Christmas time on Hvar

Traditional cake - Pašurate [image source]

It is not likely that you will have a 'white' Christmas on our sunny island, but if you are looking for an authentic experience of Hvar's glorious tradition, it's a perfect time of the year to visit us. What is special about Christmas on Hvar? Home made cakes, family gatherings, singing Charismas songs, visiting old churches and decorating the Christmas tree do not make us so much different from any other part of Croatia or elsewhere in the Christian world, but what local people still cherish with great pride and grace is a spirit of old times and tradition which come alive year after year at Christmas time. The time seems to stop for a while just to remind us of the real values of life. By coming home for Christmas, we come back for what we left behind – for the spirit of family, spirituality, tradition, friends, all the tastes and sounds that remind us of our childhood and make us feel peaceful and happy.
The day before Christmas is called “Badnjak” or “Bodnji don”, if you are a Hvar native. By tradition this is the day when we decorate a Christmas tree. Most attention is paid to the Nativity scene which exhibit, below the Christmas tree, figures representing the infant Jesus, his mother Mary, and Mary's husband, Joseph. Usually nativity scenes include other characters from the Biblical story such as shepherds and angels. The figures are usually displayed in a stable, or cave and around it.
Hvar women are traditionally engaged in making traditional cakes called pašurate (look and taste like mini donuts). Bakalar (codfish) or any other fish is served for lunch, and the whole family starts to get ready for “Ponoćka”, the midnight Mass, celebrating the birth of Jesus. Singing traditional Christmas songs a capela, by amateur church choirs composed of men, women and children of all generations, greatly enrich the distinctively festive mood of “Ponoćka”.
Christmas itself is a family day. Gifts are exchanges together with the best wishes on Christmas (Sretan Božić = Merry Christmas). After the morning Mass, everyone gathers round the table to enjoy the rich Christmas menu. Meat dishes are served at this occasion after which a whole spectrum of home made cakes follows. It is common to spend the Christmas day at home with family in festive yet intimate atmosphere.
Since it is time of giving, let us share with you a recipe of a traditional Hvar cake called Pašurate. It is very simple but delicious. Hope you will enjoy it.
¼ boiling water
salt
2 teaspoons of sugar
1 tea cup of rough flour
yeast
1 egg
Lemon peel
Orange peel
A little bit of fresh orange juice
Vanilla sugar
raisins
Cinnamon
2 teaspoons of rum
2 teaspoons of grappa
A bit of fine flour
Leave it to raise
Use a teaspoon to shape it and they fry in boiling oil

Merry Christmas! Sretan Božić!

Need more information? Don't hesitate to write on our Facebook wall and find us on Twitter!

The Total Package – New Year's Eve in Hvar

Excited for New Year's? We are! Look at the pretty stars...

New Year's Eve is just around the corner - how will you be ringing in 2011?

It’s traditionally a time to spend with family and loved ones. Why not break from the ordinary and take the celebrations elsewhere this year? Travel to sunny Hvar and considering staying at Suncani Hvar’s Adriana Hotel this year for New Year’s Eve – we’ll have everything prepared for you.

Be Pampered and Relax

Suncani Hvar Hotels invites you for a New Year's celebration at Adriana, hvar spa hotel! For only 198 euros per room, this special New Year's offer includes:

 2 Nights / 3 days deluxe accommodation
 Welcome Drink
 Daily breakfast buffet
 Sensori glow steam treatment at the luxurious Sensori Spa

In addition to these amazing extras, you can enjoy our year-round rooftop seawater swimming pool and multi-level garden terraces with stunning views over the sea and marina. It's definitely time to spoil yourself with this package and ring in the new year in luxurious style!

Get ready to dress up for the New Year's Eve Gala Dinner

Don't fret on not knowing what to do in a foreign city waiting for the clock to strike 12. It's time to party at Hvar's hot spot, The Top Bar, which overlooks the yacht harbour. It features the latest domestic and foreign hits and you can enjoy a New Year's Eve meal specially prepared by the chef and his team at the Val Marina restaurant. It’s only 70 euros per person to enjoy the delicious New Year's Eve buffet dinner.

Some of the menu items include (we are already drooling): Dalmatian smoked ham with marinated goat cheese on a bed of rocket salad, Seppia risotto, Turkey medallions with mushroom sauce, Black Forest Cake, and much, much more.

Suncani Hvar Hotels New Year's Gift to You

We invite you to be our guests and experience a complimentary, yes complimentary sailing tour! Sail around the Hvar aquatorium in old wooden sailing boats with authentic lateen sails. Ring in the New Year by the seas.

Now this is definitely something to tweet about. Need more information? Don't hesitate to write on our Facebook wall and find us on Twitter!

For more information and reservations please contact us at reservations@suncanihvar.com or call +385 (0)21 750750.

Have a very Merry Hvar Christmas!

Lit Up for Christmas

Christmas isn't Christmas without some holiday shopping. It can be stressful with the packed shopping centres, endless choices, and overly eager sales people. So why not make it easier for yourself and embrace the gift challenge with some smart choices this year?

Discover Suncani Hvar gift certificates. They are the perfect present because anyone – your sister or your mother who likes to be pampered, your brother-in-law who is all about food – can use it towards pretty much anything Suncani Hvar Hotels offer. Gift certificates can be used in the following ways:

 Guest room reservations
 Sensori spa treatments at hotel Adriana
 Dining at one of Suncani Hvar Hotels restaurants
 Additional services provided by Suncani Hvar Hotels

To purchase a gift certificate, email reservations@suncanihvar.com or visit our website for more information

Been good this year and want to get something special for yourself? Leave behind the snow and come into Hvar for restful and relaxing holiday. Consider putting the 2 night spa package at our hotel Adriana in your own stocking this year. The package includes 2 nights with breakfast in the superior room, welcome drink, 2 dinners in the Val Marina Restaurant, usage of Adriana's swimming pool and fitness room, and a relaxing spa treatment of your choice. You can also get a FREE upgrade subject to availability.

To find out more about the 2 night spa package, visit our website!

What is the perfect holiday vacation for you? We'd love to find out – write on our Facebook wall or tweet us with your answer!

Enjoy Olive Oil While You're at Hvar

Olive on Hvar [Image Source]

Other than the divine lavender, olive oil is another famous product that is made on this beautiful island of sunshine.

Olive trees have been cultivated for over a century on the island. Olive groves bordered by grey stones surround Hvar Island and you can see beautiful olive trees everywhere. Olive trees are known to be symbolic for hope, peace, and rejuvenation. They also reflect on the magnificence which is the Mediterranean.

Olive is an evergreen plant which has been grown for thousands of years for its eatable fruit or the raw plant from which the oil is made out of. The olive tree gives young plants in such a way that it easily rejuvenates the old tree. It was said that a pigeon brought Noah an olive twig after a flood as a sign that the water was beginning to withdraw. An olive twig in the beak of a white pigeon is known today as a symbol of peace.

Olive oil is the healthiest fat and plays a major part in the Mediterranean style diet. It is recognized to have health benefits due to both its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and its high content of anti-oxidative substances. It is believed to lower the risk of heart disease, control cholesterol, provide protection from certain cancers, and reduce inflammation associated with arthritis. Olive oil’s benefits make it a popular choice among people who are health-conscious.

Olive harvesting season in Hvar is from October to November – and natives on Hvar consider this God's chosen time. Suncani Hvar is home to more than 350 olive trees found on its properties. This year, we had a very successful season, producing almost 500 litres of olive oil. Each year, hotel employees share in picking the olives – the same olives and olive oil that are served to guests in our restaurants.

Suncani Hvar offers the Olive Harvest Picnic where you can enjoy the fresh air, beautiful scenery and a marvellous harvest picnic under the olive trees. You can also choose to go to an olive oil mill, where you can observe and learn more about the art of creating some of the world's finest olive oils. You will experience the legacy of the Hvar culture and love this island of passion.

Together with the Agricultural Association, Eko Hvar has opened a shop specializing in Hvar island products. The shop is a popular place for locals and tourists who appreciate a one-stop shop for nearly everything that is produced on the island –its famous wine, lavender, rosemary, oregana, soaps, honey, dried figs, other indigenous Hvar products, and of course olive oil which is produced in traditional way with high ecological standards. Many tourists purchase olive oil as a useful souvenir.

Do you have a favourite recipe using olive oil? Comment below, share it with us on our Facebook page or better yet, tweet us on Twitter!

Dobar dan. Speak the Language here in Hvar

[Photo Source]

Today, it is possible to travel around the world and speak nothing but English the whole time. However, making the effort to speak a few words or simple phrases of a foreign language can make the travel experience that much more authentic, fulfilling, and memorable.
Embrace the foreign language part of your learning experience. You never know when you'll need it: when you're shopping, asking for directions, or ordering in a restaurant. Not sure what to expect? Check out this Youtube Video of some basic Croatian greetings.
Now that you have a sense of what the language is like, take a shot at these key Croatian phrases if you ever travel to Hvar:
Hello
Bok

How are you?
Kako Ste?

Fine Thank you, and you?
Dobro Hvala, a vi?

Good Morning
Dobro Jutro

Good Afternoon
Dobar Dan

Good Evening
Dobra Vecer

Good night
Laku noc

Pleased to meet you
Drago mi je

Thank you
Hvala

You're welcome
Molim

Good, alright, fine
Dobro

Please
Molim

Good Bye
Do Vidjenja

Click on this link to the BBC language page where you can learn more Croatian! You can print the phrases out and download mp3 phrases to read along! Don't be afraid to learn and speak Croatian out loud. The more you repeat it, the more familiar you will be.
Is there a particular phrase you would like to learn? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!

Some people may say Hvar is Sensual…We say it definitely is.

Relax and Feel
Sensuous [adjective]: perceived by or affecting the senses

Not only is Hvar a beautiful island, but when you leave, you’ll have memories of this place that you will never forget. Playing to all your senses, here are some ways that Hvar will impress your nose, eyes, mouth, and ears:

Smell – Grab a bag of “Lavandula Croatica” or a bottle of lavender oil. It’s one of Hvar’s most famous souvenirs and it will continuously remind you of the island. Hvar has fields of lavender and their fragrance is a special experience to visitors. They can be bought in souvenir and perfume shops in the town. It’s recommended for stress-relief and headaches. Just smell it, it’ll make you go “oooohhh.”

Hear - Other than the beautiful Croatian language, there are many young musical talents that you'll hear in Hvar. Check out this page of music videos of singers from Hvar – the video near the bottom are young performers singing traditional Dalmatian songs with no instruments, they’re so good!

See – The beautiful crystal blue sea and pebble beaches are there for your eyes to see. Visit various attractions on Hvar such as the Hvar’s Cathedral and Fortica Fortress to take in some architectural history. Visit the Main Square and visit the local souvenir shops for some fantastic colourful jewellery that you can take home to your family and friends. Don’t forget to also come see our Adriana Hotel, our modern and sensual designs will take your breath away!

Taste – You will never forget Dalmatian cuisine. Consists mainly of seafood, they are often cooked with spices, olive oil, garlic, and lemon. One of our must-try dishes is the black risotto which is made with squid ink sauce. Of course, don’t forget to pair your meal with a local wine from Hvar. We recently held our wine festival where we introduced the world to our local wines!

Feel – Get on a yacht and feel the crisp clean air and the warmth from the sun. Feel energized after hiking or a bicycle trip around the town. Most importantly, feel the relaxation that you rarely experience, whether it’s from lying on the beach, windsurfing on the waters, or from that massage that you greatly deserve.

What do you look forward to the most when you travel: tasting something new, seeing some historical sights, or just the feeling of relaxation?
Tell us on Facebook and Twitter!

The Top Bar – spectacular view and best clubbing on Hvar island!

The night life in Hvar is abundant and colorful. It is becoming the town that never sleeps, also known as the party town that is gaining more and more attention! So put on your best outfit and come visit one of the premiere nightlife venues: The Top Bar.

The Top Bar has a wrap-around view of Hvar, the yacht harbour, bay, and the Paklinski islands. Located on the Adriana hotel's rooftop, the Bar has multilevel garden terraces and amazing designs that combine luxury and relaxation.

Sip on our cocktails and visit the Upper Deck VIP Lounge, sink into a modern sofa, or dance the night away with other jet-setters. Drink and relax, and let your tensions melt away.

The Top Bar is also a member of the Discover Hvar! Club, which is a special program designed by Suncani Hvar Hotels allowing you to enjoy a 10% discount at selected establishments when you charge food, beverages, or services to your room with your club card.

Here are some of our favourite cocktails and bites from The Top Bar:

DRINKS
Bartender's Choice – Adriana: Prosek, Walnut, Prosecco, Lime

Long Drink – Caipirinha: Cachaca/Vodka, Fresh Lime, Brown Sugar

Non-alcoholic – Top Smoothie: Melon, Papaja Syrup, Orange Juice, Grenadina

FOOD
Appetizer – Lobster Carpaccio: Beef Carpaccio filled with Adriatic Lobster Meat

Sandwich – Caprese Panini: Ciabatta bread, Mozzarella, Tomato, and Pesto Genovese

From the Sea – Black Risotto with Seafood: Age-Old Recipe of Risotto Painted with Squid Ink

Click here to visit The Top Bar page and view the menus!

Do you have a favourite cocktail that you think we should add to our list? We love some creativity! Tell us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter!