tip Travel magazine Croatia 017 (English edition) 11/2016 - 02/2017

ISSN: 1849-059X

EN

Number 17 • Year IV • November 2016 - February 2017

INFORMATION • RECOMMENDATIONS • EXPERIENCES

Issue topic:

Health tourism in Croatia An inspirational journey

The Himalayas

The guardian of answers to all questions

ADVENT

Zagreb, Osijek, Baranja, Dubrovnik

It's time for...

carnivals!

Lastovo Island, Murter, Samobor

Frankfurt City break

Germany

Krka and Plitvice Lakes National Parks • Bilje • Gastro Croatia Bjelovar-Bilogora County • Central Dalmatia • Penkala's story

UNESCO: Gingerbread craft from northern Croatia

Digital travel and tourism magazine www.tipTravelMagazine.com

Get ready for an exciting journey and find out why the magazine is read in more than 120 countries worldwide.

Traveling is even more interesting with tipTravel magazine!

Š Eu ro pe an Co m m iss io n

Europe. Wonder is all around.

"Europe. Wonder is all around." is the name of the tourism communication campaign launched by the European Commission with the aim of inspiring European citizens to discover the hidden wonders of Europe, that is, the less known places in the diverse continent, and to travel all year round. They are also asking them to become guides - to send in their favorite destinations and so motivate others to travel to diverse, sustainable, and great travel destinations in Europe.

With the help of the Wonder Map on the campaign website, Europeans had the chance to send in hidden wonders, flavors and stories, and the Wonder Games started on Facebook, where the exact location of given wonders, or European destinations, needed to be guessed. The game lasted seven weeks, from October 3 to November 21, 2016, and every week the player with the most correct answers won a European travel guide printed by a famous travel guide publisher. You can support the campaign, which lasts until February 2017, on social networks using the hashtag #MyWonderfulEurope.

Š European Commission

#MyWonderfulEurope

ABOUT THE MAGAZINE

INTERACTIVE FEATURES Along with the active links in textual form, which lead to certain websites, the magazine also contains active links marked with icons, and by clicking on them, you can open: - additional websites - various social networks - blogs - YouTube video content - Google locations - 360° virtual tours - live cameras that transmit videos of the destination in real time - an online shopping basket

tipTravel magazine is the first Croatian online travel and tourism magazine, which is exclusively in digital format and available to all readers free of charge. It has been issued in Croatian and English since July 2013, and in German as of 2015.

It is designed for readers in Croatia and abroad who are avid travelers.

In each issue, through original reports and photos, it introduces readers to Croatian coastal and continental destinations and their diverse and rich tourist offer, it reveals the less known facts, brings tourism news, announcements of events and festivals that shouldn't be missed, and first-hand advice and recommendations.

The second part of the magazine is dedicated to presenting global destinations and their travel offer.

More information can be found at www.tiptravelmagazine.com, where you can also find a direct link to all the issues. The magazine can be read online on all computers, tablets, and smartphone devices via the Issuu.com website or application.

On iOS devices (iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch), the magazine can be downloaded free of charge in the AppStore, where the application has additional interactive features to enable an even higher quality reading experience. To find it, simply type in 'tiptravel' in the AppStore.

The importance and quality of tipTravel magazine in the online promotion of Croatian tourism has been recognized and recommended to readers, tourists, by:

When you come across the App Store or Google play icon, you can download applications by clicking on them.

The users of the tipTravel magazine iOS Newsstand application also have two exclusive additional interactive features:

Ministry of Tourism

REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

ASSOCIATION OF EMPLOYERS IN CROATIAN HOSPITALITY

Croatian Camping Union

CROATIAN CHAMBER OF ECONOMY Hrvatski ferijalni i hostelski savez Youth Hosteli Association ferijalni i hostelski savez Hrvatski ferijalniHrvatski iCroatian hostelski savez Hrvatski ferijalni hostelski savez Hrvatski ferijalni i hostelski savez Croatian Youth Hostel Association Croatian YouthHostel Hostel Association Croatian Youth Association Croatian Youth Hostel Association

enlarging certain photos across the entire screen (full screen preview)

interchanging multiple photos (slideshow)

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tipTravelMagazine November 2016 - February 2017

tipTravel magazine bears the Green Mark, the leading Croatian sign of excellence in green business, and was the winner of three prestigious Croatian Creative and Innovative Sustainable Tourism Awards in 2014.

NEWSLETTER

EDITORIAL Travel and tourism magazine ISSN: 1849-059X Publisher: Tip Kreativa d.o.o.

Headquarters: Jordanovac 119, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Office: Sermageova 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia +385 1 5805466 +385 91 7958016 info@tiptravelmagazine.com www.tiptravelmagazine.com www.facebook.com/tiptravelmagazine VAT ID Number: HR21136573248 Erste&Steiermärkische Bank d.d.

SWIFT: ESBCHR22 IBAN: HR4524020061100663844 Editor in Chief: Željka Kunštek zeljka@tiptravelmagazine.com

To good health and traveling

I

haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list - is a quote by American writer Susan Sontag famous amongst travelers and written on one of the postcards sitting in our office. As this editorial was being written, it drew attention to itself, and since we believe that nothing in life happens by chance, we decided to remind you of it since it has inspired many to go on new journeys. Wise people know that the more we travel and discover new destinations, cultures, and traditions, the more we get to know ourselves, which inspires us to travel even more.

Yes, it seems like an endless cycle. In this issue, we bring you such a story of an inspirational journey to the Himalayas, which, as those who have visited them say, is a life-changing experience.

This holiday season, in the greeting cards we send, we will likely wish those dear to us good health, first and foremost. We wish it for everyone because we know it is the most precious thing we have. So, we have dedicated the main topic of this issue of the magazine to health tourism in Croatia, a segment that successfully combines two treasures - health and travel. Find out why elite clientele visited Croatian destinations for rest, treatment, and recuperation 170 years ago, and see

the benefits of the Adriatic Sea and sea air as well as hot springs, scattered throughout continental Croatia like pearls, for yourself. Did you know that Croatian clinics, polyclinics, special hospitals, centers, and spas offer top-notch health and medical services at very affordable prices? Combine business with pleasure - why not do it this Advent?

The magic of Advent has already taken over many Croatian destinations, and we bring you our recommendations on the following pages. An Advent fairytale also awaits you in Frankfurt, a city we only knew for its airport up until recently. We decided to change that - find out the details in the City Break. The happiest time of the year is also coming up - the carnival. We singled out three Croatian carnivals with a long tradition, each of which is diverse and special for many things, even though they have something in common - you can have a hilariously great time at all three of them. If you would like a little more peace and quiet, spend your vacation in the winter wonderland at the Plitvice Lakes and Krka National Parks...

We wish you a Happy New Year filled with health, joy, and plenty of travel! Željka and Robert Kunštek

Graphic Editor: Robert Kunštek robert@tiptravelmagazine.com DTP: Tip Kreativa d.o.o.

Associates in this issue: Mirela Drkulec Miletić, Tatjana Miščančuk, Vlatka Vužić, Petra Škofić, Alma Radoš, Sanja Plješa Translator: Marija Crnogaj Marketing: marketing@tiptravelmagazine.com Photo source: tipTravel magazine archive, archives of Croatian Tourist Boards, PHOTOnet.hr, fotolia Cover page: Health tourism in Croatia photo: fotolia

Transmission of texts, in full or in part, is only permitted with the written approval of the publisher and author.

Any type of mechanical, optical, or electronic copying is forbidden.

All rights are reserved. Texts and photographs are sent in electronic form. The opinion of the author of the text is not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. The publisher cannot guarantee the permanence of published information, and is not responsible for the content of advertisements.

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Content

11/2016 - 02/2017

36-45

10-33

8-9 NEWS - Croatia 10-33 ISSUE TOPIC - Health tourism: Health tourism in Croatia  Enjoy Health: Health

surrounded by Mediterranean beauty (19)

 HTI conference (20)  Aviva Polyclinic: Routine

check-ups - the path to good health (21)

 Kvarner Health: Health in

Europe's healing garden (22-23)

 Dental Centar b2: Turn

dental treatment into pleasure (24-25)

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44-45

 IVF Polyclinic: The leader in

34-35 TIPS4YOU: Don't miss out...

 Svjetlost Eye Clinic: The clinic

36-45 ADVENT - Croatia: Embracing Advent

fertility treatment (26-27)

that changes your view of the world (28-29)

 Interview - Marcel Medak,

president of the Health Tourism Association at the Croatian Chamber of Economy (CCE) and Managing Director of the Daruvar Spa Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation: I see health tourism as the solution for a longer season (30-33)

 The Daruvar Spa:

A therapeutic oasis at the source of health (33)

 Zagreb: Only for Advent buffs

(38-41)

 Osijek: From elves to waltzes (42)  Baranja: In the warmth of

Baranja's Advent (43)

 Dubrovnik: Dubrovnik's

holiday magic (44-45)

46-47 CHRISTMAS - Konavle: Divine winter in Konavle 48-49 NEW YEAR'S EVE - Plitvice Lakes National Park: An idyllic, wintry New Year's

The option to show photos in fullscreen view is available to users of the tipTravel magazine iOS Newsstand application on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch devices.

48-49

Environmentally Friendly

not a single tree has been destroyed in publishing this magazine

70-71

84-90

50-59

50-59 CARNIVALS - Croatia: It's time for... carnivals!  Lastovo Island: The lively

energy of ancient carnival traditions (52-53)

 Murter: Forget Rio, come

to Murter (54-57)

 Samobor: Let's go to... the

Samobor Carnival! (58-59)

60-61 HISTORICAL TRACES Zagreb: Penkala's story 62 CROATIA THROUGH PHILATELY: Tramway in Dubrovnik

74-75

64-69 EXPERIENCE CROATIA

76 CROATIA ONLINE: Travel through Lika, Plitvice Lakes, and Vukovar with ease

 Krka National Park: In the

empire of untouched nature (64-65)

78-79 CULTURAL SCENE Interview - Klapa Intrade: Nightingales of the stage

 Central Dalmatia: Laid-back

island style (66-67)

80-81 UNICEF: Forced to leave

 Bilje: The rural pearl of

eastern Croatia (68-69)

70-71 FOOD AND WINE TOURISM Bjelovar-Bilogora County: Tradition as culinary inspiration 72-73 GASTRO - Croatia: Zagrebian dishes made Bavarian-style 74-75 UNESCO - Gingerbread craft from northern Croatia: Those irresistible hearts...

92-97

82-83 ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS - World 84-90 CITY BREAK - Frankfurt 92-97 AN INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEY - The Himalayas: The guardian of answers to all questions 98-99 WORLD ATTRACTIONS Bergen (Norway)

November 2016 - February 2017

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News

CROATIA

The Zagreb County in the palm of your hand

Međimurje received a prestigious Swiss tourism award At the IViaggiatori international tourism fair in Lugano, Switzerland, held on October 30, 2016, representatives from the Međimurje County (an area in northern Croatia), and the Međimurje County Tourist Board were presented the valuable Swiss Tourism Award - STA for the promotion of quality tourism, protection and positioning of natural and cultural heritage, promotion of competitiveness and excellence in services and products, and for presentation to the Swiss public. The award has been handed out since 2006 to destinations with an excellent reputation on the internet, which promote sustainable forms of tourism, and which are an alternative to traditional mass tourism.

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Beli Manastir - a town of multifunctional trails The town of Beli Manastir, in collaboration with the Baranja Tourist Board and the Baranja Development Agency of the Town of Beli Manastir, is conducting a project of marking multifunctional trails, Walking Bike, which will be completed in December 2016. Besides being mapped, the existing and new trails on Bansko brdo, in Beli Manastir, and in the surrounding communities will bear a sign indicating their use - cycling, walking, horseback riding, trekking, Nordic walking, mountain biking, walking pets, etc., and they will also be designated a level of difficulty depending on inclines, declines, etc. A free, personalized mobile app will also be designed as part of the project.

© Czech Airlines

© CNTB

© Baranja Tourist Board

© Czech Airlines

In order to adapt to the needs of the modern tourist, the Zagreb County Tourist Board continuously invests in new technology. Besides its website, where you can find plenty of information and events in Zagreb's Green Ring, and its Facebook and Twitter profiles, as of recently, an interactive digital depiction of the Zagreb County (www.locator-tzzz.com) has been released.

Users can quickly and easily choose a location they would like to visit on the map, and the locator will calculate the distance, offer the best route, and present the chosen destination with an interesting story. Along with a virtual map, the site also contains panoramic photos and video clips from a bird's-eye view, as well as promotional films.

New Czech Airlines flight from Zagreb Not only did it continue connecting Zagreb and Prague with its regular direct flight, but in the 2016/17 winter season, Czech Airlines has introduced an additional flight from Zagreb three times per week: on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, departing at 5:05 AM from the Zagreb Airport. The new flight schedule offers greater opportunities for connecting morning departures of Czech Airlines and its partners from Prague to several dozen other destinations. As of October 30, 2016, Czech Airlines also regularly flies to Skopje, and departures from Zagreb are on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 11:55 PM.

Travel and Leisure: Readers' Choice Destination of the Year 2016

© Renco Kosinožić / CNTB

Readers of the famous American travel magazine, Travel and Leisure (T+L), have chosen Croatia as the best destination in 2016. In an online vote, Croatia won the largest number of reader's votes, or 28 percent of the total number of votes. Portugal took second place, and Pittsburgh took third. In the magazine, Croatia was described as a "jewel in the crown of the Adriatic" and as a popular destination in recent years. They highlight the beauty of Zagreb, Istria, Split, and the islands of Hvar, Brač, Korčula, Vis, Mljet, but also Dubrovnik, which is connected to the show "Game of Thrones", and its picture represented Croatia during the vote. Besides Croatia, Portugal, and Pittsburgh, the other nominated destinations were Hawaii, Paris, New Zealand, Iceland, Rio de Janeiro, and others.

Source:

© Booking.com / Dialog komunikacije

www.croatiaweek.com

2nd Sport Tourism Congress held

After a successful 2016 summer season in Croatia, Booking.com data placed Novalja, Crikvenica, Trogir, Šibenik, and Rijeka amongst the five fastest growing destinations. On the other hand, the three Croatian cities with the largest number of reservations by foreign travelers this year were Split, Dubrovnik, and Zagreb. The average length of time guests stayed in Croatia last summer was four nights, and amongst the millions of recommendations Booking.com travelers left, most were regarding old cities, beaches, food, relaxation, and nature. In Zagreb, on October 19, 2016, representatives of Booking.com presented not only information on travelers, but they also presented a pilot version of their new product, Booking Experiences, which will allow travelers to discover the best of what destinations offer, all via their mobile device.

© Volotea

Booking.com: Croatia is growing in popularity

New Marseille - Split line Volotea, the low-cost Spanish airline, announced that it would introduce a new line from Split to Marseille in its summer flight schedule for 2017. The first flight would depart on April 9, 2017, with one rotation weekly, on Sundays. In the heart of the summer season, starting on June 28, 2017, the line would be boosted with another weekly rotation, on Wednesdays. The airplanes flying that route would be Boeing 717-200, and the Spanish airline is the only company in Europe to have those planes in their fleet.

From November 11 to 12, the 2nd Sport Tourism Congress was held in Makarska, with the topic of "The Unused Potential of Croatian Tourism - Sport Tourism". At that time, it was pointed out, amongst other things, that sports tourism needs to be regulated legislatively, primarily through the Sports Act, and it was also emphasized that it is necessary to create a sport development strategy for the Republic of Croatia with the inclusion of scientific institutions, associated ministries, and the Croatian Olympic Committee, the Croatian Olympians Club, sports experts and associations. The congress was held under the organization of LUX Promotional Agency, the Faculties of Kinesiology in Split and Zagreb, the ASPIRA University College of Sports Management, and the Institute for Tourism.

Source:

www.croatiameetings.com

November 2016 - February 2017

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Issue topic

HEALTH TOURISM

Š

fo

to

lia

A mild climate, an abundance of natural beauty and natural therapeutic elements, a long tradition of tourism, a good transportation connection, safe destinations, top-notch medical staff, a wide range of health care and medical services at affordable prices, healthy food...

There are a lot of reasons Croatia is a health care and medical tourism destination that is growing in popularity.

See why for yourself...

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tipTravelMagazine November 2016 - February 2017

Health tourism in Croatia Text: Željka Kunštek and Tatjana Miščančuk Photos: fotolia, Photonet.hr, Croatian National Tourist Board, Opatija Tourist Board, Crikvenica Tourist Board, Croatian Camping Union, Daruvar-Papuk Tourist Board, Ivanić-Grad Tourist Board, Dental Centar b2

B

eing healthy, feeling good, living life to the fullest, and, if possible, as long as possible, have always been on everyone's wish lists. We regularly wish everyone good health for their birthday, for the holidays, and at other occasions. We would do anything to be healthy, and there is no doubt about that. In comparison to the past, it is much more easily attainable due to the strong development of medicine, health care systems and services, but also due to growing purchasing power.

Today, more people can afford healthier food, some dental or aesthetic surgery for more beautiful teeth and a better appearance, a little more exercise for their back and legs, improvement of

vision or hearing, and even travelling to other countries where they could take advantage of superb health care services at more affordable prices than in their own countries. Even when the prices aren't more affordable, people travel to undergo certain medical procedures that they cannot conduct (properly) in their own surroundings. Traveling to other areas is also common for the benefits climate has on the respiratory system, for therapeutic mud, thermal water... It all led to the creation of a new niche in tourism in the middle of last century, and today in the 21st century, to the growing and more popular product of health tourism, which is developed in all countries of the world,

connecting travel with treatment and recovery, beautification and recreation for a better, longer life.

