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Serves 3-4 people.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 8 ounces (227grams) sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 can (28 ounces/800mL) tomatoes
• dash of salt
• dash of fresh black pepper
• dash of oregano
• dash of basil

Preparation:

If you purchased whole tomatoes blend them around not more then few seconds.
In a medium size skillet pour olive oil and heat it over medium heat, then add garlic. When garlic turns yellow (around 1 minute) add mushrooms. Cook on medium heat 4-5 minutes or until mushrooms juice partially evaporates, stirring occasionally, then add tomatoes and all of the seasoning. Continue cooking on low to medium heat, stirring occasionally, for around 15-20 minutes.

Serve it warm poured over cooked spaghetti and seasoned with spoon or two of grated Parmesan cheese.

Tip: If you find tomato sauce too acidic, next time add spoon or two of sugar at the same time as other seasonings.

Bon Appétit!

In the neighborhood, on the US side of the border, are Vermont, Main and the New York State (Plattsburgh photos). US border is only around 43mi. (70km) drive to or from Montreal. Distance from some of the American cities to Montreal; Boston is 310mi. (500km) away, New York city – 330mi. (530km), Chicago – 869mi. (1400 km) and Miami (Florida) is 1677mi. (2700km) away (all approximate numbers).

Montreal is the largest French-speaking city in North America (discover), although large number of it’s citizens are bilingual so you should not encounter major obstacles by asking for direction, ordering food, shopping or having fun. Montréal (French) today represents a mosaic of cultures from all continents, blended into one open-minded society.

Explorer Jacques Cartier, while searching for passage to India, ended up in the St. Lawrence river and landed on the island today know as Montreal. The year was 1535 and he recorded that at the time on the island lived Iroquoian people in the village of Hochelaga. Century had past by before first French settlement took its shape. Montreal (photos) changed hands throughout the centuries while expanding and welcoming new settlers and most recently immigrants, growing in to a great cosmopolitan city famous for its museums, cafés, gourmet restaurants and numerous festivals.

Narrow streets of Old Montreal will bring you as close is possible without leaving North America, besides Quebec city (photos), to ambiance that is usually found in European cities (discover). Stylish boutiques and restaurants as well as art galleries are enriching already prestigious windows of stone build houses.

Montreal hosted 1976 Summer Olympic Games and it is host to next events: the Tennis Masters, the International Jazz (photos), Film, Comedy and Fireworks Festivals, as well to the Formula One race – Ile St. Helene and Ile Notre Dame (photos).

Video clip and frequently updated large collection of photographs in our photo galleries will tell you more then words about Montreal.

• frequently updated photo galleries:

Intro to our ultimate photo guide to Montreal

Photo guide – Where to go, what to see, what to do?

Facing Old Port Montreal are two islands in St. Lawrence river, Ile St. Helene and Ile Notre Dame…

Saint Joseph’s Oratory is a pilgrimage site for numerous believers from around the world…

Borough Lachine featuring René-Lévesque Park, on the Lac Saint Luis…

Flowers in Montreal parks, private gardens, blossoming in spring or summer they inspire us help us brake away from the winter… Montreal flowers photo gallery…

Coming soon: Mont Royal photo gallery

Indoor fun for kids in and around Montreal!

Coming soon…

Featured on photos is festival held in 2010:

Access to the Festival is FREE and features among other activities inflatable structures, shows, music, singing, dancing, team games, different work shops, face painting, etc.

In 2010 Children’s festival was held on Park Jean Drapeau from Aug. 13 – 15, 9am-6pm.

Islands are one big park of nature named Parc Jean-Drapeau. Easiest access to the Islands would be via public transit and it’s metro – yellow line, stop Jean-Drapeau, or by car via Jacques Cartier bridge.

île Notre-Dame is in 1960s man made island.

On the Ile St. Helene is also Biosphere – environment museum, aquatic complex with swimming pool and La Ronde amusement park.

On Ile Notre-Dame is circuit Gilles Villeneuve were Canadian Grand prix is held, Olympic basin – rowing lake with stadium, Jean-Drapeau beach on Lac des Regates and Montreal casino. Parc Jean-Drapeau is part of pristine nature that Montrealers like to enjoy throughout the year. During summer months on the islands is also held number of open air concerts.

More about activities in and around Montreal…

Fill free to join us!

Until Roman expansion in early years of A.D. (Anno Domini), on the eastern coast of Adriatic sea lived Illyrian tribe called the Dalmatae. Romans successfully conquered Illyrian lands of Dalmatia and Panonia as well as most of the Europe. Dalmatia had just become yet another Roman province for many centuries, or until collapse of Roman Empire.

