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 beautiful island of Korcula has been a real celebrity in the recent video posted on Youtube. Drone footage shows this island from every corner and it's really stunning. Korcula, combined with sea and sun looks almost surreal.
Drone Pilot: Jadranko Silic
Cinematography by Jadranko Silic
Additional Cinematography by Christian Kennedy, Julian Robins
Edited by Christian Kennedy
The capital of Croatia has once again been selected as ''The Best Christmas Market'' in Europe!
For the second year in a row Zagreb has won the prestigious title among the 21 ''must see'' European Christmas Markets such as Brussels, Budapest, Dresden, Vienna, Prague, Manchester, London etc. The competition was organized by the European Best Destinations website, the first website dedicated to the promotion of tourism in Europe.
Travellers from all around the world had a chance to vote for their favourite Christmas Market in Europe.
The competition gathered 188,648 votes from 124 different countries (79 percent of votes were from Europe, whilst 21 percent accounted for voters outside Europe). Interestingly, amongst so many votes, three of them came from Jamaica for Dresden, Zagreb and Vienna, one vote from Antartica for Zagreb, whilst one vote came from Cape Verde for Brussels.
The voting page was shared more than 129,000 times on social networks, whilst the competition was mentioned in 240 press articles throughout the world.
‘’Voted two times in a row "European Best Christmas Market", the capital of Croatia is for sure the best destination to celebrate Christmas in Europe. During this time of year the magic is everywhere in Zagreb. Come and see for yourself why is the Croatian capital visited by an increasing numbers of tourists during the time of Advent; get to know its idyllic side and partake in themed programmes which take place on the streets and squares around the city centre’’, said from the European Best Destinations website.
Since 2009, the European Best Destinations website has promoted culture and tourism in Europe to millions of travellers, but also to tourism professionals and the media in partnership with more than 300 European tourist offices and the EDEN Network created by the European Commission.
Here is the list of the Top 20 Best Christmas Markets in Europe 2017 by votes:
1. Zagreb (33,607)
2. Strasbourg (19,242)
3. Colmar (13,394)
4. Aachen (11,696)
5. Vienna (11,130)
6. Dresden (10,564)
7. Tallinn (10,187)
8. Prague (9,988)
9. Budapest (9,810)
10. Brussels (9,432)
11. Graz (9,055)
12. Cologne (8,678)
13. Metz (6,414)
14. Madeira (5,848)
15. Leipzig (5,471)
16. Nuremberg (3,584)
17. Rothenburg (3,396)
18. Lille (2,264)
19. Helsinki (2,075)
20. Manchester (1,320).
Game of Thrones is back in Dubrovnik! Although it was believed that the seventh season of the globally popular HBO serial would bypass Dubrovnik this year it seems that Game of Thrones can’t live without Dubrovnik.
Three of the main stars of the serial Lena Headey, or Cersei Lannister, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, or Jamie Lannister, and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, better known as Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane all apperead on the Dubrovnik set today, and it is rumoured that filming will last for three days.
Game of Thrones looked certain to bypass Dubrovnik in season seven. The HBO series has already started filming in Northern Ireland and Seville in Spain but Dubrovnik was thought to be still off the radar for this year. Now it would seem that Kings Landing is needed in the penultimate season of Game of Thrones.
Filming today took place on the famous Dubrovnik city walls.
Photos are the property of The Dubrovnik Times
Christmas fairytale is coming to Stradun this weekend, on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., in front of St.Blasius Church. This Christmas programme is organized by Dubrovnik Tourist Board and City of Dubrovnik and will bring joy to children and to adults too.
Theatre group "Kolarin" children thrill children with Christmas show "Christmas magic recipe", Children's Choir Dubrovnik will present several versions of traditional carols form the various parts of the Dubrovnik region and Christmas songs and Dnace Studio Lazareti, trio of elves Ad libitum and Le Petit Festival will take care for good atmosphere and dance. Song, dance and entertainment will rule the city with gifts for the youngest that will be shared by Santa Claus – not one, but four of them!
