As a video of the old town of Dubrovnik on December 18, 2015 shows the magic of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the less fashionable winter month’s, TCN’s newest writer Ivana Šepak takes a look at the changing nature of Dubrovnik in December from a local viewpoint.
One of the most usual questions a tourist guide can receive is – what’s it like in your city during winter? Just like anywhere along the Croatian coast, the pace of life in Dubrovnik gets really slow. Of course, most tourists asking this question have the idea that the main hobby of locals during this slow period is listening to the rain and wind hoot through their badly insulated windows. During the winter, locals in fact use the opportunity to catch up on badly missed sleep, as well as with friends because most of the locals work every single day during the season – and the season starts earlier year after year. 2015 was different from any aspect in Dubrovnik. Game of Thrones brought large popularity to the destination, summer went by with almost no rain, and the continuing shoulder season is very warm with little or no rain.
(Photo credit Dubrovnik Tourist Board)
Last year Dubrovnik wanted to start celebrating Christmas like all other European destinations – there were small cottage-like houses located just in front of the historical centre at Pile gate and also within the old city, just not on the main street. The conclusion of last year’s holiday season – semi-flop. It was obvious something needs to be done drastically different if visitors want to be attracted during the winter.
Several weeks ago, when the Christmas season was officially opened, locals were surprised to see that the central street was occupied by houses that were seen last year only in less-frequent places around and within the old town. Just like with anything, opinions were divided – someone frowned upon the installations, others were joyfully singing along with Vatra who played at the official opening.
Different outlook of winter
The biggest winter nightmare of your ordinary receptionist at a regular 5* hotel is having guests asking: “Where can we go and what can we do tonight?” The horror multiplies if it is a weekday. Dubrovnik really used to be a ghost town during the off-season. Somehow, the locals (including the author) learned to embrace and enjoy the solitude, empty streets and bad weather, even though mostly everyone was hoping for some kind of activity in the streets, children’s laughter, something happening. Friends were looking for a place where they could hang out, as opposed to being forced into going to a smoky café or not leaving the house at all.
(Photo credit: Dubrovnik Tourist Board)
On November 28, 2015 the Christmas Fair in Dubrovnik was officially opened – one might say: “Just a regular Saturday”. All was but regular that evening – the central street inside of the Old Town was crowded with people, you could smell those usual Christmassy scents of cinnamon, wine, sweets, sausages… and the city was incredibly illuminated! Very soon a star was born – a huge lit up teddy bear in the middle of the central street, one had to wait in the line to take a photo with him. It is obvious that Winter 2015/2016 is going to change the way off-season is spent. As it normally goes with changes, not everybody was sharing the Christmas spirit.
(Photo credit: Dubrovnik Tourist Board)
Complaints as The Main Croatian Currency
Some were saying that the reek of sausages is not what Dubrovnik should offer, Društvo prijatelja dubrovačke starine – the official Dubrovnik’s history preservers society – sent a written complaint on November 26 demanding the houses be removed from the central street because they interfere with the historical outlook, shop owners at Stradun sent protest letters claiming the houses are blocking entrances to their shops, journalists were worried whether or not ambulances would be capable to move through old town… none of them were able to see anything positive in the fact that night after night the old city is crowded again, that old friends rejoiced, that one can sense Christmas joys on every step within old city. Needless to say, the economy is going to profit – something that is overlooked in a country with almost 400.000 unemployed people. Fear of change is understood, but this is just over the top. Just recently, Christmas decorations were officially opened at Gruz harbor and Gruz park. The city looks amazing!
(Photo credit: Facebook Page Medo Franko)
Medo Franko Has a Special Message For You!
Franko The Teddy Bear invites you to have a cool photo with him, like his Facebook Page Medo Franko, send your photo to inbox and then the administrators are going to publish it on the page. Hurry up because the deadline is December 23, when the official winner is going to be handed in with 500 kunas reward! If you’re not keen on taking photos, why don’t you scroll through the page and give someone your like?
Dubrovnik in holiday lights from DUBROVNIK – VSP VIDEO on Vimeo.
