Croatians hope the ‘Peljesac Bridge’ which will stretch 2.4 km from the southern peninsula of Pelješac to the mainland, will solve one of their biggest touristic frustrations, where travelers have to go through 4 border checkpoints to join popular Dubrovnik from the northern part of its mainland.

Since the disintegration of Yugoslavia, Croatia’s maritime line was cut in half by 20km of sea shore which belongs to Bosnia & Herzegovina, a legacy since ottoman times which secured the strip under Turkish control. The creation of the new post-Yugoslav republics imposed borders between the new Balkan neighbors. 

As a result, travelers who drive through Croatia’s coastline are often puzzled and frustrated at the long lines on 4 border checkpoints, which are often dubbed by tourists as total nuisance. 

The bridge which has been a Croatian project for a long time, will be built by Chinese consortium China Road and Bridge Corporation which earlier in April signed a contract with Croatian road operator Hrvatske Ceste for the construction of Pelješac Bridge and access roads, for a total of €400 million Euros or 2,8 billion Croatian Kuna.

The European Union has granted €357 million of its cohesion funds to build the Pelješac Bridge which will connect the Croatian peninsula of Pelješac, and through it the southernmost part of Croatia including Dubrovnik, with the Croatian mainland.

Croatia’s prime minister  Andrej Plenkovic said this project is of strategic and long-term importance to the whole country and will make Croatia unique.

“We are all aware how important it is for us to build this bridge and include the south of Croatia into the motorway infrastructure network. This is important for all our fellow citizens in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County,” the prime minister said during the signing of the contract.

The Chinese have promised to complete the Pelješac Bridge by 2021, while some in Bosnia have expressed concerns the bridge will block the country’s open sea access to large ships and cruise vessels.

Croatia is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Last year the Balkan country was visited by 17,400,000 tourists who had 86,200,000 overnight stays. During the same year Croatia\’s tourism revenues amounted €9.5 billion.

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The statement was made by Grabar-Kitarović during a visit in the Albanian main port of Durrës where she participated at a ceremony to launch a new clean-up project initially funded by Croatia, a regular recipient of plastic waste washed on its shores from Albanian maritime waters.

Talking at the ceremony, Grabar-Kitarović said that “a lot of effort and funding has gone into cleaning the shores of the Adriatic. We would prefer to invest our money into preventing environmental pollution.”

Grabar-Kitarović also reminded Albanian authorities that environmental matters are a key complex issue during accession talks to join the European Union, which Croatia joined 5 years ago, hinting in a diplomatic manner that Albania needs to get its act together in cleaning up its plastic waste from maritime territories.

The exuberant President Grabar-Kitarović visited Abania freshly from her popular World Cup participation, at the invitation of Albania’s President Ilir Meta.

During a joint press conference with her counterpart, Grabar-Kitarovic said that Croatia strongly supports Albania\’s European integration and welcomes the progress made in meeting the criteria for EU membership.

“I congratulate you on the Council\’s decision recognizing Albania\’s progress and paving the way for the opening of accession talks in June 2019, and Croatia is looking forward to further strengthening its strategic relations with Albania” – said Grabar-Kitarović.

This will, as she pointed out, contribute to positive processes in the neighborhood, both in terms of stability and security, as well as in improving economic security, as Croatia and Albania can do a lot of things together.

During a speech in front of the Albanian Parliament, she also referred to a \”lasting and inseparable friendship\” between the two countries and the role of the Albanian national minority in Croatian society.

“We were literally brothers in arms before we joined NATO in 2009 together. Many Albanians have sacrificed their lives for Croatia and believe me – Croatia will not forget this.” – she said in a strong statement which pleased Albanian lawmakers but raised eyebrows in neighboring Serbia.

Albania and Croatia are both members of NATO and together with Montenegro’s accession into the Alliance last year, they have landlocked the Adriatic Sea shores into NATO territory.

Copyright @2018 TiranaEcho.com  All Rights Reserved

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Source; SeeNews

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It\’s 9am and the Riva is already busy. It seems a little early for tourists to be in the cafés lining the sunny seaside promenade in the city of Split, Croatia, but it turns out to be locals getting their morning fix – coffee.
As in many towns in Dalmatia, there\’s a tradition of having a coffee before work or during a break and it\’s not just about caffeine: people gather to meet, gossip or people-watch at all times of day. Chatting over a coffee is a big part of the daily social scene.