Romans in Dioklecian Palace in Split, Dalmatia

Since then many rulers claimed Dalmatia, Byzantine empire right after Romans, Croats settled at that same time and ruled from there with it’s Kingdom, just to be followed by expansion of Hungarian crown, then Venetian Republic, even under Napoleon rule had been for few years, to be replaced by Austrian crown and that lasted until 1918. Of course, twentieth century was not any different.

Rulers (and dreamers) were changing but Croats endured and modern day Dalmatia is located in the Republic of Croatia, Central-Europe. Dalmatia stretches from island of Rab and southern part of Velebit mountain range, located on the northwest coastline, to the most southeastern part of Croatia (map), Prevlaka, overlooking the Bay of Kotor.

More inland, behind all the coastal marinas, ports, towns, cities and their beaches is the hinterland called Dalmatian Zagora, place of unique natural beauty (also featured on our photographs and videos).

Dalmatian Zagora photo gallery:

How to get there?

For us, entry point to Croatia (the vacation destination) is Zagreb airport, well connected with most of the European cities. In your case you may want to skip the continental part of the country and choose one of direct flights to the coastal airports in Pula or Rijeka, located in Istria and Kvarner, or airports in Dalmatia – Split, Zadar and Dubrovnik.

Dalmatia on the Adriatic sea

Another option preferred by millions of European tourists, because close proximity to most of the Europeans, is drive by car to Adriatic coast, also bus and train. Croatia is crisscrossed by net of modern highways, in part featured on our video.

* Did you know that speed limit on the Croatian highways is set at 130km/h (80mi).

Cities like Split have ferry connection to many of Islands as well as to the city of Ancona in Italy, located on the west coast of the Adriatic sea.

Our short intro to Dalmatia and it’s more then a 1000 Islands along the Croatian (map) coastline we’ll present with few travel notes, a lot of photos and few videos shoot since 1997.

Non of our posts content is ever final and that goes for this one too, new material is added frequently.

Intro to Dalmatia photo gallery:

More photos from Dalmatia…

After landing in Zagreb (video) we do spend week or two in and around the city rediscovering it’s old and discovering it’s new, while in the same time enjoying delicious continental dishes or Mediterranean specialties available in the restaurants, or found in the local food markets or on a store shelf’s. In the same time we are also exploring surrounding towns, like Samobor (travel notes), and Zagroje region (photos) before we get on the road for the coast.

Dalmatia and Islands

Largest cities on the Dalmatian coast are Split (photos), Zadar, Sibenik and Dubrovnik (photos). All of them are marvelous historic jewels just as countless smaller towns, to mention few, Nin, Biograd na moru, Pakostane, Pirovac, Skradin, Trogir, Omis, Brela, Baska Voda, Makarska, Ploce, Cavtat, etc.

Among the numerous islands along the coast, most of them are not inhabited, with Kornati islands (one of the Croatian national parks) being sailors dream come true. Island of Pag, via bridge connected to the mainland with it’s Moon like landscape may just surprise you with it’s world over know cheese. Other Islands, including Rab, Brac, Hvar, Korcula, Vis and peninsula Peljesac will also offer you a gift created by Sun, scarce earth covered by white stone and generations of hands who created some of the greatest grape-varieties on Earth.

On the road

As already mentioned, 380km of highway cutting through extraordinary nature (watch video; Split – Zagreb, 2005 highway drive) brings us just under four hours to Split and since our final destination was Brela on Makarska riviera we added additional 1/2 hour to our trip.

After first visit to Skradin and National Park Krka in 2009, Bill Gates recommends it

Dobro došli / Welcome!

Right there, in between crystal clear sea and Biokovo mountain is seated beautiful Makarska riviera (video). Town Makarska is the biggest on riviera among tens of smaller tourist places that are very popular among European tourists. Some other larger towns on riviera are Baska Voda, Brela – photos and video, Podgora, Tucepi, Zivogosce, etc.

Almost every town has its own marina, numerous hotels and private accommodations, villas for rent, many restaurants, which will serve you with well-known sea food specialties as well as with regional cuisine like prosciutto and delicious local cheese served with great local wines (once you are at it you may also try some of the south-European specialties like burek and ćevapčići (close relative to Kebab).

Some of the islands are just a stone trow away from the coast, with many local tour operators offering a day trip to explore Islands of Brac, Hvar and others (photos). On some of the boats grilled fish is prepared and served for lunch with local wine and just before the meal drink called rakia – snaps or grappa (fragrant grape brandy with around 40% of alcohol).

