The incredible farewell Split gave to one of its most famous sons won the hearts of tourists from around the world.
As Morski writes on the 2nd of August, 2018, Oliver Dragojević’s emotional final voyage from Split to his native Vela Luka on the island of Korčula aroused numerous heartfelt reactions from foreign tourists visiting Croatia from all corners of the world.
As we wrote yesterday, the month of July this year was an incredibly emotional one for the entire country, from the euphoria of Croatia entering the World Cup final in Russia, losing to France but gaining the respect of the world for the celebrations held across the country while Paris saw violent riots, followed by the welcoming home of Croatia’s players, to Split’s magnificent yet heartbreaking sendoff for the beloved Oliver Dragojević, often described as the voice of Dalmatia, on his final voyage home to Korčula, which took place in the very heart of the tourist season, while Dalmatia is brimming with foreign tourists.
“I don’t remember when I last saw something like this”
Some of these tourists who were moved enough by Oliver’s send off to post about it on social media found themselves on the popular Split riva during the afternoon and evening hours, where more than 10,000 people had followed Oliver’s body to the catamaran that then took him, for the very last time, to Vela Luka.
lavra (@wxckedurie) wrote:
”Croatia really has the best nation with the biggest hearts I don’t remember the last time i saw a country being so happy for their athletes and then so sad for the loss of a singer not even in my own country.. all they’ve been playing on the radio in croatia are oliver’s songs”
Alex McGovern (@AlexMcGovern11), who otherwise works for the well-known sport oriented Bleacher Report wrote:
”Incredible to be in Split today as the city said goodbye to singer Oliver Dragojevic, a local described him to us as the symbol of Croatia.”
stacethepirate wrote on Instagram:
“Well this was bloody emotional! We legit thought that Split was under attack.. Police helicopters everywhere, flares going off, smoke filling the port… but a beloved Croatian singer recently passed away and a ship carrying Dragojevic’s body, escorted by two Croatian military ships and hundreds of small boats, sailed off to his native island of Korcula for burial.”
