Guide to Croatia

Introduction to Sport Fishing in Croatia

2007-01-26T12:33:00.000+01:00

Croatia has a diverse fish population due to its forming during different geological periods. It s home is approximately 70 000 ha of fresh water. Fish from the Danube basin can mainly be found in the Central European rivers and streams. On the other hand rivers that belong to Adriatic basin are abundant with endemic species (often in particular river). Adriatic basin has very specific geological structure called carst. Intracular system of caves, cavities, holes and pits formed with many subterranean rivers under the tin surface of soil. That was a way how fish got isolated from natural migrations, changes and so on.Fish in Adriatic basin are of ancient origin.(It is easy to presume that Adriatic trout dates back to Tertiary period). Same goes for Illyrian chub, Croatian minnow, Croatian dace and some others.Austro Hungarian officer brought sturgeon and river trout to Gacka river close to the end of XIX ct. For these two species we know that population started some 100 years ago. Original, autochtonous species were eel and lamprey but with human input different varieties were brought in. Hydro geology of that part of the Croatia is rather complex.When we talk about Danube basin, species there are without doubt much younger. Fish from there are relatively different from those found in the Adriatic basin. After WW II significant pollution and general destruction of fresh waitress was noticeable. Due to developing industry, wrong moves and unawareness of natural balance some damage was done. There are still more than few waters ranking the cleanest in Europe....Croatian fresh waters are known for trout, pike, pike perch. huchen, carp ... and beautiful specimens of the same can be found. For known and familiar locations information can be gathered easily (where and when to fish with artificial and / or natural bait, mounted small fish or fly) For all other spots recommended action is to consult local facilities and anglers familiar with the particular places. Recommended rivers and lakesKupa and smaller rivers in vicinity ( Catfish, Pike, Huchen, Californian and River trout...)River Dobra ( same as above)Korana and Mreznica (Pike and River trout)Licka Jesenica (short, clean river famous for river trout)Gacka (one of the finest in Europe and known for the fact that trout growth is three times faster than in other salmonid waters)Ricica and Stikada( River trout and Croatian minnow)Una (Grayling, Catfish, Californian trout, River trout, Pike)Zrmanja ( Eel and River trout)Krka (River and Adriatic trout)Cetina ( River trout, Carp, Grayling)Drava (Catfish, Pike, Pike perch, Carp)LakesLepenice (River trout, Californian trout, Carp, Pike)Bajer ( same as above)Lokvarka (same as above)Kosinjsko lake ( Carp, Pike, Catfish)Vransko lake ( Catfish, Pike, Carp)Peruca lake (Grayling, River trout, Carp).

Day trips from Zadar - Part One

2006-07-10T21:40:00.000+02:00

There are two possibilities if you decide to head North from Zadar. First one is to take highway via tunnel Sv. Rok in direction of Zagreb. Second choice is "old main route". It traces the mountain edge and follows the line of Velebit channel. Road is in more than decent shape and newly widened. It is going through its last days of improvement and repairs as of July 2006.
Departing from Zadar you will pass Crno, Murvica, Policnik (small settlements with picturesque names: Crno = Black, Murvica = Mulberry, Policnik = Palace)That region is known as Ravni Kotari. Tamed nature, agricultural properties, small farms and springs adorn every step in every direction.When you approach Maslenica bridge Velebit Channel starts. Or ends. It is called "Podvelebitski kanal". "Pod" means under and it underlines it's position on the footsteps of the mountain and the ege of the sea line. String of villages, towns and smaller groups of homes follows jagged and steep shore line. Rovanjska, Jasenice, Modrici, Seline...Paklenica with serious (and I mean serious) cliffs and canyons is one of the most wild and most beautiful National parks one will ever see.Paklenica sound dangerous in Croatian. Pakao is hell, but actual name derives from 'paklina'= soft, guey, pine tree tar. Formations in the park are wild, sharp and untouched. At the same time it is a fragile place where just a spark in dry twigs can wipe out everything. In spring time wildflowers, rare birds and change in surfaces can be observed. Summer brings out whiteness, interesting insects(amazing butterflies), lizards and snakes.There are some hotels and private lodgings in Starigrad. Town is long and situated primarily above the road. Tourism is main activity but in manner that left nature undisturbed. There is nothing industrial and commercial like in Greece or Spain. It is rather small and provincial. Excellent choice for expeditions and short trips.

Prisnjak Lighthouse

2006-05-27T17:02:00.000+02:00

Prisnjak is small and quiet island. It is located on the west from Murter. In appearance it seems to be natural part of Kornati although in reality it is a segment of Murter archipelago. Island is aprox. 6 miles far away from Kornati national park and only couple of hundreds of meters from Murter coast line.
Lighthouse was built in late 1800's. It is over 10m tall structure. Plain and pretty. Today it is automatic and it is not home to any permanent residents. In front of the building there is nice and wide stone patio and stone steps will take you down to the sea. It has some nice but rather small(what is nice again)tourist facilities for longer stay and info about it can be found in tourist agencies in Murter or any other agency that distributes facts about Croatian lighthouses.
Sea water is clean and clear. Very clean. Fish population is abundant and diverse. Many kind of fish find their home around small islands and islets on Adriatic coast / Croatian side , one with many islands... that is why Italian fisherman sneak so often and it is a important source ( one of them) of unpleasantness with Italian government. They do not play nice./
For a tourist it is desirable place to visit. If you are a diver spring to summer season is the best. For everybody else spring-summer-fall offer intoxicating mix(good wine and fresh fish may help) of wild and tame, stone walls, sea water surface and other breathtaking views from the lighthouse tower.

Pag - or how to recommend an island?

2006-05-16T09:54:00.000+02:00

Almost impossible .
Pag is an island with very, very long coast. I know it is not a way how to describe length in reality or how to create a picture in space, but..
It streches close to the coast, frames Velebit channel and gives something to the mountain. It is like building a monumentum or crescendo.
Many people would say that island appears somewhat like a Moon/85% is karst-rough/, that parts of it look unfriendly , desolated and just covered with some wild trails and sheep paths.
For me it is a very pretty island. Not only in more tame and green parts. Web of the dry stone walls(they are called dry because long term skill turned them into solid constructive elements without any other material to connect them...just stones and pair of hands) travels through many parts of Pag. They are exceptionally solid and sturdy.
Pag got its name from Latin word Pagus (village). And there are many villages on the island. Each of them has "something". Povljana is great for bird watching. My friends go there and they are hooked. Dinjsika has this old and abandoned clay basins to dry sea water and extract salt. Lun has ancient olive trees.
Town of Pag and Novalja are famous enough /and/ touristy and it is easy to find things about them.
Pag (town) is result of XV ct. urban planning. Juraj Dalmatinac (same man whose creations are Cathedral in Sibenik and loggia in Ancona) did some pretty amazing work no matter when and how. Good things stand in time without question of taste.
When I think Pag three things come in mind. Lacework. Lovely stuff. Although I'm not the fan of the previous majority likes it and is technically amazing that all that comes from the piece of tread.
Paski sir(local cheese) made from whole sheep milk. Hard and zesty.
Last but not least is my personal favorite.
Paska ovca(sheep) is result of mixing merino and some other rams with indigenous breed(pramenka).They survive through hot summers and cold winters and their milk and meat are salty. Grazing there is marked with after taste of aromatic Mediter. herbs as a result of specific botanical conditions. One of which is Bura(northwestern wind). It is literally a killer in the winter. Overturning cars, closing bridges and ferry lines and bringing sharp,cold air and pristine skies in the aftermath.
Pag is paradise(and not the lost one) for biking and trekking. Tourist office there can provide you with really decent map. They put together some 15 possible routes and they give you all important clues.
There is one known as Slana staza (Salty route) , cca 7km .great for biking.
The other great route is called Kamenolom (Quarry) .It builds to 130+ m above sea level at some points. It is cca 11 km long. Very nice one.
And of course...there is much more about Pag

Few words about herbs

2006-04-29T11:52:00.000+02:00

There are some quintessential plants and herbs in "popular medicine". Many of them can be found on Velebit. Some grow and thrive on mountain sides, lower slopes , meadows , and others all the way down to the sea line.
All in all they form something what can be called nobility in floral circles. Because of particular climates depending on height and latitude, winds, scorching summers and freezing winters, mineral consistence of local terrains and many other unique conditions this particular herbs are IT.
If you pick up some purple flowers from the low growing mountain heather( in the summer, in the afternoon, be careful not to pick up white blossoms of the same kind-all tips I got from locals and although its impossible for me to explain reasoning behind hints....they work in practice) it will make nice, divinely smelling tea. Fortified with some mountain honey ( it is important that bees diet consists of the same) it does miracles in the winter....before or after common cold, or flue. Your respiratory system has to appreciate it.
My favorite is SAGE/salvia officinalis/.When sold commercially as a spice for mutton, fish, other kinds of meat-including game it can often be found under name Dalmatian sage. It is not for nothing. Dalmatian sage is strong in taste and often on very bitter side if you chew on it for some reason(there are reasons to do exactly that). Dalmatian variety and mountain variety differ a lot from each other.. They differ even more when compared to the kinds from British isles and other field sages .
Sage can cut on your perspiration. Some people claim it can cut it for 50% and all that because of very special oils .Recognizing sage as a drying agent for the body has been proven by several studies. It contains some very important antioxidants, too.(carnosic acid and some others as well). It is an excellent digestive remedy and helps enzymes to move nad flow. In one word sage in proper dosage can do very good things for your stomach.
Some women like effect sage has on their menopausal problems ( from hot flashes and night sweats....connected again with that nice drying ability).
According to personal experience I know it works for the gums. It has some particular kind of tannins to help sore or bleeding gums. Sage can make the difference after paradonthological or any dental procedures.
This sage review sound very "medical". It is very good and potent herb and it should be discussed in some recipes ( culinary stuff, not remedies). So...sage deserves to be reconsidered and reevaluated these days because it is unjustly neglected. Croatian sage in particular.

Premuzic Path II

2006-04-24T14:42:00.001+02:00

My last description of the Premuzic path starts with a serious error. Path does not begin with Veliki Alan. For me it does because that is the section I know and am really familiar with. It is some 50 km long in whole and its northern part is as unknown to me as it is to next person. I sincerely apologize for confusion it caused. Somehow we all limit things around us according to our reality, and yes...world is a shrinking global village but so far knowledge is not expanding with same vigor or proportion.
In its full glory Premuzic path was conceived in 1930's. It took 3 years to "complete" it and path was named after Ante Premuzic. Name is rightful and justified.It takes you from Veliki Zavizan to Veliki Alan. Only place I visited and revisited there is Botanical garden-Velebit. It is not real part of the path but close enough to its start. Location of the garden is Modric dolac( Modric is local family name and dolac stands for valley). Surrounding peaks are high and impressive with dazzling view at the coast and islands from Vucjak.
Botanical garden itself belongs to so called "open type". Some plants or groups of plants are properly marked(unfortunately-not enough of them), there is a spring / taste of the spring water on Velebit is experience for itself, I actually believe or at least my palate does that some of them are more sweet or more "herbal" than others
....nothing else to do about it but to taste yourself/and wooden shack or cottage intended for people who are willing to stay for a longer period of time and observe.
I never did it. I stayed in Krasno. Word "krasan, krasno" describes something beautiful. In short with its location, unbelievable woods, mountain road and everything it is a place of amazing serenity and loveliness.
Back to the Botanical garden Velebit. Selection of this particular spot for botanical garden is not random and has scientific leverage. Climate and surroundings on average make it possible for enormous diversity of floral communities from all over the mountain chain to be represented. When Fran Kusan/university prof./ worked on this project with his colleagues in late 60's plan was reasonable, clear and logical. Unfortunately with passage of time and lack of money and/or interest and primarily with death of prof. Kusan idea was somewhat neglected.
Botanical expedition on Velebit started early in XIX ct. Kitaibel(Hungarian botanist), Saxon king Friedrich August are probably between the first and most important visitors who left their notes about floral abundance. Before WWII Arpad Degen published his masterpiece "Flora Velebitica" and in early 1990's Forenbacher "Velebit i njegov biljni svijet"/ Velebit and its flora/ with excellent selection of photographies.
Somebody who is more serious and into more detailed research will find more details in studies and publications from University of Agriculture-Zagreb, University of Forestry-Zagreb and other individual studies and sources.

Velebit-Premuziceva staza /Premuzic Path/

2006-04-17T18:26:00.000+02:00

This smartly positioned path starts with Veliki Alan. If you are really interested print out a map and enlarge it...makes sense. In the mid section of Velebit it passes few lovely karst fields. Some hours of walk (entirely depends on your ritham) will bring you to Mliniste. It used to be one of my favorite places and still is in terms of beauty, familiarity and sentiments. Mliniste was summer grazing spot and it made it bursting with life....once-before. In that prospective it is dead now. Sounds final but it is worthed wisiting for all things named above and more. How , where and when it came to have that name I cannot tell. Mlin is Croatian word for "mill". Story behind the name can be either magical or just plane one-unfortunately I do not know at present time. Keep on walking and walking and in direction of Dabarski kukovi you will come to another field of similar structure-Radlovac. It is bigger, softer, somewhat of more tamed nature. Inhabitants of Ceasrica used to have their summer homes there(for grazing purposes, again). There is a chapel of St Roko/lat. Rochus/ there.Hi is common and beloved saint in southern parts of Croatia. He lived in France in XIV century and his story is connected with plague and miracles, somehow his body ended up in Venice, Croatian coast was governed by Venice, Franciscans were always busy and how one thing lead to another here we go. He became loved, common and natural as a name and as a picture of person with loyal dog.
If you leave Premuzic Path to see that field and chapel and contemplate about what ever you wish have in mind that returning back on the Path is not easy and is not so much fun. That is more of a challenge.
Radlovac is in the approximate middle of the Premuzic Path.
Another lovely section is Bacic Kosa(Bacic is family name, Kosa stands for slope)
It leads through the woods and open section with breathtaking views of islands and the coastal part. Further it goes towards Baske Ostarije.
Dabarski kukovi are in that last section. I would say that they are a must. Kiza is proclaimed to be the most interesting between them all. Honestly I cannot tell. They make really stunning composition.

Part III about Velebit

2006-04-04T18:00:00.000+02:00

Seaboard side of the mountain slopes down in many different steps with as many different appearances.
On the altitude range between 500-1000m some of the loveliest and sincerely beautiful fields and meadows can be found.
I'm familiar with Konjsko, Javorovac, and Stap. They are like touches of softness in the middle of all these rocks and peeks. They do carry a memory of times long gone and pristine nature. Catch is that if one clings to that romantic vision it is easy to forget that what nature really offers there is a modest pasture(miles and miles of it) and gentle cover of soil over rocks.
For people who survived in these harsh condition for generations only potatoes , cabbage, barley , rye , and maybe something else here and there where resilient enough to " make it".
Another survivor is LICKA BUSA. Smallest cow to exist. That lovely animal with short horns and doe like head is really tiny. But it could feed itself, climb, ruminate and rest in condition devastating for other bovine breeds. Numbers of these indigenous cattle today are dangerously low. There are some dozen of them in Lika proper and its been years since I saw any on the Velebit. It seems funny to start romancing about the cow ( but bear in mind how smart, useful and good looking they are....when old Greeks complimented goddess Hera with cow like eyes they had in mind something really beautiful not "the stupid cow" from commonly exchanged pleasantries)
Talking about endangered domestic animals in Croatia is a serious issue and has to be addressed properly. I cannot do it now...unfortunately.
Going back to these same fields, pastures, meadows and valleys there is such an abundance and diversity in the world of vegetation.
Do not forget that endemic plant DEGENIA VELEBITICA grows only and only on Velebit.
There is this great book Forenbacher wrote about flora on Velebit.Although it is printed in Croatian it has numerous excellent photos and glossary with all plants named in Latin of course.For anybody who is seriously and less seriously curious about the subject this book is a must.
To make a connection with the previous article and Baske Ostarije(because-there is one).
One can make a nice scenic drive from Baske Ostarije to let's say Konjsko and hike down the sea side of the mountain to Porat.Or it can be more ambitious -all walking tour-. Porat is a gem. My paternal great grandmother is from there and it makes it even more dear to me(that part is personal).However it is a tiny fisherman village
located in natural bay, hiding behind the cape used to catch tuna and situated comfortably under the mountain.It is amazing how you can physically feel this "under" part.
I would strongly recommend any route from Baske Ostarije in direction of either Cesarica,Porat , and/or even Devcic draga. They all have some enchanting stuff to offer and you will not be sorry.

Something about Croatian greenmarkets

2006-03-21T12:10:00.000+01:00

One of really cool things in Croatia are green markets.
They offer fresh produce seasonally. People bring from their farms and gardens amazing variety of fruits and vegetables.
Recently there are more and more tomatoes from covered plantations( Dutch or some other resistant seed, commercially accepted, well advertised and with yucky taste, big red, not juicy...horrible)and more people are reselling big,lousy and watery onions or in summer season somebody very inventive will even import plastic tasting figs/killer for any palate/ although local are delicious and tasty.
It is a very funny market with uneven and absolutely not standardized offers.It is really shame that these "new" seeds started taking of seriously. Good part is that people remember how things are suppose to taste and look for it.
Green markets in Zagreb are biggest and they do not lack in anything. Main one has amazing selection of apples ( small , big, disproportional, not pretty) from the villages near by.With apples it is almost like with the world of mushrooms/and one can find amazing mushrooms in season/they come in very different forms-you can still recognize it as an apple -and bring thousand tastes....one for cider, one for strudel, a bit tart, one for pie, one for munching on it and so on and on.Many of them had never seen a pesticide or anything chemical.
That is another great thing about so called remote,poor or old households and farms.....avoiding chemistry.
Pears or peaches from wine yards are fruits of randomly placed trees-maybe strange looking to an eye used to giant shapes of commonly seen peaches or pears...but with mouth watering quality.
Some of the potatoes still come from 50 or more years old seeds just well accustomed to local climate and slightly changed by it.
Carrots and other greens for soups differ a lot from one stand to another but still follow basic standards and it is almost impossible to find a bad bunch.
Spinach and green peas can be tricky and one has to know the "source". Green peas can be so amazingly tiny and sweet...like a perfect snack.
Lettuce can be accompanied with numerous wild leaves and grasses/some sweet and some with more serious bitterish flavor/.They will either come in mixed form or separately and they are all common ancestors of that one green head of your choice called-lettuce.
Squash, beans/dozens of different kinds/, egg plant, kale, red beats are common thing to be seen. They are all tended by hands which are envisioning different final product. And when it comes to plums and apricots....Vow.
There is a diary section. And butchers and dried meat sections.There is a fishers market and flower market/ and some of them are eatable in candied or other form...You can decorate table and cake with for example candied pansies/and bakers and so on and on
Before I go -without control- and cover everything,it is an experience one has to have.
It may not be life changing but enriching it definitely is.
Point is-if you have an opportunity to cook while in Croatia do your own shopping and do it with things from green market.
It is loud, mainly in open, clean and well maintained,make your selection and trust your instincts.
Taste what is in front of you and do not judge book by the covers.

Why long term rental in Croatia can be good for you??

2006-03-05T13:51:00.000+01:00

One of rarely mentioned advantages of rentals in Croatia. If one is retired or enjoys all opportunities free lancing jobs are offering renting in Croatia presents in itself great chance for nicer and/or more luxurious life Earnings and average standard of local people is below prominent members of European Union. It means that food, services etc comes significantly cheaper. Not to mention that renting price always covers utility bills. Following that reasoning an individual can spend better part of the year in nice climate, surrounded with all essentials of modern society (but still with slower and more natural pace) and save money. Dividing time between "home base" and location in Croatia can be beneficial for standard and life planning. It may be the way to avoid harsh winter, renovation at home, swapping places with friends and relatives. Combinations are without end and it's easy to establish persona approach - whatever goes. Half year here, half there, 8 months in Dalmatia, 4 somewhere else and so on and on.
Everybody who starts with this pat should think it over seriously. It may or may not seam easy but it is good, logical, and still not explored enough area.
If person discovers that "it works" than one should consider something more permanent like long term switch or buying property.

More about previous...Velebit

2006-03-02T16:42:00.000+01:00

First things first....posibbilities and suggestion are so numerous that it is easy to get lost. If you decide to encounter size and mass of this huge and vast space you will have to make your choice in advance according to something what is going to trigger initial impulse in you.
How one picks where to go exactly is very personal.
Only suggestions to deliver are about time of the year, time span of the tour or hike and some practical tips.
If you are not staying in hotel or private accomodation late fall, winter and early spring are not an option. Climate is cruel up there.
Idea is that great hike will last few days or more. In that case some info about shelter or refuge has to be at hand. There is almost 30 of them in diverse parts of the mountain. On average their capacity is limited and it is important to get informed in advance. There are so many places aproachable by car and after the spot where you parked your car real wilderness starts.
All roads on Velebit are great choice for biking. They go up and down. twist and turn from easy to difficult sections in no time.
It is very untamed, wild and deceitful place. Cliffs, cracks, canyons, lovely meadows,and more are all so eye-pleasing that some people neglect to recognize dangerous specifics of the mountain.
For somebody who is just feeling adventourus there are numerous places connected with "civilization". They are not on the road, they are not spoiled, majority of them is deserted by people ( that fact is true to the whole of the range except of the fringes on inner and on the Adriatic side ) and one can in fact meet shepards in summer pastures, and some full time inhabitants here and there.
Velebit is without doubt longest mountain range in Dinaric Alps. I have lifitime long
experience with Southern and better part of coastal side of the massif. Some of its paths I walked many times, many of them never....they just remained noticed and left for future. I just love the place.
Coastal side is much higher than the one facing inland. It is rocky , and rugged, and kind of terraced no matter how you look at it( from top to bottom or vice versa).
In terms of accessability I would like to start with following-
Baske Ostarije is in fact mountain pass /cca 900m/. It has continental- mountain- Alpine climate.On the North it opens via Takalice to direction of Lika, on the South there is a tunnel opening with an amazing view on Pag ,and surrounding islands. How vegetation differs from continental to Mediterranean just depending from which side you aprocah Baske Ostarije is amazing and not short of miracle.
Baske Ostarije is funny name. One has to know local dialect to "get it". Baske comes from Bag or Karlobag as an adjective. In direct translation Baske would mean -belonging to Bag, or near Bag-. Ostarije stands for Inn,Osteria, Motel....something of that kind.Place for travelers to rest and change horses..in previous times, of course.
I picked this place in the middle of everything because it may be considered good starting point for the first time visit.
Baske Ostarije are in the spacious field. It is surronded with mountains, cliffs and some gentler mountain slopes. There is a hotel there. Nothing fancy, but decent and nice. There is a water source ( Ljubica) and some all year residents, although village is shrinking more and more. This place presents great opportunity for biking. There is an asphalt road, there are some unfinished roads ( I belive they were made for military purposes) and there is old Austro Hyngarian road leading in the mountain , down south. Some sections of the one last mentioned are really narrow and covered with overgrowth....., but what experience that is. Either with bike or just with good pair og hiking boots one can take literally any direction from the middle of that field and discover some great stuff. Possibilities are endless and the best one cannot be found or recomended. There is no such a thing.
More.....

Climbing, hiking and mountain biking on Velebit mountain range in Croatia

2006-02-28T10:48:00.000+01:00

Introduction
This impressive, 150 km long mountain range stratches parallel to the Adriatic coast.It has been classified as World Biosphere Reserve( at this point only one in Croatia)according to UNESCO classification system. Nature Park Velebit is magnificent in its size and diversity. Total area is close to 2000 sguare km and shelters unique wildlife. Some of Croatian endemic and rare plants have there habitat on Velebits cliffs and its meadows.
Velebit can be divided and described using different aproches, geographicaly it has 3 parts- Northern Velebit, Middle velebit, Sothern Velebit, using landscape as a description tool there are two faces - rocky one on the coastal side and forested one facing continental inland, etc.
Two national parks are located in Northern and Southern Velebit respectively. Altghough they are really exceptional and beautiful there are so many other sithes in same areas which are unjustly neglected.
Very special geological structure can be seen in the most southern area of Velebit- Tulove grede. They are situated above Obrovac and Zrmanja river valley ( great place for canoeing, rafting and boat tours).
Purpose of this introduction is to give general directions in terms of size and importance. Naturally, knowing that we are discussing mountain range best aprocah is one without car or organized tourist groups. It is amazing and rewarding to go and see National Parks and well advertised spots, but most valuable treasures are always slightly hidden.
Slopes, cosy and inviting places, caves, wild canyons and strange karst formations, streams, springs and desaperaing rivers are in fact there to be seen by people who are willing to venture in less known.
In weeks to come I would like to describe different sections of the mountain range and give some hints about when and where to go, places to stay and visit and so on...

Remodeling of old burg in Varazdin in XVI ct

2006-02-27T20:23:00.000+01:00

At that time Varazdin was a main fortress in defence against Turks and their efforts to penetrate Styria and Central Europe. Orders were issued by Emperor Ferdinand and Styrian Parliament for uninterupted flow of financial support. Restoration and strenghtening of the Schlossberg castle in Graz and fortification in Varazdin was almost simultanious.
Domenico dell' Alto, architect and builder was brought from Como and Lugano. Ivan Ungnad, captain of Styria and the Lord of the castle invited him. Restoration of the castle in Renaissance style was going on through next 20 years. Structure was completley transformed with addition of 3 massive round towers and water ditches. South wall was opened with arcades and north and west wing got windows. In the eastern round tower Renaissance chapel was built. Fortification was rectangular in shape and followed the plan of previous ground work.
This was the last major restoration of the castle.

Tajerske sestrice - Lighthouse on Kornati Archipelago

2006-02-27T20:04:00.000+01:00

/sestrice stands for sisters/
Lighthouse is located in the south of the Kornati archipelago. Two small islands, 15 nautical miles far from Zadar protrude on the west. Building complex is situated in the middle of the century old pine woods on Sestrica Vela ( Big Sister ). These woods are ornithological paradise. Diverse birds rest here following their migration course.
Covered bridge connects lightmans building with the tower. Tower is 47 meters tall structure striped in red and white. Lightmans building is utilitarian space of noticable size. Whole complex is encircled with number of terraces. From there one can catch glimpse of cliffs on Dugi Otok ( Long Island ) in different lights and shades.
Please visit Kornati Archipelago National Park Photo Gallery

Diving locations - Kornati, Croatia

2006-02-26T15:40:00.000+01:00

Mrtovac is islet located only couple of minutes / by boat / from island Levrnaka.It is pleasure to dive down the vertical "wall" eventualy going 70 m deep. Formations of different kind of fish can be spotted as well as small caves on the bottom, habitats of red corals. Red corals have white tentacles and position themselves on the cave ceiling.

Balun is placed between two islands - Mana and Borovik. For decades it's been recognized as favorite diving spot on Kornati.In the waters arround southern tip of the island biggest colonies of Gorgonia ventalina ( soft coral with fan like shape) can be found. Nature of Gorgonias is that they all orient themselves in same direction and creates an amazing picture. Big Dusky groupers, spiny lobsters and jastog (type of big crawfish ) live on the rocky bottom and in crevices. Nearby are remanants of sunken wooden ship.

Lavsa is known for impressive underwater colony of Gorgonia. They start spreading on some 30m depth and cover that part of island "wall" .

Plicina Lumbarda /Shoal Lumbarda /is located 1,5 miles south from island Kurba vela. It si somehow positioned in the middle of the sea and caused many shipwrecks. Some of the wrecks are ancient and date 2000 B.C. and arround them amphorae remannats can be found. There are some medieval and some XIX ct. underwater artefacts, too.

Sedlo / Saddle / is small stony island in shape of half moon SW from island Kurba Vela. Big underwater plateau formed itself in the waters of the southern tip of the island.Vertical "wall" and its curves sometimes create ceiling where enormous activities of sea creatures can be observed.

Vodenjak is islet in Southern Kornati.Good anchorage is on the west side of the island. SW side steeply crashes into the sea some 50 m down. That vertical structure is another one of Gorgonia habitats in vicinity. Water is so clean, transparent and pristine that can trick a diver and condition as such calls for extra caution.

Something about guide to Croatia

2006-02-25T09:04:00.000+01:00

Dont know much about blogging but I have some thoughts to share so here I am.
This blog will be source of information for everyone who want to visit Croatia. I hope that information and tips that I will provide on this blog will be useful.They are not only about tourism....that info is suppose to give people more general picture about possibilities of creating parallel life there and benefits of the same. It can be rewarding to know financial logistics behind previous statement. At the same time it gives a chance to people of different proffesions and callings to look into it as a new frontier(not in the terms of Wild West) for their work/job, carrier changes. Croatia is very much Mediterranean-Austro Hungarian-Central European country. Already this historical and regional mix offers to be a very interesting play ground. Best part is that we all need one-playground that is-either to create peacefull life or bring something what is well known to you but may be brand new there. I was thinking how fun it would be to try to cover enormous diversity in as many different subjects as possible. So far my expirience is that really unexpected topics end up mingling and inteconnecting.