Using that product, some countries have quickly boosted themselves on the global tourism and health care map, becoming an oasis of that trend, while others have simply and quietly added it to their (tourism) offer, and attracted an audience without a lot of promotion. There are others, such as Croatia, where people have been coming from various parts of the world for more than 150 years for health and rehabilitation, so the health care and medicinal segment is rightfully considered to be the origin of Croatian tourism.

November 2016 - February 2017

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HEALTH TOURISM

© Robert Kunštek / tipTravel magazine

Issue topic

How it all started...

Health vs. medical tourism

Beautiful nature, a crystal clear sea, and its many health benefits, a mild climate with many hours of sun per year (especially in the coastal region) and countless therapeutic hot springs in the continental region made Croatia a destination that has attracted guests to take a holiday, but also recuperate, for a long time. Forms of health tourism developed countrywide, from the island of Lošinj, Opatija, Lovran, Crikvenica, and Rab, all the way to Makarska and Split, from Gorski Kotar to Zagreb and the springs in Croatian Zagorje, to Varaždin, Daruvar, and Bizovac, which in newer times received that title, connecting the two industries - tourism and health care.

© Ivo Biočina / CNTB

Although they are often considered to be the same, there are differences between health and medical tourism. Health tourism is based on travel that improves health, either for prevention or relaxation, along with treatment or rehabilitation, and is one of the strongest travel trends over the past decade. On the other hand, medical tourism is a form of health tourism that includes traveling for health care services, along with diagnostics, and therapeutic medical procedures.

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More than 170 years ago, both those segments were successfully joined, although not under the same name, by elite clientele who came to Opatija, a famous winter resort in the northern Adriatic for treatment and rehabilitation.

Doctors in the Austro-Hungarian Empire opened their sanatoriums there, built promenades, and spas, so Opatija was at the very top of fashionable spas in the 19th and early 20th centuries, along with Nice, Karlovy Vary, Cannes, and Biarritz. At the same time, a spa was opened in Crikvenica, located 40 kilometers away, for children and adults, and that town, also famous for therapeutic sea and air, became an official "Seaside and climate therapy resort" in 1906. The island of Lošinj, now famous as the island of vitality, is a

© Goran Šantar / CNTB

The Ancient Greeks and Romans were aware of the healing powers of seawater, while Hippocrates, father of modern medicine, discovered the effect of sea water on skin, for healing wounds and the entire organism.

story of its own. Due to their beneficial microclimate, Mali and Veli Lošinj were proclaimed a climate resort in 1892, and from then to today, the island has achieved impressive results in treating respiratory ailments and skin diseases.

However, those were just some of the initiators of health tourism in Croatia.

Benefits of the sea Although each destination has its special features, some natural therapeutic features are shared by coastal, and others by continental destinations in Croatia. So, if you travel to the coastal part of Croatia, which we recommend you do at any time of the year, breathe in deeply to start. Walking down one of the many seaside promenades and breathing in the natural sea aerosol will rejuvenate you and ease breathing for those who suffer from allergies and asthma.

Sea air also contains negative ions that strengthen the immune system, improve concentration and relieve headaches, tiredness, and stress, and effectively affect insomnia. If it’s a sunny day (and there is a great chance it will be since the coastal region records more than 2500 hours of sun per year), you will also get your dose of Vitamin D, which has an important role in preventing many illnesses. If you are staying in those destinations during the warmer part of the year, don't hesitate - jump in and dive into the sea, and swim to November 2016 - February 2017

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HEALTH TOURISM

Š Nikola Matić / CNTB

Issue topic

Seawater in the Croatian Adriatic is incomparably better in content (minerals, plankton, etc.) than all the other seas in the Mediterranean basin and beyond.

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your heart's content. The Adriatic Sea is amongst the cleanest in Europe, which was confirmed by the European Commission Report on European bathing water quality, and contains more than 80 minerals and elements that enter the body and positively influence the entire organism. They include salt, magnesium, silica, calcium, potassium, iodine, zinc, iron, and even gold and silver. Bathing in the sea also initiates cleansing of the body, and the sea has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Due to all that, 125 years ago Opatija and Crikvenica started using thalassotherapy (treatment with sea water, air and elements) for medical rehabilitation and prevention, and it's represented by two special hospitals for medical rehabilitation - Thalassotherapia Opatija and Thalassotherapia Crikvenica.

tipTravelMagazine November 2016 - February 2017

Sea salt also has therapeutic properties.

Besides stimulating the metabolism and extracting harmful substances, salt stimulates circulation and makes skin smoother, softer, and healthier. So salt is a key element in many treatments in wellness and spa centers throughout Croatia with reason. A lot could be said about the medical properties of the sea and sea air, which, mixed together with various aromatic and other Mediterranean herbs, positively affects the entire organism and acts as a natural wellness feature. The best thing to do is try it yourself.

Therapeutic thermal water As far as the natural therapeutic features of Croatia's continental destinations, which have initiated the development of health tourism in that

area, are concerned, there are therapeutic hot springs and mineral mud. Spas and special hospitals that achieve incredible results in treating various ailments were built next to many hot springs. The ancient Romans knew about the positive effects of thermal water on health so, for example, the town of Varaždinske Toplice was the famous Aquae Iasae thermal spa back in ancient times. The thermal sulfurous water and therapeutic peloids from natural sources have been used there for more than a thousand years for treatment and rehabilitation. The written records on thermal water sources in the area of present-day Daruvar also date back to Roman times, and water from the Daruvar source is successful used for treating rheumatic ailments, degenerative spinal and joint ailments, and for neurological

The medical programs at many Croatian spas are based on the use of healing thermal mineral water and therapeutic mud (fango), in combination with modern procedures of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

© Predrag Uskoković / Daruvar-Papuk Tourist Board

rehabilitation, amongst other things. Thermal water sources rich in peloid particles can also be found in Tuheljske Toplice, while, for example, Ivanić-Grad, near Zagreb, is famous for treatments with naphthalene, a mineral oil extracted from the ground.

Interestingly, there are only two known naphthalene sources in the world so far: one in Azerbaijan, and the other in Ivanić-Grad. Croatian Zagorje, a region in northwestern Croatia, is also famous for its spa destinations, although healing waters can also be found in Slavonia, in eastern Croatia. There you can find the Bizovac hot springs, which they call "the springs of the long lost Pannonian Sea", and the water there is salty, rich in minerals, and the only, and warmest, hyperthermal iodine water in Europe, and the only with such content in the world.

November 2016 - February 2017

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Issue topic

HEALTH TOURISM

Excellent value for money

Croatian medical centers and hospitals have around six thousand beds, and more than a million overnight stays are achieved annually.

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The many natural medicinal factors are doubtlessly a precondition for the development of health tourism, but they definitely aren't the only advantage Croatia entered the "race" with on the international map of tourism and health.

Besides being well-positioned (a Central European location), and connected by road to large markets, as well as being a safe destination, Croatia is also a country with a long tradition of tourism.

As far as the health tourism segment is concerned, it offers a large range of health tourism services (in special hospitals and spas), medical tourism (in hospitals and many private clinics, polyclinics, and centers), and wellness and spa facilities (in hotels and wellness and spa centers), scattered throughout the country. Still, the guarantee for excellent therapeutic and medical services are the top-notch medical staff that use the most modern equipment,

tipTravelMagazine November 2016 - February 2017

and are equal to the leading centers in the world as far as medical procedures and techniques are concerned.

Furthermore, if you visit one of the private medical institutions, you can forget about waiting lists and you are sure to find the services you need from the long list of those available. Another great advantage Croatia offers are the affordable prices that, in combination with superb services, create a strong formula that makes Croatia a destination for health and medical tourism, which is growing in popularity.

If you come to Croatia from one of the EU countries, the USA, or Canada, you won't need a visa. As far as accommodations are concerned, you can choose from great large or small familyrun hotels, and more than 80 of them offer wellness facilities. It is a special, and different experience to stay in suites and rooms with hosts who can teach you a lot about local culture and customs.

There is an increasing number of

private clinics and polyclinics that offer accommodations in their cozy, modernly furnished suites for the duration of your treatment or procedure, along with transfers, if you reach the destination by plane. Combine business and pleasure and use your stay in your destination for discovering its attractions and enjoying high-quality, natural, healthy food, and many delicacies that impress everyone who visits Croatia.

In accordance with global trends Over the past ten years, dental tourism conducted by many dental offices in Croatia has experienced a boom. Along with dental treatments, Croatian clinics and polyclinics are also more in demand for plastic surgery procedures and infertility treatments, for orthopedic treatments, general medical examinations, ophthalmological services, as well as physical therapy.

The importance of health tourism has also been recognized at the national level, and health tourism has been included in the Croatian Tourism Development Strategy until 2020 as one of the key tourism products that needs to be developed even more intensively in all its forms. The development of tourism products, such as health tourism, is crucial for the extension of the tourism season, that is, for the dispersion and increase of tourist traffic beyond the main tourism season. The potential revenue from health tourism in Croatia is a billion euro, while current revenue amounts to approximately 450 million euro.

So, there is still plenty of room for development, and we will work on it intensively, said Gari Cappelli, Croatian Minister of Tourism, and added that there is great potential in health tourism for investments as well, since there is work to be done all year long, in all parts of Croatia, and it can

attract brown-field and green-field investments. Croatia will continue to follow global tourism trends as far as health tourism is concerned. It is estimated that in 2016 the global value of the health tourism industry will reach around a hundred billion dollars, and that over the next ten years, it will grow at an annual rate of around 25 percent. It has also been forecast that three to four percent of the global population will travel abroad for health care treatments.

The largest number of travelers could come from the USA, but also from Asia, especially China, and analysts believe that that segment of tourism is ready for rapid growth, considering that there is a growing number of people worldwide looking for new treatment methods, along with lower prices, or better quality care than what they have in their own countries, and spending billions of dollars in the process. ď ś

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© Igor Zirojević / CNTB

HEALTH TOURISM

© Željko Koprolčec / CNTB

Issue topic

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tipTravelMagazine November 2016 - February 2017

© Davor Žunić / Crikvenica Tourist Board

After your health care or medical treatment, enrich your stay at the Croatian Adriatic with Mediterranean dishes, and enjoy the leisurely, Mediterranean lifestyle. Did you know that the World Health Organization announced the Mediterranean diet was the healthiest in the world? The cuisine was inscribed on UNESCO's representative list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2013, and is one of the "trademarks" of the Croatian Adriatic. It is based on healthy, natural ingredients rich in fiber, such as grains, various fruits and vegetables (especially leafy ones), pulses, nuts, olives, and various types of seeds, while it also includes fish at least several times a week, and olive oil, "the king of oils", daily. The precious oil, which Homer called "liquid gold", is the main source of fat in this diet. Make sure to choose extra virgin olive oil, which is the best quality, received from simple pressing and filtering of healthy olives, whereby the beneficial ingredients remain preserved.

A lot of scientific research has confirmed that olive oil and the Mediterranean diet keep the heart healthy, protect from chronic degenerative disease, strengthen the immune system, decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, improve brain functions...

Finish off a Mediterranean meal with a glass of homemade red wine (which is proven to increase the level of HDL, or good cholesterol, and decrease bad cholesterol), and leave some room for dessert, which in Mediterranean cuisine is sweetened with organic honey.

© Davor Žunić / Crikvenica Tourist Board

The Mediterranean diet is the healthiest in the world

PROMO

Health surrounded by Mediterranean beauty A

re you looking for excellent, affordable medical and wellness services, and you would also like to enjoy the benefits of the Mediterranean? Enjoy Health is the perfect choice for you! Get medical treatments from top doctors with the state of the art technology: Opthalmology - Laser eye and cataract surgery; Dental Medicine, Gynaecology - Assisted Reproductive Technology; Cosmetic Dermatology; Weight Loss Programs, and Wellness & Spa. It is well known that Mediterranean Croatia is a destination for an ideal health/wellness vacation. In order to rejuvenate your body and soul, detox, and relax, while recharging and

improving your health, Enjoy Health has created special Enjoy Mediterranean packages for you, based on the healthy Mediterranean lifestyle and superb, professional service. You can create your dream vacation individually according to your wishes. Enjoy specialties of Mediterranean cuisine, one of the healthiest cuisines in the world, prepared by top chefs according to guidelines set by expert nutritionists. Learn how to make a healthy Mediterranean meal on your own at a cooking show. Recreation is also important for good health, both on the beach and in nature, adapted to different levels of physical abilities, under the guidance of certified physical therapists and coaches. You can also

relax with yoga, pilates, or aerobic, and for a complete experience, enjoy the relaxation, detox and meditation programs, which will gently revitalize your beauty and rejuvenate you.

Before enjoying the Mediterraneanstyle stress-free zone, choose from the great selection of beauty and anti-aging treatments, wellness & spa services, and don't forget to have fun. Enjoy Health has chosen superb accommodations for you in a 5* hotel on a sandy beach in the center of Split, as well as apartments in the very heart of Split. Enjoy and become part of the story of Split and the Mediterranean, and immerse yourself in its healthy, relaxed way of life. 

Enjoy Health, Ivana Gundulića 2, 21000 Split, Croatia

 +385 21 321171 / 321172, info@enjoyhealth.hr, www.enjoyhealth.hr

November 2016 - February 2017

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HEALTH TOURISM

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Issue topic

The prestigious HTI conference returns to Croatia

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tipTravelMagazine November 2016 - February 2017

February 28 - March 2, 2017 Hotel Lone, Rovinj, Croatia

Š HTI Conference

The seventh prestigious HTI (Health Tourism Industry) conference, the leading international congress of its type in Europe, will be held in Croatia once again. From February 28 to March 2, 2017, the conference will gather all important members of international health tourism from the public and private sector, who will present best practices and examples and point out industry trends and challenges through many interesting thematic panels and presentations. Representatives from the European Commission, European Parliament, and Global Healthcare Travel Council have confirmed they will participate at the conference.

The innovative 3in1 integrated gathering includes two other international events: the European Luxury Hospitality Summit, organized by the ILHA (International Luxury Hotel Association), and the Taste the Mediterranean Festival (TTM). The summit is aimed at representatives from luxury hotels, the public sector, and travel agencies, as well as educators, agents, and mediators in hotel services and hospitality, along with other members of the luxury hospitality industry. Conference participants will definitely be intrigued by the Festival, which will, through theoretical and practical workshops, lectures and seminars held by the best master chefs with Michelin stars and nutritionists, present the Mediterranean diet, proclaimed to be the healthiest in the world.

At the conference, an award ceremony will also be held to honor the best in health tourism (medical, health, and wellness tourism).

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PANTONE Process Cyan C PANTONE Reflex Blue C PANTONE 425 C

Routine check-ups the path to good health

TEKST PANTONE Cool Gray 9

I

f you are coming to Zagreb as a tourist, on business, or to visit friends and family, make some time for your health while staying in the Croatian capital, a famous center of medical excellence. In the quiet, northern part of the city, easily accessible by car and public transport, you will find the Aviva Polyclinic in Nemetova Street, a well-known address amongst all those who take care of their health.

Superb health care starts with regular annual check-ups with the aim of early detection of existing risk factors for the development of chronic and malignant diseases, and their successful, timely

treatment. Routine check-ups are best quality and safest approach to staying healthy, and routine check-ups at the Aviva Polyclinic are conducted by a team of top-notch specialists, with the help of modern equipment, in a short amount of time, at one location, without waiting, with a personalized approach, and competitive prices.

Choose a routine check-up adapted to your needs, and opt for a basic or extended package. A team of 25 full-time doctors will take care of your health, and along with your check-up, they can solve any dilemmas you may have regarding your health.

CMYKPolyclinic covers The Aviva BLACK 65% of modern nearlyTEKST all specialties medicine, so you can take care of clinical examinations, laboratory diagnostics, x-ray diagnostics, including MRIs, and various specialist examinations in one place and in one day. Excellent, modern, diagnostic equipment enables experts to discover the smallest changes in your body and answer all your health-related questions.

Once you know you have done a good thing for your health, relax and enjoy the rest of your adventure in Zagreb. ď ś

JEDNOBOJNO

Aviva Polyclinic, Nemetova 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

 +385 1 4693111, info@poliklinika-aviva.hr, www.poliklinika-aviva.hr November 2016 - February 2017

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Issue topic

HEALTH TOURISM: Kvarner Health

Kvarner Health Health in Europe's healing garden Y

ou will find Kvarner where the mighty mountain meets the clear sea, attractive coast and islands, and where the air is enriched with therapeutic salt particles, and the climate is pleasant all year long. That area in the northern Adriatic has been attracting aristocracy from Vienna and Budapest since the 19th century for vacations, but also for medical treatments. The logical continuation of the long tradition of health tourism in the area was establishing the Kvarner Health Tourism Cluster called Kvarner Health, the main promotor of health tourism in the area. Established in 2014, the cluster currently gathers 26 members, both public and private institutions from three different segments - health, tourism, and science and education, which makes it unique, not only in Croatia, but also in Europe.

Its goal is clear - to promote, develop, and advance services offered in health tourism in the region that Croatia, in its strategic documents, has called a key area in positioning the country as a renowned health tourism destination.

