Sunday, 16 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

Travel Weekly has recently published an article titled ‘Croatia: Done Dubrovnik? Try Korcula’, bringing a detailed promotion of this beautiful island, for all those tourists that have already visited Split or done Dubrovnik.

Author Mary Novakovich truly knows what she’s talking about, writing an article that will make everybody visit one of the most famous Croatian islands, full of advices of what to do and where to go.

- Ringed by medieval walls, Korcula Town, the island’s capital, is the big draw. But even on a short break, clients can discover some of the island’s peaceful villages, enchanting beaches and – unexpectedly – some of the best wine of Croatia – writes Novakovich.

The article takes you from the town of Korcula, to Lumbarda, Smokvica and Zavalatica. If you want to eat good, drink amazing wine and discover the secrets of the island, you should really visit it this summer.

And if you are having second-thoughts, be sure to read this article by Travel Weekly.

The Bitter Orange Day, humanitarian event organized by Desa, non-governmental organization , will be held today in front of the Sponza Palace from 10 am to 4pm. 

A variety of cakes and sweets made with the award-winning bitter orange jam will be offered, prepared by a number of Dubrovnik restaurants and hotels.

-This year, all collected income is intended for the treatment of Katarina Nobilo - a beautiful young girl who unfortunately experiences a cerebral palsy and can’t walk. But there is still hope for walking, by Glavic Polyclinic, through robot therapy: Lokomat – it’s stated from the organization.

Katarina is set to start with at least 60 treatmens, and the cost of only one therapy is 1000 kuna. To this date, 30,000 kuna has been collected in various ways.

Just on the last year's celebration of The Bitter Orange Day, it was collected as much as 7500 kuna.

Don’t miss the chance to get something sweet and help Katarina Nobilo.

Filming deadline day of Game of Thrones in Dubrovnik seems to be coming ever closer with the first glimpses of the set near the ancient Old City.

The HBO crew have already set up a logistic tent in the Pile area in front of the main entrance into the city and today the first set construction began.

In the shadow of the Lovrijenac Fortress, which doubled as the Red Keep, in the Bay of Pile a small set was constructed. It would appear that filming for the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones in Dubrovnik is just around the corner.

got set dubrovnik 2

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The popular YouTube channel Wayfarers highlighted that one of the best ways to see the full beauty of Croatia is from a bird's eye view, or drone's eye view. 

''Croatia deserves to be shown in all of its natural splendour. This drone footage captures some of Croatia's thousand dreamy island getaways, sprawling waterfalls and famed medieval architecture. This architecture is so unique to Croatia that the walled seaside fortress of Croatia's Dubrovnik has been used to depict 'King's Landing' of Game of Thrones'', commented Wayfarers.

They also referred to the continental part of Croatia describing it as an oasis of tranquility, with gentle hills home to age-old forests, vineyards and the Sava, Drava and Mura rivers which shelter the local towns from the summer heat.

''A mere stone’s throw to the north and northeast of capital Zagreb. The region is dotted with romantic medieval towns such as Koprivnica or Varaždin, countryside manors such as Trakošćan Castle and thermal spas perfect for leaving you rejuvenated'', wrote Wayfarers.

In addition, they mentioned that Croatia is also the home to the world's biggest truffle as well as to the world's best sunsets, as claimed by the legendary Alfred Hitchcock.

 

Day of Saint Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik, is one of the most important events in the city od Dubrovnik. Thousands of citizens and their guests rush to the Old City on the February 3rd in order to participate in this traditional and beautiful day. 

The Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiques will traditionally contribute to the Saint Blaise celebration. You will be able to visit the City Walls of Dubrovnik, Walls of Ston and Sokol Tower in Konavle for free from tomorrow, February 2nd to Sunday, February 4th.

Also, all the buses that drive to the historical city of Dubrovnik will be free of charge on February 2nd from 2pm and during the day St. Blaise Festivity and the Day of the City, February 3rd.

If you want to discover more about Dubrovnik patron saint, be sure to check Five things you didn’t know about St. Blaise.

 In January 2018, there were 14,644 arrivals in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, which is six percent more than in January 2017 and 48,098 overnight stay, which is 1.5 percent more than in January last year.

Most overnight stays, or 28,667 were made in hotel accommodation.

In the past month, most of the overnight stays were made by tourists from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Korea, Germany and the USA.

The world’s first six-star luxury cruise ship was launched into the sea from a slipway in the Uljanik shipyard in Pula on the 31st of January 2018.

‘’Scenic Eclipse’’ is a polar expedition cruise ship which the Croatian shipyard has been building for one of the companies within the Scenic Group from Australia. The Group has already had around 20 similar ships in its fleet, but only for cruising the rivers. This will be their first cruiser for sailing in the Polar Region and the world’s first ICE-class cruise ship.

Construction of ‘’Scenic Eclipse’’ is estimated at around 200 million Euros. The ship will have 114 cabins with a balcony as well as 100 square metres large apartments, whilst the smallest cabin will spread over 30 square metres.

scenic eclipse launched 2018

 

The luxury cruiser is 168 metres in length and 21,5 in width with a maximum capacity for only 240 passengers. The capacity is limited in order for the crew to meet all the requirements their passengers could possibly have.

In addition, the world’s first six-star luxury cruise ship is intended for sailing all seas, including tropical and polar areas, for which it is specially equipped. It is strengthened in order to adapt to harsh weather conditions and frozen seas as well as to meet high ecological standards.

 

After the German national air carrier Lufthansa, a member of the global airline association Star Alliance, earlier announced a new line from Frankfurt to Zadar, there are some news when it comes to boosting the existing lines - Avioradar reports. 

Two lines from Frankfurt to Dubrovnik and Split in the heart of the season will now fly daily. The Dubrovnik-Frankfurt line with five flights a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays will get the flights for the rest of the week too - on Mondays and Fridays. Split-Frankfurt line also has five flights a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and will get new flights on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The reinforcement applies only to the period in the heart of the season from July 30th to August 23rd.

Three lines from Munich for Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar will receive one flight per week more than last year. On the daily line Dubrovnik - Munich there is an additional eighth flight weekly, every Sunday morning. The same as on the line for Dubrovnik, as well as on the daily Split - Munich route, will introduce an additional eighth flight weekly every Saturday morning. The Zadar - Munich line, with two flights a week on weekends, will receive a third flight that will operate every Wednesday.

The Voice of Dubrovnik

THE VOICE OF DUBROVNIK


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