The Dubrovnik-Neretva County will traditionally, for the ninth year in a row, donate ten tons of tangerines to the Vukovar-Srijem County as a Christmas gift and the fruit will start their journey north from Opuzen on Monday.

"For the ninth year in a row we will deliver ten tons of first-class tangerines that we have bought from manufacturers and distributors. Neretva tangerines is our strong brand, and we send them to children at Christmas. We do not consider this to be of some kind help but simply a message of friendship between the two counties and their residents," commented the County Mayor Nikola Dobroslavić.

Thanks to their unbelievable efforts in the 2018 World Cup in Russia the Croatian Football Association is richer to the hefty tune of $28 million. For the successful qualification at the World Cup the association will receive $20 million and for winning the silver medal a further $8 million.

And, according to the website Goal.hr, the windfall will be spilt 50-50 between the players and the Croatian Football Association.

And as a reflection of how they performed at the World Cup the players have decided to divide their share equally amongst all the players in the squad regardless of how many minutes they played. This all for one, one for all attitude perfectly sums up how the players played for each other as a team at the championships.

The same sum will be earned by the star captain Luka Modrić and the reserve players who hardly made it on the pitch. Meaning that each of the players will get around $454.545 gross.

As the festive season fast approaches its time to get the table ready for the big Christmas season and nothing says Christmas in Croatia quite as much as mulled wine or kuhano vino.

The aroma of this traditional Christmas drink is already wafting around the Old City of Dubrovnik as the Dubrovnik Winter Festival has brought various festive stands to the Stradun many serving this alcoholic delight. And it’s simple and straightforward to make in your home this Christmas and your guests are sure to love a touch of Croatia in their glasses.

Here is our recipe for mulled wine (kuhano vino) to get your ready for Christmas

Mulled Wine Ingredients

• One 750 ml bottle red wine
• One peeled and sliced orange (keep peel to add zest to taste into cooking pot)
• 8-10 whole cloves
• 2/3 cup honey or sugar
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp fresh ginger

How to make mulled wine

Combine all of the ingredients into a large saucepan

Gently warm the ingredients on low to medium heat (don’t boil keep it low and slow) for around half an hour

Add a touch of honey slowly until it dissolves

When the wine is steaming and the ingredients have been well blended it is ready to serve

Enjoy your traditional Croatian Christmas drink

The traditional Dubrovnik Foreign Circle Christmas party was held last Friday in the Dubrovnik Sheraton hotel in Župa. Members from all over the world, reflecting the international touch of this Dubrovnik society, gathered for festive fun and a chance to catch up before the holiday season.

As ever a rich prize draw was held with numerous prizes donated by businesses from all over the region. The President of the Dubrovnik Foreign Circle, Christiane Mandukich, gave a speech to open the party and thanked all the members for their hard work over 2018 and wished them all a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year period.

The Dubrovnik Foreign Circle’s mission and vision is to actively serve the community by providing services that contribute to the health and vitality of the greater Dubrovnik Region. The organization’s goal is to provide friendship and understanding between its members and the Dubrovnik community at large by organizing cultural and social events. The Dubrovnik Foreign Circle engages in fundraising activities for the benefit of its community projects.

A new statue to the first Croatian President, Dr. Franjo Tuđman, has been installed in Zagreb ready to be uncovered today.

The new statue to the President is on the intersection of Vukovar Street and Croatian Community Street in the capital and the purchase of the statue was organised by the City of Zagreb.

The author of the monument is the academic sculptor Kuzma Kovačić.

The statue will be unveiled by the current Croatian President, Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, the Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

The festive period is just around the corner and the atmosphere in the Old City of Dubrovnik is warming up in preparation for the biggest holiday on the Dubrovnik calendar. And the leading five-star hotel, the Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik, in the city is offering a stunning package over the holiday period, featuring one of the leading DJs in the world.