Fortified with caffeine, I set off to explore Diocletian\’s Palace – Split\’s main attraction and a UNESCO site. Around the year 293, the Roman emperor Diocletian chose this site on the Adriatic Sea for his magnificent retirement home. He spent 10 years building it, with 16 towers (three remain) and four entrance gates, plus a vast array of rooms and quarters.
The interior has changed over the centuries, as it moved from being a palace to a town and today, in the warren of tiny streets within the walls, homes, shops and restaurants are mixed in with the historical sites and ancient architectural features. A good place to start exploring is to enter from the Riva through the Southern Gate, which leads down into the palace cellars – a network of more than 50 underground rooms which was only excavated in 1956.

The layout of the cellars gives an idea of the original floorplan for the palace\’s main level and Game of Thrones fans will recognise some of the basement rooms as Meereen and the spaces where Daenerys kept her dragons. Souvenir and gift shops in the central passage provide a cool area to potter in in hot weather.

From the cellars, steps lead up to the peristyle, formerly the palace\’s central courtyard and a popular meeting spot. Lined with pillars, it was once guarded by 12 granite sphinxes, which Diocletian brought from Egypt, and just one remains today, dating back 3,500 years. The small octagonal Cathedral of St Domnius was originally built as a mausoleum for the emperor and later converted to a cathedral. Climbing the bell tower gives a lovely view of the town and the port.

From here, I follow the sounds of Klapa singers into a stone vestibule which leads to the emperor\’s former quarters and then wander around the maze of little streets, coming to Trg Brace Radic (known as Fruit Square) and Narodni Trg (called the Piazza), ducking and out of shops, sometimes getting lost and sometimes doubling back on myself.
I stumble upon the green market for fruit and vegetables and on the other side of town, the fish market, both buzzing with locals, tourists and people from the mountains and the islands selling their fresh produce.

Next day, it\’s time to explore some of the Dalmatian Hinterland surrounding Split and the first stop is Klis Fortress, 14km from the city. This is a beautiful stone fort on the top of a hill, with a series of green tree-lined terraces and views right down to Split and over to the Dalmatian Islands.
Once the seat of Croatian kings, due to its strategic location at a mountain pass, over the years the fortress was heavily booby-trapped with all sorts of deterrents (like holes in the ceiling to pour boiling oil through), but that didn\’t stop various invaders.

As my guide, Ana, shows me the different parts which were added on or left behind by different occupiers – including the Ottomans, Venetians, Austrians and most recently, the Game of Thrones production team – I learn about Dalmatia\’s complicated history, from the Greeks and Romans to the Barbarians, Hungarians, Venetians, French and Austro-Hungarians right through to Yugoslavia and present- day Croatia.

In the small town of Sinj, half an hour from Split, an equestrian competition called the Sinjska alka takes place every August, to celebrate a miracle said to have been performed by the Virgin Mary to save the town from the Ottomans. The church has a painting of Our Lady of Sinj while a small museum (alka.hr) tells the story of the pageant with costumes, weapons and some fun interactive games.

Back on the coast, Split is also the gateway to the Dalmatian Islands, popular for their beaches, olive groves, wineries and hiking trails, as well as tiny piers and church towers, all of which enjoy a sunny, Mediterranean climate. The island of Hvar is popular with the jet set as much for its nightlife as its quiet coves. Although there are ferries from Split (two hours), I decide to halve the journey and try the high life, arriving by speedboat into Hvar town.
Near the main square are stalls selling lavender products. Lavender was once one of the island\’s main industries. A climb to the fortress Fortica Spanjola behind the town gives panoramic views of the town and the small Pakleni Islands in front of it.

After a few hours exploring the lavender fields, villages and trails of Hvar Island, last stop is a café in the main square – the town\’s \’living room\’, where parents chat, kids play, business people have meetings and tourists plan their itineraries. Also here is Hvar\’s Theatre, one of the oldest in Europe, dating back to 1612, but watching what goes on in the square provides all the entertainment needed – and of course, coffee.

