| In one of my searches on the Internet about interesting | | | | northern part, with towns: Rovinj, Umag, Porec and |
| travel websites I found a site on sea kayaking in the | | | | Dalmatia at the southern part of Croatian coast, with |
| Adriatic. I contacted the webmaster to do a mutual link | | | | towns: Dubrovnik, Split, Sibenik, Zadar, Makarska and |
| exchange and upon further investigation, I asked Ivana, | | | | islands: Brac, Hvar, Korcula, Mljet, Pag. Two largest |
| one of the founders of the website, to actually do an | | | | towns along the Croatian coast are Split and Rijeka. |
| interview with me. As you will see, she is an expert on | | | | Both have a population under 300,000. The island of |
| Croatia and a pretty interesting individual herself. | | | | Pag is a great party place, ideal for young people. |
| Ivana Grzetic was born and raised in Dubrovnik in a | | | | Istrian and Dalmatian towns offer a range of |
| "crazy about the sea" family of scuba divers and sea | | | | opportunities for tourists: from cultural sightseeing to |
| kayakers. She is a graduate of ACMT (American | | | | fine dining, nightlife, and day activities: sea kayaking, |
| College of Management and Technology) in Dubrovnik. | | | | diving, sailing. In Dubrovnik region, apart from sea |
| As Miss Universe Croatia 1998 and a fashion model, | | | | kayaking, diving and sailing, there are very interesting |
| Ivana traveled all over the world, including Hawaii, | | | | horseback riding, jeep safari and wine tasting tours. |
| California, Hong Kong, China, South Korea and Europe. | | | | 3. What is the weather like in Croatia? What times of |
| She now looks forward to sharing her knowledge and | | | | year are best to go to Croatia? |
| love of the Dubrovnik region and the sea with | | | | Croatia is a country of three different climates: |
| international visitors. | | | | continental-on the north, mountain - in middle of Croatia |
| In 2003, Ivana Grzetic and Edi Brkic founded Adriatic | | | | and Mediterranean in its costal part. At the costal part |
| Sea Kayaking. Their mission is to offer Dubrovnik | | | | of Croatia summers are long, dry and hot while winters |
| visitors an opportunity to experience and explore the | | | | are mild and humid, with lots of rain. The best period to |
| Dalmatian coast, Elafiti islands, the Mediterranean | | | | come to Croatia is a period from early April to |
| waters, and the region's history and culture in a safe, | | | | mid-October. If you are coming for the sea, June, July, |
| healthy, active way. Adriatic Sea Kayaking offers top | | | | August and September are best. However, during July |
| quality active excursions that celebrate the region's | | | | and August Croatia gets very crowded. |
| natural beauty and cultural heritage with minimal | | | | 4. You are located in the city of Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik |
| negative environmental impact. | | | | was also affected by the Balkan wars in the early |
| 1. Please tell us a bit about Croatia, its location, its | | | | 1990s. Please comment on this difficult time and also |
| landscapes, cities and history. | | | | give us a description of this city today. |
| Croatia is situated in the middle of Europe, between | | | | During its history, Dubrovnik never had real war on its |
| Italy, Hungary, Slovenia and Bosnia. Although this | | | | territory, until 1991. The major weapon of the Dubrovnik |
| country has only 4,7 million inhabitants, it has three | | | | Republic was its skillful diplomacy. Namely, Dubrovnik |
| completely different regions: costal, continental and | | | | was negotiating and very often buying its freedom. |
| mountain. Perhaps the most attractive one is costal, | | | | The cost was sometimes really high, but it was |
| Mediterranean Croatia - the land of islands. Namely, in | | | | always worth of it. |
| this part of Croatia there are 1185 islands! | | | | When the war in Croatia started, nobody really |
| The most attractive town in Croatia is Dubrovnik | | | | believed that Dubrovnik - a city enlisted in World |
| (50,000 inhabitants), situated at the southern part of | | | | Heritage, would be really attacked. The period |
| Croatian coast. Surrounded with majestic almost 2km | | | | between 1991 and 1992 was the hardest time of |
| long City Walls, this town is a part of World Heritage. | | | | Dubrovnik's history. The city was bombarded from the |
| Among many attractions there are: Rector's | | | | air, from land and from sea. The main street in |
| Palace-once a seat of Dubrovnik's Government, | | | | Dubrovnik - Stradun was burning. There was no water |
| Franciscan Monastery with 3rd oldest pharmacy in | | | | and electricity; the shelves in the supermarkets were |
| Europe and lovely Romanesque -Gothic cloister, | | | | completely empty. One could buy only bread at that |
| baroque Cathedral, St. Blaze's Church, 2nd oldest | | | | time. It seemed like there was no way out... |
| Synagogue in Europe, Jesuit church with small version | | | | Reconstruction took place immediately after the war. |
| of 'Spanish Steps'. | | | | Today one could never imagine what was going on in |
| Dubrovnik has the most amazing history: for almost 5 | | | | Dubrovnik in early nineties. The city is full of tourists and |
| centuries it was an independent republic (1358-1808), | | | | this year Lonely Planet proclaimed it as one of the |
| which had its own government and the Rector- who | | | | most popular destinations in the world. |
| was the head of the Republic. During that period | | | | 5. Your company provides sea kayaking tours, from |
| Dubrovnik was one of the richest towns and one of | | | | day-long outings to week-long tours. Please tell us |
| the most powerful commercial centers in Europe. | | | | more about what your company does and what |
| 2. Please tell us about the transport connections to | | | | makes your tours unique. |
| Croatia. How does one get to Croatia? | | | | Adria Avanture is the only sea kayaking company |
| Croatia has 3 international airports: Zagreb, Split and | | | | from Dubrovnik. We offer a wide range of sea |
| Dubrovnik. Zagreb is well connected with most | | | | kayaking tours: |
| European countries year round. During the season | | | | Half day tours: with daily departures from Dubrovnik to |
| (April - October) there are direct charter flights from | | | | the islands of Lokrum and Kolocep. These tours do not |
| UK, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Germany, France, | | | | require any previous paddling experience. |
| Spain and many other European countries to | | | | Multy Day Tours: Short Break Tour and One week |
| Dubrovnik and Split. | | | | Kayaking cater to ones who are looking for adventure |
| Dubrovnik has direct ferry lines with Bari and Ortona in | | | | and escape from every day stress. |
| Italy, while Split and Zadar are well connected with | | | | We also offer some very interesting teambuilding |
| Ancona and Pescara (Italy). Highway construction | | | | programs. |
| between Zagreb-Dubrovnik is in process, and at the | | | | At Adria Avanture we emphasize on very personal |
| moment we have a highway from Zagreb to Sibenik | | | | service. Our guides are here at home and they know |
| (80 km north of Split). There is a local road from | | | | every rock, every hidden bay on your route, local |
| Sibenik to Split and Dubrovnik (Dubrovnik is 220km | | | | people and interesting stories of the places you visit. |
| southern from Split) | | | | We support the Croatian slogan: "Help us keep the |
| 3. Please comment on the accommodation options in | | | | Adriatic clean". We leave the environment as it is. All |
| Croatia (eg. hotels, motels, apartment rentals, bed and | | | | we take with us are the photos and the memories. |
| breakfasts, camping, etc.) | | | | This is why local people are friendly to kayakers. |
| Croatia offers a variety of accommodation options: | | | | 6. How did you come up with this business idea, how |
| camps, private rooms, private apartments, hostels and | | | | long have you been in business and where do your |
| hotels. There are many good campsites on the coast. | | | | clients come from? What time of year do you offer |
| However, wild camping is not allowed, especially on the | | | | these tours? |
| islands. Private accommodation is gaining in popularity | | | | I was born in a 'crazy about the sea' family of scuba |
| and can be booked over the Internet. Booking private | | | | divers and kayakers. My parents transmited to me a |
| accommodation, you usually book only overnight since | | | | love for nature and the sea. As a fashion model, I |
| most of private accommodation owners do not offer | | | | spent some time in Greece, where I saw organized |
| breakfast and other meals. Hotels have very good | | | | sea kayaking tours. This inspired me and in 2003, |
| standards. Those mainly offer breakfast included, | | | | together with my boyfriend I founded Adria Avanture. |
| although you can find some that offer all-inclusive | | | | We organize sea kayaking excursions from May to |
| programs. | | | | October. Majority of our clients come from UK, Ireland, |
| 4. What are the major tourist areas in Croatia? What | | | | Sweden, Norway and USA. |
| type of activities are there for travellers? | | | | Thank you, Ivana, for sharing your expert insight into |
| The main tourist area in Croatia is its costal part, which | | | | the beautiful, up and coming region of Croatia with us. |
| could be divided into 2 main regions: Istria-at the | | | | |