Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites - Chef & Hotel Profile

DUBROVNIK CHARMS VISITORS WITH MEDITERRANEAN FLAVORS, MIDIEVAL HISTORY, AND ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE

Dubrovnik, one of Croatia’s oldest cities dating back to the seventh century, is an historic jewel of the Adriatic, historically know as Ragusa (Italian) is in southern Dalmatia on the Adriatic Sea. The views of the Adriatic from Dubrovnik are majestic, explaining why it is currently among the most desirable Mediterranean tourist destinations, and was added to the list of UNESCO World

Heritage sites in 1979, recognizing its outstanding Medieval architecture and fortified Old Town. Viking cruise guests have the luxury of easy axcess to enjoy a formal tour or just a leisurely walk with friends to experiencs the beauty of this historic destination.

The city offers visitors tours of the old city that include historical information on the still functioning Aqueduct, the Cathedral with a statue of Saint Blaise atop wearing a gold miter, Rector’s Palace ruler of the Republic, Sponza Palace on Luza Square. Saint Blaise (Saint Physician) is the Patron Saint of Dubrovnik since the 10^th Century and each year on Feb 2-3 Saint Blaise is celebrated with a candle mass, the flying of white doves, and a parade of the statue through the old town center, with blessings of the throats offered to the residents.

The Stratum or the pedestrian thoroughfare lined with authentic stone houses, and walking stones that shine from centuries of foot traffic, as well as the 14^th Century Franciscan Monastery and Apothecary, housing the world’s oldest working pharmacy as well as a fine collection of Renaissance paintings that depict life throughout the centuries. It is a unique view of Medieval European life unlike any other and was a very enjoyable portion of the tour.

I so enjoyed strolling through the ancient Stratum where I discovered charming passageways which were home to small, delightful cafes and shops that provided tasty local bites and lovely gift items. Shopping for souvenirs was great fun!

My food writer instincts drew me to an historic looking building which was once the residence of the ruler of the Republic, but since 1895 has been an amazing restaurant and coffee house with a city view of the Cathedral, and an ocean patio view overlooking the harbor at the opposite end, both serving the authentic dishes of Gradska Kavana Arsenal Restaurant & Coffee House.

All I had time to enjoy was a uniquely delicious almond crème cake and the best hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted on the patio of this wonderful venue! Their menu is Mediterranean delicious with very authentic recipes, and they adhere to an old proverb “fish is no good if it has not “bathed” three times; first in the sea, then in olive oil, and finally in wine.” They have a website and are located at Pred DVOROML, 20 000 Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Playwright George Bernard Shaw considered Dubrovnik “paradise on earth,” and I certainly do intend to return to savor more of the history, food, charm, and beauty of Dubrovnik, Croacia, a delightful locked in time Mediterranean destination! For information visit: https://visitdubrovnik.hr.

Split the largest city on the Croatian coast lies on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea and spreads over a central peninsula and its surroundings; it is linked to the Adriatic islands and Apennine Peninsula. More than 900,000 tourists visit this destination each year.

Diocletian’s Palace and Saint Domnius Cathedral provide history and architectural buff’s visiting the city, originally formed as a Greek colony in the third century, an opportunity to visit the home of the Palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. As a member of the Austrian Kingdom of Dalmatia and then the formation of former Yugoslavia it is a treasure trove of history and a photographer’s dream.

I visited Split during January, which is considered the coldest month of the year, but found that I was amazingly comfortable walking in the sun with temperatures of around 50 degrees. Touring the historic center of Split, which has been included on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since 1979, as well as a visit to the Diocletian’s Palace was a quite easy jaunt.

Points of interest in the city of Split included The Croation National Theatre built in 1893, Split Archaeological Museum, Ethnographic Museum and Gallery of Fine Arts. A monument to 15^th century poet Marko Marulic is a highly photographed site, and the Split Music Festival is a popular tourist attraction for international music lovers each summer.

The Palace of Diocletian was very impressive, and the Peristyle central square within the Palace was a synergy of centuries of architecture that was awe inspiring, and the limestone and marble venue, decorated with Egyptian sphinxes is reported to represent one of the best-preserved ancient complexes of this kind in the world. It is a huge complex and we only covered a small portion during our morning visit. If you are planning to tour the entire area, give yourself at least a day.

The restaurant scene in split is quite interesting, and offers not only Croation specialties, but everything from pizza, pasta, poke, kabobs and more. Reservations may be required for Adriatic fish specialties, and Michelin L’Assiette award winning menu favorites at venues like ZOL. Dalmatian food favorites include Brudet, a seafood stew made with fish and shellfish, or Peletina i povrce iz pecnice, a baked chicken and veggies dish with prunes. I was drawn to Lamb Peka (can use chicken as well) a dish cooked in a domed iron pot for hours over coals with ingredients of lamb or octopus or chicken and veal with potatoes, spices, and veggies that must be ordered a day in advance at local restaurants. For your next visit to Split I am wishing you Dober Tek! (“Good appetite” in Croatian).

Area wines are plentiful and pair beautifully with Dalmatian or other popular dishes served in local restaurants. Some include Grasevina, white wine widely produced in Croatia, Marastina, a local white wine, like Riesling, grown in and around Kastela, ten miles from Split. Malvasia is a smooth, sweet white wine from Istria and Posip a marvelous white from Korcula Island is the most widely planted white in Croatia. Plavac Mali is the most widely produced red wine in the area from Hvar and the Peljesac peninsula or the Vugava, a local red wine from the Island of Vis.

The ocean front harbor walk of Split is very pretty and charming, dotted with lovely outdoor restaurants, and filled with visiting cruise ships, and tour ships going to Hvar and Korcula, confirming its point of interest as a major tourist destination.

Guests on my Viking cruise ship Jupiter walked to the old town area to enjoy some Split restaurant specialties or just take a leisurely walk in the harbor. After a formal tour and a shopping adventure, it was just lovely to sit and people watch over a cup of coffee before heading back to my ship, which was docked very nearby. This interesting destination will be on my ‘be back’ list for a potential future summer vacation. Split is splendid!

BVI Tourist Board Launches "BVI Market Connect" Webinar Series
Webinar Series Aimed to Strengthen Global Industry Ties

Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, 17th February 2025 – The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission (BVITBFC) is pleased to announce the launch of the "BVI Market Connect"
webinar series, a dynamic initiative designed to enhance collaboration between the BVI tourism industry and its key international markets.
The first webinar is set to take place on Tuesday, 29th February 2025, and will continue every Tuesday until 6th May 2025. Each session will serve as a platform for market-specific insights, networking, and
strategic discussions aimed at increasing visitor arrivals and engagement with the destination.

The BVI Market Connect webinars will provide a comprehensive understanding of cultural preferences, industry trends, and best practices to optimize market engagement. The initiative will focus on Italy, Germany, France, the Nordic region, United Kingdom, Puerto Rico, United States and Canada, the Caribbean and niche markets, with presentations from BVITBFC’s in-market representatives.

Each one-hour session will feature:
• Market Engagement: Insights into travel behaviors and consumer trends.
• Industry Support: Identifying areas where local tourism partners can enhance promotional
efforts, host familiarization trips, and collaborate on media initiatives.
• Planned Initiatives: Highlighting upcoming marketing activities and participation opportunities.
• Networking & Collaboration: Providing essential connections to foster long-term engagement.

While the focus of the BVI Market Connect webinar series is on land and sea accommodations (hotels, villas and term charter boats), it is open to all tourism industry stakeholders interested in strengthening their market presence and driving growth for their businesses and the BVI tourism industry. Commenting on the webinar series, Natasha Chalwell, the British Virgin Islands’ Deputy Director of Tourism said, “Coming on the heels of the recently concluded tourism summit, we thought it was time to reset and ensure our industry partners are familiar with nuances of the visitors from each market and to acquaint them with our local and global marketing team with a view to greater collaboration. BVI Connect is our vehicle for doing so and we look forward very much to engaging with the industry.”
Building on the success of the webinar series, BVITBFC plans to evolve the initiative into an in-person event in 2026, bringing together BVI tourism stakeholders and source market representatives for one-on-
one meetings and enhanced collaboration opportunities.

For updates on registration for the upcoming webinars, please follow the BVITBFC Facebook Page at
HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OURBVI or email MARKETING@BVITOURISM.COM.

About the British Virgin Islands
Known as a treasured destination rich in undiscovered experiences, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is an alluring archipelago
comprising 60 islands and cays located in the northeastern region of the Caribbean Sea. With plentiful private villas and luxury
boutique resorts, there is no shortage of accommodations from which to choose, whether for leisure or MICE (meetings, events,
and incentives) travel. The BVI has long been hailed as the sailing capital of the world for its line-of-sight sailing, myriad boat
charter options (bareboat, crewed, powered, traditional hoisted sail), and an array of experiences catering especially to yachties.
The destination’s unparalleled offerings continue to garner global recognition. Recent accolades include making The New York
Times' "52 Places to Go in 2025" list, being named one of "Top Islands in the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas" in Travel
+ Leisure’s World’s Best Awards and consistently ranking among U.S. News & World Report’s "Best Places to Visit in the
Caribbean," including #2 for 2021-2022. For more information on how to experience BVILOVE, visit the British Virgin Islands
Tourist Board & Film Commission website at www.bvitourism.com or contact 1-800-835-8530.