Birdwatchers on Hvar between May and September will encounter beautiful colourful bee-eaters. The European Bee-Eater (Merops apiaster) is a gorgeous bird which migrates between tropical Africa and southern Europe. Occasional pairs have tried to breed in Southern England but only five pairs in the last fifty years. On Hvar they can most often be heard…
Hvar is not just the island of sun, wine, and nude beaches. Because of its lush vegetation and plentiful water, it is an important staging post for migrating birds, and many of them spend the summer here. The lack of pesticides on the island is also a big factor in keeping the bird and other…
The annual showcase of Dalmatian wines is always a great opportunity to taste and compare the various offerings. We’ve been to nearly every one since it first opened in Makarska five years ago. Back then it was rather more informal, held in a sports hall with a fine collection of Dalmatia’s wine producers, including even…
A plane flew over the house yesterday, looking for all the world as if it had just taken off from the local airfield. But how could that be? It’s early January, and Hvar’s only airport is seasonal – the grass runway doesn’t support flights in winter. Or does it? We were heading into Stari Grad…
Ringing in the New Year takes on a slightly different twist in Hvar. The entire evening is punctuated with loud cracks and BANGS that fairly resound around the old stone square. The local lads – young and not so young – were having fun throwing firecrackers at their friends, recreating the effect of some 16th…
Incredibly, it’s been over 30 years since our last visit to Dubrovnik as students exploring the coast of what was then Yugoslavia in an old VW beetle. Not much seems to have changed as we arrive at the Pile Gate, and head into the walled city. But of course, much has changed for the residents…
During the summer months, Jadrolinija runs a coastal ferry service from Rijeka in the north to Dubrovnik in the south, taking all night and all day about it. Calling in at Split, Stari Grad on Hvar, then Korčula and Mljet, until quite recently the route also included Bari in Italy. Going further back into the…
Mary’s Art Adventures Following our recent art retreat on Hvar, California artist Mary Paquet has posted a couple of articles on her blog about the experience, and shares her artwork from the trip. Thanks, Mary! Her blog also includes entertaining stories of her travels to other places armed with a painting kit! Mary’s Art Adventures…
If you listen to the radio or TV in Croatia during the summer, the word “kanader” might feature in the broadcasts. Or you might see the bright yelllow strange shaped airplane on TV or for real. So what on earth is it? Why do people keep mentioning it? In common with other mediterranean-climate areas, for example…
At the eastern tip of Hvar lies the pretty little port of Sućuraj. From there, it’s only 5 km, a short hop by ferry across to Drvenik on the mainland. From the island the effect is rather dramatic – you’re looking up at a 4,000 ft wall across the small channel, which looms ever larger…
Go Hvar 
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