EsplanadeView

ISSN 2584-7104 hotel magazine | Autumn-Winter 2019/2020 jesen-zima | your free personal copy besplatni primjerak

exhibition | izložba

The Group that Changed the Croatian Art Scene Skupina koja je mijenjala hrvatsku umjetničku pozornicu

interview | intervju

BRUCE LIPTON

The Power is Not in Genetics But in Consciousness Moć nije u genetici nego u našoj svijesti

interview | intervju

SLAVEN KOSANOVIĆ LUNAR

I Want to Be Able to Choose My Projects and Never Compromise My Beliefs Želim sam birati što ću raditi i pri tome ne kompromitirati svoja uvjerenja

Sugar at the End of the Year: Advent in Zagreb Šećer dolazi na kraju godine: Advent u Zagrebu

DAVID BECKHAM BLACK BAY BRONZE

MAMIĆ FRANE PETRIĆA 7 - HR-10000 ZAGREB WWW.MAMIC.COM.HR

The Hotel as a Film Set Hotel kao pozornica

IVICA MAX KRIZMANIĆ General Manager of the Esplanade Hotel / generalni direktor Hotela Esplanade

It is amazing how time flies when there is a lot going on. And this year is certainly no exception. From numerous gatherings, prestigious awards and acknowledgment ceremonies to interesting guests, we have tried to record it all in this magazine, but also for the rich archive of the Hotel Esplanade which holds an enviable collection of historical stories and photographs going back 95 years.

I was particularly impressed by the transformation of the Esplanade’s premises into a film set for some of the world’s leading TV networks. The Hotel saw several shoots for well-known TV series, bringing together TV celebrities and outstanding film actors. Some of them will take part in the first NEM Conference focused on the development of the television and film industries in Croatia and the region, held at the Esplanade. I greatly welcome the fact that producers from around the world have recognised Zagreb and Croatia as a destination with many beautiful, historical and natural sites that can provide great backdrops for cinema and TV. This is an excellent way to promote the destination and I hope that we will see many more such productions in the future. Looking ahead, 2020 will be the year of the Croatian EU Presidency. This will be an exceptional opportunity to present to Europe and the world all the best our country has to offer. A lot of work and challenges await us. We look forward to welcoming the many delegates and to being true ambassadors for Croatia and excellent hosts.

That is why we have highlighted, among many other events in the city, Advent in Zagreb as a major tourist attraction worth visiting in December, but also the Festival of Lights, which every year attracts thousands of Zagreb citizens and visitors with its stunning light projections at historical sites in the city. Zagreb is also the venue for exhibitions and concerts, as well as another, more modern art form – graffiti, which we have discuss in this edition with Croatia's most famous graffiti artist Slaven Kosanović Lunar, who gives his opinion on this art form and reveals more about his career and projects.

Enjoy your reading!

Zanimljivo je kako vrijeme leti kad se mnogo toga događa.

A ove je godine zaista bilo tako – od brojnih susreta, dodjela prestižnih nagrada i priznanja do interesantnih gostiju.

Sve smo nastojali zabilježiti u ovom časopisu, kao i bogatu Esplanadinu arhivu koja već 95 godina čuva zavidnu kolekciju značajnih povijesnih priča i fotografija.

Posebno me je oduševilo što su Esplanadini prostori nekoliko puta pretvoreni u pozornicu za snimanje intrigantnih serija poznatih svjetskih televizijskih kuća, što je okupilo i mnoga tv-lica i izvrsne glumce iz filmske industrije. Neki od njih naći će se i na prvoj NEM konferenciji, usmjerenoj na razvoj televizijske i filmske industrije u Hrvatskoj i regiji, koja se održava upravo u Esplanadi. Veseli me da su svjetski producenti prepoznali Zagreb i Hrvatsku kao destinaciju s brojnim predivnim, povijesnim i prirodnim lokacijama koje mogu poslužiti kao odlične scene u filmovima i serijama. Sjajna je to promocija našega grada i države i nadam se da će takvih snimanja ubuduće biti još mnogo. Osim toga, 2020. godina donosi nam predsjedanje Hrvatske Europskom unijom, što će biti iznimna prilika da se Europi i svijetu predstavi najbolje što naša zemlja nudi. Očekuje nas puno posla i puno izazova.

Nadamo se brojnim izaslanicima i spremni smo biti pravi ambasadori i dobri domaćini.

Od mnogih sadržaja u gradu upravo smo zato istaknuli zagrebački Advent kao neizostavnu atrakciju koju svakako vrijedi posjetiti u prosincu, ali i Festival svjetla koji atraktivnim svjetlosnim performansima na povijesnim lokacijama već godinama privlači tisuće građana i gostiju Zagreba. Tu su i zanimljive izložbe i koncerti, ali i jedna moderna vrsta umjetnosti – grafiti o kojima smo razgovarali s našim najpoznatijim grafiterom Slavenom Kosanovićem Lunarom koji nam je govorio o toj vrsti umjetnosti, svojoj karijeri i projektima.

Uživajte u čitanju!

ES P LA NA D E V I E W | 1

Content Sadržaj

Traditional Croatian Wedding Tradicionalno hrvatsko vjenčanje

6

Sugar at the End of the Year: Advent in Zagreb Šećer dolazi na kraju godine: Advent u Zagrebu

13 News

Novosti 32 Bruce Lipton – The Power is Not in Genetics But in Consciousness

Moć nije u genetici nego u našoj svijesti 40 Slaven Kosanović Lunar – I Want to Be Able to Choose My Projects and Never Compromise My Beliefs

Želim sam birati što ću raditi i pri tome ne kompromitirati svoja uvjerenja

102 Did You Know?

Jeste li znali?

106 Maja i Petar Vidaković – Traditional Croatian Wedding

Tradicionalno hrvatsko vjenčanje 112 City Guide

Gradski vodič

106

Sugar at the End of the Year: Advent in Zagreb Šećer dolazi na kraju godine: Advent u Zagrebu

54 Hotel Staff – Working at the Hotel Esplanade is a Great Honour

Velika je čast raditi u hotelu Esplanade 62 The Group that Changed the Croatian Art Scene

Skupina koja je mijenjala hrvatsku umjetničku pozornicu 66 Zagreb 2020 Festival of Lights

Festival svjetla Zagreb 2020.

70 Events Događaji 100 Famous & Distinguished Guests

Poznati i slavni gosti 2 | E S P LA NA D E V IEW

6 40

I Want to Be Able to Choose My Projects and Never Compromise My Beliefs Želim sam birati što ću raditi i pri tome ne kompromitirati svoja uvjerenja

IMPRESSUM Editor | Izdavač Zaposlena d.o.o.

