July 23, 2022 - Ever wondered about the train ride from Split to Rijeka? A look at the travel options between Croatia's second and third largest cities. 

Croatia is a tourist country, where around 20 percent of the national budget depends on income from tourism. Despite this, the traffic connection between Split and Rijeka, the second and third largest cities in the Republic of Croatia on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, is very poor.

Foreign tourists or Croatian citizens who want to travel from Split to Rijeka during the summer have limited options.

The first option is, of course, traveling by car. For those who do not go to the sea by car, there is only one more option: the bus. The fastest bus ride from Split to Rijeka takes about seven hours. You don't go on the highway, which would take 2-3 hours less, but it would cost more because of tolls.

So, what about the train? A search on the Croatian Railways website shows that the train journey from Split to Rijeka takes between 22 and 29 hours, with a minimum of one transfer. Allow us to repeat - if you want to travel by train from the second largest Croatian city to the third largest Croatian city, it can take more than a day - 29 hours, writes Index.hr.

For comparison, a trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok takes six days, covering 9,289 kilometers. Split is slightly more than 400 kilometers from Rijeka, or 416 kilometers, according to Google Maps. A Trans-Siberian Railway train covers about 64 kilometers in one hour, while a Croatian Railways train covers an average of about 14 kilometers in one hour on a full-day journey from Split to Rijeka. No wonder it takes a whole day if you decide to travel from Split to Rijeka by train.

Regarding air transport, there is no direct route from Split to Rijeka. It was operated by Trade Air, but the Ministry of Transport did not extend its contract in time. As a result, they stopped flying on the Split - Rijeka route at the end of April this year.

The official Trade Air website states that they hope to connect Split and Rijeka (as well as Osijek and Pula, etc.) by air again from August 15 of this year.

It is also worth noting that the Split - Rijeka flight is a PSO line. PSO stands for Public Service Obligation. This program enables countries within the European Union to co-finance airlines for flights that are not always directly commercially profitable but are of public importance.

And what about by sea? There is no longer a night ferry line that connects Split and Rijeka, on which the famous Marko Polo ferry used to travel. The Jadrolinija Rijeka - Dubrovnik line was discontinued in 2015.

Index asked Jadrolinija why:

"The decision to cancel the Rijeka - Dubrovnik line was first made in 2012 by the then Government due to the constant decline in passenger and vehicle traffic, which was caused by the construction of highways to the south, which made vehicle journeys to destinations in Dalmatia significantly shorter, so the line recorded fewer passengers. In 2015, the line was discontinued," Jadrolinija said. 

However, it seems that this could change.

"Given all the circumstances and the development of highways, cooperation with the Maritime Faculty on a study on redefining the line is underway. Jadrolinija primarily maintains state lines connecting the islands with the mainland, and currently, there is no Rijeka - Split line maintained by Jadrolinija," Jadrolinija revealed.

"Croatia, as a tourist destination, is well connected to the most important markets, both by road and by air, i.e., airlines, and there are also shipping lines as a link by sea," says HTZ.

They also add that this is one of the essential prerequisites for attracting foreign guests, whose pleasant and quality stay requires a good transport infrastructure and connections within the destination, that is, the country where they are staying. The above applies to domestic tourists as well.

"Namely, with the quality transport connections of Croatian cities, we can further encourage our guests to discover other destinations and increase tourist consumption," says HTZ. 

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

July 20, 2022 - Spaladium Arena, the central venue of the 35th European Water Polo Championships, played from August 27 to September 10, 2022, is slowly transforming into a water polo stage.

Installing the built-in swimming pools is underway, which will host the creme de la creme of European water polo at the end of the summer and give birth to new European champions, reports Dalmacija Danas.

"In addition to the preparations that have been ongoing for some time, now the foundation of the whole story, the symbol of this sport, has arrived at the Spaladium Arena, which is the swimming pool. The assembly will last exactly one month, after which the finishing works will follow, all to ensure that all participants, as well as visitors, enjoy a real spectacle at the end of summer in the heart of Dalmatia," noted Renato Živković, general secretary of the Croatian Water Polo Federation and executive director of the European Championship Organizing Committee.

There will be two swimming pools inside the Spaladium Arena hall. The central pool, where the European matches will be played, is 36 meters long, 25 meters wide, and 2.20 meters deep, giving a total capacity of 1,980 liters of water to fill. The Spaladium's small hall will have a smaller pool for team warm-ups, 25 meters long, 18 meters wide, and 2.20 meters deep. The volume of the small pool is 990 liters.

"While the pools are getting their contours, we remind you that tickets for the water polo spectacle, co-organized by LEN and the Croatian Water Polo Federation, are on sale online and at all Adriaticket points of sale. In addition, for everyone who wants an unforgettable experience and those who want to be a part of the European championship, there are applications for volunteers. 

The stage in Spaladium is in good condition, and the mascot Roko is in full operation. He participates in the works every day on assignment and can't wait for the arrival of numerous cheerleaders and fans from all over Europe, selfies, autographs and lots of good fun. And that's why you should be part of this magnificent water polo story at the end of the summer," concluded the organizers. 

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

July 19, 2022 - Morfar opened almost a month ago in Split, and it has caused a sensation not only among Argentinians and the Latin community in the city but among Croats and tourists alike. Total Croatia News caught up with Santiago Nieto, the owner of the Argentinian empanadería which is causing a stir in the Dalmatian city.

In my 27 years of life, I've never heard so much anticipation over a food joint opening before. Weeks before it happened, all I'd heard was "hey, did you know an Argentine empanada place is opening soon in Split?" After its long-awaited opening on June 21, all the people I knew in Split were telling me, ''have you tried Morfar's empanadas yet? They are spectacular!”. As a Peruvian, I understand what it is to feel proud of your gastronomy. And as a foreigner living in Croatia, I have learned to appreciate the efforts of people like me looking to make a place for themselves, and even more so if they can bring something from their country along the way. I not only wanted to try these famous Argentinian empanadas but also to know the history behind this initiative.

Just a few meters from the theater in Split, I find myself in Morfar. My first impression when I got to know the place for the first time was simple. ''This is the unofficial embassy of Argentina in Croatia'', I thought. The popular Argentine tango is heard on the speakers, a screen that can be seen from the street shows landscapes of Argentine Patagonia, and most importantly, anyone who passes by can see the warm empanadas on the counter. Inside, a variety of Argentine products are displayed on a shelf: fernet, dulce de leche, alfajores, yerba to prepare the popular mate, and Argentine wine. In a refrigerator, there are cold Quilmes beers and the popular chocotorta. Argentine flags and photos signed by legendary football players from the city of Rosario hang on the walls. "This is the unofficial embassy of Argentina in Croatia," I think again.

Santiago, owner of Morfar. (Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich)

For those not familiar with Argentine empanadas, these are a type of baked or fried turnovers filled with a variety of savory ingredients and baked or fried. They are best eaten when they are still warm, and at any time of the day. Ideal for eating on the go, or even at home. At the counter is the charismatic Santiago Nieto, founder of Morfar. He not only makes sure that he treats all of his clients with love but also takes care of the marketing and promotion of his business. On this particular occasion, he also gave up some of his time (between multiple sold empanadas) to chat with Total Croatia News about the recently opened Morfar.

So you guys finally opened up Morfar!

We did, yes. We had planned to open on Monday the 20th, the day of the Argentine flag, but we had some bureaucratic problems, we ran out of electricity, so we had to solve it quickly and that is how we moved it to the next day, Tuesday the 21st. We had already organized an inauguration in style with music, percussion, and cymbals, as is usually celebrated in Argentina, but in the end, something more improvised and intimate with close friends came out, and it was still very good for us.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich

Do you have Croatian ancestry? Tell us more about your connection to Croatia.

