. Bit ce izvedena i cuvena Sinfonietta op. 10 Lisztova ucenika i romanticnog skladatelja Joachima Raffa, jedno od monumentalnih djela za puhace. St. Raphael Cappella sastoji se od vrhunskih profesionalnih glazbenika Vojne Akademije SAD-a West Point kao i od povremenih clanova iz Julliard School of Music u New Yorku. Glazbeni ravnatelj i dirigent sastava je prof. Drago Bubalo, koji je od 1999. - 2003. djelovao u RH kao dirigent Orkestra Hrvatske vojske. MISA. Tijekom Svecane Sv. Mise pjevat ce se poznata Hrvatska Misa don Sime Marovica, kapelnika Splitske Katedrale. Misa je skladana za soliste, muski ansambl, mjesoviti zbor, orgulje i orkestar, te je praizvedena tijekom posjete Sv. Oca Ivana Pavla II Splitu 1998. godine. Nastupa Hrvatski Zbor u New Yorku (novi pjevacki sastav od 50-tak clanova kojeg je okupio zupnik don Robert Zubovic), Klapa Astoria, Rade .... i don Robert Zubovic kao solisti, a uz pratnju puhackog orkestra "St. Raphael Cappella" pod ravnanjem Drage Bubala. Formatted for CROWN by Nenad Bach   Distributed by CroatianWorld.net. This message is intended for Croatian Associations/Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions/articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, please delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! Ivobach2@aol.com (Ivo Bach) Sat, 29 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/1/1/H-35-obljetnica-Hrvatske-Katolicke-Misije-u-New-Yorku.html Submitted by: fr. Robert Zubovic Date: Apr 28, 06 Category: Religion35. obljetnica Hrvatske Katolicke Misije u New Yorku   KONCERT: Povodom proslave 35. obljetnice Hrvatske Katolicke Misije u New Yorku na prigodan nacin bit ce obiljezena i 100-ta obljetnica rodjenja velikog hrvatskog skladatelja Borisa Papondopula. Na koncertu prije svecane mise njujorski ansambl "St. Raphael Cappella" izvest ce Papandopulovu skladbu Impresije za puhace. Bit ce izvedena i cuvena Sinfonietta op. 10 Lisztova ucenika i romanticnog skladatelja Joachima Raffa, jedno od monumentalnih djela za puhace. St. Raphael Cappella sastoji se od vrhunskih profesionalnih glazbenika Vojne Akademije SAD-a West Point kao i od povremenih clanova iz Julliard School of Music u New Yorku. Glazbeni ravnatelj i dirigent sastava je prof. Drago Bubalo, koji je od 1999. - 2003. djelovao u RH kao dirigent Orkestra Hrvatske vojske. MISA. Tijekom Svecane Sv. Mise pjevat ce se poznata Hrvatska Misa don Sime Marovica, kapelnika Splitske Katedrale. Misa je skladana za soliste, muski ansambl, mjesoviti zbor, orgulje i orkestar, te je praizvedena tijekom posjete Sv. Oca Ivana Pavla II Splitu 1998. godine. Nastupa Hrvatski Zbor u New Yorku (novi pjevacki sastav od 50-tak clanova kojeg je okupio zupnik don Robert Zubovic), Klapa Astoria, Rade .... i don Robert Zubovic kao solisti, a uz pratnju puhackog orkestra "St. Raphael Cappella" pod ravnanjem Drage Bubala. Formatted for CROWN by Nenad Bach   Distributed by CroatianWorld.net. This message is intended for Croatian Associations/Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions/articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, please delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know! Ivobach2@aol.com (Ivo Bach) Sat, 29 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8307/1/E-Wanda-Radetti-Croatia-a-destination-for-baby-boomers.html  Wanda Radetti:Croatia a destination for baby boomers http://www.croatianworld.net/Letters/Wanda.pdf   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 22 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8309/1/E-Croatias-Tourism-Has-Great-Potential.html  Croatia's Tourism Has Great Potential - Austrian Minister Croatia has great potential in tourism, Austrian Economy and Labour Minister Martin Bartenstein told a news briefing in Vienna on Tuesday at the end of a two-day conference on tourism.The conference, called "Tourism and Culture - A Key to Development and Employment in Europe", pooled tourism ministers from European Union member-states, acceding countries, candidate countries including Croatia, western Balkan countries and officials from international organisations."The Dalmatian coast is splendid," Bartenstein said, adding that as soon Croatia joined the EU, the Dalmatian coast would enjoy great European prospects regarding tourism development.The State Secretary of the Croatian Tourism Ministry, Zdenko Micic, who led the Croatian delegation at the conference, agreed that Croatia had much to offer as regards tourism.Guenther Verheugen, the European Commission Vice President and Commissioner responsible for Enterprise and Industry, told the news conference that Croatia was making great headway in tourism development.Verheugen stressed that tourists who had spent their holiday in Croatia last year were not only Germans or guests from other Western European countries but also those from new EU member-states, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.This is the secret of success and it contributed to Croatia's success in tourism, he stressed.The conference was organised by current EU president Austria, Finland and the European Commission.Tuesday , 21 March 2006http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=28346  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 21 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8308/1/E-UK-lifts-visa-regime-for-Croatia.html  UK lifts visa regime for Croatia 01/03/2006(London/Zagreb, DTT-NET.COM)- After more than 6 years the United Kingdom visa regime for Croatia will be lifted on 22 March 2006, the embassy in Zagreb announced on Wednesday.According to the decision tourist, business and family visits for up to 6 months will NOT require a visa. Transit visas are abolished also and visas are not required for Croats who want to study for up to 6 months in the United Kingdom. Croats who intend to stay in the United Kingdom for a period of more than 6 months a visa will be required. However as with other non-EU citizens, Croatian citizens will be subject to immigration control on entering the UK and will have to satisfy the immigration authorities on entry that their visa complies with UK immigration law.  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8310/1/E-Travel-to-Croatia-A-Beginners-Guide-by-Jeanne-Oliver.html  Travel to Croatia: A Beginner's GuideFebruary 28, 2006by Jeanne Oliver Croatia has quickly become Europe's hottest destination, and for good reason. The rocky coastline continues for 1778 kilometres and includes pine-fringed coves, wide sandy beaches and cozy inlets. As if that weren't enough, there are a good 1185 islands that range from lush and wooded to stark and hilly. Yachties love the sailing opportunities, sunbathers have an incredible choice of beaches and scuba divers have a paradise of sea life to explore. Beyond the pretty scenery, Croatia also boasts a fascinating history and cultural life.The walled city of Dubrovnik on its southern tip is a must-stop for Mediterranean cruises but the long coast is littered with remnants of Croatia's varied past. The Romans swept through two thousand years ago, leaving an amphitheatre in Pula and Diocletian's Palace in Split. Long ruled by Venice, many ports along the coast bear the distinctive imprint of its former master. In southern Dalmatia, the towns of Hvar and Korcula resemble Little Venices without the canals. In Istria, the striking bell tower in Rovinj is modeled after that on St Mark's Square in Venice. In contrast to the Italian-influenced coast, the Croatian interior was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire and looks it. Zagreb, Croatia's capital, has the kind of stately architecture that