10 000 Zagreb Frankopanska 24 tel: 01/3680 015 zaposlena@zaposlena.hr www.zaposlena.hr Editor-In-Chief | Glavna urednica Ana Gruden Editorial board | Uredništvo Sanda Sokol, Ivica Max Krizmanić Design and layout | Dizajn i prijelom Brandmama d.o.o.

Proofreading | Lektura Diana Kučinić Journalists | Novinari Petra Nikić, Martina Vrbanić, Antonia Kulić Translation to English | Prijevod na engleski ETNOtrend d.o.o.

Photographs | Fotografije Tomislav Smoljanović, Matea Smolčić Senčar Cover | Naslovnica Photographer | Fotograf Franjo Matković Creative management | Kreativno vodstvo Boris Pavlin Print | Tisak Kerschoffset

Esplanade Zagreb Hotel Mihanovićeva 1 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia tel: 01/4566 666 fax: 01/4566 050 info@esplanade.hr www.esplanade.hr ISSN 2584-7104

4 | E S P LAN A DE V IEW

Zagreb: Arena Centar • Avenue Mall • City Center one West • Cvjetni • Galleria Business Center • Point Shopping Center Split: City Center one • Joker • Zadar: Narodni trg 3 • Supernova • Rijeka: Korzo 40 b • Tower Center • Pula: Max City Web shop: www.loccitane.hr

Sugar at the End of the Year:

b e r g a Z n i Advent Šećer dolazi na kraju godine: Advent u Zagrebu

You can enjoy the most beautiful advent this year too in the Croatian capital.

I ove godine uživajte u najljepšem adventu – u hrvatskoj metropoli Zagrebu.

6 | E S P LA NA DE V IEW

ZAGR EB ZAGREB

Photographs: TZGZ ARCHIVE/ JULIEN DUVAL, MARIJA GAŠPAROVIĆ

ZAG R EB

ES P LA NA D E V I E W | 7

King Tomislav Square will once again come to life in a magical winter idyll with the largest ice rink in this part of Europe, and will awaken a magical feeling in its numerous visitors Trg kralja Tomislava ponovno će oživjeti u obliku čarobne zimske idile na ledu s najvećim klizalištem u ovom dijelu Europe i probuditi osjećaj čarolije u brojnim posjetiteljima

8 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

ZAGREB

Christmas magic at various locations, lots of different events, delicious specialities, irresistible aromas and a fantastic holiday atmosphere await you on the city’s streets and squares from 1 December 2019 to 6 January 2020. King Tomislav Square will once again come to life in a magical winter idyll with the largest ice rink in this part of Europe, and will awaken a magical feeling in its numerous visitors. The festive traditions on Zrinjevac, one of the city’s most attractive parks, will be a centre for gatherings, and there’ll be thousands of white lights decorating the tree tops and also seasonal music. Expect plenty of fun and a great atmosphere at the Fuliranje event on Strossmayer Square between Zrinjevac and King Tomislav Square. The numerous musicians in the warm indoor dome will get everyone dancing, while the offer of the best Croatian restaurants at the food stands will satisfy even the most demanding palates.

The pedestrian zone on European Square is the place for anyone looking for good fun with an urban twist.

Božićna čarolija na brojnim lokacijama, pregršt događaja i manifestacija, vrhunske delicije, neodoljivi mirisi i jedinstveni blagdanski ugođaj čekaju vas na gradskim ulicama i trgovima od 1. prosinca 2019. do 6. siječnja 2020. Trg kralja Tomislava ponovno će oživjeti u obliku čarobne zimske idile na ledu s najvećim klizalištem u ovom dijelu Europe i probuditi osjećaj čarolije u brojnim posjetiteljima. Tradicija blagdana na Zrinjevcu, jednom od najljepših parkova, postat će središte okupljanja s tisućama bijelih žaruljica koje krase bogate krošnje i sentimentalnom božićnom glazbom. Obilje zabave i puno dobre atmosfere očekujte i na Fuliranju na Strossmayerovom trgu između Zrinjevca i Trga kralja Tomislava. Mnoštvo glazbenih izvođača u toploj zatvorenoj kupoli natjerat će na ples baš svakoga, a ponuda iz najboljih hrvatskih restorana na štandovima zadovoljit će i najzahtjevnija nepca. Nezaobilazna zagrebačka točka za sve željne dobre zabave s urbanim štihom bit će pješačka zona Europskog trga.

In the city centre, you can expect a fairy tale among the stalls offering seasonal cuisine and musical treats.

If you’re a romantic, take a walk with your nearest and dearest along Marićev prolaz, which will be lit up with LED lights showing you the way to a host of other attractions. In Stara Tkalča, against a background of singing, you can experience the spirit of the oldest Zagreb neighbourhoods and streets. The Upper Town, with its spectacular view of the city, will once more be one of the most romantic places in Zagreb. The concerts, fine food and colourful lighting are an experience you will never forget. Kaptol will again shine in a special atmosphere, providing visitors with the opportunity to experience the time of Jesus’ birth by viewing a live manger scene. The charm of old cafés and the warm atmosphere created by street bands are just a small part of the seasonal spirit in the Caffe de Matoš on Strossmayer Promenade.

U centru grada očekujte bajku među kućicama s božićnom gastronomskom ponudom i glazbenim poslasticama. Ako u vama čuči romantičar, s dragom osobom prošećite kroz Marićev prolaz koji prošaran LED žaruljicama pokazuje put prema raskoši drugih atrakcija. U Staroj Tkalči uza zvuke šansona doživite duh najstarijih zagrebačkih naselja i ulica.

Gornji grad sa spektakularnim pogledom na grad i ove će godine biti jedno od najromantičnijih mjesta u Zagrebu. Koncerti, fina jela i šarenilo žaruljica doživljaj je koji nećete zaboraviti. Kaptol će ponovno zablistati u posebnom ozračju, pružajući posjetiteljima mogućnost da dožive doba Isusova rođenja, gledajući žive jaslice. Šarm starih kavana i topla atmosfera u društvu uličnih bendova samo su djelić blagdanskoga duha u Caffeu de Matoš na Strossmayerovom šetalištu.

ZAG R EB

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 9

If you’re a romantic, take a walk with your nearest and dearest along Marićev prolaz, which will be lit up with LED lights showing you the way to a host of other attractions Ako u vama čuči romantičar, s dragom osobom prošećite kroz Marićev prolaz koji prošaran LED žaruljicama pokazuje put prema raskoši drugih atrakcija Last year, a new Advent location appeared in beautiful Maksimir Park. Here you have the opportunity to enjoy evening concerts, interesting installations from Zagreb museums, and numerous other surprises right next to the zoo. You should certainly also visit the Mini Train Museum, where you will see miniature displays of the Snow Queen Trophy skiing event on Mount Sljeme, the skating rink on Tomislav Square, and numerous other Zagreb attractions. You can also explore the city on a special ZET Christmas tourist tram.