Yes, I do. I have family that lives here, but the one who migrated to Argentina was my great-grandfather at the beginning of the last century, in 1908 if I remember correctly. Hence my grandfather always told me about Croatia. My father's last name is Nieto, but my mother's name is Karaman, like the cinema in Split. They always told me about Croatia, but to me, as a child, it always seemed like something very far away and distant. It was not until I finished college and wanted to explore the world that I began to think about which place could open more doors for me, and later I came to Croatia through the scholarship offered by the Central State Office for Croats Abroad to study the Croatian language in Zagreb, which helped me to obtain my citizenship as well. This is how I arrived in 2018, 4 years ago, I studied the language in Zagreb, quickly obtained my citizenship, and after that, I came to Split where my family is from. I have two aunts here, my mother's second cousins, and cousins everywhere, and the truth is that they sort of adopted me and made me feel very comfortable, and that's how I stayed.

Santiago Nieto, David Folis, and Valeria Garcés, the masterminds behind Morfar.. (Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich)

So you haven't been back to Argentina since then.

I returned to Argentina to get my degree. I came with my degree finished, but not with my thesis finished. Once here, I felt that I was getting very comfortable and I said to myself: ''you did five years of your degree, finish your thesis, and graduate''. This is how I put my life in Croatia on pause and returned to Argentina. Unexpectedly, COVID-19 appeared and what was initially five months in my country ended up being a year and a half. I finally came back in March of last year. A year and four months ago.

And how was your return to Croatia? How was the idea of Morfar born?

In 2021 I started to work in Marketing for Fig Restaurants, and on the other hand also in a restaurant called Republic Square, which has already closed in Split. So I was with Fig that season and the truth is that it was something that also motivated me a lot and I saw how a place was run, since I never worked in gastronomy. And being next to Geoff from Fig Restaurants he was like my mentor and he also motivated me to do this.

The empanada criolla. (Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich)

When the season ended last year the other co-founders David and Valeria wanted to take the next step with empanadas since they were already selling them on Instagram back then. During that time we were already thinking about marketing, making advances in social networks, and planning a little, and shortly after they told me, ''don't you want to open a store?''. ''No way'', I thought. ''Open a store here in Split? I need to think about it a lot.''

But then I consulted with my family and with the people who know and those who wanted to help me, and they told me to go ahead, that if ''it doesn't exist, you are going to make it happen''. So from then on, in November of last year, we began to put together the entire business plan, we began to build the concept, to build the brand, how it was going to be, we began to look for spaces, delve into the bureaucratic and administrative processes which are a real nightmare and already in March of this year we found the place.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich

Once you got the space, how did the project grow from then on?

I remember we told ourselves, before we found the space, that if we didn't find one in two weeks, we would start sending our CV's everywhere looking for work because we had to start this business this year no matter what. And well, we found it in March. And for two months we were working on the administrative procedures at the same time as the redesign of the place, with our own hands. Valeria is a calligrapher, David is a jeweler and I am in Marketing, and the three of us were building a store. It was crazy. And it was only on June 21 that we were finally able to open after all the bureaucracy.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich

Have you felt some kind of support from the Latin community in Split?

Many of us who studied the Croatian language together came to the country with the same goal, and that is why over time we got together a lot even after classes. I think I felt the most support when we opened Morfar, as we initially wanted to keep it low profile so as not to jinx it. But as soon as we opened, people began to arrive, many of them familiar faces, and they were very happy about what was happening and shared it on their social networks. In addition to buying our empanadas, they also came to chat and wish us good luck. Some even come to escape their usual routines. We like to be that holding space for them. People from the community also often pass by asking us for information or if we know of an available apartment. In the end, the support is mutual.

Why empanadas?

''People asked for it!'', says Valeria Garcés, one of the architects of the delicious empanadas. ''We have a friend at Marvlvs Bar, and there people always asked us for empanadas. Once, for an event a 25 de Mayo event, where everyone always has to bring something, we brought more empanadas. And that's when people told us that we had to do something more.'', she added.

