A Croatian Opera Lesson From......"Let 3"?

Let 3 (Gotta get me one of those fake moustaches one of these days)

Sources: www.muzika.hr

Related sources: everything-you-wanted-to-know-about

www.rirock.com

www.ufo.com.hr

www.zlatnakoogla.com

www.jutarnji.hr

www.slobodnadalmacija.hr

www.nacional.hr

www.groupie.hr

vijesti.gorila.hr

www.tportal.hr

wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_3

http://www.myspace.com/let3

www.last.fm/music/Let+3




Ok, this one is gonna be a good post, some history mixed with modern music.  My next on was going to be about the New Years celebrations in different cities in Croatia, like a previous one I did HERE.   But this one is going to touch upon a few subjects.  I was just thinking how I would love to be at this Let3 tonight in Zagreb, where they will be playing at the 'Tvornica Kulture'.  (Heard on the news here they're having some typical politically correct, multi-faith, free hat and whistle, ho-hum musical acts that I've never heard of playing dowtown tonight.  I have a strong feeling they're going to sound something like THIS.)....:/

Their CD "Jedina" (Only One) from 2000.

Now, if youre not Croatian, then I know you've never heard of this band. If you are of Croatian background, living on this side of the pond especially, chances are that only a few have heard of them either. (Again, depending on which city/area you live in.)   But in Croatia, and other neighbouring countries,  they have developed a cult following over the years that has made them extremely popular, especially with the young people. There's something about the lyrics, that if you don't understand Croatian, you just wont get it.   Might as well go back to your local mix station with messages brought to you by the makers of ..whatever, or just go hang around a fucko mall food court. Let3 are definitely not the kind of act to bring your grandparents to see.  That's a given. But then again, I've come across some very unusual, eccentric grandparents in my time.

An interesting article that goes along with this photo from www.jutarnji.hr

Surprisingly to some though,  they've won a number of awards over the years, including  Best album of the year, Best performance of the year, Best video of the year, Band of the year, to name just a few. So I guess they must be doing something right. I went excitedly to a couple concerts around here that were supposed to be awesome, really hyped up, but they were yawnfests.  As a single guy, I think this is the band I'd pay to see on a New Years Eve in Croatia. These guys are already legends, and I'm sure down the road will be remembered as one of the best, original, and entertaining  acts to come out of the Croatian music scene. One is always guaranteed to have a memorable time for the price of their ticket. Very memorable.

There was talk in the past about a UK tour, but it didn't get off the ground and the tour was cancelled. There were protests that there is no room in the UK for crazy acting people.

There was talk of Let3 touring in Calgary, Canada, however most of the coffee shop crowd was more interested in Justin Beiber's leaked penis photos, the new mint chocolate chip muffins and that new line of polo shirts with the embroidered horsey's on it.

 The downtown Calgary gang though was more interested about the new mall food court rumoured to be refurbished soon with the all you can eat egg foo yung store, and the penis on that new guy who worked at the nearby samba dancing lesson school as well. 

When rumours surfaced of a possible summer Mid-East and Afghanistan tour in 2002, protestors immediatley went out to let their feelings be shown in the streets.

Just talk of a 90 minute set in Jerusalem was enough to ruffle many peoples feathers.

In 2008 Let3 had plans to do a mini U.S. tour.  Here protestors in Salt Lake City were demanding an end to tour plans, dubbing Let3 as agents of Beelzebub.

An American Televangelist movement, led by Peter Popoff, promised that for a faith seed gift they would use divine power to have a swarm of bee's attack Let3.  Each donator was also promised a free prayer cloth with the likeness of St. Esmachiah of Ramath-gilead on it, a photo to hang in the bedroom and phone numbers to good local hookers.

Protestors in other U.S. cities were letting it be known that they were just plain fucking angry.

Their CD "El Dorado" from 1991.

Best way to describe them in my opinion, is that they are like a hybrid of a Croatian Monty Python comedy act meets Rammstein meets Red Hot Chilli Peppers meets Turbonegro meets zany Croatian Kids In The Hall comedy act, but stepped up a notch or 2. That's about the best I can do to describe them.  Over the years they have gone through different looks, incorporating different elements into their music and stage presentation, holding shocking and controversial concerts, releasing controversial videos and CD covers, sexuallly explicit lyrics, concerts and politically tounge in cheek political innuendos. They've even performed on stage with other more popular mainstream Croatian pop singers on national television. But the fans just keep on coming to their shows no matter what.  Getting a ticket to one of their shows is sometimes like gold because you never know what zaniness Let3 will come up with next.

 Some of the artwork from the CD booklet for "Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka" (Bombardment of Serbia and Čačak) with the city of Dubrovnik in the background for sarcastic effect. (For those not in the know, Dubrovnik was shelled by Serb led Yugoslav troops after the declaration of Slovenian and Croatian independence) The left side features a Serb and Albanian kissing each other. (Serbs and Albanians are protoganists in the Kosovo drama, even to this day. Very provocative)  The first single of the album was "Rado ide Srbin u vojnike (Pička)..English- "Gladly will the Serb enlist (Cunt)  The portrayals of the Albanian and especially Serb in no way supports the wearing of Srb garb or Srb pointy/horned toe opanci or their foreign policies.

To paraphrase Forrest Gump.."a Let3 concert is like a box of chocolates, you never know what youre gonna get"  (No gerbils or quadrupeds have ever been harmed during the filming of any of their videos)

They frequently use sexuality to outrage the public. They often perform naked except for muzzles on their penises. The video for their first single "Rado ide Srbin u vojnike (Pička)" (trans. Gladly will the Serb enlist (Cunt) a play on Josif Runjanin's song "Rado Srbin ide u vojnike") for the 2005 album Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka ( Bombardment of Serbia and Čačak) features extras dressed in Serbian and Albanian national costume - masturbating)  Mostly they sing a lot of songs dealing with issues or subjects a lot of their fans can relate to, real life stuff, but all their songs are sung in Croatian.  They're not really interested in going on world tours or hitting Top 40 charts around the world.  That's not why they formed the band years ago.  There's lots of stuff about them in Croatian media and music circles, but you will have to learn Croatian to read them.  However, you can find them on iTunes, Myspace, LastFM and other places.  I wanted to buy some of their cd's, but they were sold out, so I bought one of their Live DVD's when I was in Rijeka this past summer.  Next best thing to being at one of their shows.....

"Živa Pička" (Live Cunt) For English only speakers this title and some of the songs may at first glance seem misogynistic, but they're not.  Let 3 have a large female fan base also.

But it's not all out of ordinary costumes, fake moustaches and zaniness. Let3 over the years have taken part in numerous humanitarian projects.  Here is just one poster for a concert they took part in with proceeds going to help children with cerebral palsy.

There's too much to get into here with regards to their entire history and discography, so I'll just add some basic information from Wikipedia and a few of their videos.  Getting back to the Let3/history part for a moment, this first video is hilarious, and a history lesson as well.  (Here's a history lesson for Croatians worldwide. Yes, you are going to get a Croatian history lesson about opera that you may otherwise not have known, surprisingly all  thanks to Let3)   The video is based on a comic opera by Croatian composer and writer Jakov Gotovac.

 Postal stamp from Croatia commemorating the life of the composer/writer Jakov Gotovac. (I added the moustache to keep the Let3 theme)

  

An opera that many have heard at Croatian events and music festivals on this side of the pond I'm sure. As part of an entire opera orchestra, or part of a Kolo dance event, but may never have known really much about the music, the name of the piece, who wrote it, what it's about.  The opera "Ero s onoga svijeta" (Ero the Joker) is just one of his opera's that is written around Croatian folk themes.  He also wrote opera's themed around the Croatian King Petar Svacic and Mila Gojsalic, a famous Croatian heroine.  However "Eros s onoga svijeta" has been a particularly popular favorite of the Croatian National Theatre in Croatia, as well as  performed in other theatres and countries abroad.  Here's a kolo folk dance version of the opera from the coastal city of Split last year. I'm sure the main catchy chorus may ring a bell with some Croatians out there....

This is an orchestral version of the opera song from Croatian television.

Now, here is Let 3's video of the same opera song, from their album "Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka" (Bombardment of Serbia and Čačak)  At the time a provocative release with tounge in cheek humour regarding Serbia.  Complete with a couple of the members even prankingly dressed in Serb and Albanian national costume. (Serbs are also not on best of terms with Albanians)  The footage of  the gigantic Serbian horned toe opanci shoe is hilarious. 

So there you have it folks.  A  little opera/history lesson compliments from the most least likely of sources, the Croatian act "Let3".  Their songs, videos, eccentricity and energy may partly explain the groups popularity even outside of Croatia.  Like I said, I'm sure their name will go down in music history as one of the most original and entertaining acts to come out of Croatia.  The rest of these few videos I added are just of the band from various times over the years.

Let 3 - "Omađijaj me" from 2010 dressed as then Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor.

  "Dijete u vremenu" (Child In Time) live performance on Slovenian Television





The comical "Professor Jakov" video from 2001.


 Let 3 - Riječke Pičke (Rijeka's Cunts/Vaginas of Rijeka) A complimentary song themed about...well...self expalanatory. This footage is from their live DVD "Živa Pička" which was performed in their hometown of Rijeka.  This one is popular with the female fans from Rijeka believe it or not. Like I said before, one has to understand the lyrics and realize it's a complimentary song. For the uncensored version click HERE.




Another video from their recent Live DVD "Živa Pička" performing  "Kurcem U Čelo" (Dick in the forehead/Penis In The Forehead/Member in the Occipitofrontal..take  your pick)

Secret Zagreb Walks.....The Ghost Of Ljerka Šram?

This will be the last addition to this blog for 2011. I was just surfing around for a story about the countdown to New Years eve celebrations in Croatia. (and my own personal countdown until I leave cowtown after my studies. Too many Srb fuckos and cowtard shitfuckery for my taste) and came across this blog totally by chance. A cool blog that is oriented around little unknown facts and history of Zagreb, written by a young lady who lives there. Some of her topics regarding the less well known history of holidays and beliefs in Zagreb and Croatia were very interesting, and related to some of the things I touched upon previously regarding Croatian/Slavic Pagan Beliefs and History.

Anyway, her blog is definitely worth checking out if one is interested in things Zagreb, I mean apart from the usual sports, shopping mall, concerts, fashion and gastronomy type subjects. Lots of cool photos and posts about a variety of Zagreb topics to browse, and other links to check out. Quite a few of her photographs are of places I've visited.

I picked this story because  it's one I've never heard of before, and it sounded like the makings for some kind of movie, à la some Kate Winslet or Ralph Fiennes film, with maybe some supernatural ghost story thrown into the mix.   Ljerka Sram even has a restaurant in Zagreb named after her, complete with old photographs of her and the surrounding area.   ( After checking out their menu, it's going on my list for the next time I'm in Zagreb, it's the kind of food I grew up on as a kid)


Then I thought I'd throw in a pic from my recent stay in Zagreb just this past summer. Really wierd it up.  A photo of a friend from Spain, which I took on my first night in Zagreb. It was taken at the Ivan Mestrovic sculpture "Well of Life", which is found in front of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. I took it just before we went to meet up with her Spanish friends at the local Klub Purgeraj. (Great place)   Anyway, when I got back to Canada though, and was going through my photos,  I noticed a strange blur in the corner. (I always use a UV filter and clean my lens every time my lens cap comes off)  An image that looks uncanily like a womans face and hair. Was it a light distortion? A smudge?  Just one of those strange unexplainable anomalies?...or is it.....the haunting image and ghost of......Ljerka Šram? buhuhahaha.

Till death do us part... in Brestovac 

 

 

 

 Source: www.secret-zagreb.com

Related: www.zagreb.hr

tetamina.bloger.hr

www.visitcroatia.com.hr

www.ladysram.com



The city of Zagreb lies beneath the mountain Medvenica. The lives and lore of the city and its 'green lungs' have been interwoven in many ways. The forests of Medvednica have crawled into the city making it a curiously woody urban area. Likewise, the citizens have been influencing the mountain for centuries. One of the examples of this connection is the story of the Brestovac sanatorium. It started more than a century ago in the very center of Zagreb, and it ended on the mountain that rises above the city. It’s a true tale of love, success, philanthropy, war… and death. Ghastly events that actually took place there make a fine fit for the rumors that the sanatorium ground is haunted. Read on, and you too will wonder if there's more to these rumors.

 

The love story I'm about to tell you lasted an entire lifetime, so I'm forced to keep it short. It all begun at the end of 19th century. The adored one was lovely Ljerka Šram, also known as Lady Sram. She was a story herself, for the whole city loved this beautiful actress with divine voice. Even the greatest cynics had nothing but praises when it came to Lady Sram. For a quarter of century, she ruled the stage enchanting the public, the directors and the critics. It seems that her sparkling charisma was so strong that she would gain everyone’s attention as soon as she'd walk into a room. They say that even the monarch Franz Joseph I of Austria fell in love with her when he was attending the Croatian National Theater opening ceremony in Zagreb.

And then, there was poor Milivoj Dezman who gave away his heart to unconditional love for Ljerka. Although it seemed that they had a romance going on when they were young, it turned out that the most intimate moment with his beloved one would be laying her in her coffin. He made it as a journalist, a theater reviewer, father of Croatian modernist movement and, above all, as a doctor. He showed immense altruism when leaving the surgery behind, in favor of specializing in tuberculosis treatment. But despite his remarkable and diversified carrier, and although he's far more deserving a citizen then his beloved one, Lady Sram keeps getting all the attention of this tale, just as she used to draw all the attention when she walked the streets of Zagreb.

All of his achievements seemed to be guided by his never ending and unrequited love for Ljerka Sram. He fell in love long before she was famous, as a kid, for they lived only few houses away. He was certain in marrying her when he would return from studies abroad. Flirty Ljerka had done nothing to discourage his dreams, but nevertheless ended up marrying another man before he got back. Not only did Milivoj suffer from sever heartbreak, but since he was a notable citizen, the entire city mocked him behind his back. And although he was overwhelmed with anger and despair, he didn't give up on her for a moment. Instead, he did everything in his power to get closer to her. He became a theater critic and even wrote a few scripts for her to lead. And when she got sick, he turned his doctor career upside down dedicating it to care for those infected by tuberculosis. He went as far as to passionately convince the city authorities that a sanatorium for the sick workers is needed. That's the story behind the founding of Brestovac.

The construction of the respiratory hospital Brestovac on the mountain Medvednica lasted a few years. First patients were admitted in 1909. Among them was Ljerka Sram. In the meantime, her husband got involved in a major financial scandal and disappeared from Zagreb leaving her behind. Dezman looked after her and her child, completely disregarding the rumors and ridicules he was exposed to all over Zagreb. As a doctor, he must have had known that she was facing unrelenting death, but he took over the chessboard and made every move he could to intercept the Reaper and make her live longer. He had been waiting for her for decades, never giving up on hope that she might be hiding some gentle love for him in a distant corner of her heart. He didn't hesitate to take her in even when all he got was a dying woman with a criminal's child.

Some called Lady Sram the soul of the hospital, for she selflessly offered her time and company to other patients, both working class and high society ones. She managed to take their minds off the illness giving them many moments of joy and laughter. But just as her charm and good vibes were not eroded even when her health was drawn deep into the claws of consumption, she was often caught looking down at the valley of her home town with a tear in her eye. Even though the feelings of sadness and despair were familiar to her when she was on stage, they had been strangers to her real self until those lonely moments arrived. She questioned the fairness of it all, when she, who had something to offer to the world, she was captured by the disease, while there were lowlifes who were to be executed by the hand of law. Wouldn't it be better if the infection got those people, thus stopping them from doing harm? They were bound to die young anyway.

She was right about one thing - she really had something to offer and she did leave a trace in this town’s history. Her life tale has grown to be known as Lady of the Camellias of Zagreb. The roles were being written with her in mind, she had the honor to play at the gala opening of Croatian National Theater, and it was almost impossible to force her to leave the stage. She left it only months before she passed away, when the sickness got her so badly, that she couldn't stop coughing and spitting blood. She died in Brestovac in 1913, at the age of 39. The lethal sickness just choked her to death. They say that she died in Dezman's arms and that he was the one to place her inanimate body in the coffin. However, it seems that he wasn’t among the thousands to attend her funeral. Local newspapers were mentioning many distinguished citizens who escorted the deceased Lady Sram to her burial ground, but his name was not on those lists. It seems that he fled on a lonely journey to ease his soul from suffering and get away from the mean gossips.

So, when they're talking about strange noises or shadowy apparitions in the halls of the abandoned Sanatorium, the first thing that comes to mind is the sad image of long haired Lady Sram imprisoned by her aspiration to reach the stars again. But, she is not the only candidate unwilling to pass the foggy river Styx, eager to hang on to this life. There were, of course, others who lost the battle to tuberculosis on that very spot. They even say that in the basement of the main building there is a passage that leads to a) catacombs where they buried some of the patients, or b) somewhere in the city of Zagreb. Supposedly, there's something like a quarantine tunnel used for transporting the sickest patients, which wouldn’t be unusual at all. It was in fact a common practice in such facilities. This way, the remaining patients wouldn’t know how many of them had fallen by the sword of so-called ‘white death’ which was a good way to at least preserve their mental health.

Oh, and another painful fact. In the early days of Brestovac, while Dezman was still running the sanatorium, it was thought that the best treatment for the infection was nutritious food and relaxation in fresh air with plenty of sun. The patients were lying there under a long porch and the benevolent climate is what made Brestovac a sanatorium widely known. But, later on, as the medicine moved forward, surgical practices were taking place in Brestovac. These included surgical ways to expand the lungs to allow more oxygen in. Needless to say, experimental era of removing the ribs or blowing balloons into the chest was soon abandoned. As for the patients, some succumbed instantly to the procedures, and many others found themselves disabled with severe lung damages years later.

If this amount of pain, suffering and death isn’t creepy enough for you, I'm sure that the fact of at least 200 bodies buried somewhere around the hospital ground will convince you that this place bears a heavy burden of its past days. 200 is the approximate number of the wounded soldiers that were executed to make room for others during the WWII. There's no doubt they must have been buried somewhere in the area.

After the war, the sanatorium continued its work up until late 1960's. After that, the medicine moved on again and there was no need for such treatment of tuberculosis anymore. For more than four decades now, all of the buildings stand empty. The time joined its forces with the elements of nature to destroy the facility as much as possible. It pretty much succeeded in doing so, and what’s left today is a dangerous set of ruins used as nothing more than a paintball playground. Still, even after 40 years of neglect, the traces of the past combined with the way that nature has usurped this peace of man's work, make a visit to Brestovac a unique experience. Impressions of the place remain with you days after. Seeing traces of dark blue wall coloring, lively opened window frame or the benches on the terrace make you imagine subconsciously what the scenery must have looked like at the beginning of the past century. Stumbling upon a half-a-century-old shaving cream, a glass syringe or a hospital plate someone had actually eaten off once, it all makes you visualize the place in its most vivid days and makes you wonder what's left behind. What else is left beneath the ground of the woods that surround it, below the buildings down in the cellars, and even behind the time gate? What else is left behind from those days when Brestovac still had reasons to live?

Croatian To Become The 24th Official Language Of The EU

Text Source: www.aranchodoc.com

Photos: www.mandis.hr

www.spd.org

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Reading product directions and ingredients in a supermarket in Croatia.

On 9th December, after 7 years of negotiations, Croatia finally signed a treaty to join the EU. As a result, Croatia is set to become the 28th member of the EU on 1st July 2013.

Croatia will be the second Balkan country to join the EU after Slovenia. Other Balkan countries who have applied to join the EU are Albania, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia and Turkey, however so far, none of these countries is expected to meet the requirements for joining the EU before 2015.

Signs in a supermarket in Croatia.

An Ikea clothing label in Croatian (HR) and other languages.

Why is this news important?

When a new country joins the European Union, the member state is required to stipulate which language or languages are to be declared official language of the EU.

Currently the EU has 23 official languages. With the addition of Croatian, the total number of official languages will increase to 24.  Croatian is written in Latin script according to Croatian linguist, jounalist, politician and writer Ljudevit Gaj, (Lyoo-de-vit  Guy) commonly known as Gaj's Latin alphabet.

The last time this happened was on1st January 2007 when Bulgarian and Romanian became official languages after the Bulgaria and Romania were accepted as new member states of the Union.

A Croatian company advertisement on a ferry in Croatian, English and German.

Croatian subtitles on a television program.

Current EU regulations state that all documentation accompanying products sold to any member state of the EU must be translated into the official language of the country.

This means that any company marketing products in Croatia will be obliged to provide a Croatian translation of any documentation from 1st July 2013.

Many foreign magazines and books have Croatian language editons, and in some cases Croatian publications can also be found in other language versions.

An example of a foreign language movie website in the Croatian language. Full website at underworld.moj-film.hr

Obviously this will impact the global content strategies of companies wishing to take advantage of Croatia’s member status. It is therefore advisable that companies take this information into consideration when planning future translation budgets.

Likewise, here at Arancho Doc we will be preparing for this change by reinforcing our capacity for Croatian translations. For further information or advice on managing your global content strategy, please feel free to contact us.


Written by Stella Hodkin – Communication Manager

Billboards along a street in Zagreb

Farm Near Zagreb Lit Up 1.2 Million Lights For Holidays

Two kids enjoy the Christmas lighting on a farm near Zagreb, capital of Croatia, Dec. 16, 2011. Owner of the farm Salaj has been decorating his farm with lights during Christmas for ten years' running. This year he used 1.2 million light bulbs. (Xinhua/Miso Lisanin)






 This looked interesting and cute enough to share here. Owner of the Salaj farm, near the capital city of Zagreb, has been lighting up his farm with over 1.2 million light bulbs for the last ten years. I know it snowed in Zagreb shortly after these photos were taken, so it probably looks even cooler now.  Here are a few photos from his holiday display.  Click onto the source link for the full photo gallery.



Source: news.xinhuanet.com

Related: new-years-eve-celebrations-in-croatia

 

Ivica Kostelic Gets 20th World Cup Victory

This win in Austria may be the present Ivica may just have wanted heading into the holiday break. It would be hard to repeat the amazing season he had last year, winning three crystal globes for the 2011 season including the overall, slalom, and combined titles, but over  the last week things have taken a turn for the better. (The news of the win and sight of Croatian victory was not taken lightly by Serbs the world over though.  They wanted the world to know that they have 3 fingers and Srb church leaders pronounced a curse on Ivica's sister, calling her "that jealous wretched Croat пићка!"

After having his 9th knee operation this spring, (A problem his sister Janica also had to deal with) Ivica has had a sluggish start to this World Cup Ski season, but now he's back in the thick of it.  2 recent victories in the slalom especially have put him back into first place in that discipline and looking to be the favourite for the Slalom Crystal Globe.  He's also gone from 9th to 5th place in the overall standing with yesterdays victory in Flachau. Within striking distance and with still plenty of races to go.   Ivica's recent Beaver Creak victory in Coloroda was special because it was his 1st win there after being close a few times. Next few months should be very interesting for World Cup Ski fans. In the first week of January the World Cup Ski tour heads to Ivica's hometown of Zagreb, where the Snow Queen Trophy, (which is named in honour of his sister Janica) will be holding the womens and now mens slalom events as well.

*(For those not particularly interested in World Cup Skiing, with xmas just around the corner, here is some fine shopper frenzy stampede footage to get you in the mood. Happy shopping.  Also, I discontinued my studies temporarily because I discovered it wasn't really a college, was overcharging egregiously for pointless classes, romper room antics  and also because of Srb inspired shitfuckery, just like the last time I went to college. So I will have some extra time over the next little while to add posts at this particular blog)


Related: sportski.net.hr

www.jutarnji.hr

au.eurosport.com

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www.cbc.ca

www.tsn.ca

uk.eurosport.yahoo.com

www.ivica.kostelic.hr

ivica-kostelic-makes-it-into-history

Kostelic wins World Cup slalom in Austria

 Ivica Kostelic, of Croatia, celebrates after winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Flachau, Austria, Wednesday, Dec. 21. Defending overall champion Ivica Kostelic won a night slalom Wednesday for his 20th career World Cup victory. (AP)








Source: www.usatoday.com

Related: www.fis-ski.com




FLACHAU, Austria (AP) - Defending overall champion Ivica Kostelic used two error-free runs in heavy snowfall to win a night slalom Wednesday for his 20th career World Cup victory.

The Croat led after the first run and finished in an aggregate time of 1 minute, 48.94 seconds to beat second-place Andre Myhrer of Sweden by 0.07 seconds. Cristian Deville of Italy was another 0.02 behind in third.

"Two days ago (after the slalom) in Alta Badia (Italy) I was very disappointed to miss second place by just 0.17," Kostelic said. "But the wheel of fortune always keeps turning and today I was the lucky one. But I must also say that I had two good runs."

Kostelic led Deville by 0.14 seconds and Myhrer by 0.35 going into the final run but lost time as the course was made more difficult by the increasing amount of ruts in the snow.

"I did not know the times of the others when I started, I just focused on my run," said Kostelic, who beat Deville for his first win of the season in Beaver Creek, Colo., earlier this month.

Marcel Hirscher of Austria failed to finish his second run after straddling a gate but remained in the lead of the overall standings with 425 points. Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal is second with 416 followed by American Ted Ligety with 385.

Footage of the night slalom win in Austria yesterday under less than ideal conditions.

Hirscher came in a disappointing 13th in the opening run.

"I can't explain this. For me, my run was good so I was surprised to see my time," Hirscher said.

Ligety, who came 10th in Alta Badia two days ago, failed to qualify for the second run. The world GS champion made a mistake at the third gate and again lost speed at the bottom section to finish 2.55 seconds off the lead.

World champion Jean-Baptiste Grange of France struggled in both runs and was 1.08 behind in seventh, and Olympic champion Giuliano Razzoli of Italy skied out after a few gates in his first run.

Nolan Kasper, who took fourth in Beaver Creek, placed 26th, 3.43 behind Kostelic.

"I made a few mistakes but … it's a pretty easy hill," the American said after his first run. "You have to be charging. There is a couple of break-downs, you got to be really careful what you are doing."

Bode Miller skied out in a right turn early in his first run after hitting a gate with his left ski.

Ivica Kostelic (C) celebrates in finish area with Andre Myhrer (L) and Cristian Devile (AFP, Samuel Kubani)

Former World Cup skier Matthias Lanzinger, who had his left lower leg amputated after crashing in a super-G race in Kvitfjell, Norway, three years ago, was one of the forerunners. The 31-year-old Austrian returned to competitive skiing at the Europa Cup circuit for disabled athletes last month.

The race replaced the slalom that was canceled in Levi, Finland, in November and it was the first men's World Cup event since 2004 in Flachau, the hometown of retired great Hermann Maier.

The men's World Cup will continue with the classic downhill on the Stelvio course in Bormio, Italy, on Dec. 29.

Footage of Ivica's recent and 1st win at Beaver Creek.

I decided to also add this footage of the same Beaver Creek race. It's kind of shaky at times, but I thought it amusing because of the Eurosport commentators.  It's common in soccer, but you don't usually hear skiing commentary in an English and Irish accent.

Rijeka And 'Kantrida Stadium' - An Unusual Stadium And Out Of Ordinary City

This is kind of old news, and if you reached this blog by Googling this stadium, then I'm sure you've already seen Kantrida Stadium in a bunch of similar lists over the years. Usually in blogs related to world soccer stadiums.  Stadion Kantrida is the home field of NK Rijeka who play in the Croatian Soccer League (Prva Hrvatska Nogometna Liga)  There a few more Croatian soccer stadiums that I've seen on various lists like this. (I left a few links below)  However, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to throw in a few of my own photographs of Kantrida Stadium which I took this past summer on my Adriatic tour to Rijeka,(Pronounced Ree-yeka) Split and Zadar.   Since I threw in some pics a few posts ago regarding Zagreb's Pleso Airport, I thought I would also throw in some of my photos of Rijeka as well.  What the hell?  Just sort of an all encompassing photo essay of Stadion Kantrida and the city of Rijeka. To see the complete list of unusual stadiums, click onto the source link...

World's most unusual football stadiums

Stadion Kantrida along the Adriatic Sea in the Croatian city of Rijeka

 Source: edition.cnn.com

Related: listphobia.com

www.sportskeeda.com

www.oddee.com

www.rijeka.hr







Situated in the Croatian city of Rijeka and home to the club of the same name, this stadium might be small, holding only 10,000 fans, but is perfectly formed.

Like Braga's ground, one side of the arena is dwarfed by a giant cliff face. However, the Kantrida offers visual beauty on the other side as well, being perched alongside the crystal blue waters of the Adriatic Sea.

The setting is so beautiful that since 1990 it has hosted some of Croatia's home international matches.

The stadium was renovated twice, in 1951 and 1958. It formerly had a capacity of 25,000, but this was later reduced to around 10,000 (due to the gradual evolution of UEFA safety standards) and floodlights were installed in 1975.

In addition to hosting NK Rijeka matches, the stadium is also used for the annual Kvarner Riviera international youth football tournament, first held in 1953

I spent only 2 days in Rijeka this time, and didn't bring any extra lenses to do more panoramic and artistic shots, so basically all these are photos are real-time view. In retrospect I think they came out not bad anyway. You can click onto any of the images below for a larger view.

I only used a UV filter on all these pics, so you really do have to be there to experience the full effect. The salt air, the blue of the sea and sky.

This is just part of the complex that houses the NK Rijeka offices and fan shop.  I was going to pick up a jersey, but unfortunately it was closed for their 2 week summer break.  I did pick up the newest Dinamo and Hajduk jerseys a few days later though.  Next time for sure.

Found some footage that shows Kantrida Stadium before the start of a soccer match.










The rest of these photos are from earlier in the day and part of the next.  I took almost 900 photographs during my time in Croatia this trip, and well over 100 in Rijeka alone. Here are just a few.

Just down the road is the Kantrida Aquatic Center.   Home of the 2008 European Short Course Swimming Championships.  The scenery again is just amazing.  I was chilling out and cooling off at the patio bar overlooking the complex, when I met some cool Croatian chicks who had some killer tats.  Thats something you never see in cowtown, ever.

The other Olympic size pool with the retractable roof closed.  There are a total of 5 pools making up the Kantrida Swimming Complex.

The short stroll to one of the new beaches down the road.  An 'Armada' graffiti scene and the historic Croatian coat of arms along a wall.  "Armada"  is the name of the football supporters club of NK Rijeka.

I of course took the opportunity to go down the road a bit and check out the new Kantrida Promenade/Beach. It was just an early Tuesday morning so it wasnt packed yet, but started to be by the time I was leaving.  It's just a stones throw from the swimming complex and looks fantastic. The water was so relaxing and I remembered to take home some pebbles as a souvenir too.  I always do that when I go.  I also brought back some from Split again, as well as Zadar and Lake Jarun in Zagreb.   More on this place at a previous post HERE.

I chatted with the Lifeguards, who are just out of the picture to the right.  At first they thought I was Croatian as in living in Europe, and complimented me on my speaking it.  Then they asked how long it's been since I've left Croatia, and I explained I'm a diaspora Croat.  I got 2 thumbs up again which made me feel pretty cool.

A nearby plaque showing the various types of marine life to be found nearby.

The boring and bland city I came from, with it's pointless foodcourt fuckos was the furthest thing from my mind. (Imagine that) There was no matches going on here yet, but beach volleyball and handball are popular sports in Croatia and Europe.

It was late August, but the hot beach season on the Adriatic lasts right up until late September.  To the right out of the picture is a cool patio bar with music to chill out at with beers or whatever.

The day started off with about a 2 1/2 hour bus trip from Zagreb. A few stops and gorgeous scenery all the way through.   Quick pit stop for a rest break here.

No Tim Hortons, Wendy's or Burger Kings at these pit stops.  Some really good food choices though, and always a patio where you can eat and enjoy the scenery. Warning to travellers - No donutburgers, beef jerky or baloney steak sandwiches I'm afraid.

I arrived in Rijeka on a Monday, in the early part of the day.  (For some strange reason I wasn't thinking about cowboys, or cows, donutburgers or even beef jerky at all)   At night it really picks up, with all the surrounding patios and bars overflowing. It felt so great to be with my people, as the saying goes. (As opposed to these people)  This is also the staging ground for the annual Rijeka Carnival.

Hmmm? I thought.  No pickup trucks, no beef jerky, no 7-11's, no crappy coffee shops, no hurr durr derps. Just like I rembered from the last time, and from the summers I spent there as a kid.  Yep, this felt like home.

Everywhere you go in Rijeka, and Croatian cities in general, you don't have to go far before you hit a Tisak.  It would be surprising to walk 5 minutes and not come across one. There you can buy your cigs, snacks, gum, papers, lottery tickets, post cards, magazines, batteries, bus tickets, drinks, maps, you name it. 

Croatians love their daily news as well as sports and gossip/fashion magazines. (And of course KL!K magazine and similar erotika magazines as well)   Rijeka is no different.

Ice cream is always a big seller in the summer.  In Rijeka, wraps and different kinds of sandwiches with top quality deli meats and cheeses are popular to take on the go.  Pizza and pastries as well.

Lots of the side streets are really cozy.  Shops, boutiques, hair salons, foodie stores and tucked away places to have drinks, nestled  next to each other, tucked in amongst the really cool looking architecture and facades.

The downtown Rijeka fish market.  Like other cities along the coast, fresh fish and seafood are a must.  Most of the offers were swimming in the sea just a few hours before. From many kinds of fish to shrimp, squid, mussels, and octopus.  Fresh shrimp or frozen..hmmm?

The bus ride from downtown Rijeka to Kantrida Stadium was about 20 minutes.  From there it was just a short walk down the road to the Kantrida promenade/beach and swimming complex.  Lots of  charming looking homes all the way with the all important gorgeous view of the Adriatic Sea (which was directly behind me in this photo) to admire in the mornings.  A place to sit on your balcony with your kava and keksi and just breathe it all in.





When you have plenty of memory on your card, a mirror always can make for a new perspective and interesting pic.

In the early part of the afternoon on my 1st day, things started to get a bit more busy.  Lots of shops to check out, and the bars, cafes and patios starting to fill up. 

Every corner you turn in downtown Rijeka, and you come across more tucked away shops, patios, cool fountains and statues.  People never have to travel far to pick up fresh meats, cheeses and produce either.

 The Croatian National Theatre - Ivan Zajc (Hrvatsko narodno kazalište Ivan pl. Zajc) in downtown Rijeka

Just one of many cool looking fountains in downtown Rijeka.  A place to rest in the shade, or just sit and admire the scenery and other attractive assets. ahem.

The view from the Rijeka Bus Station.  Just down the road is the Rijeka Train Station.  If you keep going you eventually will hit Kantrida Stadium. I was tempted to buy a ticket for the short trip to Pula, but already had reservations made.

Just a typical bus stop in downtown Rijeka.  Every bus trip is like a cheap tourist ride.

I didn't travel all the way to Europe just to go to a McDonalds, but I figured what the hell?  Without trying to sound bias, the Rijeka and Zagreb McDonalds that I visited had the best service and most enjoyable and cleanest atmosphere I've seen in a long time.   There were no ghetto fuckups, smelly dirty messed up people or derps like I'm accustomed to around here.  The menu has added items as well.  How many McDonalds have škampi (battered shrimp) on the menu?

To the left is a sign for one of the local tattoo/piercing shops.  I went and scheduled an appointment for the following day at one. Plenty of tattooed and pierced women in Rijeka.  A lot actually. It's a very hip and progressive city.  A center for musicians, artists and creative people in general. I didn't see any gaggles of mutants wandering around like I'm accustomed to here.

Warning to travellers - coffeenews doesn't have a particularly large readership there.

Always lots of fresh produce to find at any of the local fruit and vegeatable markets.  Croatians are like that in general as well.  There's always a big fruit and vegetable market and meat/fish markets in the central area of the city's.  Freshness is very important and preferred to canned products whenever possible.

In dowtown Rijeka it seems every alley you go down or corner you turn, you come across another patio or pub. Somewhere to go if you want to get away from the busy main areas.

Just off of the main 'Korzo' meeting place. At night every seat will be taken.  If you were to walk straight ahead a few minutes, you would then come to the Adriatic.  Unlike the malls around here, you can walk around all day and not get bothered to go join even 1 Lemon Party.

I took a quick trek into the Rijeka Museum of Natural History.  Admission was cheap and I got a bunch of cool photos.   I checked out the displays of ancient swords, arrows, jewellry, pots, utensils and clothing.  Part of the Vinodol tour includes an interesting video about the history of the Vinodol area, of which Rijeka is a part of, and the lives Croatians who lived there at the time. 

It was awesome not having to listen to Serborella and Serbo shitfuckery from Cowtown. As well as a downtown not filled with ghetto fuckos and other types of fuckos.  Warning to travellers - There are no Walmarts, Tim Hortons or Hooters in the city of Rijeka

In Rijeka just as in othe parts of Croatia, there are large super markets to be found for groceries.  However, people pick up fresh items more frequently.  Because there are deli's, bakery's, markets practically everywhere, one doesn't have to stock up on wonderbread and other items on weekends.  Fresh bread and pastries are very important because there's a bakery always close by.

The entrance to the tattoo shop where I got my tattoo, just off the main korzo/walkway

Back by that Tisak again,  just ahead is the market and main fish market just around the corner. There's always stalls that sell souvenirs, clothing, linen, purses, belts, sunglasses etc, as well.

The statue of Ivan Zajc in front of the Croatian National Theatre - Ivan Zajc. (Hrvatsko narodno kazalište Ivan pl. Zajc)

This is the guy who did my 1st 'Made in Croatia tattoo'.  More on that at a previous post HERE.

Rijeka is a major shipbuilding center.  A short walk from the city center one can reach the harbour and find many areas to walk or sit and enjoy the view or even go fishing.  The sunsets look amazing

 Saying bye to a very special friend.

Middle of the night rest stop after my 2nd day in Rijeka. Around 4 am but people were still sitting at patios, eating at the nearby pub/eatery and, strolling around and by the water.  I think this was Šibenik if memory serves me correctly. My next destination, arriving just as the sun was rising on the horizon was the city of Split.

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