Christmas carols in Dubrovnik have a special place in the festive spirit of the city. These traditional Christmas carols, known as Kolende, have a long and rich history. The tradition of singing “Kolende” in Dubrovnik is believed to stretch back to the 13th century and is still alive today. Singers go from home to home and celebrate Christmas Eve, as well as Christmas day and New Year. Usually the singers take instruments, such as guitars, harmonica and mandolin, with them.
And throughout the Christmas and New Year period in Dubrovnik these singers are performing on a regular basis next to the festive wooden Christmas stands, on the Stradun, on Pile and on the Gundulic Square. The history of carols dates back far into the past, and the oldest written evidence can be found in the 13th century within the Statute of the Dubrovnik Republic from 1272. In these writings Christmas Eve is mentioned, when sailors from the Republic would enter the Rectors Palace in the Old City and sing to the Rector. The New Year singing is also mentioned in the Dubrovnik Statute, with local business men, including butchers, fishermen and bakers would sing again to the Rector and welcome in the New Year.
Kolende alive and well today in Dubrovnik
Today this ancient custom is still alive and well, especially in the historic Old City of Dubrovnik, with groups of singers going from house to house singing the carols. It is normal for the home owner to invite the groups into their home and treat them with festive delights such as dried figs, oranges, carol, desserts, juices, wine, brandy, and in recent times and money.
The lyrics to Kolende are based around Dubrovnik, with parts of the city mentioned and even street names and the patron saint – St. Blaise. You can join in the festive fun along the Stradun as the Dubrovnik vocal group “Kase” is performing regularly through the Dubrovnik Winter Festival this year.
A forest fire broke out on the island of Sipan today. The fire, on the largest of the Elaphite islands near Dubrovnik, was on the north-west side of the island and started at around 3.00pm.
Due to the difficult terrain firefighters and equipment were transported to the scene by boats. The fire was contained at around 4.00pm and finally completely extinguished at 6.30pm. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
Coca Cola HBC Croatia in cooperation with the Croatian Red Cross has organized a humanitarian Christmas truck which will tour the country till the end of December in order to help those in need.
The famous Coca Cola's Christmas truck departed on the 12th of December from Zagreb towards seven more Croatian cities - Varazdin, Zadar, Split, Pula, Rijeka, Slavonski Brod and Osijek and will return to Zagreb on the 22nd of this month.
''With this project Coca Cola as a company which is actively involved in helping local communities wish to encourage others to participate in humanitarian work. We are very pleased that with this worthy project we will make happy many people thus bring the magic of Christmas to our citizens who need it most. It is important to recognize the needs of others and we believe that in this way we will be united even more and show the true value of Christmas'', said Maria Anargyrou-Nikolic, the general director of the Coca Cola HBC company for Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Every day from 5 p.m. till 20 p.m. Coca Cola's Christmas truck will be parked at a special place in each city. On this occasion, Santa Claus will listen to wishes of children who will have an opportunity to take a photo with him and donate their toys. The collected toys Coca Cola will donate to the Croatian Red Cross thus spread the wave of kindness and love.
''There are lots of people in our society who need help and Red Cross is aware of that throughout the year. However, the holiday season is an ideal opportunity to remember all of those living in more difficult conditions than most of us. Only a little bit of good will is needed for one good deed and we believe there will be no lack of good will in these days. We appreciate and thank our long time partner Coca Cola for this action and we invite all people of good will to join us. Together we can make this Christmas happier to many people'', said Robert Markt, the executive president of the Croatian Red Cross.
Ticket Leisure Travel, the largest private travel agency in Sweden, recently published a list of the Top 10 favourite destinations among Swedish travellers for 2017 and Croatia has once again found its place among the biggest names on the global scale in terms of tourism.
According to a study from the Ticket travel agency on bookings made before the 27th of November for a trip abroad in 2017, Croatia made a big jump from the last year's 15th place into the Top 10 list. It placed as the 9th with a 47 percent increase in bookings.
The study also showed that due to terror attacks and armed conflicts, Croatia, Greece and Spain became very popular among Swedish tourists who are now opting for safe and popular destinations they or their friends have previously visited.
Here is the list of most popular countries in 2017:
1. Spain
2. Thailand
3. United States
4. Greece
5. United Kingdom
6. Italy
7. Germany
8. France
9. Croatia
10. Portugal