Prošle godine predstavljena je nova lokacija Adventa u prekrasnom parku Maksimiru. Nadomak zoološkom vrtu imate priliku uživati u večernjim koncertima, zanimljivim instalacijama iz zagrebačkih muzeja i brojnim drugim iznenađenjima. Svakako posjetite i Muzej vlakića, gdje ćete vidjeti umanjene prikaze „Snježne kraljice“ na Sljemenu, klizališta na Tomislavovom trgu i brojnih drugih ljepota Zagreba.

Grad istražite vozeći se turističkim tramvajem ZET-a uz prigodni božićni program.

Advent in Zagreb is the most important event in our city, and with all its fantastic attractions is something not to be missed. The details of individual programmes, and information on parking and special ZET public transport lines are available on the Advent in Zagreb website at: www.adventzagreb.hr .

Advent u Zagrebu najvažnije je događanje u našoj metropoli, a zbog bogate ponude i titula koje ga krase događaj je koji se ne propušta. Detalji pojedinačnih programa, kao i informacije o parkiralištima i posebnim ZET-ovim linijama dostupni su na internetskim stranicama Adventa u Zagrebu www.adventzagreb.hr .

10 | E S P LA NA DE V IEW

ZAGREB

kampanja 11 new collection available in store and online at www.karla.hr

News

Novosti

SUNDAY BRUNCH – FOR REAL GOURMETS

Nedjeljni brunch – za istinske gurmane

Reserve Sunday for yourself and relax in the stylish atmosphere of Zinfandel’s restaurant with its popular Sunday brunch concept. Treat your palate to a wide range of irresistible appetisers, and pamper yourself with the selection of creative main dishes chosen by Chef Ana Grgić, or have a classic steak tartare prepared at your table. Round off the experience with a choice of fine wine and champagne served by the glass and the attractive sweets of our excellent pastry chefs. If you add the possibility of tailoring dishes to your dietary requirements, superfast Wi-Fi, a children’s play area and free parking, brunch at Zinfandel’s is simply the best choice for a perfect Sunday! Brunch is served every Sunday from 12:00 to 15:00 in Zinfandel’s restaurant. The Advent brunch experience is completed by a fairy-tale setting, magical Christmas atmosphere and a selection of traditional Christmas treats.

Nedjelju rezervirajte za sebe i počastite se opuštanjem u otmjenom ambijentu restorana Zinfandel’s uz popularni koncept nedjeljnog bruncha. Iznenadite svoje nepce raskošnim izborom neodoljivih predjela, razmazite se selekcijom kreativnih glavnih jela po izboru chefice Ane Grgić, kao i pripremom omiljenog klasika – tatarskog bifteka – pred vašim stolom. Doživljaj zaokružite izborom vrhunskih vina i pjenušaca posluženih u čaši te primamljivim slasticama vrsnih slastičara. Dodajte i mogućnost prilagodbe jela vašem načinu prehrane, superbrzi Wi-Fi, dječju igraonicu, besplatan parking – i brunch u Zinfandel’s restoranu jednostavno je najbolji izbor za savršenu nedjelju! Brunch se poslužuje svake nedjelje od 12 do 15 sati u restoranu Zinfandel’s. Adventski doživljaj bruncha upotpunjuju bajkoviti ambijent, čarobna božićna atmosfera i izbor tradicionalnih blagadanskih poslastica.

N EWS | N OVO STI

ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 13

HARVEST IN THE OLEANDER TERRACE GARDEN

Berba u vrtu Oleander terase

A few years ago, one of Croatia’s most successful wine producers, the agronomist and oenologist Vlado Krauthaker, gave the Esplanade Hotel a Zinfandel vine, which the staff of the restaurant, together with sommelier Ivan Šneler, have carefully tended in the garden of the Oleander Terrace. After this year’s successful harvest, in which the General Manager of the hotel Ivica Max Krizmanić, Chef Ana Grgić, head of security Ivica Šindilj and wine producer Vlado Krauthaker took part, we can now expect the first bottles of Zinfandel with the Esplanade Hotel label.

Jedan od najuspješnijih hrvatskih vinara, inženjer agronomije i enolog Vlado Krauthaker, prije nekoliko je godina darovao hotelu Esplanade loze zinfandela, koje osoblje restorana sa sommelierom Ivanom Šnelerom pažljivo njeguje u vrtu Oleander terase. Nakon ovogodišnje uspješne berbe u kojoj su sudjelovali direktor hotela Ivica Max Krizmanić, chefica Ana Grgić, šef sigurnosti Ivica Šindilj i vinar Vlado Krauthaker očekuju se prve butelje zinfandela s etiketom Hotela Esplanade.

BEST CITY HOTEL AWARD Awards for the best in Croatian tourism were presented as part of the annual tourist event Croatian Tourism Days, which was held in Slavonia and organised by the Croatian Tourist Board, Croatian Chamber of Commerce and Ministry of Tourism. Zagreb’s Esplanade Hotel received the prestigious award for best city hotel 2019. The award was presented to the General Manager, Ivica Max Krizmanić, who used the occasion to congratulate the whole hotel team.

14 | E S P LA NA DE V IEW

NE WS | NOVOSTI

Nagrada za najbolji gradski hotel Na tradicionalnoj godišnjoj turističkoj manifestaciji Dani hrvatskog turizma, održanoj u Slavoniji u organizaciji Hrvatske turističke zajednice, Hrvatske gospodarske komore i Ministarstva turizma, dodijeljene su nagrade i priznanja najboljima u turizmu u Hrvatskoj. Zagrebački Hotel Esplanade okrunjen je prestižnom nagradom za najbolji gradski hotel 2019.

Nagrada je uručena generalnom direktoru Ivici Maxu Krizmaniću koji je tom prilikom uputio čestitke cijelom timu hotela.

ESPLANADE 1925 LOUNGE & COCKTAIL BAR THE WEEKEND BEGINS AT THE ESPLANADE BAR

Vikend počinje u Esplanade baru

Relax in the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Esplanade’s 1925 Lounge & Cocktail bar and enjoy the excellent coffee, tea, drinks and culinary treats. Experience the spirit of the legendary Orient Express with a sumptuous afternoon tea and a selection of irresistible snacks. Devote some time to yourself with a glass of fine wine or champagne, and relax in good company to the sound of excellent lounge music. A unique atmosphere in the centre of Zagreb, a young team of award-winning bar staff, chill out evenings with well-known DJs, cult cocktails, tasty burgers and club sandwiches all guarantee you a great time.

The Esplanade bar is open every day from 08:30 to 2 o’clock in the morning.

