Mark Thomas - The editor and big chief of The Dubrovnik Times. Born in the UK he has been living and working in Dubrovnik since 1998, yes he is one of the rare “old hands.” A unique insight into both British and Croatian life and culture, Mark is often known as just “Englez” or Englishman. He is a traveller, a current affairs freak and a huge AFC Wimbledon fan.
Email: mark.thomas@dubrovnik-times.com
Bebel Gilberto, an American/Brazilian popular singer, performed in Park Orsula last night.
Jazz, bossa nova, flamenco music – that’s what the audience enjoyed last night, played on the one of the most beautiful stages in Dubrovnik. The interest was high and it seemed like everybody enjoyed the performance.
Dubrovnik jazz vocalist Maja Grgic with her trio performed as an opening band. See a bit of atmosphere in the photo gallery.
The international opera arias festival "Tino Pattiera" begins on June 30th with a big concert "Chansons d'amour" in front of the Rector's Palace at 9:30 pm. The festival will last until July 4th, and will be held in the organization of the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra. It is organized in memory of the world famous opera singer, Tino Pattiera from Cavtat. Tino Pattiera was the great and glorious name of European and world opera houses in the first half of the 20th century. He was the champion of the Royal Hall of the Court Opera in Dresden and a member of the Berlin State Opera, and was often called the successor to the great Enrico Caruso.
In honor of it, the festival is held for the tenth year in a row and is for the fourth time organized by Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra. The music director of the festival is Israeli conductor Noam Zur, and internationally acclaimed opera singers will be soloists this year, such as Armenian soprano Liana Aleksanyan, German mezzosoprano Ursula Hesse von den Steinen, Spanish tenor Xavier Moreno, Ukrainian bass Taras Konoshchenko and Dubrovnik pianist Stefani Grbic. Delightful opera arias concerts and one recital will surely be a great pleasure for the audience.
At the festival's opening concert in front of the Rector's Palace, all four soloists will perform with the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra under the guidance of Master Noam Zur and will perform arias from renowned operas such as Voici des Roses from Faust's Damnation by H. Berlioz, La fleur que tu m'avais from the Bizett’s Carmen, E lucevan le stele from Puccini's Tosca, Un bel di from Puccini's Madame Butterfly, Paris, the Emperor from Verdi's Traviata," Nessun dorma from Puccini's opera Turandot and many others. It will be the night of opera arias dedicated to all forms of inexhaustible inspiration - love.
As from 27th of June, the Croatian police and security services have access to the Schengen Information System (SIS).
According to the words of the Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, this access will increase the efficiency and credibility of the Croatian police and security services networked with partner countries.
The Schengen Information System, which was presented to the Croatian Prime Minister, the Croatian Minister of the Interior and the press at the Bregana border police station on the 27th of June, is considered a significant step in meeting the criteria necessary for Croatia's entry in the SIS.
The information system allows access to the main database, which helps find over 200,000 missing persons, vehicles, documents and objects a year.
In addition, the SIS contains more than 70 million pieces of data that can be used and verified by countries with access rights. The implementation of the system worth 5 million Euros is financed by funds from the European Union.
On this occasion, the Croatian Minister of Interior Davor Bozinovic said that with Croatia's access to the Schengen Information System the country's security system was raised to a higher level, which is highly important for protection of Croatian citizens and visitors to the country.
The City of Dubrovnik informs citizens and their guests that on Thursday, June 29th, six cruise ships are expected in Dubrovnik, with a total capacity of 9,123 passengers. The arrival of four cruisers is expected from 6.30 am to 9 am.
All ships will be anchored in Port of Gruz because of the possibility of bad weather, so traffic jams are expected, as well as greater pressure on pedestrian traffic in the area of the historic core and the contact zone.
All the competent authorities of the City of Dubrovnik, Sanitat Dubrovnik and the Tourist Board of the City of Dubrovnik will be ready and will coordinate all in order to reduce crowds and traffic jams as possible in critical times.
The Port of Dubrovnik, as announced at the meeting with the mayor, will apply a new regime for shuttle buses to the historic core – nine buses will go from the port area to the City at intervals of 10 minutes.
American model and actress Eva LaRue loves Croatia – she has been in our country for a week now and is surely promoting it on her official Instagram account. She got numerous likes on her beautiful photos with captions that show how much she is enjoying her time here.
LaRue is in Dubrovnik for the last couple of days and has especially loved her Game of Thrones tour. Yesterday she published a video of her performing ‘’Walk of shame’’ scene, well known to all the lovers of the series and also added a photo on the throne.
Eva LaRue is known for her roles as Dr. Maria Santos on All My Children and Det. Natalia Boa Vista on CSI: Miami – and now for being a true fan of Croatia.
After a recent survey that showed Croatia is below the European average in terms of alcohol consumption, the latest statistics on the number of smokers in the country is not very positive.
The data show that Croatia has ranked among the top EU countries by the number of smokers aged 15 and older.
Almost 25 percent of the population in Croatia are active smokers, following Bulgarians, Greeks and Hungarians. The lowest number of smokers are in Scandinavian countries, primarily in Sweden where only 8.7 percent of people smoke.
The European Union has tried to reduce the number of smokers in its member countries by implementing the Directive from May 2016 in order to raise public awareness of smoking hazards and focus citizens on a healthier life.
Due to the EU Directive, graphic health warnings with photos, text and cessation information cover 65 percent of the front and the back of cigarette boxes as to discourage people from smoking or encourage them to quit. In addition, flavoured cigarettes and tobacco, such as menthol, fruit or candy flavours that mask the taste and smell of tobacco are also forbidden by the Directive.
Since 2012, the number of smokers has been decreasing; however, the results are not satisfactory.
At exactly five minutes past two this afternoon Dubrovnik shook as an earthquake rumbled through the region.
According to information from the Seismological Service of Croatia the epicentre of the earthquake was 15 kilometres southwest of Dubrovnik. The magnitude of the earthquake was 3.5 on the Richter scale. No material damage has been reported in the region.
What better background for a bikini photo shoot than Dubrovnik. The well-known swimwear brand “Scampi” is currently in Dubrovnik shooting an advertising campaign. Scampi Scampi is a Swedish brand with over 30 years of experience in making high quality swimwear.
The fashion model Eva Perfido has the “difficult” task of posing on the shores of the Adriatic. The Venice based photographer Jean Pierrot has been scooting around on a jet-ski getting the perfect image, apparently for this photo shoot he is insisting on no make-up and a natural look. We can expect to see Dubrovnik and the Adriatic once again featured in the international media soon.