Stunning interior of Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik 

Enjoy New Year in Dubrovnik and discover another side of the city that you’ve never seen before. Away from the warmer summer months when the city is awash with millions of tourists from all over the world the winter period is when the city calms down and returns to its tradition best. The decorations are already hanging, the festive program is full and the restaurants are preparing special dishes. It is a special time of the year and a time when you can truly have the space and time to discover all of the hidden riches that Dubrovnik has to offer.

You'll have a room with a view at Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik 

And what better base to start your Dubrovnik journey than the stunning five-star Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik hotel. And for this holiday period they have prepared an extra special offer for guests. Live festive music every night, special children’s attractions, Mediterranean style dinners, elegant accommodation and an extraordinary evening of fun and music with one of the top world DJs, all this and much more is on offer at the Rixos Libertas Hotel this winter season. And with prices that will fit any budget the hotel has created a package that is hard to turn down.

Enjoy an unforgettable New Year Period at Rixos Libertas!

28th of December 2018
Kid’s animation in the hotel
17:00 – 19:00 Live music - Piano & Cello on Agora Piano bar
19:00 – 21:00 Mediterranean buffet dinner in Mozaik (30 € per person)
Glass of sparkling wine at the entrance of the restaurant
Live music during dinner – Trio Laus
21:00 – 23:00 Live music - Piano & Cello at the Piano bar

29th of December 2018
Kid’s animation in the hotel
17:00 – 19:00 Live music – 2 Violins on Agora Piano bar
19:00 – 21:00 Dalmatian buffet dinner in Mozaik (30 € per person)
Glass of sparkling wine at the entrance of the restaurant
Live music during dinner – Trio Laus
21:00 – 23:00 Live music – 2 Violins at the Piano bar

30th of December 2018
Kid’s animation in the hotel
17:00 . 19:00 Live DJ performance on Agora Piano bar
19:00 – 21:00 Asian buffet dinner in Mozaik (30 € per person)
Glass of sparkling wine at the entrance of the restaurant - Live music during dinner – Trio Laus
21:00 – 23:00 Sax warm up at Piano bar
Željko Barač live saxophone performance
23:00 DJ Mahmut Orhan in Mistral ballroom
DJ after party

31st of December 2018
Kid’s animation in the hotel
17:00 – 19:00 New Year’s warm Up on Piano bar
A capella Klapa performance – traditional Christmas & New Year’s songs
19:00 – 21:00 Silvester buffet dinner in Mozaik (40 € per person)
Glass of sparkling wine at the entrance of the restaurant
Live music during dinner – Trio Laus
Midnight - Sparkling wine for a toast on Agora terrace

1st of January 2019
08:00 – 11:30 Late breakfast - Late check out until 15.00

Follow this link to book your New Year experience in Dubrovnik

30.12.2018 has a minimum stay of 2 nights
30.12. and 31.12. are for nonrefundable reservations only

Offer is valid through www.rixos.com or directly at the front office is the hotel, phone 0035-20-200000.

DJ Mahmut Orhan’s ticket prices are based on drink package. Please call 00385-20-200000 for more details or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PROMO

It would appear from first sight that Dubrovnik will have another Zip Line for next season high above the city on the Srđ Mountain.

A relatively short metal cable has been attached to two constructions that look suspiciously like a Zip Line.

No further information is yet online about this possible new tourist attraction for Dubrovnik but all the signs point towards an adrenaline inspired destination in the city. Although it is fairly short at least the views will be to die for.

The NBA list of the top dunks of this week is topped by the Dubrovnik basketball star Mario Hezonja. During the match between Hezonja’s New York Knicks and the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden the Dubrovnik forward stole a pass and dribbled almost the full length of the court before slamming home.

During the slam dunk one of the best players in the NBA this season Giannis Antetokounmpo tried to block him and Hezonja reacted by starring down the “Greek Freak” on the floor and stepping over him before waving his arms at the crowd to get their support.

"I want to get the crowd involved even more," Hezonja said. "That was a perfect moment for it. I want them. I’m the type of a guy that always wants the crowd getting involved. Honestly, if you’re afraid, this is not for you. I don’t want to be disrespectful, but if you feel fear this is not the place for you, New York is not a place for you and this team is not a place for you."