For a high quality pršut, it is extremely important to have a good pig´s leg, weighing between 14 and 16 kg of fresh meat. Pršut is smoked on dry hornbeam, which has a sweet taste and a little less on beech. Bura (north wind) is very desirable, but not for a long period of time, because it would dry the pršut too much. It is the best, when bura and jugo (south wind) alternate, which is what happens the most in our area," said Vlade Prančić.

With the fall of night, the canadair had to stop helping on the site and another 12 fire-fighters were left (all from DVD Žarnovica). Although the fire at Mosor was visible from Split area in the evening hours, according to the fire-fighters on site, the situation is under control.

Only at the top of the peak Ljubljan still some open fire, but there is no possibility for it to spread any further. All other areas have been extinguished. Another 5 fire-fighters remained on duty at Mosor for the Monday night.

It never cease to amaze me. The way people lived in Inland Dalmatia prior to electricity. Life was probably more about hard work, cooperation and a close community. But still, for someone in my age and time, it is something I can´t even imagine. Life changes so fast. Too fast, maybe..

Tomislav Balić, the Director of the Dugopolje tourist board sent us a wonderful youtube video today. A trailer for the 2013 movie: The Way People Live, done by Hrvoje Jelavić-Šako for Lampros film, Croatia. This is a short introduction from the Visit Dugopolje Youtube channel:

"In 1936. young Croatian writer Zlata Perlic comes to Dalmatia to create ethnological record of the hard life of the inhabitants in the village of Dugopolje. Through the story of the young writer and local friar in live action form, described events create a circuit of lost life and world-view of the Dalmatian hinterland in the past. All elements of ethnological works on the land, birth and death, wedding and feasting are intertwined in a bitter, pungent and dignified image of Dalmatian farmers life through four seasons."

So, how was the life in Dugopolje some 80 years ago. Watch the trailer to get an idea..

A new edition to the Virtual tours of Inland Dalmatia - Tomisla Balić, the Director of the Dugopolje tourist board sent us these beautiful virtual tours through several locations in Dugopolje. You can now virtually visit The Vranjaca Cave or the St. Michael´s Church, or check out the Sports Centre or discover the King´s Cave and more. You can find all of the here. Enjoy!!

An interesting offer from Hotel Katarina in Dugopolje for everyone who is planning a wedding with more than 100 and less than 800 guests..

"It is a great privilege and a challenge to create a magical atmosphere for you wedding. In the delightful ambient of our hotel with the professional and friendly staff and the supreme culinary offer, we will ensure that your wedding will become a series of magical moments as a part of the most beautiful love story.

 

Along with a wedding menu for a minimum of 100 and maximum of 800 guests, Hotel Katarina offers to the newlyweds (complimentary):

- first wedding night in one of our luxurious rooms

- sparkling wine and refreshemts served in the room

- early chek-in / late check-out

- breakfast served in your room or at the hotel restaurant, depending on your preferences

- free parking in the hotel garage

- special prices for your guests staying overnight

- surprise gift

We offer a special 10% discount on all bookings for wedding on Fridays and Sundays. The offer is valid all year round!"

You can find more info and contact Hotel Katarina on their website.

One of the great potential of Inland Dalmatia is cycling. There are already several routes, some official, some not, but people from the Dinarides Trails (Biciklističke staze) are doing a great job publishing available routes on internet - their website.

(all photos: Biciklističke staze FB page)

Publishing available existing routes in not the only thing these enthusiasts for cycling do on their website and FB page. They get together on a regular basis and love to discover new routes. This is what they shared on their FB page the other day:

"You know the feeling, when you go out with your bike and you don´t know where to cycle that day. You are a bit bored by the existing routes. At that point, the best thing to do is to explore. Bike where nobody was biking ever before. Yep, that is when boredom is gone and the fun begins. Getting lost, finding ways, Google Maps, pushing, carrying, bushes, blod, drilling, night, battery dead, no cell-phone signal.. little bit of everything.., but you know, we survived it.

Pictures from the Biciklističke Staze FB page - the route was somewhere at the Mosor mountain near Dugopolje. Will be for sure on their website soon for you to explore.

Everyone is welcome, the entrance is free!!

The International Pršut (Prosciutto) Festival in Drniš took place for the 2nd time last weekend. Many producers and pršut lovers gathered to taste and decide which one is the best of all.

