7 March 2022 - In the last 24 hours 157 coronavirus cases, out of 1,357 tests, and 20 related deaths have been registered in Croatia, the national COVID-19 crisis management team said on Monday.

There are 8,200 active cases, including 967 hospitalised patients, of whom 69 on ventilators, while 6,194 persons are self-isolating.

Croatia has registered 1,063,985 coronavirus cases to date and the death toll is 15,234.

To date, 56.86% of the population or 67.64% of adults have been vaccinated, including 65.56% fully.

March 7, 2022 - After two years, difficult and uncertain for sports, Donji Kraljevec and Speedway Stadium Milenium once again hosted the Danish speedway team led by the legendary world champion Hans Nielsen!

The "Professor" is a four-time world individual champion, but also the winner of 18 other world championship titles, the most trophy-winning and, according to many, the best speedway driver of all time. "The weather is better than in Denmark at this time of year and now we are here for the second time with the Danish national team and it is really wonderful in Međimurje, we always feel at home here. The track is top-notch, the conditions are top-notch, and we had fans in the stands these days," Hans Nielsen began. "We have three Grand Prix drivers in the team, we wanted them to feel the track, on April 30 and the first race of the FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Championship is being ridden on this track in Donji Kraljevec and we are looking forward to it."

Four-time world individual champion, and winner of 18 other world championship titles, Hans Nielsen.

After a long time, Denmark has three drivers in the championship, Mikkel Michelsen, Leon Madsen, and Anders Thomsen. "Again, we have three drivers among the 16 best in the world and I expect a lot from them. Leon Madsen is an experienced driver, in 2019 he was close to the title, Mikkel Michelsen is a two-time European champion, an extremely fast driver, and Anders Thomsen made his debut in the SGP last season and is ready for great things."

Anders Thomsen (middle), and Mikkel Michelsen (right).

Mikkel Michelsen will stay in Međimurje for a few more days after representing the Kingdom of Denmark at the Millennium Stadium. The Polish Extraliga in Lublin will follow on Monday: "I drove many times on this track, the first race takes place right here and I haven't been lucky in Croatia, but hopefully that will change.”, said Mikkel and added: "Last season I achieved my best result in the Polish Extraliga, we were silver as a team and it was a great feeling. I hope we can achieve something similar this year, or even better yet. I'm looking forward to the season, it's time''.

Mikkel Michelsen.

Speedway is celebrating 100 years of sport this year, and as it is devised in Australia, a return to this continent awaits us: ''Australia is supposed to be the last race of this season. It is difficult to look so far ahead, but with the new season we are all looking forward to new experiences and a new vision of the sport.'', said Mikkel. "The finals in Australia await us after the club and league finals, but now my focus is on the first race. We will return really soon here, to Croatia, and then we go a step further."

Along with three Grand Prix drivers, Denmark brought to Međimurje six of the best national drivers who drive on leagues from England, Denmark, and Sweden, and with them a young driver in training, European U19 champion, and sports hope of Latvia Francis Gusts.

The opening of the season in Croatia will be on April 30 with the first race of the FIM SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX, which returns the World Championship to Međimurje after 10 years, a place that lives for speedway. The 16 fastest drivers in the world will compete at one of the world's best speedway stadiums and start the story of speedway together with Discovery Sports Events, the new promoter.

More information and tickets for the first race can be found in Entrio.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.

March 7, 2022 - The story of Victor da Costa, an accomplished Brazilian jazz guitarist, cannot leave you indifferent: a story made of passion, music, and great international relations that in 2016 led him to learn Croatian, fascinated by the musicality of our language.

Victor Da Costa was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1971 and started playing the guitar at the age of 11. After studying music at the 'Musiarte' institute in Rio, he moved to Europe to improve his skills, and in 1993 he entered the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, where he obtained the first prize for guitar in 1995 and harmony in 1999. Since 2002, Victor has performed with his trio and different other groups in renowned venues and festivals. He is also active as a composer and has released 3 CDs. Victor currently teaches jazz guitar at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.