wouldn't be out of place in Vienna or Budapest. Plus,it has a small medieval quarter that vaguely resembles Prague.To the north of Zagreb, in the middle of green, rolling hills, lies Varazdin, Croatia's most underrated city. Lying too far from the coast to attract much tourism, Varazdin nevertheless boasts a stunningly well-preserved baroque center. So, what to see first? Following is my personal list of highlights for a Croatian visit: Dubrovnik Byron called it the "Pearl of the Adriatic" for the magnificent curtain of walls surrounding a city paved in marble and strewn with Renaissance sculpture. Hvar Town In addition to the splendid harbor promenade and sculptured facades, it's becoming known for the best nightlife on the Adriatic. Korcula Town It resembles Hvar in some ways, especially the narrow cluster of streets,but iit lies on a narrow peninsula and is quieter. Rovinj Istria's prettiest little town, it retains the flavor of a traditional fishing port despite the heavy influx of tourists in recent years. Plitvice Lakes National Park It has to be seen to be believed. The 16 turquose lakes seem to glow and there are waterfalls everywhere. It's a UNESCO world heritage site. Brela Beach The idyllic coves, bordered with pine trees, stretch out like a long necklace of beaches. Forbes magazine recently named it one of the top twenty beaches in the world. No matter where you go in Croatia, you'll find people eager to welcome tourists after the grueling war of the early 1990s. English is widely spoken and costs are comparatively reasonable compared to the rest of the European coast. So what are you waiting for? Jeanne Oliver is the author of this article. She has written all three editions of Lonely Planet's Croatia guidebook. To find out more about traveling to Croatia including accommodation, car rentals, ferry schedules and itineraries, visit Jeanne's website, http://www.croatiatraveller.com. This article represents the views and opinions of the author and not of www.dailyindia.com.http://www.dailyindia.com/show/4338.php   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 09 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8311/1/E-Easyjet-launches-more-flights-to-Croatia-from-Bristol.html  Easyjet launches more flights to CroatiaThursday, 09 Mar 2006 09:34 Split, Croatia, is an ideal point for exploring the islands of Hvar and Brac Printer friendly version Easyjet is launching cheap flights to a further five cities on top of last week's move into three new markets. Hot on the heels of its new route to Croatia's third largest city, Rijeka, the low-fares airline revealed it will be flying to Split, Croatia's second largest city after Zagreb, from May. The addition of Split to the airline's rosters is good news for holidaymakers, as the city is an ideal launch point for the exploration of Croatia's islands such as Hvar and Brac. Easyjet is also increasing its routes to France and Italy, with Ajaccio in Corsica, Bordeaux, La Rochelle and Rimini new destinations for the airline. It has added five new routes from Bristol to Rijeka, Toulouse, Krakow, La Rochelle and Marseille, and revealed plans to launch flights between Edinburgh and Alicante in the summer. "This is a significant announcement from Easyjet," said Andrew Harrison, Easyjet chief executive. "As well as adding a further Croatian city to the network, we are delighted to be growing even further at our Bristol base, from where we will carry almost three million passengers in the coming year." Easyjet's new routes London Gatwick to Split, Croatia – launches May 2nd, four times a week (Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat) with one-way fares from £25.99. London Luton to Bordeaux, France – launches June 29th, daily, with one-way fares starting from £25.99. London Luton to Rimini, Italy- launches June 29th, four times a week (Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun) with one-way fares starting from £25.99. Edinburgh to Alicante, Spain – launches May 20th, Saturdays only, with one-way fares starting from £30.99. Bristol to Toulouse, France – launches July 21st, daily, with one-way fares starting from £20.99. Bristol to Krakow, Poland – launches July 21st, four times a week (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun), with one-way fares starting from £25.99. Bristol to La Rochelle, France – launches July 21st, four times a week (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun), with one-way fares starting from £20.99. Bristol to Marseille, France – launches July 22nd, three times a week (Tue, Thu, Sat), with one-way fares starting from £20.99. Bristol to Rijeka, Croatia – launches July 22nd, three times a week (Tue, Thu, Sat), with one-way fares starting from £25.99. Paris Orly to Ajaccio, Corsica – launches July 14th, daily, with one-way fares starting from €34.99. http://www.travelbite.co.uk/news/flights/cheap-flight/easyjet-launches-more-flights-croatia-france-and-italy-$314825.htmeasyJet announces MASSIVE expansion at Bristol with five exciting NEW routes /noticias.info/ easyJet, Europe's leading low-fares airline, is to launch five new routes from Bristol to Krakow, La Rochelle, Marseille, Rijeka (Croatia) and Toulouse this summer. These routes are the result of the introduction of a ninth aircraft being based at Bristol, bringing the total number of destinations served by easyJet to 30 and increasing the capacity at its Bristol base by almost 10%. The new routes to Krakow, La Rochelle, Marseille and Rijeka are not currently served by any other carrier from Bristol International airport. In the next 12 months, easyJet expects to carry some 300,000 passengers on these new routes and almost 3,000,000 in total from Bristol. The introduction of Bristol to Rijeka, Croatia's third-largest city is a new move for easyJet as it spreads its wings outside the EU for the first time. La Rochelle is also a completely new market for the low-fares airline to the vibrant French city, which is situated midway down France's Atlantic seaboard. Krakow, Marseille and Toulouse are currently served by the carrier from other UK airports and following their success easyJet is now introducing them to the Bristol region.All five destinations should prove popular with both business and leisure passengers, not only for Bristolians travelling abroad, but also for inbound passengers bringing business and tourism to the region. Last year easyJet converted its Bristol base to a solely Airbus operation, replacing the existing fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft with brand new Airbus 319s. This move reflects easyJet’s continued commitment to Bristol International Airport and the people of the south west. easyJet's Bristol operation now accounts for over almost 10% of its total network, making it the airline’s largest UK base outside of London with close to 70 daily departures and 8,500 passengers every day. easyJet also today announced new routes from Gatwick to Split (Croatia), Luton to Bordeaux and Rimini, Edinburgh to Alicante and Paris Orly to Ajaccio (Corsica). Toby Nicol, easyJet Communications Director commented: “Bristol’s largest airline is delighted to be announcing more routes to more destinations once again. easyJet is the only airline to offer low-cost flights with both care and convenience for its customers – no wonder almost 3 million people will fly with us from Bristol over the course of the next year.” Tony Hallwood, Aviation Development Director at Bristol International said: "This is fantastic news for Bristol, with easyJet having once again reinforced their commitment to grow their business in the south