Croatia Travel Blog

Archive for August, 2009

As the Washington Post recently reported, the Croatian economy is facing dire problems. Once the summer tourist season ends, “Croatia’s unemployment will rise and living standards deteriorate”. The unemployment rate which currently stands at 14% will rise to God-knows-what level while labor unions are gunning up for massive demonstrations in September.

Is that a reason to put the family jewels on sale? The Croatian government apparently thinks so. Rumors are that the Brijuni Islands, a Croatian National Park in Istria and former hideaway of late Prez Tito, are on the block.  Do you have an extra billion or so euros? These delightful islands could be yours.  Actually, the price is a bargain; a couple of years ago the asking price hovered around two billion euros but the property market in Croatia has gone into a serious decline. As the New York Times just reported, prices have fallen 20 to 25% this last year and most real estate professionals expect prices to fall even further.

Under those circumstances, raking in a billion or so euros for the Brijuni Islands is probably not a bad idea. Unlike other Croatian islands, there’s no regular ferry service to the islands as hardly anyone lives there. Although of great historical and even archaeological interest (traces of Roman settlements and dinosaur footprints) the islands have not been a great performer on Croatia’s tourism scene. It could be a prestige location but the hotels need serious work and private accommodation is non-existent. A deep-pocket investor could turn a nice profit.

It’s easy to rush right to Sibenik’s main highlight, the Cathedral of St James (Sv Jakov) but there are other sights to see in this historic town. Right in the center is a beautifully renovated medieval garden located in the monastery of St Lawrence (Sv Lovre). Although neglected for a century, this garden renovation was designed by award-winning landscape architect Dragutin Kiš, who followed the traditional  medieval
layout: a cross path with a small well at its centre. The entire
garden is enclosed by bushes and old scented roses. At the centre  is a collection of decorative thyme.
As it is part of a monastery,visitors can also visit the Gospina Spilja (“Cave of the Lady”) and the St Lawrence Church, both part of the St Lawrence monastery.