Prepustite se kozmopolitskom okružju Esplanade 1925 Lounge & Cocktail bara i uživanju uz vrhunsku kavu, čaj, piće i gurmanske zalogaje koji pozivaju na kušanje. Doživite duh legendarnog Orient Expressa uz raskošni popodnevni čaj i izbor neodoljivih zalogajčića. Posvetite vrijeme sebi uz čašu dobrog vina ili šampanjca i opustite se u dobrom društvu uz odličnu lounge glazbu. Jedinstveno ozračje u srcu Zagreba, mlada ekipa nagrađivanih barmena, chill out večeri uz poznatog DJ-a, kultni kokteli, slasni burgeri i club-sendviči sve su što vam treba za garantirano dobar izlazak. Esplanade bar otvoren je svaki dan od 8.30 do 2 sata ujutro.

16 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

NE WS | NOVOSTI

MAXMARA.COM ZAGREB-FRANE PETRIĆA 5 ( FRANCHISEE MAXMARA)

It’s the Christmas Party Season Sezona je božićnih proslava This festive season, impress your partners and associates with an elegant reception, fantastic lunch, festive dinner or glamorous Christmas party at the stylish Esplanade in Zagreb. Plan in time, leave everything to the expert team to organise your festive celebration, and have fun in style. The more than 2,000 square metres of interior and exterior space offer endless possibilities for events of all sizes and styles. The cosmopolitan space of the Esplanade bar is ideal for a relaxing party with mulled wine and cocktails. The icy Oleander Terrace provides a magical setting with a spectacular view of Advent in Zagreb. For more than nine decades, the magnificent Emerald Ballroom has been the setting for glamorous celebrations with champagne and fine treats.

The elegant Zinfandel’s restaurant with its large marble fireplaces and

18 | E S P LA NA DE V IEW

NE WS | NOVOSTI

Za vrijeme ovih blagdana impresionirajte partnere i suradnike otmjenim domjenkom, raskošnim ručkom, svečanom večerom ili glamuroznom božićnom proslavom u kultnoj zagrebačkoj Esplanadi. Planirajte na vrijeme, prepustite stručnom timu organizaciju vaše blagdanske proslave i zabavite se sa stilom. Više od 2000 četvornih metara interijera i eksterijera nudi beskrajne mogućnosti za događanja svih veličina i stilova. Kozmopolitski ugođaj Esplanade bara idealan je za opušteni domjenak uz kuhano vino i koktele. Ledena Oleander terasa čaroban je ambijent sa spektakularnim pogledom na Advent u Zagrebu. Veličanstvena Smaragdna dvorana već više od devet desetljeća savršena je scena za glamurozne proslave uz šampanjac i fine zalogaje.

Elegantan restoran Zinfandel’s s

Photographs: ZENN MAAR, SAMIR CERIĆ KOVAČEVIĆ

impressive chandeliers will enchant velikim mramornim kaminima i guests invited to a business lunch impresivnim lusterima očarat će or dinner with its refined atmos- profinjenim ozračjem uzvanike na phere, while the French Le Bistro poslovnom ručku ili večeri, dok offers a chic ambience for intimate francuski Le Bistro nudi šik ambigatherings. The Club, which has jent za intimna druženja. The Club its own entrance and VIP lounge, s vlastitim ulazom i VIP salonom is the perfect place to organise a savršeni je prostor za organizaciju club party with DJs and music un- klupskog partyja uz DJ-a i glazbu til the early hours. When you add do jutarnjih sati. Dodajte selekciju quality wines and the signature vrhunskih vina i kreativnih delicija creative specialities of renowned s potpisom poznate chefice Ane chef Ana Grgić, a collection of en- Grgić, kolekciju primamljivih slastiticing sweets made by the Espla- ca Esplanadinih slastičara, vrhunnade’s pastry chefs, the excellent sku uslugu dobro uigrane ekipe service of a well-trained team of šarmantnih konobara i banketnih charming waiters and banqueting stručnjaka, čarobni svjetlucavi professionals, and the magical glit- blagdanski ugođaj povijesnog tering holiday atmosphere of a his- hotela u srcu Zagreba – i dobra toric hotel in the heart of Zagreb, je zabava zajamčena. Dopustite then good fun is guaranteed. Allow kreativnom timu Hotela Esplathe creative team of the Esplanade nade da kreira posebnu ponudu Hotel to produce a special offer samo za vas jer za blagdanske just for you, because it’s never too pripreme nikad nije prerano. early to start planning for the festive season.

N EWS | N OVO STI

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 19

ZINFANDEL’S RESTAURANT

An Explosion of Fantastic Flavours for True Gourmets Eksplozija fantastičnih okusa za istinske gurmane The new Zinfandel’s menu features attractive, stylish and precisely crafted interpretations of traditional dishes that will delight you with their interesting combination of locally sourced winter and autumn ingredients. Indulge in the innovative concepts, creative expression, play of ingredients, dash of art and emphasis on authentic flavours on your plate. For real food enthusiasts, Ana Grgić recommends exciting combinations such as caramelised beef tongue with apple and walnut jelly, then dried venison paté with

20 | E S P LAN A DE V IEW

NE WS | NOVOSTI

Novi Zinfandel’sov jelovnik donosi neodoljivo privlačne, moderne i precizno oblikovane interpretacije tradicionalnih jela, koje će vas oduševiti zanimljivom kombinacijom jesensko-zimskih lokalno uzgojenih namirnica. Dopustite da vas osvoje inovativni koncepti, kreativni izričaj, poigravanje sastojcima, mjera umjetnosti na tanjuru i naglasak na izvorni okus. Za prave gurmanske entuzijaste Ana Grgić predlaže uzbudljive spojeve, poput karameliziranog goveđeg jezika s jabukama i gelom od

Photographs: DANIJEL BERKOVIĆ, RAJAN MILOŠEVIĆ

a game consommé and juniper berries, capon rilletes in a port sauce, black pork cutlets with white bean and truffle mousse, pine roasted quail with chestnuts and maple syrup, and fillet of perch in vine leaves, all of which will delight you with their irresistible aromas and flavours. Enjoy Zinfandel’s classics and Beluga caviar, and let our staff prepare a fiery flambé performance at your table. Complete your delicious meal with the fantastic sweets of our talented dessert team, such as baked mandarins with a hazelnut crumble or quinces with pecan nuts and panna cotta made from sour milk, and enjoy the fine wines and champagnes recommended by our sommelier. This winter, allow yourself to indulge in true gourmet delights.

orahovca, zatim pate od sušenog jelenjeg mesa s consomméom od divljači i klekovim bobicama, rillete od kopuna s umakom od porta, kotlet od crne svinje s mousseom od bijelog graha i tartufa, prepelice pečene u borovini s kestenima i javorovim sirupom te file grgeča u listu vinove loze, koji oduševljava uzbudljivim mirisom i okusom. Prepustite se potpunom užitku uza Zinfandel’sove klasike i „Beluga“ kavijar i dopustite osoblju da pred vašim stolom pripremi vatreni flambé performans. Slasnu gozbu zaokružite finim slasticama talentiranog slastičarskog tima, poput pečenih mandarina s crumbleom od lješnjaka ili dunje s pekan orasima i panna cottom od kiselog mlijeka, a doživljaj oplemenite vrhunskim vinima i šampanjcima po preporuci sommeliera. Ove zime dopustite sebi istinsko prepuštanje gurmanskim užicima.