We met Victor during a concert of the duo BraziuFlor in Maison d'Istrie, an esteemed Istrian restaurant in Brussels. After months of closure and restrictions due to the pandemic, we enjoyed an evening of traditional Brazilian Bossanova music and an atmosphere of friendship and joy among the guests. We saw Victor totally at ease in a Croatian context; he talks and jokes with Katarina Ramljak, his partner in the musical duo (and also in life). When we approached him, for a moment, we forgot that he was from Rio. He seemed more like a second or third-generation Croat, born in Brazil to a family who emigrated there several years ago. But we were wrong.

Between one song and another, Victor told us that he had the opportunity to hear the Croatian language for the first time during his studies in Brussels, and immediately fell in love with it. He already knows Portuguese, English, French, and Dutch. He didn’t want to miss the opportunity to study this exotic and distant language, with all the difficulties of starting to learn from scratch, all by himself and without knowing any Croats. He began to look for Croatian people in Brussels interested in a Croatian/Portuguese conversation exchange and thus managed to start practising it. With a Brazilian friend from London, they decided to visit Istria and eventually fell in love with Pula and Rijeka, to which he is particularly attached precisely because this was his Croatian "baptism".

Over the years, he insisted on learning Croatian, overcoming the difficulty of declinations, even if he still fights with suffixes and prefixes. Some help came from the music of Oliver Dragojevic and Arsen Dedic, which he is very fond of.

Image: @FacebookPage BraziuFlor 

Last summer, he met the singer Katarina Ramljak, who throughout her life followed the same dream, but the other way round: learning Portuguese and singing Brazilian popular music. Katarina studied Portuguese literature and has been to Brazil five times to take singing courses. For years she has been looking for a guitarist for her music project BraziuFlor. When Victor arrived, everything was straightforward, as if it was always meant to be.

Over a glass of good Istrian malvazija, we asked Victor what he likes about Croatia and what he does not give up when he goes to visit Katarina in Zagreb. Victor replied that he loves the sociability of having coffee in Croatia, which is not just the gesture of drinking a cup of coffee, but it means talking, welcoming, and socialising: “Sometimes you start drinking with a group of 3 or 4 people, and after 1 hour you end up in 10. In Brazil, the same happens, which makes me feel at home. We are always in a hurry and finding time to dedicate to friends is one of the most beautiful gifts we can do to ourselves," he explained.

He often goes to Croatia, especially now that he has a sentimental reason, but he also has many musician friends and often plays in jazz festivals. He is very impressed by the development of Croatia in terms of infrastructure and tourism, and he finds that the coast is stunning everywhere. However, he would like other areas to be more valued, such as Slavonija and Zagorije, hidden jewels that still not many people know. 

Victor will play again at Maison d'Istrie on March 17^th. In Croatia, we will listen to BraziuFlor definitely in August when they will hold several concerts during summer festivals.

Talking with Victor and Katarina was extremely pleasant even to grasp their complicity, the mix of Croatian and Brazilian in their speeches and the correctness of Victor’s Croatian grammar makes us understand what a great professional he is: a complete musician with great talent but also with a true heart and good vibes! Viva a Mùsica!

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

7 March 2022 - Have rising costs from inflation put a slight dampener on your travel plans to Croatia? Fret not! We look at various ways you can enjoy a trip of a lifetime without breaking the bank featuring 10 money saving tips for travelers.

Enjoy the best of Croatia without financial strain. (Image: Pexels)

1. Let’s start with an obvious one if you can: try to visit Croatia during the shoulder seasons, April - June for Spring and September to November for Fall. Not only do you avoid the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, if you’re on the coast, but the sea is also still warm enough for a dip and you can still get away with a light jacket in the evenings.

Fall is one of the best times of the year to visit. Image: (Zagreb leaves in Fall/Pexels)

On top of this, accommodation, attractions and activities are significantly cheaper. For instance, entry to Plitvice National Park is almost 50% less during shoulder seasons (300 kuna to 180 kuna). Imagine staying in a beachfront hotel with breakfast for only €55/night in November!

2. Start planning your vacation now! Early bookings ensure that you can lock in not only the best prices but also accommodations in prime locations.

Sign up for newsletters, free memberships to access the best online deals. (Image: Pexels)

Don’t forget to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) since prices can vary depending on where you are booking from. Using a VPN can make it look like you’re booking from another location, reducing prices further. Worth it to try and get the best online deals.

3. Be willing to mix and match flights If you’re traveling within the EU, rather than booking return tickets on the same airline, try looking for 2 one-way flights instead. I’ve scored a weekend flight for €9 one way from Lyon, France on one airline, and a return for another airline for €19.

Tuesdays are often the cheapest days to fly. (Image: Volotea/Facebook)

If you’re visiting from outside the EU, scoring a cheap flight to Europe and then booking a secondary flight within the continent on a budget carrier is often the best way to go. Some of the airlines that frequently fly to Croatia within the EU include Volotea, Easyjet, Ryanair, TUI, Vueling, Wizzair, Eurowings, and Jet2.

4. When it comes to booking accommodation, see this article for how to get the absolute best deals. Alternatively, to lower costs further, maybe try your hand at camping at one of the many scenic spots around the country.

Enjoy the beautiful outdoors. (Image: Pexels)

5. Instead of renting a car, use private bus transfers or if you’re feeling more adventurous and less pressed for time, trains, to get around the country.

Zagreb's tram system is a fun way to get around. (Image: Pexels)

Companies such as Flixbus and Arriva run frequently over Summer, connecting you to major cities and attractions. Public transport within cities is also highly reliable and most Croatian cities are very walkable.

6. Keep an eye out for City Cards such as Splitcard or Zagreb card. These initiatives are run by most big cities in Croatia and are available for purchase at Tourist Information Centers or at the airport. They offer fantastic deals such as free entry to certain attractions, or huge discounts on tours, activities, shops, and even restaurants! Depending on the validity of your cards (24/48/72 hours), costs range between €10-20, which often includes free use of public transport within the city.

Image: Visitsplit/Facebook

7. Take a ‘free’ walking tour to get a feel of local life and get to know the intricacies of the city. Often these tours are led by highly experienced locals who are able to share the rich history and culture of your chosen city.

As a bonus, they also have a wealth of insider information and will be able to advise you on the best local spots for you to keep exploring on your own. Here’s a tip for summer, always ask them where their favorite ice cream place is!

Walking tours are also a quick way to get your bearings when in a new city. (Image: Pexels)

8. Eat like a local. Although Croatia does not offer “street food” per se, the local markets are a reasonable and equally delicious alternative. In addition to fresh produce, there are often bakeries (pekara) and small food stalls offering cold cuts, cheese, and fixings (e.g. marinated olives, peppers, pickles) to make any gastronomer a delish picnic.

Products at the Green Market of Split. (Image: Visitsplit/Facebook)

Grab fresh pastries and bread at any Pekara and pair it with a beverage for a quick and tasty meal. (Image: Pekara Dubravica/Facebook)

9. If you do head out for a meal, favor lunch over dinner. During lunch, restaurants are likely to offer specials or throw in a free drink or appetizer on occasion.

Try to pair this meal with the local wine (stolno vino), beer (pivo), or spirits (rakija). Not only are they dangerously good, but imported brands are also 15-20% more expensive on average which can add up over time if you’re keeping an eye on your budget. Also, the tap water in Croatia is potable, which may further reduce your food spending.

10. If you don’t already have one, get a multi-currency bank account with an online bank such as Revolut or Wise. This way you’ll save on enormous ATM fees (10% in some cases) as most either offer free or lower fees up to a certain amount withdrawn. Croatia is a cash dominant country with few places, especially when off the main streets, equipped to handle credit card purchases.

Croatia is a cash dominant country. The local currency is currently the kuna but will be adopting the euro in January 2023. (Image: Pexels)

When at a local ATM, always select the option to be billed in the destination’s local currency. This means in Croatia, you’ll be asked, “Would you like to be billed in HRK or in your card’s home currency?”, always choose HRK.

Before I round this off, here’s a bonus tip! Rather than paying enormous roaming costs or going through the hassle of contacting your service provider to ask about special rates, just purchase a local SIM card when you get to Croatia.

Image: Pexels

For 85 hrk (€11), Hrvatski Telekom offers a 1-week unlimited mobile data plan so you don’t have to worry about accessing the internet during your vacation.

I hope you manage to put some of these tips into practice on your next Croatian vacation. For more advice and Croatian insights, check out our travel and lifestyle section.

March 7, 2022 - Bojan Bogdanović recorded 11 threes in Utah's win against Oklahoma, entering Jazz franchise history! 

Bojan Bogdanovć recorded the best shooting game of his career, scoring 11 three-pointers for a spot in the Jazz franchise and NBA history!

In the 116:103 Utah Jazz victory in Oklahoma City, the Croatian ace scored 35 points, of which 33 were three-pointers, reports Index.hr.

He shot for two points and missed only once in the entire game. He hit two free throws but scored everything else from a distance - 11 threes from 18 attempts. He became the first player in NBA history to score 11 (or more) threes without a single basket for two. 

Bogdanović set his personal record and the Utah Jazz record, already in the ninth three-pointer of the game. By the end, he became only the 14th player in history with at least 11 three-pointers scored in a game. The record-holder is Klay Thompson with 14, Zach LaVine and Stephen Curry with 13 each, and Curry, Kobe Bryant, and Donyell Marshall with 12 three-pointers.

This is the 27th time in NBA history that someone has scored 11 three-pointers in a game. Curry has done it 12 times, while Thompson and Damian Lillard are the only players to have done it twice. No one but Bojan has done it in 2022.

After the last three-pointer, which broke the game with 43 seconds to go and increased Jazz's advantage from five points to eight, he kept his hand outstretched in the shooting position and waved to the home crowd, returning to the defense. It has become his practice every time he scores a decisive three-pointer. 

Despite this offensive explosion, Bogdanović did not improve his season point record. He played the same team last season with 48 points, which is his career record.

Career-high, franchise record, and NBA record???#WalkoffInterview | @lhmauto pic.twitter.com/7qxPXRkKMq

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 7, 2022

Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points and ten assists, Jordan Clarkson scored 20 points, and Rudy Gobert scored 12 points and 17 rebounds to stand out in the Jazz victory. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the best for the host with 33 points.

The second Croatian basketball player in the NBA league did not have a successful evening. Ivica Zubac remained on four points (2/5 field goals), nine rebounds, and three turnovers in an unexpected and challenging home defeat to the New York Knicks 116:93.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

March 7, 2022 - On March 5, the jubilee, tenth educational 'Tourist in Your Town' event was held under the expert guidance of members of the Sinj Osinium Association of Tourist Guides and curator of the Franciscan Monastery Collection. The outing was organized by the Sinj Tourist Board. 

Citizens of Sinj, as well as numerous guests from Split, Trogir, Kaštela, Solin, and Omiš, had the opportunity to get to know the city's sights and invaluable cultural treasures inside the Miraculous Lady of Sinj and in the Collections of the Franciscan Monastery.

The aim of this free educational action is to popularize the historical and cultural heritage as one of the main factors for the development of tourism in Sinj, but also to raise awareness of its importance in society as a whole. It is important to emphasize the important role of local tour guides in the interpretation of cultural and historical heritage, traditional customs, and specifics of the region.

Thus, many participants enjoyed sightseeing and learned more about the Knight's Game Alka, Franciscan Classical Gymnasium, Palace, and Villa Tripalo, Stations of the Cross, Grad and Kamičak fortresses, all under the expert guidance of tourist guide Ivan Vuleta.

The curator, Fr. Mirko Marić, guided them through the impressive exhibits of the Franciscan Monastery Collection. Edo and Mirna Crljen took care of the flavors of Sinj's delicacies.

The Sinj Tourist Board thanks all the participants and all those who helped them bring this to life! 