west. By introducing five new routes this summer they now offer an unrivalled choice of exciting destinations for leisure and business travellers. "Poland has been top of the airport’s ‘wish list’ over the last 12 months and we are pleased that Krakow (a World Heritage City) will be our launch gateway. The increasing numbers of Poles who live in the south west have been instrumental in supporting the airport in securing this route and we look forward to the inbound tourism potential that this route will now offer."Rijeka in Croatia is an up-and-coming destination with an attractive coastline and alongside La Rochelle on France’s Atlantic coast, we believe both will be firm favourites with holidaymakers and second home-owners. Meanwhile, the introduction of Marseille, France’s second largest city will provide key business links to the south west and additional Toulouse capacity will be welcomed by aerospace industry and leisure customers alike." http://www.noticias.info/asp/aspComunicados.asp?nid=152126&src=0  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 08 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8312/1/E-Economical-Croatia-a-good-spring-break.html  Economical Croatia a good spring break  The ancient walled town of Dubrovnik is a magnet for visitors to CroatiaPhoto-Ken Krueger  Economical Croatia a good spring break By Sandra Harper-Contributing writer If thoughts of a holiday are tickling your fancy during the dreary winter months, Croatia should be first on your list. A flight to England or Europe, followed by a short flight or a drive from Italy or Austria, and you are in Croatia-a country that combines beauty with a palette of activities. From April to November, a visitor has lots of fun choices. Sun and swim on fabulous beaches lapped by the crystal clean water of the Adriatic Sea. Explore the historic ancient walled town of Dubrovnik, which is still the home and working place of Croatians. Sail or cruise among some of the mainly uninhabited string of 280 islands along the coast. Spend time on one of the islands, like Korcula, settled by the ancient Greeks in the 6th century. Visit wineries and taste wine until your head spins. Climb an ancient wall at Mali Ston that is only somewhat shorter than the Great Wall of China. Climb mountains, golf, bike, visit the neighbouring countries of Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Or just sit and bask in the sun in one of the many town squares or islands. Last October I flew from Vancouver to Manchester and then on to Dubrovnik for a sun-filled week of exploring Croatia in 20- to 22-degree temperature. Using that route meant a more economical ticket. The summer rush of European tourists was over by early September so I did not pre-book accommodation. There is a wide choice in Croatia: hotels, apartments to rent, charming rooms in private homes called sobes, campsites and the most beautiful hostel. Getting off the airport bus at the Pile Gates of the old town of Dubrovnik, I was greeted by men and women with signs indicating that they had rooms available. I walked to the tourist information office and the staff there sent me round the corner to Atlas Travel where I rented a very large bedroom-sitting room with an enormous bath in a 16th-century house just outside the town walls-for 30 Euros a night. I was delighted with my room and with the 80-year-old landlady and her granddaughter, who shared their experiences and information. My room contained 17th-century furniture and number of large paintings from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Rather than renting a car or taking the local buses, I used the local Atlas tour agency to book three day-tours. The first went to the fabulous Korcula Island, combined with Mali Ston wall climbing and a visit to a winery, followed by a day tour of the high mountain and uninhabited beaches of Montenegro. It finished with an eye-opening trip to war-torn Moster in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Tours ranged around 45 Euros. Local buses for local travel cost about two Euros and were easy to use. That left me with four days to explore the old town and the new area around the inner harbour of Dubrovnik and visit the small island of Lokrum-just a 15-minute ferry ride from the old harbour of Dubrovnik-to explore the botanical gardens and get lost in the ancient forest. Local boats ferried visitors to a small village of Cavtat-another Greek settlement and a smaller, charming version of Dubrovnik. Meals were delightful and varied. I particularly savoured the mussels, squid, steak and ham. Pizzas and vegetarian meals were tasty and easily available. A glass of Croatian wine or beer always accompanied the food. People are polite, kind and welcoming. They speak English, French, Italian and German. Crime appears rare, although police were not obvious. The waters of the Adriatic Sea are refreshing and inspiring. Crowds of tourists come in July and August so there is still an off-season. Prices, in Kunas, are reasonable right now, but that will change in a couple of years when Croatia joins the European Union. Dubrovnik is a jewel of a city. No wonder people have been visiting and staying since 1000 BC. published on 01/27/2006 http://www.vancourier.com/issues06/014206/travel.html   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 13 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8314/1/E-AHOY-CROATIAN-SAILORS.html  AHOY CROATIAN SAILORS!By Katarina TepeshA group of Americans, all members of an environmental group, are organizing to sail from the port of Split, Croatia on Saturday, June 24th and return the next Saturday, July 1st, 2006. We will visit the islands of Brac, Hvar, and Vis, spending one or two days in each port with some flexibility in our itinerary depending on weather and our whims.The yacht we have chartered is a new 50 ft. Bavaria which is richly appointed. The vessel has 5 staterooms which will accommodate a maximum of 10 crew members. There is a roomy galley and gorgeous salon where we will prepare and take our meals together communally. The cabins with separate single berths are $995 PP, DO. The double berth staterooms which are a little larger are $1,050 PP, DO. A private double stateroom is $1,895, for seven nights with partial provisioning as outlined above.We will have 7 nights aboard which will include all breakfasts and 3 lunches, 3 dinners. Other meals will be taken ashore in the quaint harbors that we visit. All crew members are invited to participate in the running of the boat. The Captain Michael Miller is a US sailing Association Certified Sail Instructor and enjoys teaching beginners. No sailing experience is required to join the crew.Croatia has an incredibly diverse history from the many civilizations that have ruled it over thousands of years. Split has Diocletian's palace which was built for the Roman emperor. The city of Dubrovnik to the south was completely walled in for defense. The country is a historical treasure. Now that peace has been restored, it is just being rediscovered as amazing tourism destination. The islands are said to be majestically beautiful with each having its own unique personality. If interested, you are welcome to call or write Michael Miller, to answer any further questions. Captain Michael Miller, USCG Licensed Master9 Court AveGreenwood Lake, New York 10925Tel: 845 477 3497Cell: 845 494 4083  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 12 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8313/1/E-Dubrovnik-Live-webcam.html  Dubrovnik Live. You want to see waht is happening on Stradun...click.Zelite vidjeti tko pije