N EWS | N OVO STI

ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 21

ZINFANDEL’S Le Bistro Esplanade RESTAURANT

Seductive French Cuisine Zavodljiva francuska kuhinja Refinement and attention to detail, fresh home-grown ingredients, and the perfection of aroma and taste are the highlights of French cuisine.

Add carefully chosen seasoning, plenty of love, care and innovative ideas, a charming team of chefs and waiters, a pleasant setting with an attractive terrace in an atmosphere of Parisian chic, and a choice of quality wines, and you find yourself at Le Bistro at the Esplanade Hotel. Since its opening in 1986, Le Bistro has occupied an important place in the daily life of the city and for years has been offering classic bistro dishes such as the world-renowned Esplanade baked štrukli. This modern but traditional French bistro located next to the Esplanade Hotel will delight you with its elegance, simplicity and stylish offer. The à la carte menu

22 | E S P LA N A D E V IEW

NE WS | NOVOSTI

Profinjenost i posvećenost detaljima, svježe domaće namirnice, savršenstvo mirisa i okusa odlikuju vrhunsku francusku gastronomsku ponudu. Dodajte pažljivo birane začine, puno ljubavi, pažnje i inovativnih ideja, šarmantnu ekipu kuhara i konobara, ugodan ambijent s privlačnom terasom u ozračju pariškog šika te izbor vrhunskih vina – i naći ćete se u Le Bistrou hotela Esplanade.

Otkako je otvoren 1986., Le Bistro je zauzeo važno mjesto u dnevnom životu grada i već desetljećima nudi tipična bistro-jela, kao i svjetski poznate Esplanadine zapečene štrukle. Ovaj moderan, a opet tradicionalan francuski bistro smješten uz hotel Esplanade oduševljava elegancijom, jednostavnošću i trendovskom ponudom. Jelovnik à la carte odlikuju lokalne namirnice, poput dimljene šunke od autohtone slavonske crne svinje, romanovske janjetine

Photographs: DANIJEL BERKOVIĆ, RAJAN MILOŠEVIĆ

is characterised by local ingredients such as smoked ham made from Slavonian black pigs, Romanov lamb from Gorski Kotar, Lika potatoes, homemade pasta with Istrian black truffles, and handmade ravioli with Adriatic scampi caught in traps in the Velebit Channel, all prepared with a dash of French chic. Tempting seasonal specialties, a daily menu with three courses and a glass of wine, tea or coffee for only 160 kuna, a tasty selection of creative cakes made by the Esplanade’s pastry chefs, great coffee or just hanging out in a relaxing atmosphere with excellent wine and a choice of special cheeses will brighten your day.

iz Gorskog kotara, ličkog krumpira, domaćih rezanaca s istarskim crnim tartufima, rukom rađenih raviolia i jadranskih škampi ulovljenih vršom u podvelebitskom kanalu – pripremljenih s mjerom francuskoga šika. Primamljivi sezonski specijaliteti, dnevni jelovnik s tri slijeda jela uz čašu vina, kavu ili čaj za samo 160 kuna, slastan izbor kreativnih kolača vrhunskih Esplanadinih slastičara, odlična kava ili pak samo druženje u opuštenom ambijentu uz vrhunska vina i izbor osebujnih sireva osvježit će vašu svakodnevicu.

N EWS | N OVO STI

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 23

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR AT THE ESPLANADE HOTEL Božić i Nova godina u hotelu Esplanade

Treat Yourself in the Glittering Festive Season at the Esplanade Prepustite se svjetlucavim blagdanima u Esplanadi

This Advent enjoy fantastic culinary stories, the aroma of cinnamon, and sparkling bubbles of pure pleasure, and taste the most delicious cakes in town, all of which are an invitation to socialise and enjoy yourself. Relax in the fairytale atmosphere and on winter walks through the scenic streets of Zagreb rounded off with a cup of hot Christmas tea, excellent coffee or aromatic mulled wine in the Esplanade’s 1925 Lounge & Cocktail bar with its view overlooking Advent in Zagreb. Get together with your family for a traditional Advent lunch at Zinfandel’s or enjoy the festive season in the chic atmosphere of Le Bistro with a plate of dried salted cod and Christmas treats.

You can enjoy the sweet tastes of the Esplanade in the warmth of your own home with the seasonal Esplanade Gourmet collection and our irresistible Christmas cake with dried fruit in specially designed 24 | E S P LA N A DE V IEW

NE WS | NOVOSTI

I ovog adventa doživite vrhunske gastronomske priče, miris cimeta, pjenušave mjehuriće čistog zadovoljstva i kušajte najslađe kolačiće u gradu, koji jednostavno pozivaju na druženje i uživanje. Prepustite se bajkovitom ugođaju i zimsku šetnju živopisnim zagrebačkim ulicama zaokružite uz topli božićni čaj, odličnu kavu ili aromatično kuhano vino u Esplanade 1925 Lounge & Cocktail baru s pogledom na Advent u Zagrebu. Okupite obitelj na tradicionalnom adventskom ručku u Zinfadnel’s restoranu ili nazdravite blagdanima u šik božićnom ozračju Le Bistroa uz jela od bakalara i božićne slastice. Uživanje u slatkim Esplanadinim okusima nastavite u toplini vlastitoga doma uz prigodnu Esplanade Gourmet kolekciju i neodoljiv božićni kolač

packaging. Spend Christmas Day in the company of your nearest and dearest over a sumptuous lunch in Zinfandel’s restaurant, where attractive seasonal specialities from the buffet table and a magical atmosphere with music await you to make Christmas truly special.

For the craziest night of the year, put on a glamorous gown and join in the most spectacular celebration in town. The New Year atmosphere of the magnificent Emerald Ballroom and stylish Zinfandel’s restaurant, with a red carpet, premium champagne welcome, gourmet five-course dinner and a terrific entertainment programme with plenty of dancing and fantastic live music, guarantee a great time and the best way to see in 2020. While you have fun, there’s a children’s New Year’s Eve specially for your kids, which is run by qualified entertainers. Cheerful games and plenty of dancing are the best way for our youngest guests to see in the new year.

sa sušenim voćem u pažljivo stiliziranoj ambalaži. Svečani dan Božića provedite u društvu svojih najmilijih uz raskošni ručak u restoranu Zinfandel’s, gdje vas očekuju privlačni blagdanski specijaliteti s bife stola i čarobna atmosfera uz glazbu, kako bi Božić bio uistinu poseban.