Source: Independent Europe

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Thursday\’s vote in the 151-seat assembly saw 75 back the ouster of Finance Minister Zdravko Maric, 75 against and one abstention.
The deadlock meant Maric, who was accused of conflict of interest, could remain in his post. But it showed that the center-right government has no majority support in the assembly.

The vote was seen as a test for Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic after a junior partner left his ruling coalition, triggering a government crisis that could lead to another early election.

The previous coalition of Plenkovic\’s Croatian Democratic Union and the conservative Most group collapsed last June after six months, leading to a snap election in September.

Source: Fox News

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Stretching some 100 miles, the new path follows a historic railroad route dating back to the 1900s.

Though the train path was closed down in 1976, the project, funded by the European Union and through cross-border programs between the two countries, aims to bring it back to life by showcasing the array of sights it has to offer outdoor explorers.

Described by project funders as an “open air museum” thanks to the many abandoned towns and attractions you can see along the way, the bicycling route takes you through stops like Mostar’s Old Bridge, where you can catch adrenaline-pumping high-dive competitions in the summer and magnificent views of the Neretva river all year long.

You’ll also be able to explore the series of waterfalls that plunge from cliffs into a natural amphitheater to make up the Kravice Waterfalls, or the village of Blagaj in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where a monastery overlooking the Buna River makes for quite the sight.

Sticking to the theme, you can stay at various hotels that have been converted out of old railway stations, like the Stanica Ravno in the Herzegovinian countryside, just steps away from the Vjetrenica cave.

Source: Travel and Leisure

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More than 60,000 portions of free bean soup and 55,000 bread rolls are being served at Maksimir park in the capital to celebrate Labour Day. The free lunch is a tradition in Croatia, and there is also bean soup, or Grah, served at many other locations around the country on Monday.

In Split, the largest city on the coast, locals gather on Marjan for a free lunch. Bean soup is given out to all people as a symbol of a real workers dish and red carnations as a symbol of the blood of fallen workers from the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago.

Source: croatiaweek.com

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1. Riva Harbor

Take a long promenade along Split\’s harbor. Updated within the last decade, tourists are welcome to sit and enjoy the palm tree-lined street, feel the gentle ocean breeze, and grab a cup of coffee or pint of tea and make new memories. It\’s a popular tourist spot and it\’s a smooth first step in exploring this ancient city.

2. Diocletian\’s Palace

n the heart of the city, explore the intended retirement spot of the late Roman Emperor Diocletian. Built around the fourth century, this palace is truly a testament to its craftsmanship, surviving tempestuous times of war and unrest. Today, the palace effortlessly blends into a modern setting and has a few more pleasant amenities such as street performances.

3. inBOX

To speed things up a little, party with the best of them at inBOX. There\’s a massive, outdoor dance space where, if you\’re lucky, you can catch festivals and even themed salsa nights. Tourists will be carried by the sounds of different DJs to the front steps where you can see gorgeous views of the harbor.

4. Peristyle (Peristil) & The Vestibule
In the center of Diocletian\’s Palace is the Peristyle where subjects would kneel before the emperor. It\’s become known for its architectural style, blending medieval, Venetian, and Roman designs and standing the test of time. Near it, the vestibules were perfect for opera classics and works of ancient literature, but also sets the stage where abundant urban life continues and voices still carry in live performances.

5. Diocletian\’s Wine House

With its extensive collection, Diocletian\’s is the place to go for any wine lover. This cool and classy spot is off the beaten path. Ask for the PEKA, a traditional Dalmatian dish of veal, lamb or octopus, but make sure to call three hours ahead of time for it to stew to perfection!

6. Gregory of Nin (Grgur Ninski) Statue

No stop is complete without rubbing Gregory\’s toe. The nearly 20 foot tall statue of this bishop sits close to Diocletian\’s Palace and rumor has it that rubbing his big toe while asking a wish will make it come true. Gregory is known for standing up to the Pope and splitting with the Catholic Church\’s stance that religious service had to be done in Latin. When Gregory introduced it in Croatian, there was an uptick in attendance in the churches.

Split, Croatia is a beautiful destination full of history. See all of its wonders when Below Deck Mediterranean Season 2 pulls into port on Bravo May 2 at 9/8c.

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In the battle for the overall title, Caja Rural\’s Jaime Roson found himself on the wrong side of a small split during the sprint, allowing Astana\’s Vinceno Nibali to leapfrog him on GC and take over control of the leader\’s jersey. Coming into the day five seconds down, the Italian now leads the Spaniard by two seconds.