In line with that, the main mission of the cluster is to offer superb health

tourism services, based on modern trends and traditions, all year long and at affordable prices.

Internationally competitive Wellness centers, located mostly in high-category hotels, are the dominant form of health tourism in that area.

Hotels, and cluster members, which offer such services are Jadran Hotels, LoĹĄinj Hotels&Villas and Milenij Hotels.

Besides modern equipment and educated staff, the centers in Kvarner also offer an internationally competitive wellness offer, especially for medical

Kvarner Health Tourism Cluster - Kvarner Health, M. Tita 188/1, 51410 Opatija, Croatia 22

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wellness. Anti-stress and vital programs, massages, but also thalassotherapy (a treatment method with sea water and air), which was created in the 19th century by physician Claude La Bonnardiére, are all a part of the health & wellness offer in Kvarner. The pinnacle of the health and tourism offer in Kvarner are two special hospitals for medical rehabilitation - Thalassotherapia Opatija, with the modern Thalasso Wellness Center, which follows medical wellness trends, and Thalassotherapia Crikvenica. The Veli Lošinj Health Resort is famous for treating respiratory paths, asthma, and psoriasis, while the leading private health care provider in the region is the Medico Polyclinic, with outpatient services. The Terme Selce Polyclinic, where patients from six continents were treated, also gained global fame, and 120 World and Olympic champions also received superb treatment there. The Special Hospital Dr. Nemec, specialized

in treating injuries and ailments of the locomotor system, also has a great reputation. The Dr. Jelušić Dental Polyclinic and Smile Polyclinic from Opatija, Rident Polyclinic, which offers dental and tourism services in Rijeka and Poreč, as well as the Orto Nova Center for Dental Medicine in Rijeka, and Kalamar Implant Dentistry, which works in Rijeka and Dramalj, are all an important part of the dental offer in Kvarner.

Public institutions also play an important role in the health and tourism story: the Clinical Hospital Center in Rijeka, the largest health care institution in the region, the Emergency Medical Institute of the Kvarner County, the Community Health Center of the Kvarner County, and the Teaching Institute for Public Health, while the Interdial Polyclinic for hemodialysis from Opatija also joined the cluster. Tour operator Mediteran Adria, better known as

MedAdria, and Travelana travel agency take care of organizing accommodations in Kvarner.

Other members of the cluster are the tourist boards of the Kvarner County and Opatija and the School of Medicine in Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Opatija, and the Wellness Academy in Lovran. 

info@kvarnerhealth.hr, www.kvarnerhealth.hr November 2016 - February 2017

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Issue topic

HEALTH TOURISM: Dental Centar b2

Turn dental treatment into pleasure U

p to 70 percent off the price of dental treatments, top quality with the use of modern technology and the best materials, easy accessibility, guaranteed privacy, quick appointment making for treatments, all surrounded by amazing natural beauty and charming cities, such as Zagreb, are all reasons why more and more people from

all parts of the world, especially Europe, are choosing Croatia as the country where they can undergo dental procedures at ease. One of the leading dental clinics in the region, Dental Centar b2, is located in Zagreb, and its professional team, which takes an individual approach to each patient, will do everything they can to make your stay more

Dental Centar b2, Gradiščanska 36, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia,  +385 1 5802333 24

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Turn dental treatment into pleasure

© My Croatian Dentist: dentalcentarb2

pleasant, and to make your smile even brighter. In other words, this team will pamper you. If you arrive in Zagreb by plane, they will organize free transport to the clinic. During their treatment, patients can stay in superbly furnished, comfortable, modern apartment suites, which are located at the clinic, free of charge.

Excellence and advanced techniques As far as the services the clinic offers, the list is truly long. From general dental services, such as cleaning and polishing teeth, treating them, installing white fillings, as well as inlay and onlay fillings, crowns, bridges, and prosthetics to specialist services: implants, and ALL-ON-4, which Dental Centar b2 has been

recommended for by the leading world producers of implants, Nobel Biocare and Straumann. The clinic also offers dental surgery, periodontology, and aesthetic dentistry services in its pleasant, modern ambiance. So there you can, with full confidence, choose from a selection of aesthetic dentistry procedures, whitening, veneers, or a cosmetic makeover (with an individual approach), or aesthetic reconstruction, which is the very pinnacle of dental medicine, and is used by the most eminent doctors of dental medicine in the world. On the other hand, those who would like to improve their smile, without abrading their teeth for ceramic veneers or crowns, can choose free hand bonding. For the highly educated and experienced team at the famous clinic, no challenge is too large to achieve,

and they will make any procedure you choose as pleasant as possible.

After your treatment, other than spending time in the clinic's comfortable apartment suites, you can also relax in the sauna or enjoy your favorite massage at the wellness center, located in the same building. Mix business with pleasure, and take some time to explore the charms of Zagreb, Croatia's capital, during your stay.

Walk through Zagreb's attractive streets, tour the city's attractions, pop into churches and museums, taste traditional delicacies at one of the restaurants or at street fairs.

Above all, take the good advice the clinic's employees will share with you to enjoy your time in Zagreb and its surrounding area as much as possible. 

 UK +44 20 37693973,  DK +45 7877 2137, info@dentalcentarb2.com, www.dentalcentarb2.com November 2016 - February 2017

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Issue topic

HEALTH TOURISM: IVF Polyclinic

IVF Polyclinic: The leader in fertility treatment R

obert Veriga was the first baby in Croatia and Former Yugoslavia, and the seventh in the world to be conceived with the help of in vitro fertilization. It was an enormous success achieved in 1983 at the Women’s Health Clinic in Petrova Street in Zagreb, through the hard work of a top-notch team of doctors, lead by Prof. Velimir Šimunić, MD, PhD, a pioneer in gynecological endocrinology and human reproduction in the territory of the Former Yugoslavia.

Since then, the specialist in gynecology and obstetrics with a subspecialty in human reproduction, who is also well known outside Croatia, has enabled the birth of more than five thousand babies with the help of IVF procedures. After his 25-year career as the head of the Institute of Human Reproduction at

the hospital, in 1997, Prof. Šimunić headed out into private business and established the first private polyclinic for gynecology, obstetrics and reproductive medicine in Croatia, IVF Polyclinic, which also performs in vitro procedures - IVF and ICSI. The results best speak of the success of the polyclinic. Not only has it become famous for its incredibly high success rate for in vitro procedures (annually, their efforts result in a hundred children being born), which greatly differs from the competition, but the polyclinic has also become a center that offers all-around care, treatment, and therapy for infertile couples. The team of top experts at the polyclinic dedicates special attention to global trends, as well as to researching and developing

IVF Polyclinic - Polyclinic for gynecology, obstetrics and reproductive medicine 26

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their own methods for treating infertility. It could be said that the polyclinic is setting trends of its own...

Along with Prof. Šimunić and Dr. Maričić, the clinic's expert team also includes Prof. Srećko Ciglar, MD, PhD, with a subspecialty in human reproduction and Prof. Mirko Koršić, MD, a renowned endocrinologist and diabetologist, and member of the British Academy of Medical Sciences, radiologist Edita Parac Blažević, MD, and gynecologist Mihajlo Strelec, MD. The results and success of every human reproduction institution is only possible with fantastic embriologists. So, IVF Polyclinic proudly boasts the most experienced clinical embryologists in Croatia, Danko Dobec and Igor Matić PhD, while IVF Polyclinic’s general manager Anita Šimunić, LL.M., Ec.S., also contributes to the polyclinic’s outstanding results.

High success rate The elegantly designed IVF Polyclinic is located in an elite part of Zagreb and spreads over nearly 400 square meters of a modern building. Along with a spacious, modern waiting room, there are also two, large gynecology clinics, which are fully-equipped for complete diagnostics and minor surgical procedures, and the polyclinic also offers outpatient services. In a completely separate and protected area, there are two rooms for patients, an operating room, and an IVF center, which is organized according to modern principles and the regulations of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia, EU directives, and ESHRE guidelines. The center is divided into

four units - an andrology laboratory for outpatients, an embryology laboratory with special rooms for processing sperm, and gamete and embryo cryopreservation.

IVF Polyclinic works closely and is involved in organizations with the most respected medical experts in Croatia.

Due to the incredible expertise of the doctors, their world-class level of experience, their incredible dedication to the patients, and the overall quality of service and affordable prices, there is no doubt that the polyclinic is on par with leading infertility treatment centers in Europe and the world. Since March 2016, the polyclinic has been the proud bearer of the prestigious international certificate and above-average rating in the fertility category awarded by the GCR (Global Clinic Rating).

Diagnostics and infertility treatment are the main services the polyclinic offers, which include many different procedures: semen analysis, sperm DNA fragmentation and determining chromosome anomalies. In diagnosing infertility in women, uterine anomalies are check for, and endometriosis, damaged fallopian tubes, and ovulation disorders are treated. Outpatient hysteroscopy procedures, which can be diagnostic or surgical, are also a part of infertility treatment. As far as diagnostics in gynecology are concerned, the polyclinic treats pre-invasive lesions of the cervix (HPV, CIN, colposcopy, LLETZ conization), diagnoses tumors, diagnoses and treats endometriosis, treats endocrinological disorders and polycystic ovaries, menorrhagia, and abnormal bleeding. The polyclinic offers complete ultrasound diagnostic

services, conducts check-ups of normal and pathological pregnancies, repeated miscarriage treatment, and diagnosing fetal normality. When it comes to women's preventive health care services, breast diseases are also diagnosed. 

IVF Polyclinic ART success rate Clinical pregnancy rate 2014 y

2015 y

65.5%

64,2%

16.1%

15,9%

* all patients

36,2%

37,4%

* ≤ 35 yr age

48.2%

49,1%

* all patients

35.7%

35,6%

Spontaneous abortion rate

16.0%

17,2%

* twins

12.7%

14,9%

Complications (OHSS..)

0.5%

0,6%

Ovulation induction 3 - 4 cycles AIH / ITI - IUI 1 cycle / all patients IVF - ICSI / per ET

Cryo ET / FET * oocytes or embryos

Multiple pregnancy

Babonićeva 121, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia,  +385 1 4678600, poliklinika.ivf@zg.t-com.hr, www.ivf.hr November 2016 - February 2017

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Issue topic

HEALTH TOURISM: Svjetlost Eye Clinic

The clinic that changes your view of the world Y

ou'll have to admit, winning an ophthalmological Oscar at the largest and most prestigious video surgery congress is a big thing. So is the valuable international "Best Regional Hospital" award, which was awarded in 2016 to Svjetlost Eye Clinic for excellence in the field of ophthalmology by the European Business Assembly from Oxford. But, those are just some of the confirmations of the incredible

professionalism and quality of the largest and best equipped eye clinic in the region that offers complete ophthalmological services - from the most basic eye exam to the most complex surgical procedure.

Moreover, quality is guaranteed by the 40 superb ophthalmologists who have performed more than a hundred thousand eye surgeries with the help of the most modern technology available.

The more than 300 thousand users, of

Svjetlost Eye Clinic, Heinzelova 39, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia,  +385 1 7775656, info@svjetlost.hr 28

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which a third arrive in Zagreb's Svjetlost clinic from abroad, best bear witness of their satisfaction with the services offered by the clinic, which has centers in Zagreb, Split, Sarajevo, and Banja Luka.

From laser refractive surgery to cornea transplantation Each patient is approached on an individual basis, and one of the most common procedures conducted at Svjetlost Eye Clinic is laser refractive surgery, the most reliable and practical way to improve your vision. The procedure lasts around ten minutes, is completely painless, and you are free to go home after half an hour. It can be conducted on 95 percent of people over the age of 18, with prescriptions from -10.0 to +6 and to Âą6 cylinders of

astigmatism. Over the past 18 years, nearly 60 thousand eyes have undergone laser refractive surgery at the clinic, and many have also have cataracts treated. Moreover, cataracts and presbyopia can also be treated with the simultaneous installation of Symfony lenses with an extended range of vision.

Ultrasound cataract operations are also quick and painless, and are conducted without waiting, and Svjetlost Eye Clinic is one of the top European clinics for installing modern lenses.

The clinic is also equipped for diagnostics that allow for the most detailed three-dimensional depiction of the depth of the eye and eye chamber, and its experts participate in conducting international studies for testing new medicine for treating degeneration of the macula, Fovista.

Amongst the clinic staff, there are also sub-specialists in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus who, with the help of the most modern equipment, successfully treat strabismus, poor vision, children's cataract, and nystagmus (wobbly eyes). Since intensive development of vision takes place in the first six years of life, parents are recommended not to wait long, and to make sure their child has their first ophthalmological exam by the age of four. All types of procedures on eyelids, such as glaucoma treatment, are also successfully conducted at Svjetlost Eye Clinic, which is also an internationally recognized transplantation center, where complex procedures, such as cornea transplantation, are conducted on patients from all over the world. ď ś

ZAGREB: www.svjetlost.hr/en | SPLIT: www.svjetlost.hr/en | SARAJEVO: www.svjetlost.ba | BANJA LUKA: www.en.klinika-svjetlost.ba November 2016 - February 2017

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Issue topic

HEALTH TOURISM: Interview - Marcel Medak

MARCEL MEDAK, president of the Health Tourism Association at the Croatian Chamber of Economy (CCE) and Managing Director of the Daruvar Spa Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation, spoke to us about the great potential of health tourism in Croatia, the preconditions for its stronger development, and the advantages Croatia has in comparison to other countries.

CROATIAN CHAMBER OF ECONOMY

DARUVARSKE TOPLICE

I see health tourism as the solution for a longer season Conducted by: Željka Kunťtek

High-quality health care services, world-class medical staff, competitive prices, great facilities, a mild climate in the coastal region, and the vicinity and easy access are Croatia's great advantages.

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A

lot is said about, but a lot is also expected from, health tourism in Croatia. It has been singled out, according the Croatian Tourism Development Strategy until 2020, as one of the key Croatian products in tourism, and its role is incredibly important for the prolongation of the season.

How developed is it in Croatia?

Health tourism has been declared recognized in Croatia, but in order for it to be seriously developed, we must solve legal regulations. The Health Care Act, which contained everything necessary for the stronger development of that form of tourism, was already part of public discussion,

tipTravelMagazine November 2016 - February 2017

but it still hasn't seen the light of day.

The new Croatian government now has the task of integrating health tourism as a part of that law in that health tourism enables the offering of tourism services and conducting that branch of the profession that truly has great potential, and is growing by 15 to 20 percent annually worldwide.

With changes in administrative regulations, the better functioning of special hospitals and spas, registering for the tourism business, as well as registering hotels for conducting health services would be enabled.

That would, in turn, prolong the tourism season to the entire year and enable the better use of the capacity

How much is Croatia recognized as a health tourism destination globally, and what are its greatest advantages?

Croatia is still inadequately recognized, due to the mentioned unsolved legal regulations, as well as strong competition from the neighboring countries. However, Croatia has a strong foundation, and its main advantages are high-quality health care services, top-notch world class medical staff, competitive prices, as well as great capacities - from hospitals to polyclinics to hotels. Besides that, Croatia is a country with a lot of experience in tourism, it is well connected by roads, and it is in close vicinity to and easily accessible from the markets of Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary... All the preconditions for stronger development truly exist, and the moment the government recognizes that potential, the results will come.

Which health tourism services have developed most so far in Croatia and stepped out into the market? Where do you see more potential?

Dental tourism, which first launched the development of health tourism,

© Aleksandar Gospić / CNTB

© PHOTOnet.hr

The Adriatic Sea is proven to be the largest natural therapeutic factor and has many therapeutic qualities that solve many health issues. © PHOTOnet.hr

of hospitals, polyclinics, doctor's offices, hotels, wellness centers and spas, which would bring about larger revenue from that segment of tourism. We must still invest in additional content, in raising the quality of accommodation capacities, in maintaining the surrounding area, fitness and wellness centers, conference halls, and other additional facilities. Above all, it is vital to restore friendly relations between public and private interest, which is, in my opinion, definitely possible.

mostly in Istria, and then in Zagreb, is definitely the most developed.

Besides excellent services, the greatest advantage dental polyclinics have is competitive prices in comparison to neighboring countries, such as Italy and Slovenia, so most of the polyclinics are primarily oriented at the Italian market.

Croatia has great potential in the development of spa tourism, in the rehabilitation segment, and in medical tourism with transplantation procedures, which we are at the top of the world in. I'll say it again: we have world-class experts, space, the equipment, and competitive prices in comparison with others. Aesthetic and plastic surgery also have great potential, along with spas, which should use their natural healing features better. In Croatia, Mali Lošinj is a good example, as it became recognizable as an island of vitality, using its climate and other natural resources.

So far, Croatian tourism has mostly depended on the sea, and the preseason and postseason in coastal destinations could be extended if we use the existing coastal infrastructure for health tourism, and there are also

Using the coastal infrastructure for health tourism affects the prolongation of the season; Sea air and water affect health positively; Seawater can replace freshwater in hotel pools at the coast in the preseason and postseason.

rehabilitation centers at the sea.

Thalassotherapia, which uses natural characteristics of the sea, climate, air, and other factors, has great potential. Why wouldn't tourists, for example, from Scandinavian and other countries that have a different climate, come to Croatia in March and April, which has a pleasant and gentle climate at the coast at that time? Saltwater pools, outdoor exercise with the sea air, which is therapeutic for all respiratory problems... There are many ways hotels can include health tourism in their offer.

Health tourism is the solution for seasonality - the main challenge of Croatian tourism.