Za najluđu noć u godini odjenite glamuroznu haljinu i pridružite se najspektakularnijoj proslavi u gradu. Novogodišnji ugođaj veličanstvene Smaragdne dvorane i otmjenog Zinfandel’sa uz crveni tepih, vrhunski pjenušac za dobrodošlicu, gurmansku večeru s pet sljedova i vrhunski program uz puno plesa i odličnu glazbu uživo – jamstvo su odličnog provoda i najboljeg ulaska u novu 2020. godinu. Dok se zabavljate, za vaše je mališane organiziran dječji doček nove godine pod stručnim vodstvom animatora. Vesele igre i puno plesa najmlađima su najbolji uvod u novu godinu.

N EWS | N OVO STI

ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 25

Ana on the Jury of the S. Pellegrino Young Chef Contest Ana u žiriju natjecanja S. Pellegrino Young Chef

Photographs: @PITSPHOTO.COM As a result of her culinary experience and exquisite taste, award-winning Esplanade Executive Chef, the charming Ana Grgić, was invited as the Croatian representative to assess the best young chefs in the regional semi-final of the S. Pellegrino Young Chef contest, which was held in the attractive setting of the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology in Milan. The competition gathered promising young chefs from Italy and South-East Europe, and also many first-rate chefs. “I consider this competition to be a great springboard for young talented chefs and an excellent platform for making new acquaintances in the culinary world,” highlighted Ana. Dishes

26 | E S P LAN A DE V IEW

NE WS | NOVOSTI

Zahvaljujući svojem kuharskom iskustvu i istančanom ukusu, nagrađivana Esplanadina šefica kuhinje, Ana Grgić pozvana je da ocijeni najbolje mlade chefove i predstavlja Hrvatsku na regionalnom polufinalnom natjecanju S. Pellegrino Young Chef, održanom u atraktivnom prostoru Muzeja znanosti i tehnologije „Leonardo da Vinci“ u Milanu. Natjecanje je okupilo mlade perspektivne chefove iz regije Italije i Jugoistočne Europe te brojne vrhunske chefove. – Smatram da je ovo natjecanje odlična odskočna daska mladim talentiranim chefovima i izvrsna platforma za sklapanje novih poznanstava u svijetu kulinarstva – istaknula je Ana. Jela su ocjenjivana prema određenim kri-

were assessed according to defined criteria such as technical execution and creativity. Alessandro Bergamo, sous chef at the Cracco restaurant in Milan, was the winner of the contest and will represent the region in the grand final in May 2020. The aim of the global S. Pellegrino Young Chef project is to support the future of gastronomy by discovering, developing and promoting new generations of culinary talents.

terijima, poput tehničke izvedbe i kreativnosti. Alessandro Bergamo, souschef restorana „Cracco“ u Milanu, pobjednik je natjecanja te će predstavljati regiju u velikom finalu u svibnju 2020. Globalni projekt S. Pellegrino Young Chef namjerava podržavati budućnost gastronomije otkrivajući, razvijajući i promičući nove generacije kulinarskih talenata.

N EWS | N OVO STI

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 27

Esplanade Health Club GLOW WITH FIRST-CLASS BEAUTY TREATMENTS

Zablistajte uz vrhunske tretmane za ljepotu

Set aside a little time for yourself and reward your senses with re- Odvojite malo vremena za sebe i nagradite svoja osjetilaxing treatments for body and soul. Free yourself of accumulated la relaksirajućim tretmanima za duh i tijelo. Oslobodite se stress, forget your obligations for a while and put yourself in the nakupljenoga stresa, zaboravite na trenutak svoje obveze hands of professionals who will help you to shine and be ready for i prepustite se rukama profesionalaca koji će vam pomothe festive gatherings and Christmas celebrations. Aromatherapy ći da ponovno zablistate i spremno dočekate blagdanor Deep Hydrating treatments, Hot Stone, Magic Honey or choc- ska druženja i božićne proslave. Aroma teraphy ili Deep olate massages, and expert manicure and pedicure treatments hydratyng tretman, Hot stone, Magic Honey ili čokoladna combined with luxury preparations and special techniques will masaža, stručna manikura i pedikura u kombinaciji s lukreturn the radiance and vitality to the skin on your face and suznim preparatima i jedinstvenim tehnikama vratit će sjaj body. The renovated premises of the Health Club have been i vitalnost koži lica i tijela. Osvježeni prostor Health Cluba fitted with completely new equipment to further encourage you opremljen je potpuno novim spravama, što će vas dodatno to exercise and get your body into shape. After exercising on potaknuti na vježbanje kako biste doveli tijelo u željenu formu. your own or with a personal instructor, round off your session Nakon samostalnog ili vježbanja s osobnim instruktorom, treby relaxing in our first-class saunas. Indulge in maximum re- ning zaokružite opuštanjem u vrhunskim saunama. Dopustite laxation in the exclusive atmosphere of the Esplanade Health si maksimalnu relaksaciju u ekskluzivnom ambijentu EsplanaClub and allow yourself little moments of hedonism. de Health Cluba i prepustite se malim trenucima hedonizma.

28 | E S P LA N A D E V IEW

NE WS | NOVOSTI

A ROYAL STAY FOR DOGS

Kraljevski boravak za pse

In order for your dog’s stay at the Esplanade to be even more comfortable and luxurious than ever before, the hotel has updated its Very Important Dog offer. New soft pillows from the well-known Croatian Qushin brand await your four-legged friends in your room. The carefully designed pillows are made with the best quality waterproof micro-fibres, which allows your dog complete relaxation and a peaceful sleep. Each pillow also has a warm-hearted message for the owner. The pillows are available in different sizes, depending on how big your dog is, and in two colours which match the designs of the different types of room in the hotel.

Da bi boravak pasa u Esplanadi bio još udobniji i raskošniji nego do sada, hotel je nedavno osvježio svoju Very Important Dog ponudu. Vaše četveronožne ljubimce u sobi očekuju novi meki jastuci za spavanje s potpisom poznatog hrvatskog brenda Qushin. Pažljivo dizajnirani jastuci izrađeni su od najfinije nepromočive tkanine od mikrofibre, koja psu omogućuje potpuno opuštanje i miran san, a svaki jastuk nosi i simpatičnu poruku za vlasnika. Jastuci su dostupni u nekoliko dimenzija, ovisno o veličini psa, te u dvije boje koje pristaju dizajnu različitih tipova soba u hotelu.