A day after his Bardiani squad delivered him perfectly for a bunch sprint victory, Ruffoni again attributed the stage win to his teammates following Friday\’s more hectic finale.

\”The most uncertain moment during the race was at five kilometres to the finish. Narrow and tricky roads, the breakaway one minute in front of us but no chance to see them. On the long straight at four kilometres to go we put the escapees in our sights but the catch seemed hard,\” he said. \”[Mirco] Maestri did a strong effort leading with other sprinters\’ team. I relied on [Nicola] Boem and [Paolo] Simion for the sprint and they did again an amazing job. Nicola kept us in front while Paolo was great driving me in the bagarre of the last kilometre.\”

Marangoni, Johannes Schinnagel (Team Felbermayr – Simplon Wels), Daniel Turek (Israel Cycling Academy) and Antonio Di Sante (GM Europa Ovini) jumped clear of the peloton around 20 kilometres after the pack set out from Crikvenica for the 171km stage 4. The escapees were given a bit of space, with a gap growing out to around four minutes. With a flat finish on tap, however, several teams were interested in keeping the move under control to set up a potential sprint finish.

With Roson wearing the leader\’s jersey, Caja Rural did much of the early pace-setting to keep the gap to the break steady at or around four minutes for an hour or so.

With around 40 kilometres to go, the peloton began to eat into the breakers\’ advantage, with Trek-Segafredo, Bahrain-Merida, Bardiani CSF and Astana pitching in at the front. The four riders up the road worked well together, but the gap was down to two minutes with 25 kilometres left to race.

The breakers took a little over a minute into the final 15 kilometres, but then the chase stalled ever so slightly, giving the quartet off the front a bit of hope at staying clear all the way to the line. With the gap at 25 seconds at five kilometres to go, it was still anyone\’s game.

The difference was just 10 seconds with two kilometres to go, which spurred Marangoni to push clear from the break and attempt a solo victory. The other three were caught, but Marangoni passed under the flamme rouge banner still clinging to a small gap.

A charging peloton would not be denied, however. Winding up to full speed, the sprinters rapidly closed down Marangoni\’s small advantage on the finishing straight. Ruffoni led the charge as the quick men swallowed up Marangoni in the final moments of the stage, and the Bardiani rider held on ahead of the other sprinters to cross the line first for the second day in a row.

\”I\’m not a sprinter who likes long progression and I knew could be a risk,\” said Ruffoni of leading the sprint from 250 metres out. \”The road was going little downhill in the finale, Marangoni was still on the front but I was sure I could catch him. On the other side, I was worried for riders behind me and their return. Well, today I\’ve been rewarded for my audacity … if you want to win a sprint, you need this as well.\”

Source: CyclingNews.com

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This would be the first time that James Bond has filmed in Croatia and would be certainly one of the largest film productions in Dubrovnik. The latest Leonardo DiCaprio movie, Robin Hood: Origins, is currently filming in the historic Old City of Dubrovnik, starring Jamie Foxx, Jamie Dornan, Eve Hewson and Taron Egerton as Robin Hood. This multimillion budget blockbuster is, according to Vlahusic, the largest most expensive ever movie ever filmed in the city. According to reports the estimated budget for marketing and promotion will be around $100 million.

Already reports of the new James Bond planning to use Dubrovnik have appeared in fan sites and blogs. And the former mayor is completely behind the project “James Bond has always been my favourite, and negotiations are ongoing,” he reported to The Dubrovnik Times. “We are in negotiations with all of the key people involved in the James Bond franchise. When we made the deal with Star Wars for the filming of The Last Jedi of course I had to keep it to myself, and after filming was completed the city has shown that there isn’t any technical question or logistical question that we can’t solve,” added Vlahusic.

Of course there are many pieces of the James Bond puzzle that need to be completed before Dubrovnik can dream of hosting 007. After Sam Mendes announced that he will not be directing the 25th Bond movie a new director needs to be found. And then there is the slightly larger question on who will actually play Bond.

The impressive list of movies and serials filmed in location in Dubrovnik, or Hollywood on the Adriatic, could well be adding James Bond.

Source: Total-Croatia

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