Is Opatija riviera unique?

For more than 170 years, Opatija and its riviera is known for tourism and hospitality for guests from Middle Europe, but also those from Balkans. There was always some special charm in our architecture that had some aristocratic shade - something that was not found in other Adriatic towns on Croatian coast. We were lucky that human urge for luxury was stronger than socialist utopia so that we still have all of that architecture preserved. All but hotel Ambasador that was placed, some would say, directly from Mars to the Opatija centre. However, if socialism didn't destroy cultural heritage, we may always depend on pure, filtered capitalism. Top floor of the oldest hotel in Opatija is new - it's made of tin and it is also placed there from Mars. If pyramid in front of Louvre made some point - there are Croatian arhitects and Ministry of culture to use the idea - just in a lot cheaper and less estetic way. But we may squeeze few more tourists in, that's what it's all about.

City of Opatija passed few important decisions that will forbid anarchy in street signs and air conditioning units that were placed all over building fronts in Opatija. It is not easy to explain the difference between well preserved buildings and those packed with signs and antennas to someone who never saw anything different. But try to put your head up and look at the buildings in Vienna, or even closer, in Zagreb centre. You don't need to be rich to put on a new facade - just don't ruin the one you have with the things that don't belong there.

As the intention of this blog is to point out some impressions rather that elaborate on the topic (even if I had sufficient education to do so), I will withold other remarks which would turn this the wrong way. I will just emphasize - Opatija riviera IS unique. Architecture is unique, nature is unique, we are almost the deepest point of Mediterranean sea impressing in the Europe continent. It means we are close to all those countries that don't have such a blessing - Mediterranean sea. We are the crossroad of Europe and the Balkans, crossroad of the continent and the seaside, we are the bridge between two divided parts of Christianity, we are the threshold of Islamic culture in Europe (similar to Spain).

And we are embarassed of chevapi.

As I said, I would rather not elaborate more. Opatija riviera is unique. This is said with both reason and from the heart. We just need to solve the identity crisis and embrace the richness that is knokcking on our door for centuries.

For example, try the chevapi. And then tell me if you felt less European. :-)