Tuesday, 18 February 2025
Mark Thomas

Mark Thomas

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

The Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board is presenting the beauties of Dubrovnik at the Holiday World Exhibition in Prague, which is taking place from the 15th to 18th February at the Prague exhibition centre.

The first day of the fair is dedicated for tourism professionals only, while the rest of the three days are open to the public.

Approximately 30,000 visitors are expected to be present at the fair, and more than 45 countries from around the world, in 640 booths, are included in this year's fair. Also around 600 travel journalists and about 7,000 tourism professionals are expected to visit.

The Dubrovnik-Neretva County was visited by over 38,000 tourists from the Czech Republic in 2017, which was a 5 percent increase over the previous year.

 

‘’I don’t care that they stole my idea...I care that they don’t have any of their own’’, were the words of one of the greatest inventors of all times.

Nikola Tesla is well known for his numerous inventions without which the modern world could not exist in a way we know it today. He is an icon of the scientific world, who invented alternating current, wireless signal and energy transfer, electric motor, radio communication, remote control and many other things most people have never heard of and yet they are using them every day.

It seems that the famous inventor is an eternal inspiration for numerous films. According to the latest news from show business, a new film about Nikola Tesla is on the horizon.

After Nicholas Hoult interpreted Tesla in ‘’The Current War’’ and David Bowie in ‘’The Prestige’’, the main role of an innovator born in the Lika region in Croatia will be assigned to the American actor Ethan Hawke.

nikola tesla ethan hawke 2018 movie

 

Michael Almereyda, who will also direct the film, wrote the scenario for the film about Nikola Tesla. This biographic film will present the life and work of the famous inventor including his rivalry with Thomas Alva Edison and the construction of some of Tesla’s inventions.

The film preparations begin this spring, after which the filming will start in the northern part of the US state of New York.
It is interesting to note that the largest multimedia exhibition ever dedicated to this great man titled ‘’Nikola Tesla- Mind from the Future’’ was opened in Zagreb on the 25th of November 2017 and will remain open until the 20th of March 2018.

Looking to hide those tax-free millions, then don’t look to Croatia. The Tax Justice Network have released findings on the billions of private financial wealth that is hidden in tax havens around the world and Switzerland is the leading tax oasis with no questions asked.

There is an estimated 21,000 to 32,000 billions of dollars of private wealth in the world that is hid away in tax havens according to Tax Justice Network. And the world’s richest people look to Switzerland to avoid paying taxes. In fact, Tax Justice Network lists Switzerland as the most financially corrupt country in the world.

"Switzerland is the grandfather of tax havens in the world, one of the world's largest offshore financial centres and one of the largest jurisdictions for securing financial secrets," commented the network.

The second is America, the third is the Cayman Islands, followed by Hong Kong and Singapore.

Croatia is ranked in 79th position from the 112 countries surveyed in the report.

Many world’s celebrities have already visited Croatia as a popular tourist destination as well as their ‘’place of work’’. Thrilled by the stunning beauty of the country, they are promoting Croatia by posting numerous photos on their social media profiles.

However, it is interesting to note that some of them are related to the country not only by their business obligations such as performing at concerts or filming TV series and films but by family ties as well.

rod stewart with daughter in law

Nicole Artukovich and Sir Rod Stewart 

Following the latest concert of Sir Rod Stewart in Zagreb on the 2nd of February, we found out that the famous rock star has had family ties with Croatia. Stewart announced that this summer he would sail along the Croatian coast upon recommendation of his future daughter-in-law Nicole Artukovich. Attractive Nicole is a long-time girlfriend of his son Liam Stewart; she is of Croatian origin, but lives in the US. However, she regularly visits Croatia especially in the summer.

However, it seems that the famous Brit is not the only one related to Croatia by family ties. While expecting a new sequel of ‘’Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’’ to hit the big screens, which was filmed on the Croatian island of Vis last autumn, we found out that one of the main stars in the film Pierce Brosnan is also connected with Croatia by family ties.

In 2014, after a three-year long relationship, Brosnan’s oldest son Sean married Sanja Banić, a successful Hollywood film producer and writer of Croatian origin born in New Jersey to Croatian parents.

Banić had been engaged in modelling and had had several film appearances in various films before she met Sean. In 2012, they founded the Knightmarcher Films production house.

brosnan and croatian daughter in law

 Pierce Brosnan walking with his grandchild and daughter-in-law

The beautiful Croatian blonde has a great relationship with her globally popular father-in-law that can be seen in their numerous family photos posted on social media. Sean and Sanja have a young daughter Marley May who has obviously stolen her grandpa’s heart from the day she was born.

Who needs a drone or a helicopter when you have a space ship?

This unusual aerial view of Dubrovnik was taken by the American NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik from the International Space Station. He uploaded it onto his Twitter account with the simple sentence - The medieval fortress city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. #OneWorldManyViews – and received hundreds of comments.

It certainly gives a new angle of Dubrovnik from way up in space...enjoy the view. 

dubrovnik from space 2018

According to an announcement from Croatian Radio and Television (HRT), Franka Batelić will represent Croatia at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest.

After Jacques Houdek made it to the Eurovision Song Contest finals with his song ‘’My friend’’ last year, this time Batelić will try to do the same.

A few months ago, the Croatian singer thrilled with her return to the music scene after a four-year break, and now she is about to represent the Croatian colours at the 63rd edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest, which is to take place in Lisbon, Portugal from the 8th to the 12th of May this year.

Batelić will perform with a song ‘’Crazy’’ for which the music was written by Branimir Mihaljević, and the lyrics by the singer herself.

vedran corluka and girlfriend 2018

Franka with former Tottenham Hotspur defender Vedran Corluka 

The 26-year old from Rijeka has already won several awards in her relatively short career and released numerous hit singles in the country. It is interesting to note than Batelić’s partner is Vedran Ćorluka, the famous Croatian footballer and the member of the Croatian National Football Team.

 

Polish air carrier Enter Air will fly on the new charter line from Austria to Dubrovnik in the pre-season summer flight schedule of 2018 – Avioradar reports.

It will be the Linz - Dubrovnik route, which will have 3 arrivals and 3 departures in May. The arrivals are from 10th to 18th of May and departures from 13th to 21st of May 2018. Behind this charter line is the travel agency Schöner Reisen mit Wiesinger. Boeing 737-800 aircraft will fly on this line.

Enter Air is a Polish airline based in Warsaw, and is doing charter flights since 2010. In its fleet there are 17 Boeing 737-800 aircrafts. In addition to the charter lines from Poland, Enter Air also comes to Croatia with charter flights from France and Austria, and in the past years it has also come with charter flights from Spain and Sweden.

The Dubrovnik Times has teamed up with Break Time to bring you a special gift this Valentine’s day period. It is a time of love, a time of romance and a time to surprise your loved one with that extra special present.

Break Time Croatia, who have recently presented at the London Boat Show, has three shops in Croatia, in Split, Dubrovnik and a newly opened one in Porec, specialises in handmade unique jewellery pieces inspired by the Adriatic Sea. Break Time Croatia also has a great online shop - www.nautical-bracelets.com The Dubrovnik branch of Break Time opens on the 26th of March.

And for the most romantic day of the year, Valentine’s day, we are offering a special prize. Two Break Time stainless steel anchor bracelets (one-size-fits-all, water-resistant), so one for you and one for your loved one…ahhhh.

break time prize dubrovnik times 2018 1

 

It’s easy to enter. All you have to do is follow the steps on our Facebook page and you could be the lucky winner and a pair of unique “lovers” bracelets could be winging their way to you.

The prize draw is open now and the lucky winner will be draw at midnight (CET) on the 14th of February. The prize will be sent directly to you.

Good Luck! And Happy Valentine’s day to you all.

 

The Voice of Dubrovnik

THE VOICE OF DUBROVNIK


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