November 2016 - February 2017

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HEALTH TOURISM: Interview - Marcel Medak

© Daruvar Spa

© Daruvar Spa

Issue topic

Which markets do you foresee potential users of Croatian health tourism will come from? And how much does Croatia make annually from health tourism?

Potential markets, defined at the level of the Health Tourism Association at the CCE, are the countries closest to us - Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, and Austria. However, we also find Germany, Scandinavian countries, and Russia interesting. According to CCE estimates, today Croatia makes around 300 million euro from health tourism, and it has the potential for around a billion euro of annual revenue.

© Ratko Vuković / Daruvar-Papuk Tourist Board

© Daruvar Spa

The "bathing woman" sculpture is one of the symbols of Daruvar and the A sculpture of a crane Daruvar Spa; and the main mud bath at the Daruvar Spa; The musical pavilion at Julijev Park in Daruvar in the winter months.

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Which countries would you single out as good examples of health tourism development, and why?

Hungary and Italy have positioned themselves well, and neighboring Slovenia is a good example. It privatized its spas, enabled investment capital injections, raised them to a certain level, monitored them with strategic documents, and supported them with promotions at the level of the national tourist board. All of that reaped benefits. I would say that Croatia has an even better position

tipTravelMagazine November 2016 - February 2017

than Slovenia, which moved far away from classical medicine, and focused greatly on preventative and wellness programs, and when the economic crisis hit, people renounced such programs.

Croatia, on the other hand, has an incredibly strong medical component, and when health is in question, then money isn’t spared.

You are also at the head of the Daruvar Spa Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation, the most profitable health care institution in Croatia.

What is the secret to your success?

At the time I became the head, the Daruvar Spa was an institution that didn't invest a lot in added content. We quickly realized the importance of that, and in just a few years, we started investing all surplus revenue in added content raising the quality of accommodations, renovating gymnasiums and all facilities that today's modern guest demands. At the same time, we took advantage of media space since famous people were our frequent guests, starting with worldclass athletes and the Kostelić family, world-famous skiers. One of our greatest marketing steps was to introduce international quality certificates - as of 2007, we have the HACCP for food safety, and as of 2011, the ISO system 9001, through which we constantly monitor guest satisfaction whereby they fill out anonymous survey questionnaires. We use them to find out what they consider to be good, what needs to be improved, and that direct communication with our end consumers is an important guidepost for the further development of our business. We pay a lot of attention to quality at all levels, which is our best form of advertising, and is visible in the fact that more than 80 percent of our guests return. That is our secret, nothing

© Daruvar Spa

Since the population has an aging tendency, but also an increasing orientation towards "healthy living" and health prevention, it is expected that health tourism will be one of the main reasons to travel in the future.

else, there's no real philosophy to it. Guests appreciate our continued investments, and it makes us happy when they notice something new every time they come - whether the accommodations have been renovated, a new façade has been placed, or the gardens, pools, fitness and wellness center have been updated... Besides that, the spa works all year long and is officially the first spa in Croatia that has a three-star health facility hotel. Annually, around

80 percent of the rooms are filled.

Above all, the key to our success is a high-quality, professional team of young people at leading positions.

I would say it’s a combination of youth, energy, and spirit. As far as the staff goes, we have the privilege of being able to choose, so we choose the best.

How will the spa continue to position itself in the future?

Our strategic development plan has been worked out to the smallest detail.

Terasa Restaurant at the Daruvar Spa.

In the future, we foresee the physical separation of our business with the Croatian Health Insurance Fund from our commercial business, even in our facilities, and we will place emphasis on specialized segments. The Daruvar Spa is famous for two segments - one is the rehabilitation of sports injuries, and the other is treating infertility, which has been our brand since the 1960s. We will continue investing, and our goal is to become selfsufficient for our energy needs. 

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The Daruvar Spa A therapeutic oasis at the source of health

T

he medicinal qualities of the hot springs in the Daruvar were found by the Ancient Romans, and since then, the magical power of nature restores people's health and vitality. Next to the hot springs, surrounded by the centuries-old Julijev Park, is the Daruvar Spa, a modern center for preserving health.

With the use of thermal water and mineral mud (fango), a top-notch team of specialists and physical therapists, and modern equipment, the Daruvar Spa successfully conducts medical rehabilitation of the locomotor system, treatment and rehabilitation of sports injuries, assistance in treating infertility,

and health-care spa programs.

The spa has two accommodation facilities - the Termal health facility hotel with 157 rooms, and many facilities, and the Villa Arcadia annex, which includes 12 modernly furnished rooms, and the Terasa Restaurant, one of the best restaurants in Croatia. 

Daruvar Spa - Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation, Julijev park 1, 43500 Daruvar, Croatia  +385 43 623000, daruvarske-toplice@bj.t-com.hr, www.daruvarske-toplice.hr November 2016 - February 2017

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© Zagreb's Winter Pancake Festival

u o y 4 s tip

t... u o s s i m t ' Don Zagreb's Winter Pancake Festival Pancake lovers should circle December 17 to 30, 2016 in their planners, when the winter edition of the Pancake Festival will be held in Hotel Dubrovnik in Zagreb. There you can find sweet and savory delicacies, hot chocolate, tea, mulled wine... www.menu.hr

The Lipizzaner Christmas Ball The New Christmas Story by the Đakovo State Stud Farm is a Christmas-themed theatrical performance with horses and riders, drivers, and extras dressed in opulent Baroque outfits. It is scheduled to take place on December 17 at the stud farm's indoor riding pavilion in Đakovo, right next to the Advent fair. The first show starts at 5:00 PM, and the second at 8:00 PM. www.ergela-djakovo.hr

© Opatija Tourist Board

www.matesin.com

Source:

© Galerija Matešin / BjelovarBilogora County Tourist Board

At the Matešin Gallery in Bojana (near Čazma), Franjo Matešin, an academic painter will once again bring the traditional country Christmas to life, with the natural illumination of thousands of candles. It is a story of tradition, art, and old customs, which will be open for visitors every day from December 26 to 30, and on January 1, 2017, from 5:00 PM to 9 PM. The gallery is open for organized groups from December 2, 2016 to January 8, 2017 by appointment.

© Davor Kirin Photography / BjelovarBilogora County Tourist Board

A colorful Christmas in Bojana

The Carnival in Opatija The 5th season of the year starts in Opatija on January 17th, when the keys to the city are handed over to the carnival mayor, and the festivities will take place until late February.

As a part of the carnival madness, various programs which include the especially attractive 34th Balinjerada (February 19) will be held. www.visitopatija.com

tipTravel magazine is not responsible for decisions made by event planners regarding changes in schedules, performers, programs, or in case the event is cancelled. So, in order to find out the details for the event you are interested in, click on the link below the announcement.

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Kings On Ice

© Željka Kunštek

On December 15, the "Kings on Ice" ice skating spectacle will come to Croatia for the first time to perform in Arena Zagreb. The show starts at 8:00 PM. www.zagrebarena.hr

St. Nicholas' feast day in Komiža

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According to ancient tradition, the people of Komiža on the island of Vis celebrate the feast day of St. Nicholas (December 6), patron saint of sailors and travelers, with the St. Nicholas Regatta for solo sailors, and Komiža also celebrates the day of the city on the same day. On the hill in front of the parish church of St. Nicholas, a ceremonial bonfire is lit to protect all the ships and sailors of the world, which is a custom hundreds of years old...

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International New Year's Race in Varaždin

© ZagrebDox © Varaždin Tourist Board

The international festival of documentary films will be held from February 26 to March 5, 2017 in Zagreb.

Besides the competitive program, the festival also has many other non-competitive programs - retrospectives, films covering certain topics, genres, and techniques, which makes it a unique festival in the region.

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Advent is a magical time of year, when we wait for the first snowflakes, and look forward to Christmas presents and holiday food, just like little children. Have you already planned your visit to some of the most magical events in the most exciting Advent destination? Spend the magical holidays in the newly renovated, famous The Westin Zagreb and Sheraton Zagreb hotels, in the Panorama Zagreb and International hotels, and Hotel Jadran, located in the very heart of holiday events. Just like every year, HUP Zagreb has prepared plenty of good fun in a pleasant holiday atmosphere with carefully prepared traditional Christmas delicacies and sweet treats.

From December 31, 2016 to January 6, 2017, Zagreb will host a music festival that will transform it into the European metropolis of electronic music. The festival will be held in Arena Zagreb, and will include many daytime and evening events.

There are two cities in the world that kick off the New Year running - Sao Paolo and Varaždin. Precisely at midnight on December 31, many people from Varaždin and their guests, athletes, and recreational athletes start the traditional six-kilometer race through the center of the city.

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Discover winter magic in prestigious hotels in downtown Zagreb

Croatia Winter Music Festival

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The flavor of hot chocolate or punch tickling your taste buds, the scent of cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla in the air, the sound of bells and snow crunching under your feet, millions of shimmering lights, good company... and Advent can start! It's a tried and true recipe, but where should you experience it? A little bit of everywhere, from Croatia's north to south.

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Embracing Advent

November 2016 - February 2017

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Advent

ZAGREB Advent in Zagreb - Opening

© ZAGREB TOURIST BOARD, www.infozagreb.hr

Only for Advent buffs This year, the Best Christmas Destination in Europe will defend its flattering title from December 2 to 12, and it could very easily win it again. Here's why...

Text: Željka Kunštek Photos: Zagreb Tourist Board

Enjoy the Best Christmas Fair in Europe and the New Year's events from November 26 to January 8, 2017, and find out more information here:

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nce again, this year, there is no doubt amongst true Advent buffs, and they will spend their favorite time of year at a familiar address - in the Croatian capital, named the 2016 Best Christmas Destination in Europe, and Advent in Zagreb recently received the award for Tourist Event of the Year in Croatia. However, those valuable awards aren't the only reason to walk through the streets, squares, courtyards, parks, and even tunnels of Zagreb, with a cup of hot chocolate or warm punch in hand this Advent. They were an additional boost for the locals, who have prepared an even more diverse and plentiful program for all generations. It will be, they say, an Advent to remember.

Start making memories at the idyllic Advent on Zrinjevac, to the sounds of Christmas classics and waltzes, along with the flavors of traditional dishes from Zagreb, and then head down to

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the Ice Park on King Tomislav Square.

The magical winter fantasy on ice will remind you of scene from your favorite Christmas movies, and inspire you to put on some ice skates and make movies a reality. You can also experience a true urban vibe at Advent on the European Square where, in the company of creative, young people, you can see a good movie, warm up with some mulled wine, and buy a unique Christmas souvenir. If you stop by Tomićeva or Kurelčeva Street, join in and fool around. Culture and entertainment are the trademarks of Fooling Around, and this year they will take you on a trip around the world.

How? Drop by and see for yourself...

Along with Zagreb's Christmas Fairytale on the main city square and the Christmas Fair in Bogovićeva and Gajeva Streets, which will inspire you to do a bit of holiday shopping, and

© Julien Duval / Zagreb Tourist Board

© Sanjin Kaštelan / Zagreb Tourist Board © Sanjin Kaštelan / Zagreb Tourist Board

© Davor Rostuhar / Zagreb Tourist Board

your attention will also be attracted by many other programs, including a lot of new ones. If you go up to the Upper Town, duck into the hidden courtyards of the old city palaces, take a walk through Advent on the Vranyczany plateau and on Strossmayer promenade, and take some time to visit Advent at the Klovićevi dvori Gallery. Walking

The Ice Park on King Tomislav Square; Advent is a great time to meet Santa Claus; During Advent, Zagreb's streets and squares are a great place to enjoy holiday treats; Fooling Around will take you on a trip around the world.

through the Grič Tunnel will also be a truly enjoyable experience and attraction during Advent, and you can listen to traditional holiday classics drifting from the Christmas balconies.

Younger guests will enjoy themselves At Rudolph's (at Strossmayer Square), and at the Live Nativity Scene at Kaptol, while Fashion Advent in the Oktogon

passage and Advent in the Design District could intrigue you. Advent events will also take place in New Zagreb, in the form of New Advent and Santa Claus' Frozen Fairytale...

There wouldn't be enough space in the entire magazine to list all of Zagreb's Advent treats. So, see you at Advent in Zagreb! 

ZAGREB CARD Make ZAGREB CARD your irreplaceable travel companion in the capital of Croatia! ZAGREB CARD offers you unlimited travel on public transport, discounts in the city museums, reduced prices at many restaurants, shops, and much more…

More information is available at: www.zagrebcard.vestars.hr

ZAGREB TOURIST BOARD

November 2016 - February 2017

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After Advent, experience the New Year's fairytale in the heart of Zagreb, and await 2017 with a plentiful music program, spectacular fireworks, and lots of good fun.

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his winter, Advent magic awaits you not only on Zagreb's streets, squares, and parks, but also in Hotel Dubrovnik, located in the very heart of Zagreb, and surrounded by many Advent events. In the warm and cozy ambiance of Kavana Dubrovnik, which has been the place visited for decades by the people of Zagreb, gourmets, and true hedonists for the best coffee and cakes in the city, you will find many treats with the flavors and aromas of holidays and tradition. Be a part of that unique culinary story, which the hosts have created for you from November 29 to December 25, where you will find,

amongst other things, delicious soups, dishes made with cod, salmon, tuna, and bass, or roast duck or turkey, with the obligatory side dish of homemade pasta (mlinci). Walnut rolls and bundt

cake, traditional "members" of Zagreb's holiday spread, will add a sweet note to the culinary story, and if you round it off with superb wine, your gourmet experience will be complete. On Christmas, December 25, the hosts are preparing a special Christmas buffet lunch, from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, which, with its diversity and abundance of flavors, will fulfill the expectations of the most refine taste buds. After a delicious, abundant lunch, it would be best to rest in one of the comfortable, modernly furnished hotel rooms, and "lose yourself" in the magic of Advent in Zagreb. ď ś

Hotel Dubrovnik, Ljudevita Gaja 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia,  +385 1 4818613 gbabin@hotel-dubrovnik.hr, zpetrak@hotel-dubrovnik.hr, www.hotel-dubrovnik.hr November 2016 - February 2017

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Advent

OSIJEK

Text: Željka Kunštek Photos: Tourist Board of the City of Osijek

© Tourist Board of the City of Osijek

The Advent Fair in Osijek's fortress is sure to delight visitors of all ages; Osijek's streets in the winter.

Tourist Board of the City of Osijek Županijska 2 31000 Osijek, Croatia  +385 31 203755 tzosijek@tzosijek.hr

www.tzosijek.hr

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From elves to waltzes This Advent, experience a completely different holiday spirit surrounded by an 18th century baroque city fortress...

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here are many reasons to visit Osijek this Advent. Surrounded

by Osijek's Tvrđa, an 18th century baroque city fortress, tour the Advent Fair (November 25 - January 1, 2017), which is also a favorite destination amongst the people of Osijek and their guests. At that time, the old city center and The Holy Trinity Square will adopt an even more romantic air, thanks to the creative holiday decorations. The aromas of homemade delicacies, mulled wine, and warm punch will waft from the little wooden booths, and the winter nights will be even more pleasant if you listen to one of the concerts. During December, Osijek's Christmas tram, decorated with around thirty thousand Christmas lights, will be a Christmas fairytale, and the youngest visitors will enjoy plays accompanied by elves. Once again, the "Biker Clauses", members of Osijek Biker Club, will delight the youngest guests and give them presents on December 3, as a part of their traditional charity campaign on Dr. Ante Starčević Square. On the same day, the St. Nicholas Fair will also be held on the main city square with a selection of

tipTravelMagazine November 2016 - February 2017

Find out news about Advent in Osijek here:

various homemade and home grown products. Wine aficionados are sure to visit Wine Os (December 9 - 10), a festival of wine, delicacies, and the good life, in Esseker Center. It is a great opportunity to taste wine and delicacies from the Croatian sub-Danube region, along with products from all of Croatia and the surrounding countries. A great place for Christmas shopping is at the Christmas fair in the Upper Town. At the fair, stands will draw your attention with many traditional products: various types of honey, cookies, gingerbread, "Baranja" licitars, blackberry wine, marmalades, wooden toys, Christmas ornaments... At Advent in Osijek, you will also find the National Fish Paprikash day, the flair of the Viennese New Year's Concert at the Croatian National Theater in Osijek... Extend your stay in Osijek, and await the New Year dancing on the main square to the sounds of "The Beautiful Blue Danube", with the compulsory glass of mulled wine. 

BARANJA

In the warmth of Baranja's Advent

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Čvarakfest in Karanac; The holiday ambiance with plenty of good music, homemade delicacies, and interesting content will be part of this year's Advent celebration in Baranja.

Text: Željka Kunštek ◆ Photos: Baranja Tourist Board

Immerse yourself in Advent in Baranja, treat your taste buds to homemade delicacies, warm up with mulled wine, take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, and release a lantern of good wishes into the sky...