In addition, each dog is greeted in their room with a special welcome letter with a creative illustration showing dogs in front of the Esplanade Hotel signed by Ivica Valjak. Upon their arrival, your pets will be delighted to receive an irresistible bone to chew on, and also a bottle of water so that they can refresh themselves after a long and tiring journey. There is also a special room service menu for dogs designed by the Esplanade’s chefs. The food has been specially created and adapted to meet the dietary requirements of dogs, and is full of fresh ingredients with plenty of vitamins, minerals and protein for energy and a healthily functioning organism. For example, the menu features delicious leg of beef with eggs and brown rice, tender homemade chicken with fresh carrots and peas, and a tempting bowl of vegetables.

Uz to, svakog psa u sobi očekuje posebno pismo dobrodošlice s kreativnom ilustracijom koja prikazuje psiće ispred hotela Esplanade, koju potpisuje Ivica Valjak. Ljubimca će prilikom dolaska oduševiti i neodoljiva kost za žvakanje, kao i bočica najfinije vode, kako bi se osvježio nakon dugog i napornog puta, a tu je i posebno dizajnirani room service jelovnik za pse, koji potpisuju Esplanadini chefovi. Jela su posebno osmišljena i prilagođena prehrambenim potrebama pasa, prepuna su svježih namirnica s obiljem vitamina, minerala i proteina za energiju i zdravo funkcioniranje organizma. Na jelovniku su, primjerice, slastan goveđi but s jajima i smeđom rižom, meka domaća piletina sa svježom mrkvom i graškom te primamljiva zdjela povrća.

Guests with dogs also have at their disposal the concierge service, which can arrange beauty treatments for pets, suggest parks for a walk, stores for shopping, veterinarians or anything else that their pets need for a royal hotel stay.

Gostima sa psima na raspolaganju je i usluga conciergea koji za ljubimce može dogovoriti beauty tretmane, predložiti park za šetnju, trgovine za šoping, veterinarske ambulante i sve što im tijekom boravka u hotelu zatreba, kako bi se osjećali doista kraljevski.

N EWS | N OVO STI

ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 29

FOOD WASTE INITIATIVE

Pokretanje inicijative „Food Waste“

The WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and Esplanade WWF (Svjetska organizacija za zaštitu prirode) Hotel in Zagreb have joined forces in an initia- i Hotel Esplanade Zagreb ujedinili su snagu u tive to reduce the amount of food waste, the aim inicijativi za smanjenje količine bačene hrane, of which is sustainability, zero food waste and a čiji je cilj održivost, zero food waste i smanjireduced impact on the environment. The Espla- vanje utjecaja na okoliš. Hotel Esplanade nade Hotel is determined as an industry leader odlučan je da kao lider u industriji ovom strato carry out this strategy with the support of the tegijom uz podršku WWF-a provede dobru WWF and implement good practice by reducing praksu i smanji količinu organskog otpada the amount of organic waste created in business koji stvara u poslovanju. Hotel Esplanade operations. Through its responsible business and kroz svoj program odgovornog poslovanja waste management programme, the Esplanade i gospodarenja otpadom već godinama Hotel has for a number of years endeavoured to nastoji pravilno i učinkovito upravljati naproperly and efficiently manage the processes of mirnicama u procesu nabave, pripreme food procurement and preparation and the re- jela i recikliranja ostataka hrane, a kroz ovu cycling of leftovers, and by means of this initiative je inicijativu namjera dodatno potaknuti intends to additionally maximise the use of food in najveću moguću iskoristivost hrane u kuhiits kitchen and restaurants. In line with this, the Es- nji i restoranima. U skladu s tim, Esplanade planade is pursuing a zero food waste strategy. In teži zero food waste strategiji. Osim toga, addition, for a number of years now, in accordance već godinama u sklopu svojeg programa with its responsible business programme, it has odgovornog poslovanja nastoji – samobeen striving through independent initiatives and stalnim inicijativama i u suradnji s drugima – collaboration with others to reduce the amount of smanjiti količinu otpada i štetan utjecaj na waste and the harmful impact on the environment. okoliš. Esplanadine su svjetiljke svake goEvery year, the Esplanade turns off its lights for one dine ugašene jedan sat kao potpora glohour in support of the WWF’s global project Earth balnom WWF-ovom projektu „Earth Hour“ Hour, which is aimed at a more rational use of en- za racionalnije korištenje energije. Hotel je ergy. The hotel was the first in Croatia to introduce prvi u Hrvatskoj uveo Tesline destinacijske Tesla’s destination charging, and recently also Por- punjače, a nedavno i Porscheove, kojima sche’s, by means of which guests can charge the gosti pune baterije svojih vozila potpuno batteries of their vehicles for free. In addition, the besplatno. Nadalje, hotel već godinama hotel has for a long time been working on the dig- radi na digitalizaciji promotivnih materiitalisation of promotional materials, and guests can jala, a gostima nudi izbor 7000 novina now also access 7,000 newspapers and magazines in i časopisa u digitalnom obliku potpuno digital form completely free of charge. The hotel also besplatno. Hotel potiče goste na odgoencourages guests to behave in a responsible man- voran odnos prema okolišu kroz program ner towards the environment through its programme pažljivog korištenja hotelske posteljine i promoting the sensible use of hotel linen and towels, ručnika te potiče goste i osoblje na konand encourages guests and staff to drink filtered tap zumiranje filtrirane vode iz slavine, kako water in order to reduce the amount of plastic waste. bi se smanjila količina plastičnog otpada.

30 | E S P LA N A D E V IEW

NE WS | NOVOSTI

32 | E S P LA N A D E V IEW

INTERVIEW

BRUCE LIPTON

The Power is Not in Genetics But in Consciousness Moć nije u genetici nego u našoj svijesti

The author of the classic The Biology of Belief, which postulated a thesis that completely rewrote existing beliefs about genetics, told us during his visit to Zagreb this autumn about the path to his discoveries Autor kultne knjige „Biologija vjerovanja“, u kojoj je postavio teze koje su potpuno promijenile dotadašnja mišljenja o genetici, za vrijeme boravka u Zagrebu ove jeseni ispričao nam je kako je došao do svojih otkrića As a result of the revolutionary discoveries Lipton describes in The Biology of Belief, his book received the 2006 Best Science Book of the Year award. Bruce Lipton graduated in developmental biology in 1971 and soon started teaching anatomy at medical universities across the United States. His long-term study of the development of muscle cells led to a career breakthrough and the start of a new discipline in biology: epigenetics. Lipton advocates the theory that our behaviour and beliefs control our genetics and at the same time shape the general state of our body. This leading biologist refutes the theory of our health being mostly predetermined by genetic codes. In his second book, The Honeymoon Effect, Lipton elaborates on his grand thesis about the ways in which our mind affects our behaviour and thus the overall quality of our lives. Lipton is a highly acclaimed biologist in scientific circles and a leading speaker. He has held numerous lectures and been a speaker at conferences and seminars around the world. The goal of his seminar entitled

Author: ANTONIA KULIĆ Photographs: HOTEL'S ARCHIVE

Zahvaljujući revolucionarnim otkrićima koja su u njoj opisana, Liptonova knjiga „Biologija vjerovanja“ proglašena je najboljom znanstvenom knjigom 2006. godine. Bruce Lipton doktorirao je razvojnu biologiju 1971. te ubrzo počeo predavati anatomiju na medicinskim sveučilištima diljem Amerike. Dugogodišnje proučavanje razvoja mišićnih stanica dovelo ga je do prekretnice u karijeri i pokretanja novog vala u biologiji – epigenetike. Lipton je zagovaratelj teorije o tome da naše ponašanje i uvjerenja kontroliraju genetiku i ujedno oblikuju opće stanje našeg tijela.