''Once, when we were in Italy, some Italian girls who lived in France told us that they had loved something from Argentina that was made of dough and with meat inside, but they couldn't remember the name.'', recalls David Folis, one of the great empanada artists in the kitchen. ''And we ask them, 'empanadas?' 'Yes! Empanadas!', they answered. We realized that even in Europe they were quite popular!''.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich

Tell me more about the design of the store.

''We wanted it to feel like home, you can see it from the inside. But the most important thing is that we wanted to attract the curious.'', says Santiago. ''It's a good location, but it can also be a tricky one. That's why we did everything possible to attract the attention of people passing by, such as the logo or the screen. But mainly, when we were thinking about the design of the place, something that was mandatory was to have the empanadas to be displayed on a window. We wanted to place as many points of attention as possible, which are difficult to ignore'', he added.

''The thing is that Latinos know and have tried empanadas before. They are familiar with the word.'', argues David. ''But for those who have never tried one, they have to see it. We wanted them to see the empanadas and ask themselves, 'what are these'?''

''Food enters through the eyes'', Valeria explained.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich

What's been the most surprising so far?

''We knew that Argentines and Latinos would buy empanadas. Considering that we opened at the end of June, our goal was to attract tourists who were in Split during the current season. What has surprised us the most has been the number of Croatians who have tried empanadas. We hadn't planned it!'', said Santiago, better known as 'Santi' among friends.

How come you started selling even more Argentinian products?

Our plan at first was to sell empanadas and alfajores. But as the days went by, more Argentines came and asked us ''Che, and do you have dulce de leche'', ''Che, and do you have yerba''?, ''Che, and do you have fernet?''. And that is how we have been adapting to the demands of the people. As a good Argentine, first we say yes and then we see how to make it work.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich

Which empanadas are having the biggest impact so far?

''They have all had a great reception among the people. The empanada criolla is definitely the one with the most traditional flavor, but we see that the caprese and humita empanadas are also frequently bought.'', says Santi.

''And let's not forget the ajvar empanada!'', adds David. ''It has been well received not only by locals but by tourists alike''.

What goals do you have after the season?

''We have now extended our opening hours. We used to open from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. We are now open every day, except Mondays, initially from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, and then from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. After the season? There are times when I would like to close for a few days to rest'', jokes Santiago. ''We would really like to open all year round, even out of season. We know that there will not be so many tourists, but the locals and the Latin community will remain, with whom we have had a good reception these first few weeks. We would also like to open in other places, but we are going easy'', he adds.

"We also plan to add more flavors to our menu!," says David.

According to Valeria, ''In Argentina, one can find stores with up to 30 flavors of empanadas''.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich

Finally, what makes you very happy about this experience?

''It makes me happy when people say that the quality of our empanadas is comparable to those at home. I understand that there are not many in Europe to compare, but they have recognized the taste and quality of our empanadas and that is a great motivation.'', concluded Santi.

Morfar is located at 4 Porinova Street, just a few meters from the Split Theater, close to the Old Town. They are open from Tuesday to Sunday, first from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, and then from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. You can follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and you can also share your experience on TripAdvisor.

Their empanadas flavors are the following:

• CRIOLLA: typical Argentinian with meat, olives, onions, peppers, green onions, and eggs.
• VEGAN CRIOLLA: Argentinian style but with lentils instead of meat.
• HAM & CHEESE
• CAPRESE: mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil.
• HUMITA: corn, mozzarella, and onions.
• AJVAR: inspired by the traditional sauce that goes with ćevapi, eggplant, peppers, and onions.
• SIR KAPULA: onions and mozzarella.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich

The price of each empanada is 20 kuna. You can take three empanadas for 50 kuna! Also, ask about the promotion of an empanada with a glass of Argentinian wine. Additionally, on Saturdays, you can order a special Morfar pizza!

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

For more news about the Croatian diaspora, visit our dedicated section.

July 19, 2022 - The latest flight news to Croatia as British Airways Zagreb flights see further reductions in September and October this year. 