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ll who decide to celebrate Advent this winter in Baranja, a somewhat mysterious region in eastern Croatia greatly appreciated by fans of untouched nature, active vacations, gourmets, wine aficionados, as well as fans of the magic of Advent, will feel the warmth there. Advent starts in Baranja in late November with the Winter Fair in Karanac and Čvarakfest (November 26), which traditionally attracts fans of Baranja's delicacies smoked meat, and other products, and it continues with the Christmas fair in Petlovac (November 27), a picturesque village of flowers and the Christmas fair in Darda (December 12). It's hard to resist the holiday magic at the Esterhazy family castle, and warming up next to an antique stove on soft straw, and releasing paper lanterns with good wishes are just part of the

Advent celebration in Darda. The magic continues at the Christmas fair in Kneževi Vinogradi (December 11), where your taste buds will be warmed up by fantastic wines from Baranja combined with cloves, cinnamon, and a few secret ingredients, while the music program the locals have prepared will warm your heart. The largest Christmas fair in Baranja awaits you in Beli Manastir (December 18), the only city in Baranja. More than 50 local producers, a stage where you can find musical and other interesting entertainment, a romantic horsedrawn carriage ride with mulled wine, lanterns with Christmas messages that will illuminate the sky above the city, spectacular fireworks, and memorable kisses under the mistletoe... that's what you will find at that grand fair that will surely warm your heart and soul. 

Baranja Tourist Board Imre Nagya 2 31300 Beli Manastir, Croatia  +385 31 702080 info@tzbaranje.hr

www.tzbaranje.hr

November 2016 - February 2017

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DUBROVNIK

Dubrovnik can easily be reached in the winter with direct flights from Zagreb, Istanbul, Frankfurt, and London.

Dubrovnik's holiday magic

Text: Željka Kunštek Photos: Dubrovnik Tourist Board An Advent wreath around the Small During Advent, Onofrio fountain; Stradun is filled with the aromas and flavors of homemade delicacies.

This Advent, get lost in the streets of Dubrovnik, and experience the holiday magic of the fairytale city surrounded by the sounds of carolers, the flavor of prikle, and the aroma of oranges...

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hen the stone streets of Dubrovnik are filled with the aroma of prikle, when the sounds of Christmas songs echo through Stradun, and the centuries-old palaces shine bright with thousands of lights, you'll know that Advent has started in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. According to the calendar, Advent in the City officially started November 19, and it will last until January 8, 2017. If you visit Dubrovnik during that time, and experience its winter magic, which consists of many cultural, entertaining, musical, and culinary treats, all with a traditional flair, you will soon be convinced that the city is also popular at other times of the year, and not only in the warmer months of the year. Those who have just once listened to the Christmas carols, gotten lost amongst the homemade delicacies, souvenirs and crafts at Dubrovnik's Christmas Fair, experienced the holiday

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ambiance of its streets and squares, raised a glass of spirits, and awaited the New Year on Stradun, along with great music, always return to Dubrovnik.

However, Advent in the City is just the first part of Dubrovnik's Winter Festival, which lasts until March 2017. The period from January 26 to February 2 is reserved for Festa Dubrovnik, a charity event with entertainment and music which has been held for years, alongside the traditional winter celebrations in Dubrovnik - the Festivity of St. Blaise, and the Day of the City of Dubrovnik, which the people of Dubrovnik formally celebrate from February 1 to 9. The locals have celebrated the feast day of their protector saint, St. Blaise, since the year 972, and the festival starts with the flight of white doves, the symbol of freedom.

The highlight of the Winter Festival is the Dubrovnik Carnival (February 24-28), which will put the smiles on the faces of people of all generations. 

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he countdown to New Year's has begun... Raise a glass to the old year, and await the New Year in the modern pearl of the Dubrovnik Riviera. Be a part of the unforgettable atmosphere at the Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel and start off your New Year's Eve with a welcome drink and verses of kolenda songs from Dubrovnik. Enjoy a dinner full of joy, music, culinary specialties and superb wine! Wear your most comfortable shoes because fun and dance are guaranteed all night long. The price of 90 euro per person includes a welcome drink, an abundant New Year's buffet full of specially prepared domestic and

international specialties, and great fun to the wee hours of the morning.

Choose between a New Year's package, which includes a stay in a Deluxe Room, breakfast, and the opulent gala dinner

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at the Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel with prices starting at 449 euro for two persons, or a package that includes an overnight stay, a rich breakfast, and organized transfer to the Old City, where you will count down to midnight on Stradun, starting at 319 euro for two persons.

The extravagant brunch on the first day of the new year, discounts on ALL spa treatments, and enjoying a lazy morning are just some of the many treats Sheraton Dubrovnik has prepared for you. Ring in 2017 surrounded by your loved ones, relaxed, without the hubbub of daily life at the magical Dubrovnik Riviera. 

Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel, Šetalište dr. Franje Tuđmana 17, 20207 Mlini, Croatia

 +385 20 484100, reservations@sheratondubrovnikriviera.com, www.sheratondubrovnikriviera.com

November 2016 - February 2017

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KONAVLE

Every chef adds his signature ingredient to green Manestra, the oldest recorded dish in the Republic of Dubrovnik. Along with cabbage, the most important ingredient is smoked meat - mutton, pork, and homemade sausages.

Divine winter in Konavle Text: Mirela Drkulec Miletić ◆ Photos: Agritourism of Konavle

The central part of the Konavle Scents of Christmas festival offers traditional dishes and excellent wines from Konavle.

A folk performance; Cavtat Caroling Time Machine; A table in Konavle full of homemade delicacies; Arancini.

As far as desserts go in Konavle, try kotonjata (jellied quince), rozata (crème brulee), bruštulani mjenduli (sugared almonds) and arancini (sugared orange peel).

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inter in Konavle, an area in the Dubrovnik hinterland, is warm, and tame, and a perfect place to enjoy yourself. It is filled with the aromas of Mediterranean herbs and delicious delicacies the hosts prepare from juicy fruits that ripened in the fertile fields of Konavle during the summer and autumn. You will experience them best if you visit the Konavle Scents of Christmas festival, which has revived the traditions of Konavle Christmas for the past nine years. This year, it will be held from December 23 to 30, and it starts with the "Cavtat Caroling Time Machine", where you will meet important historical people from the area, depicted by actors, of course, and enjoy Christmas songs, carolers, and walking through Cavtat accompanied by a guide.

It wouldn't be Christmas without giving gifts and sympathy to those less

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fortunate, which generous people have taken care of through the "Nek’ nam je svijem Božić" (Let it be Christmas for Everyone) campaign.

At the campaign, you will see short film by Olja Ljubišić for the first time, and get to know more about the creative works of Vlaho Baule, a poet from Konavle.

The main part of the festival is an explosion of food and wine delights.

At the "Days of Konavle's Green Manestra, Heritage, and Wine", locals will prepare and serve green Manestra at a dozen country estates, taverns, and restaurants. Try them all, and choose the one that suits your taste buds best. It will also be a chance to enjoy other delicacies from the region, and round off your culinary enjoyment by tasting superb wine from Konavle.

Don’t miss out on "MenestraDa", the final culinary entertainment event. 

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New Year's Eve

PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK

The lakes and frozen waterfalls will inspire you to take long walks through the magical winter wonderland at Plitvice.

An idyllic, wintry New Year's Photos: Ante Bionda / "Plitvice Lakes National Park" Public Institution

Word of the incredible beauty and magical waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes has spread worldwide.

Find out why this winter, spend your winter vacation there and await the New Year in those magical surroundings.

The Plitvice Lakes National Park was inscribed on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1979.

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Text: Mirela Drkulec Miletić

he Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the most famous and most visited tourist sites in Croatia. It is hard to say when the park is most beautiful - in the spring when it's bursting with greenery, fresh air, and the just awakened power of water, in the summer, when life abounds in its full glory, in the autumn, when it turns all shades of red and yellow, or in the winter.

At that time, the cold air compresses and freezes the waterfalls, snow turns the forests white, and the Plitvice Lakes go silent in their magnificent beauty.

Come and enjoy that winter wonderland.

Besides taking long walks through the park's landscape, you can also enjoy the abundant offer at the modernly furnished Hotel Jezero, located only 300 meters from the largest Plitvice Lake, Kozjak. While the youngest members of your family have fun in the children's playroom, relax in the whirlpool massage pool, Finnish sauna, and Turkish steam bath, or get into shape at the gym.

There are also many other sports and recreational facilities, and the night club

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and bar with a dance floor will make sure you have fun too. You can also enjoy the wildest night of the year in the surroundings of the unique natural heritage site and comfortable hotel. The New Year's Party will offer you plenty of fun and dancing with the Joy band, a New Year's raffle and selected specialties. The experience continues on the first day of the new year, with a guided tour of the park, and a traditional outdoor picnic that all generations can enjoy.

On snowy slopes You can also await the New Year with a crackling fire in the rustic ambiance of the Lička kuća national restaurant.

The New Year's program starts there on December 30 with a performance of the Lika band, and the Butina band will provide a great mood during the formal (and plentiful) New Year's Eve dinner. There, dishes are prepared using traditional methods, and it's up to you to choose from the many

restaurant offers of the Upper Lake will remain in fond memory for a long time.

Did you know that you can also ski at the park? Although it's small in size, the Mukinje ski resort is equipped with everything you need - from a ski lift to a ski equipment rental shop and a cozy bistro. The ski slope, around 400 meters in length, isn’t steep and so is ideal for children and beginners. Put some skis on and head over to the white slope, snowboard and sled to your heart's content, or try some night skiing. Winter vacation and New Year's parties surrounded by Plitvice Lakes are experiences to remember. Don't miss out! 

New Year's 2017

starting at 170 Euro per person

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Information, reservations, and payments: Plitvice Lakes NP Sales Department  +385 53 751832,  +385 53 751013, Workdays 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM nova.godina@np-plitvicka-jezera.hr, www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr

Find out more about the winter wonderland at Plitvice Lakes here (click on the icon):

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at Plitvice Lakes, in Hotel Jezero

Lička kuća is a famous site for gourmets, especially those who hold traditional specialties from Lika in high regard; The Winter Center in Mukinje; The cozy rooms and suites at Hotel Jezero.

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delicacies, from Lika cheese and sliced potatoes to trout, fritters, and strudel.

In the middle of the spacious restaurant, there is an open fireplace, where lamb is roasted on a spit, and from where the aroma of meat roasted under a bell wafts, while a little ways away there is a collection of items used in Lika's villages.

You can also try some original dishes from Lika in the Poljana restaurant. It is located on Velika poljana, next to the path that leads from the south entrance (Entrance 2) of the park towards the lakes. Along with a bar and self-service restaurant, there is also a restaurant with an open fireplace, and the view the

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Carnivals

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Have you already decided what you will be this carnival season? And where you will spend it? We'll let you answer the first question, and to help you answer the second, we bring you the wildest Croatian carnivals you shouldn’t miss out on this winter. Who knows, maybe you'll find an idea for your perfect costume on the next couple of pages...

Lastovo Carnival.

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he most entertaining part of the year is coming up - carnival time. It bears various names in Croatia, depending on the region fašnik, poklade, maškare, mesopust, bake, pust..., and they all describe the period after New Year's Day to Ash Wednesday. Since the beginning of time, it has always been a time of transformation, when people become better, worse, funnier, or weirder, at least for a short period of time... We turn into warriors and princesses, clowns, entertainers, aliens, penguins, sunflowers, spies, movie actors, sailors... and we are simply - different. Be different during the upcoming carnival and enjoy it with a lot of laughter and wild fun at one of Croatia's carnivals. 

November 2016 - February 2017

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Carnivals

LASTOVO ISLAND

The lively energy of ancient carnival traditions Text: Mirela Drkulec Miletić ◆ Photos: Lastovo Tourist Board and Lastovo Carnival Association (Stjepan Tafra)

If the carnival in Rio is the most fun and most colorful, and the one in Venice is the most elegant, then the Lastovo Carnival is the oldest and completely immersed in tradition.

Since 2008, the Lastovo Carnival has been protected and named a Croatian Immaterial Cultural Good for being unique, and one of the oldest carnival celebrations in the world.

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n the summer, Lastovo is a magical island of hidden coves, long paths, churches and old stone houses adorned with quirky fumari (chimneys).

In the winter, it is the island of the Lastovo Carnival. So, forget about Lastovo's renowned peace and quiet if you visit the island at the happiest time of the year, during the carnival. At that time, the island will await you with the lively energy of the carnival, carnivalgoers in costumes, the somewhat

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archaic sounds of the lyre that echo through the stone streets and squares, and the exciting dance of pokladars with wooden sabres, which evoke the memories of the past amongst the people of Lastovo.

The great carnival folk festival has been held in nearly the same way on Lastovo for 534 years, according to a centuriesold ritual, and nearly all the islanders participate in it enthusiastically. The fact that on the day of the main

carnival celebration children don't go to school, and adults either have the day off or work for a shorter period of time, shows how important the carnival is for the people of Lastovo.

Lively customs The events at the Lastovo Carnival reenact an event from 1483. At that time, the Moors conquered the neighboring island of Korčula and defeated Korčula's defenders, and they sent a messenger to Lastovo who was supposed to convince the people of Lastovo to surrender.

However, they didn't surrender, and the Moors sent a fleet of battle ships to the island. Just as the fleet arrived, an incredible storm started and sunk the fleet. The island was saved, and the people of Lastovo put the Moorish messenger on a donkey, took him through the city to be mocked, lowered him down a cliff by rope, and then finally burned him on the main square, Dolac.

If you visit Lastovo during the Lastovo Carnival (which we definitely recommend), which starts with an evening of dance on January 17 and lasts until Ash Wednesday on February 28, you will enjoy lively carnival traditions

at a pleasant temperature of around ten degrees Celsius. You will see colorful parades of costumes, the customs of gathering eggs, children in costume, and you will also have the unique opportunity of participating in the grand finale on Carnival Tuesday.

The straw Poklad doll, blamed for everything evil, will take the place of the Moor messenger riding the donkey.

The doll is lowered down from the top of a hill called Pokladareva grža, with shots fired and smoke from handmade bombs along with the cheering of those gathered there for the event.

The lyre is played, and Poklad is surrounded by pokladars dressed in formal black and red costumes adorned with ribbons, coral, and gold, while the black hats on their heads are decorated with colorful flowers. The procession then arrives on the square, where the pokladars dance their dance.

You will be impressed by the rhythmic beat of the wood sabres of the skilled pokladars and their heels pounding the stone slabs of the square. The wild carnival celebration of the pokladars and the creatively costumed carnivalgoers culminates in bonfire, where Poklad disappears in the flames. 

Come to the 534th depiction of the Lastovo Carnival and be a part of the lively ancient carnival traditions of the people of Lastovo. While there, make sure to tour Lastovo's attractions - they're also beautiful in the winter.

Only those born on Lastovo can be Pokladars, and while they lower the Poklad down the rope, they yell "Uvo!" three times. No one knows what the exclamation means, but without it, there is no Lastovo Carnival.

November 2016 - February 2017

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MURTER

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M u To r t e r ur -K ist or Bo nat ar i d

Carnivals

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Forget Rio, come to Murter Text: Željka Kunštek ◆ Photos: Murter-Kornati Tourist Board

The Murter Carnival (Murterske Bake) is more than a costumed parade that passes through the city. It is a tourist attraction and spectacle of creativity, originality and laughter. It will draw you to Murter, a town on the island of the same name, in the winter months as well.

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lthough it is a popular summer destination, Murter is growing in popularity in the winter too, especially during the time the Murter Carnival (Murterske Bake) is held.

However, the Murter Carnival is much more than a costumed parade - it is a true spectacle and experience that you will talk about until the following carnival and doubtlessly one of the most original and entertaining carnival parades in Croatia. The innovative

costumes, which are as creative as they get, are the main feature of the carnival, which the inhabitants of the town of Murter on the island of the same name live for all year long. As soon as the grand parade ends, and the figure of Krnjo Krnjić is sentenced and burned for all the bad things that happened in the past year, preparations for the next carnival begin. Its tradition dates back 130 years, and despite the event being silly and full of laughter, there is a lot of hard work

Visit Murter from February 25 to 28, 2017 and experience a unique carnival spectacle that you will continue to talk about until the next Murter Carnival.

November 2016 - February 2017

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MURTER

© Ivo Pervan / CNTB

Carnivals

that precedes it. All the costumes displayed at the carnival are original and made on the island, and no one even thinks of buying one in a store.

That is one of the great charms of that inspirational carnival. Designing and making group costumes takes all year, with many get-togethers, and the names and visual appearance of the costumes are a closely guarded secret until the beginning of the carnival and the grand parade. It has even become customary to not even ask others what kind of costume they are preparing. Before the finale, which is the grand parade that passes through the town on the last day of the carnival, there are days packed with various carnival events in Murter - from

Murter-Kornati Tourist Board Rudina b.b., 22243 Murter Croatia,  +385 22 434995 info@tzo-murter.hr

www.tzo-murter.hr

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the unique Latin sail costumed regatta, or the maritime carnival parade, to children's parades, evenings of costumed dances, and the sentencing of Krnjo Krnjić. On the final day, Shrove Tuesday, a large parade of costumed groups passes through the streets of Murter for several hours, and the many visitors cry from laughter upon seeing their costumes. Some of the most attractive costumes in the past few years include Dancing Aliens, Avatars, a Trojan Horse, Bavarians, Maternity Ward, dragons, bats, sunflowers, old maids, sumo wrestlers... although all teams compete for the flattering title of the best, it is hard to say which one is truly the most original. That you have to judge for yourself. 

Š ti na or r-K rd te oa ur B M rist u To

November 2016 - February 2017

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Carnivals

SAMOBOR

Let's go to... the Samobor Carnival!

Find the program for the 191st Samobor Carnival here:

www.fasnik.com Text: Željka Kunštek Photos: Ivana Pavlović / Samobor Tourist Board

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rom February 17 to 28, 2017, Samobor will become the Free Carnival Republic for the 191st time, with plenty of events for all generations of visitors who, together with the locals, preserve the centuriesold tradition of the modern festival.