Time je ovaj veliki biolog razbio teoriju o tome da je zdravlje ponajviše određeno genskim kodom. U drugoj knjizi „Efekt medenog mjeseca“ Lipton postavlja velike teze o tome kako naš um utječe na ponašanje, a time i na cjelokupnu kvalitetu našeg života.

Lipton je iznimno cijenjen biolog u znanstvenom svijetu te se smatra jednim od vodećih govornika. Održao je brojna predavanja i gostovao na konferencijama i seminarima diljem svijeta. U Zagrebu je od 21. do 22. rujna održao seminar pod nazivom Znanost IN T ERV IEW | I N TERVJ U

ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 33

‘The Science of Personal Growth: Love, Fear and the Life We Create’, held in Zagreb on 21-22 September, was to encourage participants to take control of their lives and transform themselves into the creators of a better world. While staying at Zagreb’s Esplanade Hotel, Lipton talked to us about how he made the discovery that genes do not control our lives, in what ways the subconscious and conscious minds affect our lives, the meaning of the honeymoon concept, and many other interesting aspects of his profession.

You started your career in science as a molecular biologist. The discovery that genes do not control our lives was a great turning point in your career.

How did you make this ground-breaking discovery?

At the time, I was researching stem cell cloning, I was a professor at a school of medicine. Back then, it was believed that genes were capable of regulating not only our physical structure but also our emotions and behaviour.

In short, what I was actually teaching future doctors was that genes control our lives. Since we cannot change our genes, the conclusion was drawn that we are the victims of our heredity. We are, therefore, powerless when it comes to controlling our biology.

At the time I was teaching, I was doing research on cloning stem cells. ‘Stem cells’ is just another term for ‘embryonic cells’. I cloned them in a Petri dish, and within a week obtained 50,000 genetically identical cells. I divided them into three groups, with the main characteristics of each group being the fact that it was placed in a different environment. The experiment showed that the cells from Group 1 turned into muscle, from Group 2 into bone, and Group 3 into fat tissue.

This led me to the question: what controlled the fate of the cells? Since they were genetically identical cells, I came to the conclusion that it was the environment that selected the cell activity.

Does the same apply when it comes to human beings?

Absolutely. There are more than 50 billion stem cells underneath our skin, and our brain is the main controller of our body. I like to say that the brain is the ‘chemist’ of our body. To be precise, the brain creates the perception of the environment and thus changes the chemistry of the cells in a human body.

For example, when you are in love, hormones such as dopamine, oxytocin, vasopressin and growth hormones surge through your body, and these are all chemical compounds that boost our vitality and health. Similarly, our brain releases chemical compounds related to fear, which are stress hormones and causes of infection. Therefore, it all comes down to perception; our brain completes the perception and turns it into a chemical compound that significantly affects our health. People are capable of changing the environment they live in and also their 34 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

I NTERVIEW | INTE RVJU

osobnog rasta – ljubav, strah i život koji stvaramo s ciljem da sudionike potakne da preuzmu kontrolu nad svojim životom i transformiraju se u kreatore boljega svijeta. Za vrijeme boravka u Zagrebu u hotelu Esplanadi Lipton nam je ispričao kako je došao do otkrića da geni ne kontroliraju naš život, kako podsvjesni i svjesni um utječu na naš život, o tome što je medeni mjesec i o još brojnim drugim zanimljivostima iz područja njegove struke.

Znanstvenu karijeru započeli ste kao molekularni biolog. Velika prekretnica u vašoj karijeri bilo je otkriće o tome da geni ne kontroliraju naš život. Kako ste došli do tog revolucionarnog otkrića?

Kad sam istraživao kloniranje matičnih stanica, istovremeno sam predavao i na medicinskom fakultetu. U to je vrijeme prevladavalo uvjerenje da su geni sposobni regulirati ne samo našu fizičku strukturu, već i naše emocije i naše ponašanje.

Ukratko, buduće sam liječnike zapravo podučavao tome da geni kontroliraju njihov život. Budući da se geni ne mogu mijenjati, zaključuje se da smo žrtve svojeg nasljeđa. Dakle, nemoćni smo u kontroli svoje biologije.

U vrijeme kad sam podučavao, radio sam i na kloniranju matičnih stanica. Matične stanice su samo još jedan izraz za embrionalnu stanicu. Klonirao sam ih u Petrijevoj posudi, što je u tjedan dana rezultiralo sa 50.000 genetski identičnih stanica. Stanice sam podijelio u tri skupine, a glavna je karakteristika svake skupine bila u tome što se nalazila u drugom okružju. Eksperiment je rezultirao time da su stanice iz skupine 1 postale mišići, skupine 2 kosti, a skupine 3 masno tkivo.

To me dovelo do pitanja: što kontrolira sudbinu stanica? S obzirom na to da je riječ o genetski identičnim stanicama, došao sam do zaključka da okolina odabire aktivnost stanice.

Vrijedi li isto i kad je riječ o čovjeku?

Apsolutno da. Ispod naše kože nalazi se više od 50 milijardi matičnih stanica, a glavni kontrolor našeg tijela je mozak. Volim reći da je mozak „kemičar“ u tijelu čovjeka. Naime, mozak stvara percepciju okoline i time mijenja kemiju stanica čovjekova tijela.

Na primjer, kad ste zaljubljeni, vašim tijelom struje hormoni poput dopamina, oksitocina, vazopresina i hormona rasta, a sve su to kemijski spojevi koji povećavaju vitalnost i zdravlje. Slično tome, mozak oslobađa i kemijske spojeve povezane sa strahom, a to su hormoni stresa i uzročnici upale. Dakle, sve je stvar percepcije, a mozak percepciju nadopunjuje i pretvara u određeni kemijski spoj koji bitno utječe na naše zdravlje. Čovjek je sposoban promijeniti okolinu u kojoj živi, jednako kao i percepciju podražaja. