April 17, 2023 - It has been over 3 years since the earthquake. How is the Banovina reconstruction coming along? Stevo and Mira Vilić from Majsko Trtnik have lived in a barn since the earthquake.

Their house is in a catastrophic state, and the donated container is leaking onto their bed, writes 24Sata after a visit to the Vilić family.

"Three years, man. We've been sleeping in a barn for three years", shouts Stevo Vilić, spreading his arms in front of his cracked house. 24Sata went to Majski Trtnik, to the address Stevo has called his home since birth.

"I've lived here all my life. Born here. Back then, you didn't go to Glina to give birth, but a midwife from Vlahovići would come to you. So we were born in the house," describes Stevo; behind him are the old walls. His wife Mira keeps trying to serve us, offering drinks.

"Come on, have some cola. Drink some. So that you don't sit here empty-handed," says the hunched-over woman.

The Vilići house was destroyed in the Banovina earthquake. The walls have separated, and you can see the holes. The series of tremors that followed only made the situation worse. You can't live there anymore. It's not wise to even go inside.

"I'd never experienced this. When it happened, I immediately went upstairs to cover the roof. It never crossed my mind that there could be more earthquakes. It was exposed; I covered it as much as possible to keep the house dry. Seventy years on my back," says the old man. He takes the crew inside.

"It's a disaster. Our sticker is not red. The first time they came, we got a yellow one. After that, no one came; this is the third year. They haven't been here at all, just that one time. And for me, all the documentation, all the papers, everything is fine. The house has a usage permit; everything is there, and I am the sole owner. There, see how it cracked. The walls below, the foundations, everything cracked. Nothing can be done in the house. Come in, see. There, see the holes in the walls. Cracked there, cracked upstairs, everywhere. Look at the garage; that hurts the most. As if it was shelled. See how it cracked. Disaster, you can't stay in the house. If it were possible, I wouldn't be living in the barn", says Stevo and returns to the house. He's showing what used to be the kitchen.

He and his wife have lived in the next-door barn for three years. There was no other way. They say they received a container, but it also started to leak. Little by little, Stevo and Mira built a stable space, making it somewhat bearable for living. That's not in good shape, either.

"I didn't even register the barn. At least let this be resolved so that there is somewhere I can make food. If you can't make yourself food, you have nothing. You can't live. And this - cows used to live here. And now it's me. The cows are gone; I used to keep them long ago in cooperation with Belje. Now, here, we live on a 1,200 kuna pension. And they bring us lunch. They didn't want to admit her to Public Works, though she submitted all the papers," says the man and leads the crew into the former barn.

There are planks nailed to the ceiling that is too high—lined with nylon. Two beds squeezed into one corner. They built a furnace into which they would throw big logs to keep warm for longer. Smoke. Moisture clinging to the walls. The floor is not level; it is on a downhill slope.

"I renovated everything after the earthquake. On my own, of course. I built this. Put up boards and nylon. The furnace has to be lit constantly, and it is difficult to heat this space. It was good for the cows but for us... Here's this, we made this ourselves. Got it all out. I made this wall. They promised to come and help, but nothing came of it," Stevo shakes his head.

Mira points her finger at the opposite wall of the 'bedroom'.

"This is a hole. As it started to leak, we ran out in our underpants to make a hole so the water could escape somewhere. Because it is on a slope, we might be sleeping; it starts to rain, so we run, close, and open the hole. And mice live there. Running around. It stinks in here. Barn, what are you going to do - the women shrug.

She had surgeries on her gallbladder and uterus. Stevo has got issues with his prostate; he is on medication.

"You see, we have nothing to lie to you about. I can't understand that. I'm not saying that you should cry; I'm not crying. I don't like to complain. But what is normal... I'm not asking for much. We just need a small, ordinary, wooden house. Just to have a place to lie down and make something to eat. Let alone have someone visit. I'm ashamed to show them this," says the old man. He points to the stove; he received it from a donation.

They lead the crew to the container.

"It's leaking; you can't stay there. It all falls on the bed. They mentioned something about putting some kind of roof on the container, but there is moisture there. We've been in the barn ever since the thing happened. If it weren't for the barn, we wouldn't have a place to stay. I can't believe I had to experience that, to sleep in a barn," - seventy-year-old Vilić shakes his head.

"Have some cola," Mira tried one more time before the crew left.

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

April 17, 2023 - High in the hills above gorgeous Omis is a truly unique place, where culturally protected food is prepared in an independent republic - making soparnik is the Poljica Republic. 

One of the secrets of tourism in Croatia is the simplicity of its cuisine, the freshness of its products, and the unlimited unique and authentic experiences. It is wonderful to watch how some enterprising locals are taking the simple pleasures in life which cost almost nothing, then package them up as an authentic experience which completely wows their visitors. 

The case of soparnik, a delicious dish now under EU cultural protection, is a case in point. Regarded as peasant food for as long as anyone can remember, the ingredients are very, very basic, and yet today it has become one of the must-try culinary experiences on a visit to Dalmatia and especially the area about Omis, which is the soparnik heartland. And not only a culinary tourism experience, but some enterprising locals have turned this into a full-blown excursion and cooking experience in the rather fabulous  Poljica Republic, a bastion of independence from the 12th century all what way until the arrival of Napoleon 700 years. 

The Poljica Republic was a network of 12 towns from the Cetina River further inland, which had its own statute and regulations, and which was very advance in its governance, effectively resisting Ottoman invasion for over 400 years. Its flexible statute changed with the times, and it was written by the people, for the people. Its core values included the freedom of all residents to fend for themselves, zero tax, and the election of the Duke of Poljica each year. 

The republic may be no more, but its legacy lives on, and a guided tour of the excellent museum, combined by a cooking lesson in making soparnik is a superb way to experience the tradition and cuisine of this rather unique slice of inland Dalmatia. Check out the CROMADS experience video below.

And the ingredients which go into making soparnik? Nothing too complicated or expensive - 500 g all-purpose flour (3 1/2 cups), 1/2 tsp. salt, 4 Tbls. olive oil, 50 ml water (1 1/4 cup), 1  bunch parsley leaves, 1 kg chard (2.2 lbs), 1 bunch spring onions, salt, 3-4 garlic cloves, olive oil, and Fresh parsley leaves. 

Video by 45 Degrees Sailing.

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You can subscribe to the Paul Bradbury Croatia Expert YouTube channel here.

What is it like to live in Croatia? An expat for 20 years, you can follow my series, 20 Ways Croatia Changed Me in 20 Years, starting at the beginning - Business and Dalmatia.

Follow Paul Bradbury on LinkedIn.

Croatia, a Survival Kit for Foreigners is now available on Amazon in paperback and on Kindle.

April 17, 2023 - Foreigners who visit Croatia love the Croatian lifestyle, where people live the so-called slow "coffee," completely different from the stress they're escaping. On the Adriatic, this way of life is even more pronounced on both coasts. For some time now, they have been working on a project to promote this culture under the name "Take it slow."

As Poslovni writes, regions interested in preserving and promoting an authentic lifestyle, food, healthy natural environment, and rich cultural heritage were connected with financial support from the European Fund for Regional Development.

3.7 million euros at their disposal

The project holder is the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, which is currently starting the construction of a modern multimedia center of Adriatic heritage in the Duke's Palace in Ston. This is also the highlight of the project in which Dubrovnik-Neretva County's partners are the Development Agency of Šibenik-Knin County and the Public Institution RERA S.D. for the coordination and development of the Split-Dalmatia County, the University of Zadar, the County of Istria, the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Regions of Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Abruzzo and Molise, the Consortium of the Puglia Public Theater and the associated partner Region of Puglia.

In total, 3.7 million euros were available through this four-year plan, ending with Ston. So far, slowly and without much noise, as befits the project, a whole series of activities, workshops and gatherings, study trips, presentations, and gastronomic events have been held, all to promote the Mediterranean Adriatic lifestyle. One of the symbols of the project will remain the multimedia center of Adriatic heritage in Ston.

In the Duke's Palace, the works for which a contract was concluded a few days ago with the Mljet company Posta, which was selected in a public tender to carry out the construction work on the construction of the interpretation center, are about to begin.

In the building located within the walls of Ston and is a protected cultural property, located near the Kaštio fortress and the church of St. Vlaho, space will be arranged for social events, exhibitions, and presentations of the wealth of culture and gastronomy.

Works completed in 70 days

"It will be a new way of presenting Ston and Pelješac," points out the long-time mayor of Ston, Vedran Antunica, who believes that the idea has been successful and that the area, like the other parts covered by this project, has the potential to promote this healthy way of life.

According to Antunica, the events will be organized by the Tourist Board. And although the philosophy of "a little" is promoted, when it comes to the completion of the imagined project in Ston, there is no such thing. On the contrary, construction works in the Duke's Palace must be completed in about 70 days.

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

April 16, 2023 - Croatian gymnast Tin Srbić won the gold medal on the high bar in his third final at the European Championships!

Tin was the best in the last final, which closed this year's European Championship in Antalya, Turkey.

Tin started the hunt for another big medal as the fifth runner-up. Srbić won the gold with a score of 14,233, while Italian Carlo Macchini was second with 14,200, and Ukrainian Illia Kovtun won bronze with 13,966. 

Srbić has now recorded seven of the biggest gymnastics finals - the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, two European Championships, in Szczecin 2019 and Mersin 2020, and three World Championship finals - Montreal 2017, Doha 2018, and Stuttgart 2019. He only failed to make the podium once - in Doha, when he finished 4th in the world.

The great Croatian gymnast has a silver medal from the Olympic Games in Tokyo, as well as gold from the World Championships in Montreal in 2017 and silver from the World Championships two years later in Stuttgart.

This was the 34th European gymnastics final for Croatia since the country became independent. To date, Croatia has won 10 senior medals - 7 silver medals (2 Ude, 2 Srbić, Seligman, Možnik, Benović), one bronze (Seligman), and two gold, which was brought to us by today's president of HGS Marijo Možnik and the fantastic Srbić.

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

April 16,2023 - The quietest rally in the world is back! The Nikola Tesla EV Rally 2023 will kick off from Rovinj and take in the top sites of the Adriatic, but oh so quietly. Check out the full programme.  

Imagine a rally where the mother of Mr Modern Tesla, Elon Musk, drove a Tesla around a country where the original Nikola Tesla was born (Tesla was born in Smiljan, in what is modern-day Croatia), as Maye Musk did back in 2015.

Imagine a rally around Croatia where the first-ever buyer of the Rimac Concept One took place in his new $1 million toy. You can read my interview with Paul Runge about the whole experience here.

Imagine a rally where Mate Rimac rocks up and takes part in the speed trials in his own hypercar.

There is no need to imagine. One of the coolest - and certainly the quietest - rallies in Croatia is back as one of the highlights of the Croatian tourism calendar in May. This year's edition will see a stream of Tesla and other electric vehicles on a luxury 10-day rally through the best spots of the Adriatic coast, starting from Hotel Lone in Rovinj and ending at Iadera Falkensteiner Punta Skala in Zadar. 

Having done a large part of the rally a few years ago, I can confirm that - at least in my opinion - it is one of the top things happening in Croatian tourism. So much so in fact that I included it in my 10 things that Croatia does better than anywhere else video (see below).

This year's programme in full:

"NIKOLA TESLA EV RALLY CROATIA 2023"

DAY 1: 19.05.2023. Rovinj – hotel Lone (Address: Luje Adamovića 31, 52210 Rovinj)

• 18.30 h meeting in “Night Club” conference room in hotel Lone, gathering and official introduction of team, route and schedule
• 19.30h Dinner

 DAY 2: 20.05.2023. Rovinj city center - Vodnjan

• 11.00 h start from hotel Lone, arrival in the city center of Rovinj – Welcome and official start announcement by Mayor of Rovinj
• Visit to Vodnjan
• Chiavalon oil factory
• Wine tasting and lunch in local winery
• Hotel

 DAY 3: 21.05.2023 Vrsar Airport – Grožnjan – Buzet

• 10.30h start from Lone hotel to a private airport for the sport part of the program
• Lunch
• Visit to Grožnjan and Buzet

DAY 4: 22.05.2023. Hotel Lone – Opatija - Split

• 09.00 h Start from hotel Lone
• Charging stop in Senj 
• Charging stop in Zadar 
• Arrival hotel Le Meridien Lav (Address: Grljevacka 2A, Podstrana, 21312, Split

DAY 5: 23.05.2023.

• 09.00h Start from hotel Le Meridien Lav – drive to Island Pelješac
• Drive over Peljšac bridge
• Lunch on Pelješac
• Visit to Red and Blue Lakes in Imotski. Red Lake is known for its numerous caves and remarkably high cliffs, reaching over 241 metres above normal water level and continuing below the water level. The total explored depth of this sinkhole is approximately 530 metres with a volume of roughly 25–30 million cubic meters, thus it is the third largestsinkhole in the world.
• Dinner

DAY 6:24.05.2023 Split–Trogir-Zadar

• 10.00 h start from the hotel Le Meridien Lav
• Visit and lunch Trogir
• Arrival and dinner Iadera Falkensteiner Hotel &Spa Iadera (Addres: Resort Punta Skala, 23231, Petrčane)

 DAY 7: 25.05.2023. Sea and surprise day

• Time to relax and enjoy!

DAY 8: 26.05.2023. Šibenik – NP Krka - Skradin

• 10.00h Drive to city of Šibenik and National park Krka
• Ante Šupuk and engineer Vjekoslav Meischner, Šibenik had electrical lighting before many European cities, including Vienna, Budapest, Rome, London and others.
• Lunch

• Visit to Old town Šibenik Sv.Mihovil fortress. The Medieval St. Mihovil Fortress was erected on a sixty meters high and steep rocky hill that dominates the surrounding waters. Under its walls, Šibenik evolved - the oldest native Croatian town on the Adriatic. Barone Fortress was built in 1646 on Vidakuša, the 80 meter-high hill above the city. Along with the other three fortresses in Šibenik, it represents a unique defence system that resisted the enemies of the city for centuries. Today, it has an exceptional monumental value recognized across Europe.
• 20.00h Dinner

DAY 9: 27.05.2023 Zadar

• 11.00h start
• 11.45–12.30h sport part of the program
• Official ceremony in the center of Zadar, welcome by Mayor of Zadar (lunch)
• Lunch and visit to old town Zadar

DAY 10: 28.05.2023. Iadera Falkensteiner Petrčane - FINISH

• 11.00h check out

• Charging on route between hotels will be on SuC in different groups and in hotels will be organized directly on hotel power plants with our equipment, our charging crew will set up cables and assist with connecting and make sure everyone is charged for the next day activities. All SuConour route have CCS for Model 3 charging.
• First day 19.05.2023. on our “introduction meeting” all details regarding route, charging and schedule will be presented and every team will receive official “road book” which contains“ all you need to know” info.

April 16, 2023 - A young soldier, Jakov Bočkaj, has died, beaten to death by a friend. The police have released new information, reports Index.hr.

Jakov Bočkaj (21), a young soldier who was brutally beaten on the night of Friday to Saturday on the main square in Požega, DIED.

Doctors at the Požega General Hospital fought for the young man's life, but this morning around 9:20 he died from his injuries.

The police arrested 20-year-old M.K., who is from the same place as the young soldier, for the beating. Apparently, they were friends and went out together that night.

New police statement
After the announcement of the death of 21-year-old Jakov Bočkaj, the police announced that they had completed the criminal investigation of a 20-year-old Croatian citizen suspected of having committed the crime of grievous bodily harm resulting in death.

Namely, on Saturday, April 15, 2023, around 2:15 a.m. in Požega, on Trg Svetog Trojstva in the parking lot, after a short verbal argument, the suspect physically attacked a 21-year-old man, hitting him several times in the head area.

As a result of the blows, the 21-year-old man fell to the floor, and the suspect continued to hit him a few more times and left the scene. The injured 21-year-old was transported to the General County Hospital in Požega, where he died as a result of his injuries in the morning on Sunday, April 16.

After completing the criminal investigation, the suspect was criminally reported to the competent state attorney and handed over to the custody supervisor, the Požega-Slavonia police announced.

The young soldier and the attacker were friends
The portal pozega.eu announced that the two young men were longtime friends who practically grew up together and that they were out together that night. Nothing is still known about the motives for the beating.

"They grew up together from a young age, only a year apart. They hung out, shared the good and the bad. They were inseparable," the locals told the portal in disbelief.

M.K. and the beaten Jakov shared the pitch of the football club for which they both played, trained and went to matches.

The beaten young man's friends from primary and secondary school, fellow residents and teammates from the football club are in shock. They said he was a very good boy. Požega.eu also announced that Jakov remained in the Croatian army, while other family members went to work in Germany. After the news about their son's beating, the parents returned to Croatia.

Banožić and Hranj announced themselves
The Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Admiral Robert Hranj, spoke about the death of the young soldier.

"The tragically cut short life of this young Croatian soldier is an irreparable loss for the entire Croatian Army, and at this moment we share with you all the sadness and pain due to this heavy loss.

Jakov was one of those brave young men who decided to make his own way in the Croatian Army, and for everything he did for it, I thank him immensely. May the Croatian country that he loved so much rest in peace. May he rest in peace," wrote Minister Banožić in a telegram of condolence that he sent personally and on behalf of the entire Ministry of Defense and the Croatian Army.

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia, Admiral Robert Hranj, also expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the member of the Croatian Army, Jakov Bočkaj, on the occasion of his tragic death, the Ministry of Defence announced.

The Ministry of Defense announced earlier that he was found unconscious in the parking lot of Trg Svetog Trojstva around 2:25 on the night of April 15, 2023. They also stated that a member of the Croatian army was off duty during the event.

The attacker pretended to the police that he was just a passer-by, he pretended to help
As Dnevnik Nova TV reported, the brutal attack was recorded by surveillance cameras. According to them, it was a case of brutal shoeing, that is, of multiple and strong kicks to the head of a young soldier, who at one point lost consciousness.

After that, the attacker moves away from that place, and the soldier remains lying down.

Nova TV also learned that the police found a 20-year-old suspect not far from the scene of the attack, who pretended not to know what happened and wanted to help them.

The soldier came to the hospital in Požega in a very serious condition, and resuscitation had to be performed there. It was about injuries to the head, internal bleeding, but also injuries to other parts of the body, which make such a difficult treatment even more difficult.

April 16, 2023 - Croatian tourism may be centred on the coast, but for some truly extraordinary things, head inland - how about a $6 BILLION airbase built inside a mountain? Meet Zeljava.

One of the things I love most about living in Croatia is that there is so much to learn and experience, and there are so many things to see and do at a more local level that rarely make it out of the region. I am a naturally curious person, and I soon realised that if I started to scratch the surface of firstly my adopted island of Hvar and then later on Croatia as a whole, there was simply lots of fantastic content to discover and write about. 

Over the years, I had heard mention of some airbase called Zeljava which was mostly in Croatia but also partly in Bosnia and Hercegovina, which Tito had built between 1948 and 1968 at an estimated cost of $6 billion in today's money. It had always been on my list to check it out, and that became a reality over a drink with tour guide par excellence Iva Perokovic from Swanky Travel in Zagreb last year. 

Not only did Iva know ALL about this incredible part of Croatian history, but she also did an urban explorer tour to Zeljava. It didn't take much persuading for us to find a date to learn more. 

Located mostly inside a mountain, but also partly in neighbouring Bosnia and Hercegovina, close to Bihac, Zeljevo is an incredible complex which at its height, allowed MiG fighters to shoot out of the mountain onto the awaiting runways and be airborne within seconds. There are several entrances, and space enough inside for some 80 MiGs to park, from memory. At its height, Zeljava was a thriving community, with a mess capable of feeding 1000 people at a time, as well as multiple facilities  to enable those inside to last 30 days with supplies. THe huge metal doors were designed to withstand a nuclear attack the strength of Nagasaki. 

Here is a rare video of Zeljava back in the last 1980s, to give you an idea. 

Zeljava's fate changed considerably when the Homeland War started in 1991. As the Serbs retreated, they detonated tons of explosives inside the mountain to render the airbase useless. Locals in Bihac said that smoke could be seen rising from the mountain six months later. 

These days, Zeljava is guarded by police for a very different reason - with the open tunnels between the two countries, it is a possible migrant route. If you want to visit as a tourist, the police will not hinder you, but you are advised to take an organised tour. Check out our CROMADS experience in the video below, and don't forget the selfie on the Douglas C47 Dakota close by (see lead photo).

Zeljava has recently undergone another change in fortunes, as a local enthusiast has managed to get a concession on the airbase and surrounding runways. Last year he held a very successful speed race there, something that will happen again in 2023.

Video by 45 Degrees Sailing.

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You can subscribe to the Paul Bradbury Croatia Expert YouTube channel here.

What is it like to live in Croatia? An expat for 20 years, you can follow my series, 20 Ways Croatia Changed Me in 20 Years, starting at the beginning - Business and Dalmatia.

Follow Paul Bradbury on LinkedIn.

Croatia, a Survival Kit for Foreigners is now available on Amazon in paperback and on Kindle.

April 16, 2023 - Looking for a job in Croatia? A new weekly feature on TCN, in partnership with leading job site agency, Posao.hr, who present a selection of weekly job listings.

How hard is it to find a job in Croatia, and what is on offer?

We spoke to Ines Bokan, director of leading jobs site Posao.hr, who kindly took the time for this excellent interview overview.  

This week's top 10 jobs from Posao.hr:

Sunce Hoteli d.d. / Bluesun is hiring a Junior CRM Specialist (m/f). Place of work Zagreb. Possibility of additional prizes and bonuses. Send complete applications via link by April 30th.

Tesla Cables d.o.o. is hiring a person in the position Sales representative - export (m/f). Place of work Sveta Nedjelja. Send complete applications via link by April 23th.

Pharmamed Mado d.o.o. is hiring a person in the position Independent accountant (m/f). Place of work Zagreb. We offer work with international clients. Send complete applications via link by April 19, 2023.

PLIVA Hrvatska d.o.o. is hiring a person in the position Senior specialist for equipment qualification (m/f). Place of work Zagreb. Send complete applications via link by April 17th.

Deltron d.o.o. is hiring a person in the position of Human Resources Coordinator (m/f). Place of work Split. We offer a great atmosphere at work, good relationships, team spirit and team cohesionSend complete applications via link by April 24, 2023.

Ziegler d.o.o., Kutina is hiring a person in the position of Program engineer - electrical engineer (m/f). Place of work Kutina and Zagreb. The possibility of constant improvement and advancement. Send complete applications via link by May 5th.

Austrian Business Agency GmbH / Work in Austria is hiring a person in the position IT employee (m/f). Place of work Austria. Send complete applications via link by April 25th.

Bridge Personal & Service d.o.o. is hiring a person in the position of Software development / Software developer (m/f). The place of work is the whole of Austria. Send complete applications via link by April 30th.

AGV Group Malta is looking for a Nurse (m/f) and a Personal assistant (m/f) in Malta. Candidate must have good knowledge of the Italian language. Apply by April 21st via link.

CCPORTER Sp. z o.o. is hiring a person in the position of Sales Trainer with Croatian and English (m/f) for work from home. They offer attractive remuneration and an opportunity to develop coaching skills. If you are interested in a job, apply by April 21st via link.

For more career options and job listings, visit posao.hr.

These weekly job listings will appear in the weekly TCN newsletter - you can subscribe here.

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What is it like to live in Croatia? An expat for 20 years, you can follow my series, 20 Ways Croatia Changed Me in 20 Years, starting at the beginning - Business and Dalmatia.

Follow Paul Bradbury on LinkedIn.

Croatia, a Survival Kit for Foreigners is now available on Amazon in paperback and on Kindle.