After they are handed the keys to the city, Prince Fašnik, Sraka, Sudec, and Fiškal will take control over the city.

At that time, everything is allowed in Samobor, and the main task of the several thousand visitors becomes how to enjoy themselves and laugh as much as possible. Many visiting costumed groups, various entertainers, dancers, singers, and musical bands

will ensure a good atmosphere, and the organizers have announced an unforgettable, diverse and abundant program at several points in the city. You are also sure to find warm, delicious doughnuts and other carnival treats. As is tradition, the most original costumes will be chosen in various categories so it's high time you let your imagination run wild and design and prepare your original creation. The carnival ends on Shrove Tuesday with the sentencing and burning of the doll of Prince Fašnik for everything bad that happened in the past year, accompanied by spectacular fireworks. 

Don't forget the famous quote from Samobor: "Fools have a carnival every day, and the wise only during Carnival".

www.tz-samobor.hr November 2016 - February 2017

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Pr op Sta Re ert te pu y O Int Sou r bl ffi ell ic ce ec ce: of o tu a f Cr t l oa he tia

Historical traces...

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© Peroklinika

© Zagreb Tourist Board

Penkala's story A

lthough today most of us write using keyboards, most people always have at least one pen at hand. Every day, people around the world hold pens in their hands, not knowing that they were invented in Zagreb, where their famous inventor of Polish origin moved to in 1900. Born under the name of Eduard in 1871 in the town of Liptovský Mikuláš, Hungary (present-day Slovakia), Penkala chose Zagreb as the place he would build a home with his wife, Emilia Stoffregen, who he had four children with.

He "croatized" his name to Slavoljub and opened his first workshop at King Tomislav Square 17, where many inventions were created. In January 1906, he patented the first mechanical pencil in the world under his family name. Motivated by his huge success and great demand, Penkala opened a large, new workshop in present-day Praška Street to produce pens, and soon after that the patented fountain pens that he exported to more than 70 countries worldwide. The great inventor would leave his workshop every day to have his favorite lunch at Lovački rog in Ilica, the main street in Zagreb, and a nice "kapuciner" in the once popular Corso café.

He strongly lobbied for industrial development in Zagreb so, in collaboration with E. Moster, he opened a factory in present-day Branimir Street. He died suddenly in 1922 at the age of 50, so he wasn't able to witness the success of his factory of writing instruments, which was one of the largest in the world to 1926.

Unfortunately, in August 2015, the TOZ Penkala factory closed for business. 

Penkala's inventions Penkala's opus includes around 80 inventions in the fields of mechanics, chemistry, physics, aviation... Many of his inventions were stolen and credited to other inventors, but he gained world fame with the invention of the pen.

Amongst his inventions were the hot water bottle - the predecessor to today's thermos bottles, the first fountain pen in the world with solid ink, a rotating toothbrush, the first airplane that was constructed and flew in Zagreb and Croatia, ebonite (the material used to make gramophone records), laundry detergent, railway systems, railway car brakes...

November 2016 - February 2017

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Source: State Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Croatia

Peroklinika, a shop for repairing fountain pens, owned by the Keranović family, was opened in 1941 in Zagreb and is one of only ten shops in Europe in the business of repairing writing instruments.

In 2015, the Croatian Ministry of Culture protected the shop as an intangible cultural monument.

Text: Vlatka Vužić

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Croatia through philately

TRAMWAY IN DUBROVNIK

Tramway in Dubrovnik Presenting postage stamps

Prepared by: Željka Kunštek

Did you know that a tram drove through Dubrovnik for nearly 60 years, which was also the only tram to ever drive in Dalmatia?

The stamp can be ordered online here:

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ecember 22, 2016 marks the 106th anniversary of the day the first and only tram in Dalmatia was put into operation in St. Blaise's city. Back in 1910 when that technically demanding economic project was achieved, a total of around 12000 people lived in the city, which was then under the rule of Austro-Hungarian Empire. The tracks were set in record time of only 48 work days, and the electric tram connected Dubrovnik's Pile with the Gruž harbor at a time when it wasn't part of the city.

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In 1910, Dubrovnik's tram had five motor cars bearing the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and three enclosed trailers. Interestingly, it had a special postal car, and it was possible to order a special tram ride independent of the timetable.

Unfortunately, in March 1970, the brakes on tram number 5 failed during a ride, and there was a severe accident at Pile, where one person died, and many were injured. Less than two weeks later, on March 20, precisely at noon, to the despair of many locals, all tram lines in Dubrovnik were suspended. Several thousand citizens came to the last tram ride, and many are still nostalgic regarding that transportation device, which they had become fond of. Today, Dubrovnik's tram and trailer can be seen at the Technical Museum in Zagreb.

A stamp with the motif of Dubrovnik's tram was issued on November 22, 2010, 35.50 mm x 29.82 mm in size in a 96 mm x 73 mm sheetlet. It was printed in 30 000 copies. The Croatian Post also issued a First Day Cover (FDC). The stamp was designed by Robert Rebernak from Zagreb, and the photographer was Zlatko Jurić, a designer also from Zagreb. 

PROMO

Solaris Beach Resort just in front of the hotel beckon you to relax. Take some time to relax in the luxurious Jure Spa, and pamper yourself with exclusive ELEMIS brand treatments inspired by the sea. A new experience of fun awaits you along with your new dimension of your vacation.

The En Vogue Beach Club, an exclusive beach club on the Adriatic, which follows the concept and atmosphere of the best beach clubs in the world, is synonymous with having a great time.

The three thousand square meters of the club can accommodate up to two

© Šibenik Tourist Board

odern world travelers, who appreciate superb relaxation and great fun, already know where to go for their unforgettable holiday in 2017 - the Solaris Beach Resort. Since 2016, the resort has enriched the Šibenik region with the elegant, playful, and stylish lifestyle Hotel Jure****+, which has already won over youthful people all over the world. The airy, elegant rooms, spacious lobby connected to the terrace with an impressive view of the sea, a pleasant atmosphere and one of the most beautiful beaches on the Adriatic

thousand guests who are entertained by famous DJs. It is inspired by a combination of white and elegant red, with an impressive main bar, pool bar, and additional outdoor bar.

Hedonists will find their corner in the VIP zone, with 34 luxurious canopies, in the lounge zone, and at the restaurant. Wherever you settle down, you will enjoy perfectly pitched music - the club has the most modern audio equipment and speakers are even installed underwater, which makes it unique in Europe. 

© Šibenik Tourist Board

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The place for superb relaxation and fun

Solaris Beach Resort, Hoteli Solaris 86, 22000 Šibenik, Croatia  +385 22 361001, info@solaris.hr, www.solaris.hr November 2016 - February 2017

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Experience Croatia

KRKA NATIONAL PARK Discover Krka @ Nacionalni park Krka

Š NP "Krka", www.np-krka.hr

In the empire of untouched nature With its seven limestone waterfalls, and a total drop of 224 meters, Krka is a natural karst phenomenon, and its diverse plant and animal world attract both experts and tourists alike.

Text and photos: Krka National Park

Discover the majestic beauty of Krka National Park, its natural phenomena, and endemic, abundant cultural heritage and tradition. Enjoy nature and a recreational holiday!

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hanks to its phytogeographical position and large number of various habitats (limestone barriers, water habitats with flowing and standing water, stones, a quarry, anthropogenic habitats), there is an incredibly diverse and picturesque plant world on the banks of the Krka river with 1022 species.

The course of the Krka River is located at the boundary of the evergreen Mediterranean and deciduous subMediterranean vegetation belts. In the Krka basin, forests and underbrush of hornbeam, maquis, garrigue, grasslands, rocky pastures, weedy and ruderal communities, and planted conifer stands can be found. Along the Krka and ÄŒikola, some primary types of vegetation can be seen, such as the plant life of water and marshland

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habitats and canyon vegetation. The most abundant are Mediterranean and southern European plants, but plants with central European, European, and Eurasian floral elements can also be found, along with some American, tropical, and subtropical species.

The rich and diverse animal life of the Park, with many endemic, rare, and endangered species place the Krka River amongst the most valuable natural entities in Croatia and Europe.

According to available data, there are 403 freshwater invertebrate living in the Krka River. To date, a total of 136 species of beetles, around 200 butterflies and 38 species of dragonflies have been found in the wider area of the river. The underground invertebrate fauna consists of 175 species to date, which include many endemic species, some of which

Download the new "Krka National Park Tour" mobile app which uses augmented reality technology to ease your arrival, orientation, and trip through the area of Skradinski buk. The application has a lot of information on park content, it is free of charge and available in twelve languages.

Download it here:

are new to science. Of the 29 species of fish, ten are endemic to the Adriatic river basin. A total of 9 species of amphibians were found, 21 reptiles, 17 bats, 225 birds, of which 111 are considered to be endangered species, and 46 mammals. Four species on the European endangered species list

can be found in the park: the greater horseshoe bat, wolf, otter and wild cat.

More detailed information about the natural phenomena, exploration, achievements and news can be found in Buk, the newsletter of the National Park Krka Public Institution, and on its official website and social network pages. ď ś

An owl; A duck on the shores of the Krka; The diversity and abundance of flora and fauna are one of the features of Krka National Park.

November 2016 - February 2017

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CENTRAL DALMATIA

© Vedran Metelko / CNTB

Experience Croatia

Laid-back island style Text: Alma Radoš Photos: Croatian National Tourist Board, Bicycle Association of the Split-Dalmatia County, Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, archive of the "Sacral Heritage of Brač Island" guide

A relaxing lifestyle, vineyards and olive groves, interesting island gastronomy, a rich cultural heritages, dotted with churches and an irresistible view of the blue sea is something the islands of Brač, Hvar and Vis have in common.

Cyclists in the town of Postira on the island of Brač; Pustinja Blaca; There are 119 sacral buildings on the island of Brač.

There are 83 marked bike trails in the SplitDalmatia County with a total length of 2730 kilometers. It is a special experience to explore the islands of Brač, Hvar, Vis and Šolta on two wheels.

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ith 25 trails of a total length of 1050 kilometers, Brač is the island with the most and the longest bike trails in Croatia, and is one of the leading islands in the world.

Those who are a little more ambitious and in better shape can choose the longest trail St. Jure, named after the island's protector saint, which at 180.13 kilometers connects the island entirely. That is the only island where you can try vitalac and hrapoćuša cake, and you will also be thrilled with its rich cultural heritage, stone ethno village, and an unbelievable 119 sacral buildings. Some of them are located in the most hidden places, such as the beautiful Pustinja Blaca, a monastery

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on the south side of the island.

The neighboring island of Hvar has a total of 13 bike trails, 480 kilometers in length. Nearly a hundred kilometers are paved roads, and the rest are gravel trails, some of which pass through the unique Stari Grad Plain, or to the highest peak, St. Nikola. Superb plavac, the famous hvarska gregada specialty, endless fields of lavender, and the Mediterranean vibe offer a completely new dimension to your vacation. The abundance of cultural heritage on the island of Hvar is best seen in the fact that a total of three attractions are protected by UNESCO. Along with the already mentioned Stari Grad Plain, there is also Hvar aloe lace, and the

© Romeo Ibrišević / CNTB

tel/fax: +385 (0)21 490 032, 490 033, 490 036

www.dalmatia.hr

© Ivo Pervan / CNTB

Prilaz braće Kaliterna 10/1, 21000 Split, Hrvatska

info@dalmatia.hr

Za križen procession, which is how the people of Hvar have celebrated Easter for five centuries.

Although the people of Vis will officially have their bike trails as of next year, there have been two routes up until now. If you head down the longer trail, from the city of Vis through Križ, Lokva, Marine Zemlje, Dračevo polje, Podšpilje to Komiža and back to Vis, you will be delighted by the view of the island of Biševo, the Komiža Bay,

and the volcanic island of Jabuka.

The crystal-clear sea, laid-back people, natural beauty, and the fact that it was an isolated military island for half a century give Vis a special attractive flair that tourists, in contrast to Brač and Hvar, have just started to discover. Make sure to try the Vis and Komiža flatbread, which pairs excellently with red plavac or white bugave, wines that have made the island famous far and wide. 

If you are a fan of cycling, here is some good news: the islands of Vis and Šolta will soon get official bike trails.

Lavender fields on the island of Hvar; Delicacies on the island of Vis; The island of Hvar is being discovered by cyclists more and more.

Prilaz braće Kaliterna 10/1, 21000 Split, Croatia tel/fax: +385 (0)21 490 032, 490 033, 490 036

www.dalmatia.hr

info@dalmatia.hr November 2016 - February 2017

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BILJE

© Mario Romulić and Dražen Stojčić / CNTB

© Mario Romulić and Dražen Stojčić / CNTB

© Mario Romulić and Dražen Stojčić / CNTB

© Mario Romulić and Dražen Stojčić / CNTB

Experience Croatia

The rural pearl of eastern Croatia One of the most beautiful rural destinations can be found in eastern Croatia.

Explore its colors, flavors, and aromas, and experience tradition first-hand.

Text: Petra Škofić ◆ Photos: Croatian National Tourist Board, Bilje Tourist Board

Red and yellow peppers and garlic are an obligatory addition to many A Baranja dishes in Baranja; breakfast, carp roasted over an open fire, kulen, and fish paprikash.

Baranja's red gold, as the people of Baranja call sweet and hot peppers, give every dish in Baranja soul. Peppers have medicinal qualities, and they are an integral part of every fish paprikash, čobanac, kulen, and other dishes from Baranja that are prepared either over an open fire or next to one. The locals will say that their color is temperamental, they smell from a mile away, and they play a fiery čardaš song.

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mall villages surrounded by seemingly endless gold and green fields, dense centennial forests that hide old castles and summer homes, charming ethno villages and country estates that smell of tradition and homemade dishes with the unavoidable ingredient - paprika... You will find all that in Bilje, a small municipality with a large heart in the far east of Croatia, infused with authentic Baranja spirit, which preserved its unobtrusive attractiveness for decades. The famous culinary and recreational mecca lives calmly and quietly between the Danube and Drava rivers, where the marshland reserve and one of the best preserved floodplains in Europe, the Kopački Rit Nature Park, is located. The city of Osijek, the center of eastern Croatia is located only five kilometers away...

For gourmets and adventurers Upon arrival it is impossible not to notice the great effort the local people tirelessly invest in preserving tradition:

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from folk art and old customs to culinary specialties not even the greatest gourmets can resist. Baranja's cuisine is abundant in unique flavors and its main stars are local versions of goulash: meat čobanac and fish paprikash. Excellent domestic sweet and spicy paprika are the main things to "blame" for the recognizable flavors of those popular specialties. Moreover, the people of Baranja appreciate paprika so much that they have dedicated an entire festival to it - the "Paprika Festival" in Lug. Besides its famous cuisine, Bilje is also famous for its rich cultural heritage.

Tradition and customs of forgotten times are nurtured in the romantic castle of Prince Eugene Savoy and in the picturesque Tikveš castle, as well as in scenic ethno villages. "Ethno Meetings in Bilje", which gathers folk dance groups from all over the world, the "Day of the Castle of Eugene Savoy", which celebrates old customs and sports, and "Fishing Days in Kopačevo" are just a part of the diverse cultural offer of Bilje.

You can find many fans of active vacations on the bike trails in Baranja.

© Mario Romulić and Dražen Stojčić / CNTB © Mario Romulić and Dražen Stojčić / CNTB

The meandering roads that crisscross the meadows and dense forests bear witness to the attention the locals give to an active lifestyle. Cycling and horseback riding, riding in a horsedrawn carriage, walking down the White Lilypad trail, as well as fishing, canoeing and rowing on Bilje Lake are some of the favorite activities for visitors to the area.

The immediate vicinity of one of the most beautiful Croatian Nature Parks will entice you to explore its beauty. In the greenery of Kopački Rit, experience rare and untouched flora and fauna, preserved from the bustling tempo of modern-day life.

Tikveš castle in the winter; A sleigh ride; Orlov put Eco Family Farm; Canoeing; Cycling.

After an active day, seek welldeserved rest in the Lug Hotel, which successfully combines comfort and luxury with Baranja's tradition.

When you wake up the following morning, to the chirping of birds, in the country atmosphere and let your impressions from the previous day sink in, it will become clear why Bilje is one of the most visited municipalities in the region and a pearl of tourism that is becoming more and more recognizable. 

Čobanac, carp roasted over an open fire, and fish paprikash enriched with peppers can be tried in one of the seven restaurants or at country estates in the municipality of Bilje, and round off your culinary enjoyment with a glass of Baranja wine.

Bilje Tourist Board Kralja Zvonimira 10 31327 Bilje, Croatia  +385 31 751480 info@tzo-bilje.hr

www.tzo-bilje.hr

© Mario Romulić and Dražen Stojčić / CNTB

November 2016 - February 2017

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© Delimir Hrestak / Vrata Bilogore excursion site / Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board

BJELOVAR-BILOGORA COUNTY

© Coner Winery Restaurant / Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board

Food and wine tourism

Turkey stuffed with chives at the Coner Winery Restaurant; Pumpkin soup at the Vrata Bilogore excursion site.

Tradition as

culinary inspiration Text: Željka Kunštek Photos: Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board, Roko Tavern (Bjelovar), Coner winery and restaurant, Terasa Restaurant (Daruvar Spa), Vrata Bilogore excursion site

It's rare to find a place in the world where ethno and contemporary style is so harmoniously brought together and complemented like it is in the Bjelovar-Bilogora area.

Watch a short movie on the flavors of the Bjelovar-Bilogora region here (click on the icon):

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he tame Bjelovar-Bilogora area, snugly tucked away in the northwestern part of Croatia, is all about sustainable tourism, endless untouched nature, multiculturalism, and the harmonious co-inhabitance of nature and people, which is also visible in local gastronomy. Diverse fresh, healthy ingredients which have been grown in the area since the beginning of time are a limitless source of inspiration for local chefs who are, according to the quality of preparation and presentation in the many restaurants in the area, just as talented as their foreign colleagues in

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the world of top gastronomy. That has also been recognized in Europe, so in 2015 the Bjelovar-Bilogora County was the national finalist of EDEN (European Destinations of Excellence) in the category of "Tourism and Local Gastronomy" and was presented as an example of good practices in Europe. As of April 2016, the Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board has been an official member of EDEN, the prestigious European network of destinations that dedicates special attention to sustainable tourism.

You will find the culinary masters that positioned that area at the pinnacle of European gastronomy at several locations in the county. The "Kod bake" (At Grandma's) bistro in Garešnica is one of the leading culinary addresses, and as its name says, it finds inspiration in tradition.

So, there you will find homemade dishes prepared with local ingredients that are reminiscent of what grandmas once made.

The skilled cooking duo - Danijela Crnjak Andri and Zdravko Andri, standing behind that culinary story, also launched the Ethno Culinary Academy, where you can also learn the skills necessary to prepare many traditional dishes. However, even if

© Terasa Restaurant / Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board

© Delimir Hrestak / Vrata Bilogore excursion site / Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board © Roko Tavern / BjelovarBilogora County Tourist Board

stay to try Staročeško beer, the only Croatian beer produced according to the old Czech recipe.

Fifty kilometers away, on the charming slopes of Bilogora, in the community of Veliko Trojstvo, the aroma of homemade bread and cookies will catch your attention, and the traditional dishes of that tame region will entice you. The Vrata Bilogore excursion site is run by the hard-working Mihoci family, who will gladly let you into their tasting room and wine cellar, and take you on a tour of their vineyard, garden, orchard... and make you fall in love with that region forever. 

© Štefan Brajković / BjelovarBilogora County Tourist Board

the Coner Winery Restaurant, a famous Bilogora excursion site. The hosts there even make the pasta by hand, and enrich the superb dishes with light, smooth, aromatic Bilogora wine, also made by locals.

Another must-visit address for gourmets is the Terasa Restaurant at the Daruvar Spa in Daruvar, which has been added to the list of the top 100 restaurants in Croatia. Along with fish and game dishes, the restaurant also serves traditional Slavonian and Czech specialties. There you can also try dumplings with plums, noodles with poppy seeds, and find out what the dish called "Missa Maja" is. Use your

© Delimir Hrestak / Vrata Bilogore excursion site / Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board

you don't have a go at that adventure, they will be happy to share a recipe with you.

Although you will most commonly come across taverns in Croatia's coastal region, Roko Tavern in Bjelovar is one of the exceptions. Still, it is different from the typical coastal taverns, and is infused with the flavors of fresh freshwater fish, dishes prepared under the bell, pasta, and various meat dishes. Homemade dishes and traditional flavors are presented there in a modern way, which has proven to be a winning combination. Dishes from local ingredients prepared in a contemporary way can also be found at

Cheese strudel at the Vrata Bilogore excursion site; Steak at the Terasa Restaurant at the Daruvar Spa; An innovative approach to preparing dishes at the Roko Tavern; Delicacies at the Kod bake Bistro.

Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board Dr. Ante Starčevića 8 43000 Bjelovar, Croatia  +385 43 221928 info@tzbbz.hr

www.tzbbz.hr

© Delimir Hrestak / Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board

November 2016 - February 2017

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Gastro

CROATIA

Zagrebian dishes

made Bavarian-style Text: Sanja PljeĹĄa Photos: Rene Karaman Dishes were photographed at the Paulaner Grill Bar in Zagreb

Bavarian dishes, adapted to the preferences of Croatian people, have been found on the menus of some Croatian restaurants as Oktoberfest menus. And they have stayed there.

A black burger made with carefully selected ground meat.

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ctober is known as the month of beer, primarily due to the world-famous Oktoberfest, which attracts a growing number of visitors from all over the world to Munich every year. However, in order to enable those who weren't able to visit Octoberfest to enjoy Bavarian dishes, at that time, some Croatian restaurateurs added some Bavarian dishes to their menus,

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which were, of course, adapted to the preferences of the Croatian people. So, for example, at some restaurants you could taste crispy roasted pork hock with sautĂŠed purple cabbage, white Bavarian sausages, or roasted pork ribs.

Since the guests liked it so much, the dishes found a permanent place on the menus of those restaurants as an integral part of their offer.

Although Bavarian dishes have never been at the pinnacle of global gastronomy, nor have gastronomy experts recommended them as superb fare, they still have a growing number of fans today. According to some data, they draw their roots from country estates, where typical Bavarian dishes include a lot of meat, served with various pasta, potato, or cabbage side dishes.

Oktoberfest menu Many Oktoberfest menus were presented in October 2016 at Zagreb's Paulaner Grill Bar, which has a Bavarian

menu that includes, as an appetizer, a special spread of ground meat on toasted bread, served traditionally with Oktoberfest beer. Tenderloin skewers also found their way to the menu, along with the restaurant's specialty - drumstick and thigh skewers marinaded in casing. Both types of skewers are served with teriyaki sauce, ĹĄopska salad and Kellerbier beer. One of the main attractions on the menu is the black burger prepared with carefully chosen ground beef served with a black bun made with black flour produced in Italy. The locals explain that the flour contains three percent

active charcoal, which makes it easily digestible and healthier in comparison to white flour. Besides that, charcoal in breads and buns made with black flour prevents heart palpitations, bloating, and creating stomach acid. Original or dark Munchener beer go best with such a delicious black burger.

As far as desserts go, the restaurant's selection of homemade treats is truly large. Make sure to try the apple strudel with vanilla sauce, prepared Bavarian-style, the pumpkin cake, or some of the chocolate treats made with Callebaut Belgian chocolate. ď ś

Bavarian sausages and cabbage; MĂźnchen stuffed pork roll; Pumpkin cake.

November 2016 - February 2017

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GINGERBREAD CRAFT FROM NORTHERN CROATIA

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os tu h CN ar TB

UNESCO

Prepared by: Željka Kunštek

The art of making licitars has been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

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Those irresistible hearts.. produce honey and candles, and when you ask them for the recipe for licitars, they often say - it's as simple as it gets.

Still, although the ingredients are simple - flour, sugar, water, and baking soda, decorating licitars demands speed and skill. As they can be found in many different shapes (hearts being the most common), the licitars are first shaped, then baked, dried, and decorated with various edible food dyes. The creativity of the gingerbread craftsmen is best seen during the decoration of licitars with pictures, mirrors, phrases, messages, names...

The largest population of craftsmen producing that recognizable symbol of Croatian identity is in Marija Bistrica,

the center of Croatian gingerbread and licitar craftsmanship, which is also a national Croatian sanctuary. 

© Ivo Pervan / CNTB

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ne of the most recognizable symbols of Croatia, which is also a souvenir you can take home with you, is the licitar heart. The colorfully decorated, sweet, heartshape cookie is traditionally given as a sign of affection and fidelity so licitar hearts can often be found at many weddings, especially in the northern part of Croatia, where they are also produced. Licitars are also an essential decoration in many interiors and exteriors, Christmas tree ornaments, and you will also often see them around the necks of many tourists who visit Zagreb, its surrounding area, and northern Croatia. They are made by gingerbread craftsmen who also

November 2016 - February 2017

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Croatia

ONLINE

APP

websites and mobile applications

Travel through Lika, Plitvice Lakes, and Vukovar The beauty of Lika and the Plitvice Lakes is easier to explore with the Plitvice Lakes app, while you will truly have Vukovar in the palm of your hand if you download its useful application.

WEB&AP Plitvice Lakes

Prepared by: Željka Kunštek

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The new Plitvice Lakes mobile app presents the areas of Lika and the Plitvice Lakes National Park. The app offers a lot of information on the abundant offer of attractions, accommodations, restaurants and cafés, ideas for an active holiday, and other important information about that area of immense natural beauty in a total of five languages: Croatian, English, German, Italian, and French. One of the special features of the application is the augmented reality technology, which offers an overview of nearby attractions in a simple and entertaining way. All you have to do is point your device in a certain direction in order to get an overview of all the attractions located there, with data describing their distance.

Vukovar city in your hand

Touring Vukovar has become even simpler with the free "Vukovar city in your hand" application. The app is available in Croatian and English and offers its users a lot of service and other information, divided into nine categories. Along with information on the city, the app also contains useful information about accommodations, the offer of food, event announcements, sports events, and bicycle routes, as well as a photo gallery and panoramic multimedia tour with 29 city attractions.

CULTURAL SCENE

Klapa Intrade

CULTURAL SCENE

After successful concerts in Dubrovnik and Celje in November 2016, Klapa Intrade will also sing for its Zagreb audience on December 9, 2016 in Cibona, where they will hold their traditional December concert for the 11th year in a row.

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Nightingales of the stage Klapa Intrade is one of the most popular Croatian klapa groups. It was established in Zadar in 1985, and so in 2015 it celebrated its 30th birthday with a series of concerts, and its members plan to celebrate many more musical anniversaries together with the support of their loyal audience...

Conducted by: Vlatka VuŞić Photos: Scardona Discography

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our large fan base impatiently awaits each new concert, and upon invitation from Croatian emigrants, you have also performed abroad. Where have your klapa songs been heard far from Dalmatia?

We have sung worldwide, toured Europe, America, Canada, and Australia.

Thanks to everyone who has supported us at concerts and we promise them we will return. If someone from South America or New Zealand is reading

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this, feel free to invite us, we haven't been there yet.

You were established and you live in Zadar, a city that is intensively changing due to the development of tourism. How do you feel about that development?

Tourism is always good for every area, and so it is also good for Zadar. I hope we will get better every year for our tourists and that they will return

Ne mogu te prestat jubit Tomislav Bralić i klapa Intrade (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

© Scardona Discography, www.scardona.hr

again. The downside to tourism are the crowds that aren't easy to bear, but because of that we rarely go to the city center in the summer.

You spend a lot of time together - at rehearsals, at performances...

Do you also socialize privately, and if so, how? Do you sing together?

Our private get-togethers are everything except for singing. We have good food, drinks, fun, and if we feel like it, we'll sing a bit too.

Dalmatians like to emphasize their connection to the sea. Do you spend a lot of time at sea? Are any of you successful fishermen?

All of us are fishermen in the tavern, and our members Nikica and Edi have boats so they also catch fish for the klapa.

In your long career, you have had many concerts. Do some of them remain in fond memory due to the atmosphere, or perhaps the occasion they were held for?

All of our concerts are very important, every city, every place.

Wherever we have gone, we have mostly been well received, and here we would like to thank everyone who has invited us to visit them. We have performed in the largest venues in Croatia and Slovenia, and we are especially proud of the fact that the venues were mostly full. It was a special feeling to perform in front of the Pope in Rome, when we awaited General Gotovina, and we also recall our first performance in the "Vatroslav Lisinski" Concert Hall in Zagreb... 

"The best of - 30 years" album was released to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Klapa Intrade.

It is a double compilation album with all the klapa's hits.

Would you like to win a Klapa Intrade CD? Write us why and send your answer to contest@tiptravelmagazine.com The authors of the two most original answers will receive an album as a gift.

The winners of the CD from the previous issue: Ana Latinović (Zagreb, Croatia); Alen Marković (Sisak, Croatia).

November 2016 - February 2017

CULTURAL SCENE

Do you travel to performances in Croatia together? If so, who drives, and who is the fun of the party during the trip?

We always travel together, we have a large van. Ante, the second tenor, is the driver, and we wouldn't change him for the world, and Neno is the life of the party on the road, if he doesn't fall asleep...

CULTURAL SCENE

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© V. Kljajo / UNICEF

CROATIA AND THE WORLD

© V. Kljajo / UNICEF

UNICEF

Forced to leave Text: UNICEF Croatia ◆ Photos: UNICEF

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© V. Kljajo / UNICEF

© V. Kljajo / UNICEF

One in 200 children worldwide are refugees, and the number of refugee children and migrants soared by 75 percent from 2010 to today.

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and conflicts they have witnessed, the children are also endangered due to risks such as drowning, malnourishment, kidnapping, human trafficking, and many others. UNICEF's report on refugee children and migrants: "Uprooted: The growing crisis for refugee and migrant children" shows numbers that call for the world to not ignore the millions of children and families who are escaping from violent conflicts and other crisis situations, after deciding it is safer to head out on a dangerous journey than to stay in their own homes.

One in 200 children worldwide are refugees, and the number of refugee

© V. Kljajo / UNICEF

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orldwide, nearly 50 million children have been uprooted from their homelands, and more than half of those children have left their homes due to armed conflicts.

On the road, traumatized by violence

A little girl with her father in the refugee camp; A little girl in front of the train in Slavonski Brod; The path to, and pictures at the transit center in Slavonski Brod.

© Everett / UNICEF

© Everett / UNICEF

A place to play

A boy from South Sudan; A girl from South Sudan in class; At the refugee camp in Germany; Gathering educational material for children.

Luckily, after a month, the boy was in a much better state. Part of the school-aged children started school in Zagreb and Kutina, and thanks to the support of donors, UNICEF provided the necessary supplies for school and kindergarten for all the children.

UNICEF works to protect children refugees and migrants, especially those unaccompanied and travelling alone, as well as keeping families together for the best protection of children, to provide educational opportunities, to encourage solving the cause of mass moving of refugees and migrants, along with promoting tolerance. 

© Barišić / UNICEF

Currently, there are more than a hundred children in reception centers for asylum seekers in Croatia. In order to make them a place where they feel accepted and safe, UNICEF has organized "Child-Friendly Spaces" in the reception centers. They are spaces adapted to working with children, equipped with toys, educational materials, and trained experts who can offer children psycho-social support.

Due to the situation in their homeland, it was the first contact some Syrian children had with other children their age, said Elaine Bainard, UNICEF's expert for child protection in crisis situations: "We had a three-year old who had poor social skills, and didn't know what to do with other children because he had never left his house. For him, this program was an opportunity to make up for part of what he had missed out on."

© Gilbertson / UNICEF

children and migrants soared by 75 percent from 2010 to today. Being a refugee child can have long-term consequences, which are sometimes hard to alleviate. Nearly 24 million children in zones of conflict do not attend school, and those children who do get the opportunity to attend school are often subjected to discrimination.

"Indelible images of individual children, such as Aylan Kurdi's small body washed up on a beach after drowning in the Mediterranean Sea or Omran Daqneesh's stunned face as he sat in an ambulance after he was rescued from his destroyed home in Aleppo have shocked the world," said executive director of UNICEF, Anthony Lake.

"But each picture, each girl or boy, represents many millions of children in danger. The compassion and solidarity we show for individual children must be matched with action for all children," emphasized Lake.

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News and announcements

WORLD

A smaller number of tourists in Venice?

In recently conducted research, craftsmen and salespeople in Venice pointed out the problem of the excessive number of tourists visiting Venice. A total of 77 percent believe there are too many tourists in Venice, especially in the summer months, and 69 percent believe that number should decrease. The survey pointed out that a larger number of tourists doesn't contribute to greater earnings, while decreasing the quality of the offer at the same time. That is primarily true for tourists who come to Venice for only one day, create crowds, and spend little money, which causes "superior" tourists to avoid the city.

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© Toni Muhr / Graz Tourismus

© Shangri-La Hotel, Paris

© Starhotels Collezione, Splendid Venice Hotel, Venice

At the WTM trade fair, held in November in London, new research results were presented which show that China, India, Iceland, and Cuba are the hotspot destinations for 2017. The reasons behind that are the doubled number of flights between Great Britain and China, 15-day visas for tourists from cruisers that arrive in Shanghai, Peking, and Tianjin, and the 70th anniversary of India's independence from Great Britain. Iceland expects an increase of two million visitors, and its popularity grew suddenly after the European football championship. The rise of tourism in Cuba is due to the abolition of restrictions by the USA and the increase in the number of direct flights between the two countries.

© Lufthansa Pixels

China, India, Iceland, and Cuba are the hotspot destinations for 2017

tipTravelMagazine November 2016 - February 2017

A plan to increase tourism in Paris

Travelling before buying a home and paying off debts

Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, presented a new plan to promote tourism in the city, with an emphasis on renovations and introducing online services for guests. Of the 59 concrete measures, those emphasized most are renovating buildings and forming seven new tourist zones. Investments will also be made in strengthening business tourism through the "Made in Paris" campaign, and one of the measures includes cultivating the shores of the Seine River and the development of green tourism.

Those visiting Paris will have free WiFi, and with additional investments in hotels, it is expected that by 2024 Paris will have 124 thousand rooms.

A survey conducted by Airbnb on the priorities of Millenials (those born from the early 80s to the mid-90s) showed that travelling was more important than buying a house and car, paying off debts, or saving for retirement. The survey was conducted on a thousand candidates in Great Britain, the USA, and China. Every year, travelling becomes an even bigger priority: 55 percent of those surveyed in Great Britain, 56 percent from the USA and a total of 83 percent in China said they would spend more on travelling than they did last year.