After reducing its August schedule, British Airways has revised its flight schedule for September and October, announcing that further changes are possible, reports Croatian Aviation. 

It was recently announced that the British Airways route between London (Heathrow) and Zagreb had been reduced for August, but the airline has now reduced the number of planned flights for September and October as well. 

On July 17, the airline changed its flight schedule for July and August on several European routes. Namely, until September 11, the rule of Heathrow Airport is in force, which limits the number of passengers at this airport daily due to the lack of workforce. 

Many flights on the line between London (Heathrow) and Dubrovnik have been announced for September. However, instead of 20, the carrier will operate 22 return flights on this route, which is why flights between Heathrow and Zagreb have been reduced. Namely, that line was initially planned with 39 return flights in September, but now it has been reduced to 36, which is an almost negligible number.

However, in October, British Airways is significantly cutting operations on the route to Zagreb again. Until July 17, the carrier had planned 52 monthly flights to the Croatian capital, but the flight schedule was reduced again. Namely, 52 flights were initially planned for October, but 12 were canceled, so now 40 flights are available for booking in October.

It is likely that by September, the airline will further reduce the number of monthly flights for October, not only to Croatia but at the European level, so additional cancellations are undoubtedly possible. However, unlike Zagreb, given that we are in the peak summer season, the flight schedule to the airports on the coast (Pula, Split, and Dubrovnik) has no significant cancellations, except for Split, where several last-minute cancellations were recorded.

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

July 13, 2022 - Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but that hasn't always been the case in Split. That is, until recently. A look at breakfast in Split 2022. 

As someone that grew up in southern California on breakfast burritos, loaded scrambles, crispy hashbrowns, eggs benny, and a neverending display of pancakes from the local diner, breakfast has always been my favorite meal. But on my visits to Croatia over the past 20 years before moving here 7 years ago, breakfast was hardly a meal to remember. 

In 1996, I remember mornings eating oversized pieces of crusty bread with butter and marmalade. In the early 2000s, we'd search for the saltiest burek to cure the hangover on Hvar or force the restaurant to serve french fries with the only ham & cheese omelet on the menu, if only to attempt at mimicking the breakfasts we were used to. But the selection, overall, was nothing to write home about. 

The story today, however, is much different, and Split especially has blossomed as a breakfast and brunch spot in the last few years. As a result, this summer's better than ever. 

Brasserie on 7

One of the city's first 'true' brunch spots is Riva favorite Brasserie on 7, bringing a taste of Australia to the Croatian coast with brioche French toast, eggs benedict, and homemade English muffins, among some of their morning options. You can find the full breakfast menu here. 

Chops

Split's best steakhouse isn't only home to the finest cuts of Croatian beef, but you can find breakfast here from 8 am to 11 am, with avocado toast, croissant sandwiches, toasties, and American-style pancakes on the menu. You can also snag their yummy breakfast sandwiches next door at Paradiso!

Zinfandel 

A wine bar that is so much more than the wine, Zindanfel ensures it is open in the morning for you to enjoy Florentine-style eggs, Turkish eggs, or the gourmet breakfast baguette for those looking to fill up for the day. You can find the full menu here. 

Fig

After its success in Hvar town, Fig opened in the heart of Diocletian's Palace back in 2019 to the delight of everyone eager to dig into their famous vegetarian breakfast burrito, California toast, or spicy steam-poached eggs. You can find the full menu here. 

The Daltonist

From craft cocktail bar to your go-to pub for grub, The Daltonist has an impressive morning menu that ranges from truffle benedict to shakshuka, and the uber popular 'Full Daltonista,' or their take on an English Breakfast with pork sausage, ham, fried egg, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, greens, black beans, and homemade bread! You can see the full menu here. 

Ciri Biri Bela 

This cafe and restaurant is located in a romantic courtyard just behind the theater, serving a selection of farmer's fresh omelets, benedicts ranging from classic to royal, homemade waffles, rustic sourdough toast topped with avocado cream and wild salmon - and more!  You can find the menu here. 

