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
Hollywood star Michael Weatherly came to Dubrovnik few days ago and is obviously having a great time. Star of the popular American series ‘’Bull’’ will be the special guest of New Europe Market (NEM), the largest media event in our region that brings together professionals from the TV industry.
At NEM, which will be held for the fifth time at the Hotel Dubrovnik Palace in Dubrovnik from June 12 to 15, guests will have the opportunity to hear Weatherly in a relaxed conversation with TV host Antonija Mandic.
Weatherly published a short video from the restaurant Proto on his official Instagram profile, with his daughter Olivia talking in the background. He also got a chance to enjoy ice-cream from ice-cream shop ‘’Sladoledarna Dubrovnik’’, whose employees took photo with this famous actor and shared it on their Instagram.
Otherwise, Michael Weatherly is well known to the audience from the Navy CIS series, where he starred as agent Tony DiNozzo from 2003 to 2016. He also starred in SF series Dark Angel and appeared in Loving, Significant Other and Jesse. He was also a part of Charlie Valentine, Trigger Happy, The Last Days of Disco, The Specials, Venus and Mars and Gun Shy.
Last year Weatherly replaced the police station with a courtroom in the successful drama Bull, inspired by the early career of well-known psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw, who became a celebrity by being on the Oprah Show. Weatherly was born in New York and currently lives with his wife and two children between Los Angeles and New York.
Every week The Dubrovnik Times goes to new levels for your pleasure. This time it’s all about culinary pleasure. We have scoured the menus of Dubrovnik to bring you our favourites. And not only did we just research the menus we have gone that extra step and tasted the food in advance for you...its hard work but someone has to do it. This week I visited an iconic pub in the heart of the Old City of Dubrovnik.
You remember that serial from the 1980’s “Cheers” and the theme tune – you want to go where everyone knows your name. Well that is the feeling you get as soon as you enter The Gaffe - Irish pub. Located in the very heart of the ancient Old City of Dubrovnik The Gaffe has a welcoming and friendly feel. It is good honest food served by super friendly staff. Over the years, The Gaffe started back in 2004, this Irish pub has been a magnet for locals and tourists alike. That tip about – look where the locals eat and then go there – is certainly true about The Gaffe. “We have a couple of new dishes on the menu that you must try,” explained the waiter to me. I had already tried most of the menu before so I guess it was time for something new. “Why not try our Tandoori Chicken?” he added.
Served with a fresh salad and freshly cut chips made from locally grown potatoes – sounded just the ticket. The Gaffe is pub grub, but pub grub served and created with style. Dishes range from fish and chips, BBQ spare ribs, chicken wings to all sorts of burgers. And if you are looking for a good spot for an English breakfast then The Gaffe is the spot. Breakfast is served from 9.00am to 11.00am and includes eggs breakfast, classic breakfast and if you are feeling particularly peckish then try the “Hungry Morning.” What to drink with my Tandoori Chicken – craft beer. And not any old craft beer, The Gaffe has commissioned their own craft beer for this year – would also make a unique souvenir. The Tandoori was spectacular, I hadn’t expected anything different from The Gaffe. It was even served with yogurt to give that real curry feeling. Looking for a night out, well start early in The Gaffe. From 6.00pm to 7.00pm the happy hour offers two drinks for the price of one. Basically buy one get one free. Live sports, live music and a brunch menu that changes every day and has prices starting at only 38 Kuna – yes we still love The Gaffe. (but we already knew we would and so will you)
Contact
Ul. Miha Pracata 4, 20000, Dubrovnik
Tel: +385 (0) 20 640 152
Opening hours - Monday to Sunday 9am to 2am
During April this year, 569,988 passengers passed through the Croatian airports, a 33.4 percent increase over the same period last year, according to data published by the Central Bureau of Statistics on Friday.
In the first four months of this year, 1.26 million passengers passed through Croatian airports, an increase of 14.2 percent over the same period last year.
The latest data shows that the largest number of passengers in April was recorded at the airport in Zagreb, or more precisely - 239,887 passengers, 19.1 percent more than in April last year. Dubrovnik Airport had a great growth of 52.3 percent, or 143,299 passengers and Split airport had 120.980 passengers, which is 64 percent more than last April. Zadar Airport also shows an increase with 47,239 passengers, or 15 percent more than last year.
Official statistics show that most of the passengers who used Croatian airports in April were those who came from or traveled to German airports - 136,798 or 34 percent more than last year.
In airplanes arriving or traveling the UK there were 71,104 passengers, an increase of 50.3 percent, while 48.097 passengers registered at French airports, or 14.6 percent more than last year.
In April, the largest increase in passenger numbers was recorded on flights to or from Turkey by 69.2 percent or 18,636 passengers.
The total number of landings and take-offs at airports in Croatia in April 2017 was 7,624, which is a 15 percent increase compared to the number of landings and take-offs in the same period last year.
Bari Goddard has been working and exhibiting under the pseudonym G O D Photography for the last 15 years. His work encompasses film-making, photography, painting and music. This exhibition showcases images from 'Hamlet' and 'Twelfth Night' as well as scenes of Dubrovnik inspired by the plays of Marin Drzic.
His recent photographic exhibitions include the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in London 2015 and 2016, the Louvre Paris 2015 and the Cave Gallery London 2015. Whilst relatively new to film-making, he has completed visually outlandish videos for bands such as Danse Society, Sex Gang Children and Knives, as well as CD cover artwork for Andi Sex Gang and Wormhead amongst others. He has performed with the likes of Jimmy Somerville, Madonna, Cliff Richard, Banderas, Horse, Then Jerico etc.
'Midsummer Scene /Night Dubrovnik' his last exhibition in Croatia, opened in Dubrovnik, on June 2016 – commissioned by the City of Dubrovnik for their annual festival 'Midsummer Scene'.
“The 13,” his most recent exhibition previewed at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in London from May 25th – June 26th.
Bari Goddard's exhibition traces both Dubrovnik and Midsummer Scene Festival during the seasons 2015 and 2016, when the festival staged the critically acclaimed international box office hit “Twelfth Night” and “Hamlet” featuring the first woman in the titular role of the play on a major Croatian stage. In a blend of behind and on the stage photographs from Midsummer Scene productions, Illyria and Elsinore - two vital, almost mythical Shakespearean locations - come together with Bari Goddard's unique portrait of Dubrovnik that has proved as the perfect stage for great classical theatre.
The exhibition will be held from the 1st to the 7th of July in the Sponza Palace in the Old City of Dubrovnik and admission is free of charge.
According to information, UberBOAT will officially commence operations in Croatia on the 12th of June.
The company did not want to reveal any more details, however, the spokesperson Matija Mesic said shortly that a press release is scheduled for the 12th of June and that the Croatian UberBOAT would be Uber's world exclusive.
Furthermore, Uber business leaders from San Francisco have estimated that the Croatian coast with numerous islands, the number of tourists visiting the country, as well as a merciful climate are ideal for experimental expansion of their business from asphalt roads to Croatian waves.
''According to data around 8,5 million tourists travel to islands in the four Dalmatian counties during summer months'', said Davor Tremac, the general director of Uber for South Eastern Europe earlier this year.
UberBOAT represents a new service, which will be offered to all users of the UBER digital platform in Croatia. It is about transport of users by speedboats ordered by an Uber application along the Adriatic coast. The transport will be operated by existing operators – small businesses and companies already registered for the necessary activities, with all licences, permits and insurance.
Apart from direct impact on the tourist season, better connection and integration of islands, this service represents a key precondition for improving the quality of life on Croatian islands in all segments, especially in terms of the labour market, education and health care.
Direct flights between Croatia and the US are once again on the table as the Croatian Ministry of Tourism seeks a US or European airline to operate services from next year. Flights between the two countries have been in the pipeline for a few years but it now seems that the Croatian government is determined to find a suitable carrier. The Croatian Minster of Tourism, Gari Cappelli, recently commented that “We are in serious negotiations over the introduction of year-long flights from Croatia to New York, most likely from Zagreb and Dubrovnik, even from Split. All signs point towards the introduction of seasonal flights during the high season in 2018 and year-long services in 2019.”
And according to a report on the specialist website EX-YU Aviation it appears that the Croatian Embassy in Washington is leading the search for an airline. However it is proving more difficult than expected to find a partner with Delta Airlines, American Airlines and United are ruling out any interest in operating the route. There is still the possibility that a European airline will take up the offer as any European Union registered carrier can operate services from any point in the block to the United States if it holds a valid foreign air carrier permit with the United States Department of Transportation.
In spite of the fact that there are no direct flights between Croatia and the US the second most numerous tourists in Dubrovnik in 2016, in terms of nationality, were Americans. The majority of the recent interest from the US has come about due to the fact that Dubrovnik has hosted many popular films and serials, including Game of Thrones, Star Wars and most recently Robin Hood.
The last time Croatia had direct scheduled flights to the United States was during the summer of 1991, when Pan Am maintained four weekly nonstop roundtrips from New York to Zagreb.
''We are a Commission that builds bridges – literally. This project genuinely embodies our commitment to removing barriers, uniting territories and bringing people together. I know how much this bridge is awaited by the Croatian people and I am glad that the EU, with its funds, can be part of this new chapter in the history of the country'', commented Corina Cretu, the EU Commissioner for Regional policy in Brussels on the 7th of June.
The EU Commission decided to allocate 357 million Euros of Cohesion Policy funds to Croatia to build a bridge that will connect the southernmost part of the country and Dubrovnik to the rest of the mainland Croatia.
On this occasion, Gabrijela Zalac, the Croatian Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds signed an agreement with the EU Commission on accepting co-financing of the Peljesac Bridge.
The construction of the Peljesac bridge, for which the EU will contribute 85 percent of the cost, will significantly improve the everyday life of Croatians, through reducing the travel time between Dubrovnik and Split. It will also greatly benefit tourism, trade and will reinforce the territorial cohesion of the South Dalmatia region with the other part of the country.
The new bridge will connect the Dubrovnik–Neretva County to the rest of the country, by crossing the Mali Ston Bay over the Adriatic Sea. This will enable an undisturbed flow of goods and people, especially during the high tourist season.
The Peljesac bridge will be 55 metres high and 2.4 kilometres long, with four lanes. The EU is also funding supporting infrastructure, such as the construction of access roads, including tunnels, bridges and viaducts, the building of an 8km-long bypass near the town of Ston and upgrading works on the existing road D414.
The bridge is expected to be opened in 2022.
The Diving Club of Dubrovnik organised an underwater cleaning yesterday in the suburb of Babin Kuk. The divers from the club started at 10.00am and throughout the day pulled metal and plastic from the seabed.
This special action was supported by the Dubrovnik Tourist Board and the City of Dubrovnik and is part of an ongoing action to keep the sea and the seabed in the Dubrovnik region clean and unpolluted.