kavu na Stradunu..kliknitehttp://www.dubrovnik.hr/webcam.htm  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 11 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8315/1/E-Tour-to-Croatia-this-coming-April-24---May-1.html  Tour to Croatia this coming April 24 - May 1As a tour coordinator for Marshall Field's Travel Service, I have put together an overview tour to Croatia this coming April 24 - May 1, to Zagreb and Dubrovnik. And as a thrid-generation Croatian, I am pleased to present Croatia to the traveling public, now that it has become as popular as it has. Although this tour is not designed for those 1st and 2nd generation Croatians, with immediate family in Croatia, or who have traveled there often, it is designed for those of Croatian descent who have heard stories from their grandparents and the like, and who would like to go back to the "old" country to see it's beauty, charm, and experience the food, wine and the people that make this country so wonderful. I would like your help in trying to get this tour information out to as many people as possible, and would like to find out your thoughts on the best way to promote this. Details on the tour can be found on our website at www.travel.fields.com . If anyone has any questions, they could contact me at 612-375-3631 for more information.Hvala...jim gladjglad@mftravel.com CroNetwork: The Croatian-American Organization for Young Professionals.  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 26 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8321/1/E-Croatia---the-Most-Desirable-Destination-in-2006-for-American-Travelers.html  Croatia - the Most Desirable Destination in 2006 for American Travelers Jan 17, 06 | 7:47 amAccording to the recent survey of the USTOA, the hottest new tourist destination for 2006 is Croatia! National Geographic Adventure also awarded Croatia as The Best Destination for this year. Followed by the last year’s great success after it was proclaimed No. 1 destination by the Lonely Planet, this year should definitely bring new record numbers for the Croatian tourism. For more info visit www.ustoa.com  2006 the Year of Croatian InventorsOne of Croatia’s most well-known and world-renowned scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla,was born on July 10, 1856 in Smiljan, a small village near Gospic, in the region of Lika. Croatia will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of his birth with numerous manifestations, scientific meetings, lectures and other festivities. Slavoljub Penkala was holder of over 70 patents among which in 1906 he created the first mechanical pencil, which became known as ballpoint pen; 2006 is a 100 year anniversary of this invention. City of Rijeka – January and February Reserved for the Carnival Rijeka is all the more affirming itself as a city of culture, Carnivals and fun. The 3rd biggest international Carnival in the world takes place every year in Rijeka with over 10,000 masqueraders and carnival groups. They all come to follow the Carnival events, characterized by a particular blend of Europe’s urban and rural carnival traditions. The jam packed program starts at the beginning of January and lasts up to the end of February.Many hotel facilities in Rijeka, like completely renovated Hotel Jadran, await its guests. The hotel now offers 66 rooms and three suites with the vast majority of which have seafront views. The hotel is located directly adjacent to the sea, its foundations being in fact dug deep underwater and its view extends to the neighboring Kvarner Bay. Four star rating placed Hotel Jadran at the head of Rijeka’s hotels. This is one of the oldest hotels in the city that opened back in 1914. Reconstructed façade and the walls look exactly the same as they did decades ago, so hotel again looks truly luxurious outside as well as inside.For those who enjoy good maritime cuisine and appreciate a great view, Arca Fiumana ship anchored in Rijeka city harbor is the place to go. This will in near future be Croatia’s first floating hotel. For now it features restaurant and a pub that became a guarantee of good time in Rijeka.For more info visit www.tz-rijeka.hr Newly Refurbished Westin Hotel in ZagrebCity of Zagreb welcomed 2006 with a newly renovated Westin Hotel. This luxurious five star landmark hotel is a part of the world-renown Starwood Hotels & Resorts chain. Its 378 rooms are all equipped with legendary “Heavenly Beds and Showers” and a total of 13 congress halls in the city core will provide memorable experiences for both business and leisure travelers. For more info visit www.westin.com/zagreb Small and Family Run HotelsOver the past few years Croatia has seen especially intense growth in the Small and Family Hotels sector. Some 150 of these hotels, most gathered under the umbrella of the Association of Family and Small Hotels of Croatia, offer an atmosphere, comfort and quality that reflects the local color and blends tradition with family setting. Given the dynamics of their growth over the past few years, estimates say their number in Croatia may grow by 50 to 100 small hotels a year. For more info visit www.omh.hr Zagreb - Romance in the City of HeartsThe Regent Esplanade Zagreb brings back tradition spiced with contemporary luxury with its special “Romance in the City of Hearts” package. The package consists of: Two-nights in a luxurious double room, breakfast served in the room, bottle of champagne, bouquet of roses, welcoming relaxing bubble bath, sightseeing tour of Zagreb by limousine and a romantic candlelit dinner. For more info visit www.regenthotels.com Substantial Capital Investment in Cultural HeritageCroatian Ministry of Culture announced large capital investments in order to increase the number of cultural facilities in the country. Three new museums will open this year and another five will be constructed. Many of the existing museums, public libraries, theatres and castles will get capital investments that will improve the overall appearance of the Croatian cultural treasures. For more info visit www.min-kulture.hr Moderna Galerija ZagrebThe Moderna Galerija Zagreb (Modern Gallery Zagreb) is open once more after the 11 year closing and its total reconstruction. It reopened on December 29, 2005 with the slogan “100 years of Modern Gallery, 200 years of Croatian Art”. This slogan was chosen because up to now nowhere in Croatia was there an exhibit which covered 200 years of Croatian art. The new exhibition celebrates the Croatian Art with 153 paintings, sculptures, photography and videos. It is a must see Gallery in Zagreb. For more info contact cntony@earthlink.net Croatia a Growing Destination for Cruise ShipsThe appeal of Croatia as a tourist destination has found further confirmation in the growing number of cruise ships making stops here. There were more than 450 ships in 2005, which is up around 11% over figures from the last year. Total of around 500,000 passengers sailed on these ships. Top destinations was Dubrovnik, followed by Korcula, Hvar, Split and Sibenik. For more info contact cntony@earthlink.netBritish Airways - Top Recognition for Dubrovnik Airport British Airways has recently awarded Dubrovnik Airport a special recognition for top results in flight and passenger arrival and departure services. Out of 65 international airports to which British Airways flies, Dubrovnik Airport got top marks. The airport was monitored over an 18 month period during which time Dubrovnik Airport recorded top marks deservedly winning the recognition. For more info visit www.visitdubrovnik.hr Sljeme for Skiers and HikersSljeme, the highest peak on Zagreb’s Medvednica