Research also showed that they preferred to stay in authentic local communities, and that good food is more important than night life, history, and tourist attractions in the destinations they visit.

WTM in the sign of new trends

Indonesia introducing free visas for citizens of 169 countries With the aim of attracting a larger number of tourists from various parts of the world, the Indonesian government decided to introduce free visas. The visa will be valid for a maximum of 30 days, and there is no limit to the number of visits per year, but it cannot be extended nor changed into a permanent residency permit. The Indonesian government received the support of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for their decision, and it is believed that free visas will attract up to ten million tourists. One of the consequences of that will be the opening of more than 600 thousand new workplaces over the next three years.

© UNWTO

© Susanne Walström / imagebank.sweden.se

© lhw.com / The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah, Ubud, Indonesia

© lhw.com / Bellevue Palace Bern

Several new trends have caught the global tourism industry and contributed to growth on nearly all the continents, which is also expected in 2017 despite the many challenges due to politics, migration, terrorism, etc. That is the conclusion of a study of global trends in tourism for this and the following year, which was presented at the WTM fair in London by Euromonitor International (EI) consulting house and the WTM. Record-breaking numbers are expected for tourism in 2016 worldwide, with an increase in tourist arrivals of about 4 percent, to more than 1.2 billion. The reason behind that is the adoption of new technology, most importantly online and mobile platforms, and especially mobile payments. As far as trends are concerned, adventure tours, and bag-free trips, which is especially interesting for the Millenials, were singled out.

Computers ahead of smartphones Although smartphones have significantly changed the way we travel, tourists still don't prefer to use them as their primary tool for reserving trips. New research conducted by Wolfgang Digital showed that although 57 percent of traffic on websites with tourism content is achieved from mobile devices, and 42 percent from computers, a total of 67 percent of all reservations are conducted on computers. The reason behind that is simpler and quicker searching on computer websites, so computers are used more for larger, planned purchases, such as trips.

UNWTO Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Tourism For the 13th consecutive year, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) called for applications where the best tourism projects or initiatives with innovative and sustainable development of tourism receive a prestigious award. Applications were accepted to late September, and in the last week of November, the projects that deserved a nomination were announced. The award ceremony will be held on January 16, 2017, and the UNWTO Forum will be held prior to that. Besides presenting examples of best practices, at the forum there will also be discussions about innovations in tourism and the successful application of both theory and practice.

November 2016 - February 2017

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City break

FRANKFURT (GERMANY)

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Visit the Frankfurt Christmas Fair, which takes place until December 22, duck into the Honey House, buy original gifts, and try warm apple wine and marzipan sweets.

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Although the part of Frankfurt you likely know the most is its airport, one of the most famous and busiest in the world, which is also the largest headquarters of the Lufthansa company, next time you land at the city on the Main, stay a few days. It could pleasantly surprise you... Here are some of Frankfurt's must-see attractions.

City break

Text: Željka Kunštek Photos: Robert Kunštek, Frankfurt Tourist+Congress Board, German National Tourist Board (GNTB) and Kur- und Kongreß-GmbH Bad Homburg

FRANKFURT GERMANY

1. Römer and Römerberg The old town square (Römerberg) is a must-see destination for every visitor to Frankfurt. Several renovated medieval buildings, a fountain that depicts the goddess of justice, and City Hall (Römer), where Roman emperors were crowned in the past, give it a special flair. The former aristocratic villa is also special for its roof with three gables, and is one of the rare examples of old architecture in Frankfurt. The city was nearly completely demolished in the Second World War, and was rebuilt from scratch. Today, that picturesque square is one of the locations where the fairytale Frankfurt Christmas Fair is held in the city during Advent.

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City break

FRANKFURT (GERMANY)

2. The St. Bartholomew Cathedral

Upon arrival in Frankfurt, get the Frankfurt Card, a card which gives you free public transportation in the city, and discounts for admission to museums, the zoo, and botanical gardens, for sightseeing tours, and cruising the Main River...

3. Goethe's house and museum Of the many sites in Frankfurt, a visit to the birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and the museum dedicated to that great German writer is a must. At the house, you can tour the room where some of his earliest works, such as "The Sorrows of Young Werther" and parts of the tragedy "Faust" were written, while some of the specially interesting and valuable exhibits are the astronomy clock that dates back to 1746, and Goethe's puppet theatre.

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Š Holger Ullmann / Frankfurt Tourist+Congress Board

It will be easy to see the 95-meter high tower rising above the center of the city, which belongs to the Frankfurt Cathedral (Dom), the largest church in the city, which is also called the empirical church, since the Roman-German emperors were crowned there in the past. It was built in the Gothic style and dedicated to St. Bartholomew. The tower is open to the public and offers an incredible panoramic view of the city.

4. The old opera house Unfortunately, the old 19th century opera house experienced the same fate as most of the buildings in the city, and was completely destroyed in the Second World War. It was completely rebuilt in 1981, and has since then brought together fans of exquisite music, while also being famous as a venue for various congresses.

5. Palmengarten Botanical Garden An exotic green oasis is hidden in the heart of Frankfurt, where you will find plants from all parts of the world and from all climate zones. At any given time of the year, it is a true joy to walk through the botanical garden, which spreads over 20 hectares, and has attracted the attention of biologists, tourists, and locals since the 19th century.

The garden includes the Palm House, Tropicarium, cactus garden, rose garden...

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City break

FRANKFURT (GERMANY)

6. Frankfurt's "Mainhatten" and Stock Market Square

Š Holger Ullmann / Frankfurt Tourist+Congress Board

It is well known that Frankfurt is a large European business and finance center, and the city of banks, so it is often called "Mainhatten" (a play of words between New York's Manhattan and the Main River). There is also a Stock Market Square in the city, which you will recognize for its large sculptures of a bear and bull, symbols of the stock market.

Find out more about Frankfurt at www.germany.travel and via the iTour Frankfurt application:

7. Eschenheimer tower Surrounded by modern skyscrapers in the newer part of the city is the Eschenheimer tower, which has stood the test of time since the 15th century.

It is 47 meters tall, with eight floors and two attics, and used to be part of a massive medieval fortress, which functioned as the entrance to the city.

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8. Shopping

9. Frankfurters, pretzels, and apple wine

© Holger Ullmann / Frankfurt Tourist+Congress Board

Make sure to try the Frankfurter hot dogs and sausages while eating in town, including the Weißwurst, a traditional Bavarian sausage, along with pretzels and apple wine, which has been the most popular drink in Frankfurt for more than 250 years.

Locals enjoy it most often in rustic wine bars, where wine is served in a traditional jug called a bembel, and drunk from glasses with ridges cut into them for better grip.

© Frankfurt Tourist+Congress Board / GNTB

© Holger Ullmann / Frankfurt Tourist+Congress Board

Shopaholics will feel at home in Frankfurt. The main city promenade, Die Zeil, is known as one of the most profitable shopping streets in Germany. It is also home to MyZeil, one of the most modern shopping centers in Germany.

Amongst the more popular shopping zones is Skyline Plaza, while those with deeper pockets are sure to visit Goethestraße, a street lined with exclusive stores with superb global fashion brands.

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10. Bad Homburg

© Lufthansa Pixels

Where to head out on an excursion from Frankfurt? Definitely Bad Homburg, located only twenty minutes away from the center of Frankfurt by train. That charming aristocratic spa town with hot springs is the favorite destination for the people of Frankfurt, and the home to wealthy Germans. Tour the old part of the city, and Kurpark, one of the largest spa parks in Germany, which is also home to Germany's oldest golf course, Taunus Terme, KaiserWilhelms-Bad, and the oldest casino in Europe, which is even older than the one in Monte Carlo. The park is also home to the oldest restaurant in the city, "Am Römerbrunnen", owned by a Croatian man, Tiho Krtalić, who transformed the restaurant into a legendary place famous for its superb gastronomy.

© Kur- und Kongreß-GmbH Bad Homburg

© Kur- und Kongreß-GmbH Bad Homburg

City break

Click here and take a virtual walk through Lufthansa's Lounges:

© Lufthansa Pixels

11. Frankfurt Airport

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The Frankfurt Airport is an attraction in itself. Every day, thousands of people from all over the world pass through the "city" in the middle of Frankfurt, and while waiting for their flight, they spend time at the many stores and restaurants at the airport. Lufthansa's first and business class travelers enjoy additional benefits and spend their time to rest and relax in one of the exclusive waiting rooms, better known as Lufthansa's Lounge Zones - Senator, First Class, or Business. The waiting rooms are equipped with bathrooms with showers, a buffet with a diverse offer of food and beverages, and comfortable massage chairs to relax in, with a free WiFi connection available to everyone.

Still, each is special on its own, so, for example, at the Senator Lounge, you can relax with your favorite drink at the bar, or use your time to work in a private booth. The First Class Lounge, which has a well-stocked library, is especially cozy, and there is also a Cigar Lounge...

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© Lu ft ha ns aP ix el s

Escape to warmer destinations

Cape Town © Lufthansa Pixels

Funchal, Madeira © Lufthansa Pixels

While a large part of Europe is under a blanket of snow, with temperatures around and under zero, more and more Europeans who aren't great fans of the winter seek an escape from the cold days in warmer destinations in Europe or halfway around the world. Great, popular destinations include the Portuguese island of Madeira, known as the "island of eternal spring", with pleasant temperatures all year long, and Cape Town, South Africa.

© Lufthansa Pixels

© Lufthansa Pixels

© Lufthansa Pixels

PROMO

Winter with the Lufthansa group T

his winter, airlines within the Lufthansa group - Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines, will fly from their bases in Frankfurt, Munich, Zürich, Vienna, and Brussels to 255 destinations in 101 countries worldwide, and they have also introduced special lines for their travelers who are anxiously awaiting the winter holidays. The

Lufthansa group will offer precisely 19838 flights for their passengers in their winter flight schedule, which lasts from October 30, 2016 to March 25, 2017. Impressive, isn't it? So, for example, Lufthansa's flight schedule includes flights to Cape Town, Funchal, Tromsø, and Ivalo. Austrian Airlines will take its passengers to exotic Havana, the Maldives, and Mauritius, amongst other places, and Brussels Airlines

will fly to Mumbai and Toronto.

Eurowings' fleet will fly for the first time from their new base in Salzburg to Zurich, Geneva, Brussels, Paris, Hamburg, and Cologne-Bonn, while Swiss' Boeing 777-300R will fly for the first time in the winter schedule towards Miami and San Francisco, and the company is also introducing more frequent flights to Spanish destinations. 

LH.com November 2016 - February 2017

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An inspirational journey

THE HIMALAYAS

Is it possible to see the world and life in a different way? Absolutely! Adventure, the call of the wild, and the scent of adventure are the answer for all those who seek something more both yonder and within themselves, for all those looking for a new lifestyle...

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Snow high up in the Himalayas.

Climb up the Himalayas, the sacred mountain that will answer all your questions, and when you come down, get to know Nepal, the land of smiles that will impress you with its contrasts.

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The Himalayas The guardian of answers to all questions Text: Vlatko KalapoĹĄ Photos: fotolia and Green Planet Travel

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THE HIMALAYAS

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An inspirational journey

Travel is the only thing we can buy that makes us richer. Don't forget traveling is moving, and moving is an action that creates energy.

Prayer flags at base camps are a sign of humility towards the mountains; Patan Durbar Square, Kathmandu; Boudhanath stupa in Kathmandu.

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he Himalayas changed my life.

For years, I looked at them on photos and dreamt that I would be there one day. And then I went. I saw first-hand that the Himalayas aren't just a mountain range with the highest peaks of the world that are impressive in their own right. They are much more than that. They are the home of wisdom with magnificent temples on mountain peaks, where wise people, who don’t have contact with people, live for decades at those holy places.

Priests (lamas) who sing and pray

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for all those who live "downhill" are incredible people from the Himalayas who, according to a lot of research, don’t even belong to the human race. It has been proven that even their DNA is different, along with much, much more.

There are many legends tied to the Himalayas, according to which they are the home to "Shambala", a secret, sacred underground city that runs life on earth. Hitler was obsessed with the Himalayas, many military leaders and power-hungry people searched there for the Holy Grail and answers to

many questions which they couldn't find elsewhere.

I personally felt the power of the Himalayas and its holy people. A holy man from the Himalayas told me the story of my life up to the point where he met me. He told me details about my parents, children, work... There I realized that our lives are much more than what we think they are and there I decided that in the future I will just follow my heart. I have travelled the Himalayas several times, visited holy places, mountains, cities, villages, people...

A path to wisdom and knowledge Nepal is a country at the base of the largest mountain range in the world and often shares its destiny. The first contact with the Himalayas and its different culture, which many dream of, is in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, immediately upon leaving the airport. For many, it is a shock, and for those searching for truth and depth, it is a calling. It is seemingly crowded and chaotic, yet your heart is at peace.

An elderly woman on the streets of Kathmandu; "Sadhu", a holy man of the Himalayas; A visit to a monastery, where lamas are educated, high up in the mountains of the Himalayas; "Namaste" greeting in Nepal; A typical smile; Children in mountain villages gladly await tourists and expeditions; Touring the Pashupatinath Hindu temple; An unusual meeting between Gordan, Maja, and Vlatko and three "saints".

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An inspirational journey

One of the suspension bridges in Nepal; Nepalese children love to have their pictures taken; In Nepal, life takes place on the streets; The entrance to the underground world of the cave in Pokhara, a city at the foot of Annapurna; A dedication ceremony at the Monkey Temple.

Psychology says that we are shaped by the surroundings we grow up in and by the people who surround us. If we move locally, that is how we think, and if we would like to expand our knowledge, horizons, and personal boundaries, the only way to do so is - to travel.

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THE HIMALAYAS

It's strange. The bustling city full of salespeople and those working hard to make some money selling what they have doesn't diminish the strength of this place, but instead strengthens us in our faith and determination to find what we came for.

Outside the city limits, you can feel the peace and harmony of nature, people, animals, and all things unavoidable.

There, people believe in destiny, reincarnation, and the circle of life.

Those who are aware are calm and devoted, fair, and happy - because they know that what they give to others will come back to them. We learn from them and become better ourselves.

Nepal is an unusual country that seems to be disappearing and emerging.

Monsoon rains often destroy villages and homes, after which people build them up again. Most will say that they

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lag far behind the west in everything, but that is only partially true. Yes, they are far behind in technology, lifestyle, abundance, and food, but on the other hand, they have what the western world has lost - big smiles on their faces and open hearts. To get wisdom and knowledge, you must go high up into the mountains, where the rooftops of monasteries and temples touch the sky. There are people living there who have never gone downhill, and know everything. One look is enough. I remember the words of the head lama: "You came to find the answer to your question, but you won't find it here. Here you will learn that the answer lies within you, not in your head, but in your heart."

I then became quiet and thanked him.

Those were the wisest words I have ever heard in my life. Words that changed my way of looking at the world and life.

A backpack is enough We all carry our questions with ourselves. We are all travelers. Our reactions to what we see or experience change us for the better or the worse.

Do we judge, or scrutinize, or show gratitude? That defines the growth of our soul. I remember I was angry about everything I saw when I first arrived in that unusual country. I was angry at the endless number of beggars who pulled at my sleeves, the disabled begging for a piece of bread... Upon returning from the mountain, I thanked God for everything I have in my life. From then on, I stopped looking at others, and instead I developed love and gratitude within myself. The world I visit is within me, and the places and people I visit are a reflection of my own image which depicts my own soul. It is a true journey.

If you would like to see the world and people in a different way, join me. I love to travel in groups, and inspired by my own experiences, I started to guide groups as well. Our trips are more than just the places we visit, instead they're more about what we experience.

As a psychologist, I often talk to people about what they regret in life. I have yet to hear someone mention a larger house or better car, while I often hear people express regret about not traveling more, socializing, getting to know more about the world and life...

That is why I travel, explore, absorb, and lead. Everyone can be a teacher or a student, regardless of their appearance, their profession, where they live, and what we think of them. A backpack or suitcase are enough to turn the world into our home and learn much more than what we think we know. ď ś

In November 2015, a Croatian group came to help people in Nepal after a strong earthquake; Sadhu, a holy man who knows about the past and the future; Mountain people; The bright colors of Nepal; Australian Camp - a winning smile after a difficult climb.

GREEN PLANET TRAVEL

AGENCY FOR UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEYS The Himalayas, Nepal, Tibet, Kashmir, the Amazon, Jordan, Dubai...

Sutjeska NP, Tara-rafting, cruising the Adriatic, national parks...

www.gptravel.eu

GREEN PLANET November 2016 February T R A- V E L 2017

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World attractions

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BERGEN (NORWAY)

tipTravelMagazine November 2016 - February 2017

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Bergen - Norwegian inspiration Surrounded by untouched nature, mountains, and magnificent fjords, including Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord, there is a city that has inspired many Norwegian bands and artists. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway, and not only is it known for its fish markets, restaurants with seafood delicacies, and abundant rain, but it is also famous for Bryggen. The old wharf and historical center, together with the buildings that date back to the time of the Hanseatic League of trade cities, was inscribed on UNESCO's list of cultural heritage sites in Europe in 1979. In the winter months, the city and its surrounding area attract fans of cross-country skiing, while in the summer months, Bergen is a popular point of departure for touring the fjords of western Norway.

November 2016 - February 2017

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