Pandora Greenbox

The plant-based Pandora is one of the healthier options on the list, offering iced coffees with plant-based milk, vegan protein smoothies, and smoothie bowls with raw cacao, banana, and crunchy peanut butter! You can find them on Facebook. 

*Another plant-based restaurant new to Split is Barakokula - and they serve brekky, too! 

Kat's Kitchen

Priding themselves on using only seasonal and organic ingredients, some even sourced from their garden, Kat's offers free-range eggs, homemade granola, sweet and savory croissants, vegan pancakes, and coconut milk-cooked oatmeal as just some of what you can find. You can explore the menu here. 

Brooklyn Bagel Co. 

And if you're on the go and looking for something quick, filling, and tasty? Brooklyn Bagel boasts a variety of homemade bagels and shmears and a selection of hearty bagel sandwiches! You can learn more here. 

It's nearly impossible to name all restaurants serving breakfast in Split now, and that's not a bad problem to have. No matter where you are in the old town, you'll see a sign for breakfast. If you're in or near Pjaca, don't miss the always popular Bepa, No Stress, or Bokeria, and if you find yourself on the outskirts of the center - Ka Doma is a local gem. And if you want to add a touch of spice to your morning? Sanctuary Cantina will soon be serving up breakfast burritos, hashbrowns, and scrambles every day! 

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

July 13, 2022 - The long-awaited Promet Split e-tickets are finally here and in practice on all 155 buses in the fleet. 

The long wait in front of the ticket offices is finally over! Promet Split started creating contactless personalized tickets for specific categories of passengers in the new ticketing system, reports Slobodna Dalmacija. 

The current passengers in the new ticketing system are: pupils and students who have a summer promotion, so their monthly ticket costs HRK 100, then people over 65 years old, voluntary blood donors, and family members of missing and fallen soldiers.

As reported by Promet, production takes place at the Sukoišan bus stop from Monday to Friday from 6:30 am to 8:00 pm and on Saturdays from 6:30 am to 12:30 pm.

The cost of creating a contactless personalized ticket is HRK 20 for all categories of passengers (the monthly/annual fee is not included), and it will not need to be changed as long as it is valid.

All users of previous annual contactless tickets exercise the right to drive with them until the ticket expires and are not obliged to exchange it immediately.

For example, pupils and students should bring a photo to be scanned and their identity card, i.e., birth certificate or residence card. Pensioners over 65 living in the city of Split can be issued an annual ticket, the price of which depends on the age. It is necessary to bring: a photograph (identity card size) that will only be scanned, an identity card, and a pension slip, i.e., a certificate from the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute that they have no income.

Members of DDK Split from the area of Split (men aged 40 and over, women aged 20 and over) should bring a photo (identity card size) that will be scanned and an ID card. In addition, existing users should bring the personalized contactless card they are currently using, and new users should bring a certificate of the number of donations issued by the Red Cross.

Families of missing and fallen soldiers residing in the city of Split need a photo, the personal contactless personalized card they are currently using, or a certificate from the Department for Croatian Veterans of the Homeland War SDŽ for a new identity card.

You can find the necessary documents for each passenger category here: https://promet-split.hr/obavijesti/izrada-beskontaktnih-personaliziranih-kartica-za-odre%c4%91ene-kategorije-putnika-u-novom-ticketing-sistemu

The e-ticketing system has started on all 155 buses. The system has already been installed in part of the bus. By the autumn, efforts will be made to replace most tickets. Promet expects the biggest impact on pupils and students, who must change their identification cards.

Ticket machines will be available 24 hours a day, tickets can be paid by card on the bus, and tickets can also be purchased via the mobile app, where other important information will be available.

"The display map will only have to be created the first time. After that, you don't even have to see the ticket anymore," said Miroslav Delić, Director of Promet, at the recent presentation of the new system.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, 10 July  2022 - Over 160 polling stations were opened on Sunday in Split for the second round of the snap mayoral elections in which Ivica Puljak of the Centar Party and Zoran Đogaš, an independent supported by the HDZ and HSS parties, are vying for the mayoral post in the second biggest Croatian city.