For more on Inland Dalmatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

March 7, 2022 - Eighty Ukrainian refugees on Šolta Island will receive temporary accommodation in Maslinica and Gornje Selo.

Šolta locals can be proud, as they quickly organized and in just 24 hours provided temporary accommodation on the island for 80 Ukrainian refugees, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.

"It is mostly about children, women, and the elderly, and the youngest refugee who arrived is a baby of only three months. It all started with the Ukrainian Vadym Beskid, a lover of Šolta, especially Maslinica, where he spends his summers, and the Zagreb resident Vera Vidoni who collected aid in her apartment. When the state of war in Ukraine broke out, Vadym's family asked for help, but as more and more people fled, the number spread, and no one could be turned away, so instead of 40, 80 Ukrainians found safety from the war on Šolta. They passed several hundred kilometers and six countries from Ukraine to Šolta," said Ivana Mihanović, one of the organizers.

The people of Šolta reacted quickly, so all the necessities have been provided for now, but support will be needed in the coming months. The war tragedies they experienced on the way to Croatia are terrible.

"One mother came in a small car with six children; she was very shaken because the convoy with which she was leaving the country was shelled and in their immediate vicinity. All the mothers who came to us are very young, and the oldest child is 12 years old. The medical service is coming to us on Monday because of the coronavirus, but I must emphasize that everyone is very grateful and disciplined. Everyone helped us, from individuals, companies, to the Polish community in Zagreb," Ivana adds.

Jadrolinija also provided free transportation for all refugees to Šolta.

"They are located in four houses in Maslinica and Gornje Selo. Today the local fishers will prepare lunch for them; I hope the children will be satisfied. Three parishes are involved in the action: the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes from Zagreb, St. Roch from Split, and the Parish of St. Stephen the First Martyr from Grohote. Numerous companies also contributed: Konzum, Ribola, Promet Makarska, Imex Banka, Ljekarne Split-Dalmatia, Lola Ribar, restaurant Mlin, Pablo pharmacies, and JGL with the coordination of the Red Cross and director Tomislav Goja.

All who donate to the Red Cross "for refugees on Šolta" can be sure they will receive the aid. 

If you want to help, donations are accepted at:

Župa sv. Stjepana Prvomučenika

Igrališće 22
21430 Grohote, otok Šolta
IBAN:
HR1524070001100619207

Payment description required:  Za pomoć izbjeglicama iz Ukrajine.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

March 7, 2022 - The latest flight news to Croatia as ITA Airways flights to Dubrovnik and Split have been announced in the 2022 summer schedule of the new airline. 

New Italian airline ITA Airways has announced regular operations to Dubrovnik and Split airports, reports Croatian Aviation.

Just as was the case with Alitalia, ITA Airways is announcing two routes to Croatia in the upcoming summer flight schedule - from Rome to Split and Dubrovnik. The planned number of operations is almost identical to that of Alitalia, whose business was continued by ITA Airways.

The only difference is the type of aircraft. Namely, in the last summer seasons, Alitalia used mainly aircraft from the Embraer fleet to Croatia, while ITA Airways plans operations with aircraft from the A320 family, type A319 and A320, with a capacity of 144 to 180 seats.

The line between Split and Rome will run once a week, every Thursday through August, while the line to Dubrovnik will also run once a week through August, every Tuesday.

In addition to ITA Airways, other airlines operate on the route between Split, Dubrovnik, and Rome; Croatia Airlines, Spanish Vueling, and Hungarian Wizz Air.

The chances of ITA Airways appearing at other Croatian airports with scheduled flights are slim, especially after Ryanair introduced a scheduled flight between Zagreb and Rome, where Croatia Airlines already operates.

Tickets for these two routes are on sale on the airline's official website and start at 54 euros one way.

Recall, other new flights were announced to both Dubrovnik and Split airports this month. Namely, Flyr will operate between Oslo and Dubrovnik from June 13 , while Volotea has launched a new route between Lille and Split Airport, connecting the two cities from May 8 until October 9 this year.

For more on flights to Croatia and other travel announcements, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.