Croatia is the beautiful, boomerang shaped country with the thousand islands, magnificent natural treasures, rich culture and traditions, located in southern Europe. Every nation loves their country and calls it the most beautiful. Croatians, however, actually call their state "Our Beautiful" ("Lijepa naša"), which is also the title of the national anthem. Croatia has created a unique spirit, and today is a full participant in European culture and science. Croatians are known to be a hospitable nation, it's sea deep blue and clean, the prices are fair, the villages picturesque, which all adds up to a very pleasant holiday destination. The unforgettable national parks, many sunny days, the fine local foods and drinks in combination with the parties, make it worthwhile to visit Croatia for a holiday. Croatia is a modern country with a combination of a soft continental climate and a Mediterranean climate.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT CROATIA
Geographical position: Croatia is situated more or less in the heart of Europe. Croatia stretches from the foot of the Alps in the northwest and Pannonian Plain in the east, over the mountain range of Dinara in its central region, to the Adriatic coast in the south. Croatia has a strange shape, which comes as a result of five centuries of expansion by the Ottoman (Turkish) empire towards Central Europe (although Croatia was never conquered by the Turks).

Surface area: Croatia has 56.542 km2, with an additional 31.067 km2 of territorial waters.

Population: Croatia has 4.784.265 inhabitants. Over 90% of the population is Croat (the majority of whom are Roman Catholics), but there are also Serbian, Bosnian, Hungarian and Italian minorities.

Capital: Zagreb, the administrative, cultural, academic and communication centre of Croatia; population: 960.000 inhabitants.

Number of islands, islets and reefs: 1.185 of which 67 inhabited; the largest islands are those of Krk and Cres.

Climate: The Adriatic Coast has a typical Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild winters. It is one of the sunniest and warmest coasts in Europe with an average of 2.600 hours of sunshine per year and an average summer temperature of 27C.The inland part has a typical continental climate with warm summers and rainy and snowy winters.

Medical services: Medical care for foreigners can be provided at hospitals and clinics in all major cities in Croatia. Croatia is a member of Europe Assistance medical services system. Foreign tourists do not pay for emergency health services if Croatia and the tourist's country of origin have a health care agreement. If not, the tourist must pay for health care costs immediately. Hospitals and clinics are located in all major centres, while doctor's offices and pharmacies can be found in smaller tourist destinations.

Postal services: Post offices are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. non-stop. Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. For international calls, besides using hotel and post office services, phone cards (for sale in all post offices) are used in all public phone booths. Postage stamps are sold at post offices, hotel receptions and newspaper and tobacco stands. TNT and DHL air-express carrier's services are also available.

Monetary unit: Croatian Kuna (Kn). Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 and coins in Kn 1, 2, 5 & 25 and 10, 20 and 50 lipa (1 Kuna= 100 lipas). Foreign currencies can be exchanged in banks, exchange offices, post offices and most tourist agencies, hotels and camping grounds. Euro cheques can be exchanged in banks. Banking hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays banks are open until 1 p.m. In the larger cities some banks are also open on Sundays.

Currency: Foreign currency can be changed in the Banks, Exchange Offices, Post Offices, Tourist agencies and Hotels, according to the current exchange rate.

Credit cards: Most hotels, restaurants and shops accept credit cards (American Express, Diners Club, Euro card / MasterCard and Visa).

Electricity: 220V, 50 Hz

Water: Tap water is drinkable throughout Croatia.

The telephone code for Croatia: +385

Cellular phone range: Communication by mobile phones is possible throughout Croatia.

Time zone: GMT plus one hour (in summer two hours).

Cultural and historical monuments: There are numerous cultural and historical monuments of great significance in Croatia, such as the ancient amphitheatre in Pula, the palace of the Emperor Diocletian in Split (a UNESCO world heritage site), the Romanesque cities of Krk, Rab, Pag, Korcula and Trogir, elegant Dubrovnik, a 13th century city with excellently preserved Renaissance towers and walls, which is also under UNESCO protection, one of Europe's first public theatres in Hvar, the basilica of Euphrasy's' in Porec, the pre Romanesque church of St. Donat in Zadar, Šibenik cathedral, and many others.

Entertainment: Most better quality hotels have nightclubs and the major tourist resorts have discos. There are dancing evenings on the terraces during the summer time, along with other entertainment and cultural events.

Gambling casinos: There are 15 casinos in Croatia, 6 of them in Zagreb and other in the following towns: Buje, Novigrad, Porec, Umag, Opatija, Cavtat, Split, Hvar, Makarska.

WINDS ON THE ADRIATIC
As a nautical destination, Croatia is known all over the world, and no matter how big sailing experience you have every sea has its own secrets, so does the Croatian. Its joy as well as its traps for those who are not familiar with them, are its winds. Get to know the Adriatic winds and learn how to make your sails full of their strength.

The Adriatic sea is not characterized as a dangerous and moody one so the sailing is possible throughout the year, yet the best conditions are from the middle of June till the middle of October when even the less experienced can enjoy all the sea activities.

Bura is an unpredictable wind that blows in bursts from the land towards the sea. It is relatively cold and dry, reaches a moderate power and lasts for couple of hours. It purifies and clarifies the atmosphere providing great visibility and sunny weather. Even though bura is mainly a winter wind it can blow during the whole year mostly in the morning, reaching a middle speed of 11 m/s. Since it swoops down from the mountain hillside to the sea, it usually blows from the north-east, from NNE, NE or ENE. At the open sea bura usually turns to the northwestern.

Jugo is a south-western wind with medium force that blows from the sea towards the land along the whole coast from directions ESE, SE or SSE. In principle, it could be said that you'll get in touch with jugo more often if you sail along the southern rather than northern Adriatic and since it belongs to the spring-autumn group of winds followed by rain and humid atmosphere, jugo is not so common in the summertime. In case it blows anyway it is recognizable by the following characteristics: gradually amplifying the wind constantly blows creating beautiful long waves, without sound or foam, that only during the strong blows strike against the coast going back again then towards the open sea with strong wind providing very high speeds for sailing boats.

Maestral is a typical summer Adriatic northwestern and one of those winds characteristic for nice and stable weather. In the summer, around noon, after the morning silence, maestral begins its pleasant streaming that lasts till the sunset. Maestral can reach the speed from 5 to 6 Beauforts, and it usually blows in the canal of Zadar and Korčula. Maestral is a wind made for pleasant and relaxed sailing without maneuvering because its force is stable and temper predictable and mild. While bura and jugo each in their own way offer to sailors the excitement and challenge, maestral guarantees a pure pleasure during which you can give yourself to the sea without fear. As the Sun goes down the conditions for maestral disappear, and as it darkens a mild night breeze up to 3 Beauforts starts to blow from the land. And with the first sunlight silence appears, and around noon refreshing maestral comes again.

CROATIAN GASTRONOMY especially along the coast and on the islands, is based on the tradition of natural and healthy Mediterranean food that is rich with vegetables, olive oil, fish, shells, wine, goat and sheep cheese, citrus fruit, marasca cherries, grapes, figs and almonds. Our cuisine is known for the way the food is prepared, and nutritionists consider it to be extremely healthy. The vegetable is cooked in small amounts of water and spiced with olive oil and herbs such as rosemary, sage, basil and marjoram. The fish is prepared "al brodetto" (fish stew), boiled or grilled, while meat made under a baking lid has a unique flavor. Different kinds of cheese, such as smoked, young (this year's cheese) or oiled one are served as appetizers with prosciutto ham and olives. Even though it is recommended to take fresh or dry fruit for desert there are also all kinds of pastries made from fruit and different kinds of nuts. And of course, one thing you cannot avoid whether eating salty or sweet food is a quality Croatian wine.

Istrian cuisine
Istrian prosciutto, risotto and pasta (ravioli, fusili...) with seafood; big and small game meet, asparagus, truffles and smoked sausages in the heartland with chestnuts dishes for desert (big Istrian chestnut). Istrian cuisine is very aromatic. The food is flavored with different spices such as rosemary, basil, marjoram and sage.

Dalmatian cuisine
The first place belongs to the fish prepared on grill, al brodetto or boiled but also to those salted or marinated. The most common spices are laurel, garlic and olive oil. Shells and crabs are made in a stewed savory way, while a Dalmatian meat specialty is pašticada with gnocchi. Typical Dalmatian pastries are fritule (plain dark-flour fritters) and rožata (caramel pudding).

Croatian wines
Istria and Kvarner: vrbnička žlahtina, malvazija (malmsey), chardonnay, merlot, teran, borgonja, muškat bijeli (white muscat); Northern Dalmatia: primoštenski babić, drniški merlot, debit (popular white wine in the region); Middle and southern Dalmatia: dingač (dingach red wine) and postup, carsko i kneževo vino (imperial and prince's wine), potomje, pelješac, putniković, rukatac, sv. Ana, bolski plavac (plavac from Bol), bolski opolo, bogdanuša, drnekuša, parč, mekuja, pelegrin, zlatan otok, pošip, maraština, grk, plavac, admiral, lastovska maraština, viška vugava and prošek (prosecco) as a desert wine.