These are very pleasant days in Jelsa, and the late morning coffee crowd is a small but friendly bunch at the moment, each with their own interest and projects, and there is a really nice exchange of news, views and opinions.
And sometimes they come together into a nice package. Like today, and by the time the last cold one had gone down, we had a product. Five Reasons to Get Romantic in Jelsa This Valentines.
1. Traditional Romantic Dinner at Me and mrs Jones
The five-course Valentine’s special at Me and mrs Jones, accompanied by perhaps Jelsa’s most romantic restaurateur, the lovely Josipa, has become part of the Jelsa calendar over the years, and as I did this morning’s blog about a farewell dinner for some Germans who are leaving Hvar after 16 years, it came into my mind that Me and mrs Jones first official dinner of the season is soon upon us.
More details with menu coming shortly in an upcoming blog.
2. Romantic Valentine’s at Artichoke
And just as I was contemplating that, another Jelsa Valentine invitation came into my Facebook feed – and another five-course special at Artichoke Wine Bar, which also promises to be a great night. I will be doing a blog on the fantastic night there recently for the Tamburasi night, with more than 100 people partying until 2am while the rest of the town slept.
Full details of the Artichoke Valentine special also coming shortly.
3. Special Romantic Offers from European Coastal Airlines.
There can’t be many more romantic options than whisking your loved one off for a weekend on Croatia’s premier island on a seaplane, and ECA have entered the romantic Valentine spirit by offering special deals on flights if booked by February 12 – return flights for the price of a single.
Single? It is still worth making the journey. You never know who you might meet on the plane. Goran Visnjic was flying last week to visit his holiday home on Hvar, for example.
4. Plant a Romantic Tree and Cement Your Love Forever
One of the great additions to the social circle on occasion in recent days has been the energetic Irena Doric from NGO Sustainable Island. Not many people could get me halfway up a mountain to dig holes to plant trees, but Irena has managed it, not once but twice.
The next planting is scheduled for February 13, that romantic Valentines weekend, so why not combine a visit with the chance to plant a tree to help the environment and remember your Hvar visit? Mrs Total Hvar came up with the suggestion of people who wanted to plant registering their names with Irena in advance, so that she can prepare name tags to go with a tree each couple plants. And as the tree grows, so too will the love… For more information about the Sustainable Island project, visit their Facebook page. A great bunch of people, great barbecue after, and a chance to experience a totally different aspect of Hvar nature. Highly recommended. If you are looking for accommodation options, contact us at [email protected] and we can put you in touch with accommodation providers operating out of season.
5. Enjoy Your First Kiss and Save 50%!
So there we were, four reasons to get romantic in Jelsa this Valentine’s Day, and then a brainwave. Croatia’s leading boutique winemaker and new Jelsa Tourist Board Director Ivo Dubokovic came over from the next table to say hi. A marketing expert, we tasked him to come up with reason number 5. A moment’s thought, the answer was quick in coming.
“Let’s offer people a first kiss.”
Rather generous of the new tourist board director I thought, and one which perhaps would have the young ladies on that seaplane, until I realised he was referring to his rather excellent wine Prvi Poljubac, which means ‘First Kiss’.
“50% off First Kiss for Valentine’s weekend?” I suggested.
There was a nod, but I am not sure the exact terms of the offer have been confirmed, so contact us for more details if you want to know more.
So there you go. A weekend in Jelsa in February, with the chance to fly in style, have a choice of outstanding romantic dinners, try exquisite local wine at a discount AND plant a tree with your and your loved one’s name on.
You wouldn’t get all that in Paris…