The first results of the runoff will be announced by the State Election Commission (DIP) after 2000 hrs Sunday.

In the first round of the early polls 14 days ago, Puljak finished as first and was short 1.3 percentage points for the outright victory. Đogaš came second with 25.67% of the vote on 26 June.

The other seven mayoral candidates won below 10% of the vote in the first round of the polls: Željko Kerum of the HGS (7.94%), Josip Markotić of the Bridge party (4.53%), Aris Zlodre of the Homeland Movement (3.89%). Davor Matijević of the Social Democratic Party (3.84%), Tamara Visković of the We Can and the New Left (1.85%), Kristina Vidan of Pametno za Split i Dalmaciju (1.28%) and independent Ante Franić (0.66%).

An early election was also held for the 31-seat city council on 26 June, and according to the returns from the polling stations, the Centar party won 42.47% of the vote. The slate of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) follows with 23.81%, while the HGS party of former mayor Kerum ranks  third with 7.11% of the vote. 

The other three slates that passed the 5% threshold are Bridge with 6.61% of the vote, the SDP/HSU with 5.75%, and the Homeland Movement (DP) with its partners HDS, HSP and Sovereignists (5.63%).

The turnout was 31.6% on 26 June.

The snap elections for the mayor and the city council were held 12 months after regular local elections in Croatia in May 2021. The early polls were called after Mayor Puljak and his two deputies tendered their resignations on 8 April following a scandal involving Deputy Mayor Bojan Ivošević, who threatened a local reporter and was subsequently indicted for intimidation on 23 March.

After their resignations, the members of the 31-seat city council also stepped down, paving the way for an early election for the city council.

(Hina) ms

July 9, 2022 - Ultra Europe returned to Split on Friday after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. TCN was live from Park Mladeži on night one and caught up with US-based musical duo Sofi Tukker ahead of their first Ultra mainstage performance and Croatia debut. 

It's no surprise that Ultra Europe organizer Joe Bašić is thrilled that one of the world's largest electronic music festivals is back and better than ever in the Dalmatian capital. 

"We are back where we were before and are even better. I'm getting comments from all over that Ultra Europe is stronger than ever. The most important thing is that everyone felt the vibe of the hospitality of the citizens of Split," Joe said after the festival's first day. 

40,000 'Ultranauts' from 140 countries visited the festival's first day, which brought out big names in the EDM scene like Armin Van Buuren and Afrojack.

One of the main stage acts on Friday was Sofi Tukker, a US-based musical duo playing their first-ever Ultra main stage show. 

"It's also our first time as a band in Croatia," said Sofi, who had only visited Pula in Croatia before while living in Trieste. 

"My experience so far of Split has been heavenly. We got here and jumped in the sea. We had lunch. We walked around the old town and saw the palace. My mom saw our Instagram stories and said, 'you know that was built in 300 AD, right?' added Sofi. 

"We had pršut, too!" Tucker said. 

Sofi Tukker is also coming off a performance at Ultra Miami back in May. 

"It was amazing, but a totally different experience as we did our live show there, and this time we are playing the Ultra main stage - which we haven't played before," Tucker said. 

"Our performance tonight at Ultra will be a bit of a hybrid performance because we still sing live, but our DJ sets are different in that it is a continuous dance party. It's really fun!" added Sofi. 

The musical duo was also nominated for two Grammy awards shortly after they joined forces. 

"We were nominated for our first song, which was insane. Our first album also got nominated. The first nomination was especially shocking because we didn't even know we were up for the award, haha." 

The duo is based between New York and Miami and is embarking on shows worldwide this year. 

"We just put out an album and are touring it. We just finished the first part of our North American tour. We are going to Barcelona tomorrow; then we are going to Australia to play Splendour in the Grass. We're back in Europe in August!" 

And to end - a message to Sofi Tukker fans in Croatia? 

"Hvala!"

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

July 7, 2022 - The latest flight news to Croatia as almost all Scandinavian Airlines flights to Split and Pula have been canceled due to an airline strike. 

There has been speculation about the possibility of a SAS Scandinavian Airlines flight staff strike, and while there was a delay, and a potential agreement, the staff of this airline is now on strike, which has resulted in the cancellation of hundreds of flights throughout Europe, including destinations in Croatia, reports Croatian Aviation. 

Scandinavian Airlines pilots are on strike for several days, which has resulted in the cancellation of a number of flights to destinations in Europe, including flights to Split and Pula. The carrier operated flights only to Dubrovnik Airport.

Namely, on Wednesday, July 6, SAS canceled all 8 announced flights to and from Split Airport. These are destinations in Scandinavia, such as Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Bergen, and flights scheduled for Thursday, July 7, six in total, have also been canceled.

Apparently, the cancellations will continue until the strike is over, but given that the airline is in financial trouble, the question is how the whole story will end. Namely, the carrier started the restructuring process in the USA, but the possibility of bankruptcy is being mentioned.

In addition to Split, the carrier canceled two of the three scheduled flights to Pula Airport this Wednesday, as well as the flight to Oslo, announced this Thursday. The airline invites passengers to arrive at the airport from which they start their journey significantly earlier than usual in order to find alternative transportation (flights with other airlines), but due to the peak summer season, they also note that there is a high probability that the trip will not be possible within a reasonable time due to the occupancy of other flights.

Due to all these problems, the airline offers a free change of travel date, but this is little consolation to all those who planned their vacation months in advance.

At Split Airport, there are hundreds of passengers who booked this airline and are having trouble getting back to their homes due to canceled flights, especially since other carriers operating to and from Split Airport are almost fully booked, which is expected at the beginning of July, one of the two strongest summer months.

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

July 5, 2022 - The City of Split has confirmed that everything is ready for the 8th Ultra Europe festival, held at Park Mladeži this weekend from July 8 to 10. 

On Tuesday, the Split City Administration held a coordination meeting about the upcoming ULTRA Europe festival, which was attended by representatives of the organizers, city services and utility companies, emergency services, and other institutions necessary for the successful organization of the event this weekend at Park Mladeži (Youth Park). The festival thus returns after a two-year break caused by the pandemic, reports Dalmatinski Portal.

All segments of the organization are covered, and the emergency services are ready and at the highest level of readiness. Communal and traffic police will have extended working hours and will work in coordination with the police. In agreement with the organizer, the Split Tourist Board implements the Respect & Enjoy campaign aimed at the participants of the Festival to maintain public order and peace. In addition to the orderliness of public areas, Čistoća is also focused on waste recycling, so a complete disposal infrastructure will be installed in the festival area, and the director of the city company promised that by 8 am, everything will be clean and recycled. 

County Center 112 has provided translators for communication with festival visitors in six world languages.

Promet Split will work at total capacity, both technical and human, from Thursday to Monday. Parks and plantations have also completed all preparatory work and will intensify the cleaning of green areas. The organizer made a schedule of chemical toilets in a ring around the stadium, in agreement with the representatives of the neighboring city districts. Inspectors from the State Inspectorate, Customs, and Tax Administration announced increased surveillance during the festival. It should also be noted that the City will not extend the working hours of catering establishments during the festival this year, since they can work up to 2 am on weekends.

Joe Bašić, the owner of the company MPG Live and organizer of the ULTRA Europe festival, pointed out that organizationally everything will be ready even before the official start of the festival and announced a higher quality of production, better access to guests, and higher attendance of the festival held in Split so far. The organizer will pay special attention to the tenants of the neighboring buildings he will meet tonight. The Commissioner of the Government for the affairs of the Split mayor, Mirna Veža, expressed her satisfaction with what was done, thanked everyone for their seriousness in the preparations, called on the citizens to be hospitable and patient, and for everyone to have maximum engagement during the ULTRA Europe festival, noting that all events during this manifestation have implications for the image of Split.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.