The Dugopolje Pršut maker Vlade Prančić from the "Smijeli" pršutana (Pršut producing business) won the Champion title in the category of certified smoked pršut. To Vlade, it is his second victory after winning the same category last year.

(photo: Slobodna Dalmacija)

According to Slobodna Dalmacija when askied Vlade about his secret in pršut making: " There is no secret ingredient, nor there is too much to think about. All of them who think too much have no pršut", says Vlade.

According to another producer, there are simple rules to follow when making a good pršut: "The most important thing is the age of the animal (must be a year old) and its weight (200-300 kg) and the breed needs to be Landrance or Yorkshire. Pršut need to get salted for two weeks and then smoked for 2 months. It will be at its finest after 2 years, best served with a glass of wine."

Read the whole article here.

The weather is just about right for cycling, don´t you think? For me and my daughter, getting to the beach by bike is the easiest and least hot option these days, because one could get burns just by touching the car, it is that hot. Leisure cycling to the beach when we know we will jump right in after we arrive sounds pretty good and we will do it first thing in the morning tomorrow. But the Dugopolje tourist board director Tomislav Balić informs us, people will actually race in these temperatures in Dugopolje over the weekend. Here is the whole announcement from Tomislav. We wish you good luck and plenty of water supply on Sunday!!

At the hot asphalt of the Dugopolje economic zone the second international cycling race "Grand Prix Dugopolje-Klis" (Velika nagrada Dugopolje-Klis) will take place on Sunday July 26, 2015. Organized by the Cycling Union of the Split-Dalmatia County (Biciklistički Savez Splitsko-dalmatinske županije) and sponsored by the Dugopolje Tourist board, the race will have a circular route suitable for cadets, juniors and veterans (men and women), going through Dugopolje economic zone Podi west and Bani north towards the rotor at the Klis Grlo area and back. Cyclists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Italy will join their fellow Croats and compete on this year´s race.

This race is only a part of the whole program of the cycling tourism development at Inland Dalmatia with a long term goal to extend the race to several days and several stages through the Cetina and Imotski region.

In late May, the Croatian Tourist Council decided to financially support the disadvantaged tourism areas. Dugopolje is among the 46 grant winners and will use the 90.000 HRK grant finances to design, construct and equip bicycle rest stops. The areas chosen for building a rest stop will be the old Roman Road (Rimska Cesta), Dračanica Pond and Kutska Strana. These rest areas will have a half closed design of 12 m2, tables and benches, cycling maps and will be have basic tools for maintenance of a bicycle.

In addition, the Dugopolje tourist board, together with its partners from Klis, Sinj, Trilj and Vrlika, received an extra 48.000 HRK support to further develop the tourism infrastructure by installing much needed cycling signalization.

By all this initiatives, together with biking events, cycling races, rest stops and signalization for cyclists, Inland Dalmatia is becoming one of the most beautiful destinations for cyclist from all over the world to explore.

Whenever I write an article, I am keen to write honestly about how I feel and think about the subject. This simple rule is working for me in most cases, but there are times, when I have to write about football. And I have an issue with football. Not to bore you with details (which if interested, you can find in these articles - here and here), I really do not care about football and know nothing about it.

And here I am presenting you with the fabulous event of tomorrow, when Hajduk Split will be playing against Kalev Sillamae (Estonia) - qualifying game for the European UEFA league. Thankfully the most helpful director of the Dugopolje tourist board Tomislav Balić saved me with lots of information as the match will take place in Dugopolje "Croatian knights" Sports Center due to the Split Stadium being busy with Ultra Festival.

Information and pictures from Dugopolje tourist board:

"It is a great honour and a privilege for a small place like Dugopolje to host such a match and to be a part of the European football. We got a taste of what it feels like last year, when the other Split football club RNK Split was playing against Italian Torino in Dugopolje and the town was full of temperamental Italian fans, who prepared the ultimate fan experience at the stadium. 

We expect a full stadium tomorrow and this time, the Hajduk fans - Torcida will take care of the proper Mediterranean football atmosphere. Match is planned for tomorrow July 9, 2015 at 19:00.

The Dugopolje Sports Center "Croatian knights" is the home of the NK Dugopolje and it is one of the most modern small stadiums in the region. The Stadium was build in 2009 and has a capacity of 5200 seats and all the licenses for playing an European football matche (except the Chamions League matches)."

(photo Z. Ajalbeg)

And Tomislav has more information about the Sports Center coming soon, so stay tuned!!