Boat excursion to the Islands of Hvar and Brac returning back to Brela

Brela travel notes, photos and video…

By staying on mainland or one of the Islands you’ll most likely find relaxing atmosphere and enjoy your stay on the beach, but there is plenty of opportunities to explore and be active. If climbing Mount Biokovo would be to much of an effort then you may be for some white water rafting on the Cetina river, rent-a-boat, jet-ski, go boat paragliding, etc. If you wake up to a cloudy day and northern wind called Bura then you should definitely visit some of the neighboring towns, try new local dish maybe, or visit a museum. If ancient Romans could conquer it all 2000 years ago then visit to Split shouldn’t be that hard from Makarska riviera in our case. It’s well worth it to park your car on the Riva and walk the streets of Roman emperor Diocletian who had retired in to a newly build for this purpose palace, few kilometers from, then Roman settlement of Solona.

More Croatia in travel notes, on photos and video…

Just outside of Split you can travel in to Middle Ages by visiting fortification of Klis. No matter where you choose to spend you vacation in Dalmatia or on the Adriatic islands, every city or town could be pleasant surprise, so do not be afraid to pick a guide or ask locals where to go and explore.

Never enough…

Once we have reached Makarska riviera how could we resist and not to continue all the way to Dubrovnik, on the same Magistrala road with even more spectacular view (also featured on our Dubrovnik video) passing through river Neretva delta and its numerous fruit plantations that include oranges.

Dubrovnik is located on the south of Dalmatia in the Republic of Croatia. In the background is Lokrum island

Dubrovnik (photos) has been called many times Mediterranean jewel and there are thousands of years of history that will confirm this statement. Cultural events are held on open air throughout the summer months. We were impressed as many before us with the beauty and hospitality of the city and it’s citizens.

Since 19th century Istria, Dalmatian coast and the Adriatic Islands have been one of the favorite destinations for European tourists, and today are visited by millions of tourists every year including those from Germany, Austria, Italy, Czech Republic, France, Poland, Slovenia, Hungary, Switzerland, Sweden, Holland & others.

If you decide to see more than Croatia and take some of many Mediterranean cruises you’ll most likely stop for a day visit in Dubrovnik, or Island of Korcula, maybe Split or some other pleasant surprise for first time visitor.

Hope you’ll enjoy it as much we did, and if you wonder what’s cooking in the Croatian kitchen…

All the regions of Croatia will introduce you to a blend of Central-European and Mediterranean culture, cuisine and hospitality.

City of Sveta Nedelja is located on the southern bank of Sava river, in between Zagreb, capital city of Croatia and city of Samobor (travel notes). City had grown in last few decades when many new families and small businesses found their home here. It’s close proximity to Zagreb, connected with by highway beside few alternative roads, makes it preferable home making location surrounded by beautiful nature and fields growing grain and fresh produce that can be purchased on local food market in Samobor.

Photo gallery features images from Sveta Nedelja center, Strmec and Novaki:

† Church of the Holy Trinity dominates center of the city, along with one of the schools, medical center and on the main Ante Starčević square, post office and city council offices.

Quoted words in the front of Church of the Holy Trinity in Sveta Nedelja:

Year of construction: 1768 – 1786
Architecture: The church is a significant example of the late Baroque style. This is a single native structure with a rectangular layout, with an apse termination and side bell tower on the main facade.
Interior: The dome is vaulted and its interior is decorated with ornamented stucco mouldings. The church inventory includes the main altar dating back to 1811, the side altar with the stone statue of the Sorrowful Mother of God – Pieta from the 17th century, the pulpit and organ from the year 1800.
Distinctiveness: The Sveta Nedelja parish was first mentioned in 1334, and the parish church was described in 1501 as Gothic structure which has suffered over time. The parish priest in this church from 1760 to 1787 was Mihalj Šilobod Bolšić, writer of first Croatian arithmetic book.

More from Croatia…

Prior to 20th century and WWI, for centuries Ottoman empire (discover Turkey) was stretching from Middle East (map) to, at the times, all the way to outskirts of Vienna – Austria (discover), and obviously had left behind cultural, traditional and religious stamp, and of course culinary dishes. Ćevapčići is specialty similar to the world over know kebab and as kebab itself ćevapčići are prepared in many different ways that could change from country to country, region to region, city to city.

Ćevapčići, close relative of Kebab, great BBQ meal

Let’s introduce you to a basic meat mix for ćevapčići who grilled on BBQ will make your family and friends ask for more.

Ingredients:

• 1kg (2 lb) of ground beef
• 1 Tablespoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of ground pepper
• 1 teaspoon of red paprika
• few cloves of chopped garlic
• 1-2 Tablespoons of oil

• (optional) 2 Tablespoons of chopped onions
• (optional) add an egg
• (optional) add to the meat mix ground lamb

Preparation:

1. Into a large mixing bowl add the meat and all of the ingredients.
2. Mix well all together.
3. Make thumb size sausage shaped ćevapčići.
4. Place them on a hot surface on your BBQ, turn once when one side is done.

White bread

Instead of bread, flat-bread or pita is often served, in Croatian (travel notes) language known as lepinja or somun.

Related: White bread recipe

Bon Appétit!

Beside already well known coastal belt stretching along the blue Adriatic sea, Dalmatia and Croatia’s thousand Islands, here you’ll also come across places that may be off beaten path for majority of tourist heading to their favorite beach on the coast.

Croatia has an amazing coastline along the Adriatic sea.

Throughout WorldThroughNews.com you can Discover Croatia on photos, video, travel notes or simply by following next links:

• Brela
• Dalmatia
• Dubrovnik
• Knin fortress
• Krka canyon…
• Fortifications and Castles in Croatia 1, 2
• Makarska riviera
• Samobor
• Split – Diocletian’s Palace
• Sveta Nedelja
• Zagorje
• Zagreb in summer on local lakes and swimming pools
• Zagreb (travel notes), Jarun (photos), Mirogoj (photos)…

All the regions of Croatia will introduce you to a blend of Central-European and Mediterranean culture, cuisine and hospitality. Historic locations with architecture and archeological findings stretching back for thousands of years if not blend in today’s cities can be found in most amazing places surrounded by pristine beauty of the nature.

Croatian gastronomic dishes stretch from continental central-European to Mediterranean flavors of Istria and Dalmatia

Every region of Croatia has its own distinct culinary specialties. Despite of differences a lot of dishes is prepared all across the country, sometimes in slight variations. Answer to that can be found in different cultural and political powers influencing different parts of Croatia throughout the history.

Hope you’ll enjoy it as much we did!

History is teaching us that at the turn of 4th century Roman emperor Diocletian has had build this palace he retired to, just four kilometers away from Salona, then the main city of the Roman province of Dalmatia. Diocletian’s palace is located in the center of Split, on the waterfront. Throughout the centuries got incorporated into what become Split who is for many tourists final destination as well as transition hub connected to the rest of the World via air, ferry, train, bus and highway.

Diocletian’s palace, just as Salona, another great archeological site in today’s Split, is must see when spending your vacation in some of the towns or islands near by Split. Excuse yourself from the beach and walk the streets, if not those of Split then any neighboring town and you wont regret.

Diocletian’s palace and Splitska riva on photography:

Palace itself is surrounded by numerous restaurants from which terrace’s you can hear at any time sounds of couple of dozens different languages while enjoying Mediterranean cuisine mixed with local flavors.
Right there you’ll find entrance into Diocletian’s palace, first its substructure with countless rooms showcasing different artifacts, and then, once you find your way out, stairs will lead you up and out on the streets of the palace where you too can walk the same streets Romans did 1600 years ago.

More from Dalmatia… or elsewhere in Croatia…

Brela beach.

For many who come here from around the Europe, some as pilgrims every year for many decades now, this is the place where all of the problems of everyday life will disperse in the light breeze, with sounds of crickets and under the crystal clear waves of the Adriatic sea.

Brela, on Makarska riviera, southern Dalmatia on the Adriatic sea.

Someone may say “location, location, location” and that may be right as already described but we have to add to it Islands of Brac and Hvar (photos) who are daily provoking you to take a day trip with one of the organized tours (blue boat featured on one of our photos), then just south on the same beach, lively town of Baska Voda with it’s own charms and of course Makarska (all featured on our video) as the largest center on the riviera.

Just north from Brela is city of Omis and Split as the largest Dalmatian city dating back to the Roman empire with well preserved Diocletian’s Palace (photo gallery), charming people and restaurants for every taste. Split, beside being connect with rest of the Europe via modern highway (our video clip taped in 2005) and by air, also has direct ferry connection to many of Croatian islands as well as to Ancona on the other side of Adriatic, in Italy.

Photo gallery:

Previously featured Brela photos and video:

• Brela video (2005/2006)
• Brela photo gallery I
• Brela photo gallery II

More photos, video and travel notes from Croatia…

I just hope that you’ll enjoy it as we did during our, so far, four vacations in Brela!