highlands will this coming February see the re-opening of the Old Scouts House now completely redesigned and converted into a four star apartment facility that will operate under the name of Snjezna kraljica (The Snow Queen). It will feature one eight-bed and 16 four-bed suites catering to skiers and hikers. Besides its lodgings the building will have a large restaurant featuring traditional local cuisine, as well as small wellness center with sauna and whirlpool. With the runs outfitted with snow canons, ski season on Sljeme lasts at least to the end of March. For more info visit www.sljeme.hr http://travelvideo.tv/news/more.php?id=7812_0_1_0_M  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 17 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8320/1/E-Croatia-improves-tourism-infrastructure.html  Croatia improves tourism infrastructure Jul 07, 05More than eight million foreign tourists visited Croatia last year and the Croatian government is expecting more than 10 million in the next years. Thanks to the country’s supportive tourism private sector in tourism for efforts in improving the industry’s infrastructure.HotelsPrivate and state investors spent 400 million euro last winter for hotel modernization older and construction. New small hotels, summerhouses, camping sites and restaurants infrastructure were established as a result. Previously state-owned hotels have also been revamped to meet international standards. Melia Sol and Thomas Cook are two examples. AirportsThe government announced it will bring financial support for the construction of six new airfields, a 800-meter runway of 800 meters private airplanes, air taxi and rescue flights to the mainland and for short commuter air traffic to existing international airports.AirlinesCroatia is celebrating the creation of two new air carriers. Sun Adria Airlines, based in the Croatian capital Zagreb, started the scheduled flights to several European destinations, including Germany, using two Fokker 100 in the fleet. Dubrovnik Airline, based in Dubrovnik and jointly founded by the Croatian Atlantic Shipping Company and Dubrovnik Airport Authority, is providing summer charters and scheduled using MD-83s. A third carrier, named European Coastal Airlines, is expected to be established within the next few weeks. HighwaysThe 380 kilometers long highway across mountain terrains between capital Zagreb and Split, the most important tourism center, finally opened June 29. Work is set to begin on Dubrovnik highway.Croatia is a relatively small (56,500 square kilometers and 4.49 million inhabitants) independent post communist country (former a part of Yugoslavia) in southeast Europe at Adriatic Sea. Tourism contribution to the country’s GDP is approximately 20 percent. Picturesque fishing villages, old antique and medieval towns with unique architecture are among its tourist attractions.By Jan BlazejZagreb, Croatia (eTurboNews)http://travelvideo.tv/news/more.php?id=5842_0_1_0_M136  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 17 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8317/1/E-USA-Today-Six-destinations-to-keep-on-your-radar-for-2006.html  Six destinations to keep on your radar for 2006By Jessica Labrencis, SmarterTravel.com The new year brings with it up-and-coming destinations worth keeping on your travel radar as you begin to plan your vacations for 2006. From destinations in the U.S. to those in Europe and even farther afield, several factors influenced our choices, including cultural events, political changes, increasing popularity and major rebuilding. Our picks for the top six destinations to watch for 2006 are Albuquerque, China, Croatia, Thailand, The Netherlands and Turkey.CroatiaCroatia is the latest country in Europe with "hidden gem" status. However, according to the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), Croatia began experiencing a boom in tourism in 2005, one that is likely to increase even more over the next few years. This Mediterranean country has plenty of things to offer visitors, from its capital city, Zagreb, to the islands scattered along the Dalmatian Coast, and the old city of Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage site.At the time of publication, mainstream vacation-package providers had not yet begun offering many Croatia packages. However, booking airfare and accommodations separately allows for greater freedom in traveling the country and selecting hotels. As an added benefit, Croatia is not in the European Union, so prices in the Croatian kuna may not be as expensive the prices listed in euros in other European countries.AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque is celebrating its tricentennial on April 23 and will host a series of special events January through October. Each month has a theme, including Theatre Arts Month in March, History and Education Month in April, and Cuisine Specialties and Albuquerque's Future Path in August.In addition, the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History is hosting three exhibitions of Spanish art featuring artists that include Dali, Miro and Picasso. The exhibits run through April 23.Albuquerque will also host its 34th annual International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 6-15, the largest balloon event in the world. This nine-day festival features a 400- to 500-balloon nighttime "Balloon Glow," "Balloon-Shape Rodeo," and balloon race.Albuquerque is always a relatively affordable destination, with most of the major airlines, as well as low-fare carriers Frontier and Southwest, offering service to its airport.ChinaChina has long been a popular travel destination, with more than 30 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Great Wall. In coming years, however, tourism is expected to rapidly increase, with the 2008 Summer Olympics and several other factors.The Olympics will be held in and around Beijing, and will attract thousands of visitors from all corners of the globe. In addition, business travel to China has been rapidly increasing for several years, with major hotel chains constructing huge new hotels catering to business travelers. As China emerges as an economic powerhouse, tourism is expected to keep up with the pace.The World Travel and Tourism Council estimates that tourism spending in China will increase about 3.5 times by 2014, from $87 billion to more than $300 billion. And a New York Times report stated that Internet sites offering bilingual searches will begin to make planning travel inside China less daunting.Planning a vacation to China can be as easy as planning one to Europe or the Caribbean. U.S.-based package tour providers including Go-today, Gate1Travel and Pleasant Holidays have begun offering a wide variety of China vacations, giving travelers plenty of package options from which to choose.ThailandA little more than a year after the tsunami disaster, Thailand is continuing to encourage visitors to return. Not surprisingly, tourism in 2005 was sluggish but began increasing toward the end of the year. Tourism in 2006 is expected to compete with pre-tsunami levels by November 2006. Therefore, visiting Thailand before November will give tourists the advantage of fewer crowds and lower prices, particularly at beach resorts.Thailand is still rebuilding, however, as inhabitants re-create what was destroyed in December 2004. Fewer hotel rooms are available to tourists in some areas, and evidence of the devastation leaves a reminder of the tsunami. One of the most important ways to help Thailand is to visit, helping to pump dollars into its tourist infrastructure so it can successfully rebuild sooner rather than later.The NetherlandsThe year 2006 is being dubbed "Rembrandt 400" in the Netherlands. This year marks the anniversary of the Dutch artist's 400th birthday, and year-long celebrations will take place around the country. The exhibitions are expected to draw about 1.5 million visitors from around the Netherlands and abroad.Amsterdam is hosting the bulk of the exhibitions, with special shows featuring Rembrandt at the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, the Rembrandt House Museum and others; a Rembrandt musical at the Royal Theatre Carre; and a Rembrandt walking route.Leiden, Rembrandt's childhood hometown, is also partaking in the events with several major exhibitions and another Rembrandt walking route. The Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague is also featuring a Rembrandt exhibit that boasts 10 of the artist's most famous works.Several vacation providers are currently offering deals on Amsterdam vacations, including EuropeASAP, Gate1Travel and Go-today. Gate1Travel is also offering a special Rembrandt 400 package that includes airfare, accommodations and admission to the Rijksmuseum.TurkeyAs Turkey's attempts to join the European Union are met with resistance by some Europeans, its leaders are planning to strengthen the country's image by increasing the promotion of tourism in 2006. Although Turkey is already popular with European visitors (out of the 22 million visitors to Turkey in 2005, 12 million were Europeans), Americans have been slower in their eagerness to visit (more than 334,000 visitors in 2005).However, Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism reports approximately 555,000 Americans are expected to visit the country in 2006, and it's not hard to imagine the numbers will climb in the years to come.Turkey's location gives it a unique blend of Eastern and Western influences making it appealing to tourists. It is home to no less than nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, the cavetowns of Cappodocia and the archeological site of Troy. To meet the increased demand from tourists, a new international airport terminal is being planned, along with 10 new resorts in key tourist areas.If you decide to visit Turkey, it's smart to strike while the iron is hot. Because tourism is just now beginning to significantly increase, you're stilllikely to find relatively inexpensive in-country rates for accommodations and activities. However, it's conceivable that Turkey's relatively undiscovered status will be fleeting, and the country will experience an increase in both tourism and prices.http://www.usatoday.com/travel/deals/inside/2006-01-10-inside-the-deals_x.htm   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 17 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8316/1/E-Make-love-not-war.html  Make love not war     http://www.shepsplace.net/croatia/index.htm  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 17 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8319/1/E-New-flights-from-Edinburgh-to-Pula.html  New flights are set to be a crowd Pula EDINBURGH Airport will offer flights to two more new holiday destinations this summer, including a first service to Croatia. City-based Flyglobespan has announced it will provide a weekly service to Mahon in Menorca, as well as the first flights to the increasingly popular Croatian resort of Pula. The service to the Balearic island will provide the first non-chartered flights to Menorca, allowing customers to book flights without them being part of a package holiday. The Croatia flights also add to the range of worldwide destinations on offer at the airport, and join other new routes announced this year, including Helsinki in Finland, Warsaw in Poland and Geneva in Switzerland. Flights to Mahon will start at £35.99, while Pula fares begin at £59.99, both including tax. Both services begin in May and will run to October, taking the company's portfolio of destinations for this summer to 13. The low-cost operator, which launched in 2002 and is one of Britain's fastest-growing airlines, said that if demand for the flights was high, it would consider adding both to their list of year-round destinations.http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/business.cfm?id=74872006    nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 16 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8318/1/E-New-flights-from-Glasgow-to-Pula.html  City gets more sunshine flights FLYGLOBESPAN today unveiled new sunshine flights from Glasgow Airport. The Scots budget airline announced the city's first scheduled flights to the increasingly popular Croatian hotspot of Pula. And it said it would also lay on budget scheduled services to family favourite Menorca. Both services will operate weekly from May to October to cater for the holiday trade. They bring the total number of destinations offered by flyglobespan from Glasgow this year to 20. One-way flights to the Menorcan capital Mahon will cost £35.99, while Pula fares will be £59.99, including taxes. Flyglobespan chairman Tom Dalrymple said: "These are two exciting new destinations for our customers. "We've always had a strong presence in Majorca so adding a Menorca flight seems very logical. "We are delighted to add Pula to our destinations. The Croatian holiday market is really booming and I'm sure these flights will prove popular." Pula is at the top of the Adriatic, at the heart of some of Europe's most stunning coastal scenery. Glasgow already has direct flights to Dubrovnik, further down the Dalmatian coast. Flyglobespan said it would also offer the new routes from Edinburgh Airport. And sales of its new daily flights from Glasgow to Orlando are continuing to boom, sparking talk in industry circles of more transatlantic services. Bosses at Glasgow Airport are eager for good news, as the airport lost its lifeline business link to Brussels last week. Its interim managing director, Alan Barr, said: "The addition of Pula is sure to attract even more interest in flights to Croatia. We're confident Mahon will also prove a popular family holiday destination." Publication date 16/01/06 http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5047917.html   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 16 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8322/1/E-Vjeko-Martinko--Lovranske-Ville-on-US-TV-Jan-15.html  Vjeko Martinko & Lovranske Ville on the US TV Jan 15  Dear Mr. Bach and CROWN readers,We would like to inform you that on Sunday, January 15th, at 01:00 pm. will be the broadcasting of the TV Documentary on Croatian Tourism which includes a journalistic interview with Mr. Martinko. It will be broadcasted on the TV Station MHz TV Networks ( http://www.mhznetworks.org/programming/shows/ ), Washington, USA. If the network is available in N.Y. we are inviting you to view the documentary. We would also like to ask if you could be so kind and pass this information to anyone you know that might be intrested in viewing it.  DIRECTV       56 or 972*  Find your carrier: http://www.mhznetworks.org/programming/carrier   Sunny greetings from Lovran,Alin Zivanovic (For Mr. Martinko)Hotel Restaurant 'Villa Astra'Viktora Cara Emina 11HR - 51415 Lovran, CroatiaTel: +385 51 29 44 00Fax: +385 51 29 46 00www.lovranske-vile.com villa.astra@lovranske-vile.com member of:Schlosshotels und Herrenhäuserwww.schlosshotels.co.at Historic Hotels of Europewww.historichotelsofeurope.com   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 11 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8323/1/E-MONET-cruise-along-Croatias-Dalmation-coast.html  MONET cruise along Croatia's Dalmation coast A cruise along Croatia's Dalmation coast By: RALPH COLLIER, Main Line Times12/20/2005For more information about M/Y MONET, please contact Elegant Cruises and Tours at 1-800-683-6767 or visit www.elegantcruises.com . The M/Y MONET offers a sweet sampling of the advantages of cruising on a small, intimate ship rather than the usual huge, impersonal vessels. She is dockside in Venice as 50 odd passengers climb aboard. (There are only 30 cabins, total.) Among them, there are the customary first-time sailors. On their anxiety scale, where "1" is "no sweat" and "10" "no fingernails to gnaw," the mix of Brits and Americans give her a comfortable "2" rating.The M/Y MONET is bound for the Dalmatian coast in Croatia. Mention the area to locals here and they'll reference the Komati Islands, which lie just off the coast. The Komatis make up by far the largest archipelago around wild, deserted slivers of windswept rock dotted with salt lakes and sheer cliffs emerging from the limpid Adriatic. The islands are a superb destination for hiking, swimming, and at other times of the year, sunbathing. Unlike large cruise ships, the M/Y MONET's tariff is all-inclusive; there are no side excursions or other extras. Bottled water in staterooms is gratis, and throughout the day and night, coffee and tea are available with delectable pastries from the MONET mess. There are lectures by university professors, local musical talent and the ship's own pianist. Irving Berlin wrote the song "I Love a Piano," but the musician plays a synthesizer, suggesting to one passenger that Berlin could not have written the same ode to that instrument. One of the first ports of call is a city named Split in Croatia. As is custom when the MONET approaches her harbor, a local pilot boat comes alongside to place one of her pilots aboard the MONET bridge to guide her safely to the docking facility. They know not just the treacherous tides, but local currents and tiny adjustments needed to dock the ship. Split, just off the Dalmatian coast, reveals a shimmering shoreline; it is dubbed "the new Riviera" as the bloody wars of the 1990s that accompanied the breakup of Yugoslavia recede into European history. A number of international luminaries, arriving on their own yachts, have dropped anchor here recently. By day, there are fishing boats galore along with massive yachts, and everywhere, there are the doughty little tugboats that look like a child's toy but do a man's work -- or, more precisely, the work of a stallion. There is a rich diversity of accessible and relatively affordable attractions ashore. (Local currency is the Kuna, which is more sympathetic to the U.S. dollar than the Euro.) All of this makes for an even more welcoming port. Winter and spring are excellent times to enjoy the Croatian islands. (The M/Y MONET resumes cruises on March 15, 2006.) In Croatian towns, the tourist is struck by the simple beauty of it all and wonders how it might just have felt to be here only a decade ago, when the world abandoned this lovely spot on earth and its people bombed, shot and raided one another's meager territory in a ruthless rush for power and control. Given the size of M/Y MONET, there is but a single seating at breakfast, lunch and dinner. At some tables, at dinner, conversation does not flow with the drink; it drowns in it. Red and white wine are poured by waiters as though the beverages are going out of style, and since it is free as part of the cruise, some passengers tend to imbibe to their heart's content at lunch and dinner. The well-known oil tycoon Nubar Gulbenkian said some winters ago that the best number for a dinner party is two - "myself and a good waiter." He would have been charmed by the waitstaff on this ship, who are attentive and simpatico. After a few days aboard ship, American passengers tend to love them and speak of them as being almost one of the family, rather in the manner that they speak of their pets. The more reserved British aboard show considerably less spontaneity.Three times daily, passengers are warmly greeted by a uniformed host, a bronzed, handsomely weathered, robust looking gent with a gutteral accent and suave demeanor. The ship's cook is not the ordinary chef-de-cuisine, for the chef goes public at breakfast and at later meals briefly visits the tables in the Nymphea Restaurant to determine how the evening's efforts went over. Both chef and menu get high ratings throughout the two- week voyage. The food aboard the M/Y MONET is always decent, often delicious, at times superb, making this ship's culinary efforts among the best on the high seas. A ship like the MONET turns out to be the perfect size for calling at small island ports and coastal towns of Dalmatia. She has only outside cabins. In tune with her name, there are countless superb replicas of Monet oil paintings in cabins. The Giverny Lounge also has numerous photos of the painter in his atelier, gardens and in the bosom of his extended family. It is significant that Claude Monet himself was in Venice at this time of the season exactly 93 years ago. He made just one painting trip to the shores of southern Europe, and his experiences at Bordighera, a picturesque resort near the Italian border, marked one of the crucial stages in his long trajectory as an artist. For more information about M/Y MONET, please contact Elegant Cruises and Tours at 1-800-683-6767 or visit www.elegantcruises.com . Ralph Collier used the Lonely Planet Guide to Croatia while cruising the Dalmatian coast on the MONET. Log on to www.LonelyPlanet.com , or call 1-800-275-8555. Ralph Collier is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association.http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15785752&BRD=1676&PAG=461&dept_id=43790&rfi=6   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 03 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8324/1/E-101-Dalmatias-Adriatic-coast-of-Croatia-displays-endless-variety-of-.html  101 Dalmatias: Adriatic coast of Croatia displays endless variety of sights and experiences Sunday, December 25, 2005    LopudMelissa Burdick Harmon, Post-GazetteThe serene Adriatic island of Lopud basks in the warmth of a summer day. By Melissa Burdick Harmon, Travel Arts SyndicateDALMATIAN COAST, Croatia -- The clean, rich smell of pine fills the air.Old-fashioned, loosely stacked dry stone walls form lazy borders for fields blanketed in vivid pink and yellow wildflowers.Far below, a brilliant blue bay glimmers in the sun, its surface punctuated by twin sailboats making their serene way to the next deserted beach or quiet cove. Aside from a bit of birdsong, there is not a sound to be heard.Dubrovnik, Croatia Melissa Burdick Harmon, Post-GazetteClimbing Dubrovnik's ramparts gives a birds-eye view of this small, self-contained city in Croatia.Christopher Hague, walk manager for my Wayfarers journey along the Dalmatian Coast, breaks the silence. "This is my idea of paradise," he says. "This is Shakespeare's 'Tempest.' "It is, in fact, the no-cars-allowed island of Lopud, one of the green Elaphite Islands that punctuate the waters around the medieval fortress city of Dubrovnik, the heart of Croatia's Dalmatian Coast. Lopud may not be Prospero's island, but in spirit it is very close.I have come here with a group of 15 Americans, part of a nine-day organized walk along the coast and nearby islands in the Adriatic Sea. The trip, operated by the Wayfarers, a British-owned walking tour company, promises six to 10 miles of walking a day, while seeing the sights, mingling with the locals and enjoying fine food and wine and good hotels. On this early day of our journey -- in the off season, when the tourist hordes are still at home -- they are clearly making good on those promises.In fact, our walk on Lopud takes us along a dirt trail to the private home of a woman who speaks no English, but greets us with a wide smile, serves us homemade wine and allows us to picnic beneath her grape arbor. Then she takes us to meet her goats.If the Dalmatian Coast is a red-hot tourist destination these days, Dubrovnik, a jewel of a city ringed by powerful -- and delightfully climbable -- medieval ramparts leads the list for visitor numbers. That is good news, since this UNESCO World Heritage Site was seriously damaged in the 1991-93siege. Its restoration has been both swift and careful.The patchwork of roofs seen as we traverse the ramparts gives a clue to the extent of the war damage. Red shingles are new replacements, donated by UNESCO. Crazy-quilt red-green-and-white shingles predate the war, and we see precious few of them.The winding drive north along the coast, toward Split, is reminiscent of the Amalfi Coast, with the road forming a dividing line between mountains swooping toward the sea and tiny red-roofed and multi-steepled villages tucked along the coves and beaches below. For 10 miles we are actually in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a post-war move to grant them a tiny patch of access to the coast.A stop at Ston, a salt-producing center for eons, lets us climb part of a wall that formed the old Republic of Dubrovnik's northern defense, then stroll to a hidden beach where we are rewarded by sweet, briny Ston oysters, among the world's best.By now, over oysters and huge salads and just-caught fish, it is apparent that our group of Wayfarers has bonded. Conversations are lively, covering everything from world affairs to theater to medicine to Victorian novels.Confidences are shared, and friendships have formed. On this trip, the participants are definitely a positive part of the experience.Split, Croatia's very Italian-feeling second-largest city, has a lively, chaotic charm. A twilight stroll along the Riva, the promenade at water's edge, captures the romance of the town, with its Roman and Venetian architecture and virtually its entire population -- or so it seems -- taking the evening air in the outdoor cafes.This is a European city on a European coast, living with its back to the Balkans. Its ties with Italy are strong, but the Croats work harder at it, which might explain why the pizza, gnocchi and gelato are better here.Split's not-to-be-missed site is the vast third-century palace built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, a complex character whose main hobbies were growing cabbages and murdering Christians. He occupied the front part of the palace with his (Christian) wife and daughter, while some 700 courtiers lived in the back.Over the centuries, local people moved inside the palace walls, dividing the grand rooms into hundreds of small apartments. Today Diocletian's Palace is a warren of shops and pubs and open-air markets -- a vibrant, bustling heart-of-the-city where 2,000 people live and work. Its Cathedral of St. Domnius, formerly Diocletian's mausoleum, is not to be missed. (His portrait in stone can still be seen on one high wall.)If chaotic Split stimulates the mind, then an off-season visit to Brac, one of the largest of Croatia's Adriatic Islands, soothes the soul. Roaming down stony mule tracks, we encounter a few of these less-than-lively work animals tied to trees, too bored to care. A red rooster sporting an enormous comb strides onto the path -- checking out the interlopers. A friendly dog tags along.We climb a mountain to see vast quarries of white, crystallized limestone, just like the stone shipped from Brac long ago to build the White House. We visit the island's surprisingly good small museum and peek into tiny churches and shops we pass.Another day, we follow a track along the sea bluffs, gazing past trim vineyards and through groves of olive and almond trees, with their gnarled, ancient-looking trunks. A hand-painted sign points the way to a waterside restaurant, otherwise reachable only by boat, where we tuck into some fresh mackerel, then travel by water taxi to a deserted beach. From there, some hike to a monastery, others nap on the beach, soothed by the lapping of the water.On our final day, we take the ferry to Hvar, the Adriatic island of the rich and famous. John Malkovich looked into buying a house there. Gwyneth Paltrow vacations there. Bill Gates sails in. Here, the Venetian-style houses are grander. The gardens look professionally done. Yet it has not lost its off-the-beaten-path charm.In Hvar's village of Jelsa, with its winding alleys and streets made of steps, we lunch outdoors on light-as-a-cloud gnocchi with white shrimp sauce, followed by fresh grouper. Afterward, we climb a street of steps to see the heavily fortified parish church and, as we descend, encounter a bevy of 8-year-old girls, thrilled to pose for photos that they will never see.Our last walk takes us along Hvar's coast. The sea is as clear as a glass of vodka. The bougainvillea is a frenzy of pink. The needle-thin cypress trees emulate the island's dozens of church steeples, pointing straight to heaven.And before I know it we are strolling into the town of Hvar, the end of our walk.I arrive home feeling a bit more fit, having made new friends, gained a pound (despite all that fish!), and -- here's the good news -- totally mentally rested. My mind is racing with new projects to undertake and new challenges to meet.I have been to Prospero's island -- several of them, in fact -- they were truly enchanted, and now I can't wait to get back to work.And that may be the best possible outcome from a vacation.(Melissa Burdick Harmon has visited all seven continents, researching more than 200 magazine articles.)http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05359/626685.stm   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 02 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8325/1/E-Discover-why-everyones-talking-about-Croatia.html  Discover why everyone’s talking about Croatia 23 December 2005 Washed by the sparkling waters of the Adriatic Sea, Croatia is home to some of the most magnificent coastal scenery in Europe. Rich in history and culture, it is no wonder this secluded treasure trove is fast becoming the ‘hot’ destination for 2006. Travelsphere has introduced two new itineraries in their latest European collection with charter flights from Gatwick, Manchester, Nottingham EMA and Bristol airports.A traditional 8-day break with accommodation on a half-board basis in the pretty resort of Rabac on Maslinica Bay costs from just £299. For a city break with a difference, have a look at the new 8-day break to the fascinating port of Dubrovnik, available on a half-board basis from £489. The old town has one of the most famous views in Europe, thanks to its celebrated medieval fortress, maze of ramparts, narrow streets, hidden squares, museums and churches. In contrast, Opatija on the Kvarner Peninsula has been a popular holiday resort since the 19th century and retains an unmistakeable air of grandeur with its seafront promenade, majestic gardens and lovely assortment of shops, bars and restaurants. The new 8-day break from £489 features 4-star accommodation on a half-board basis, a gala dinner and fascinating excursions in neighbouring Slovenia. Further details can be found in Travelsphere’s new European Collection brochure for 2006, which boasts its biggest selection ever to Europe with ove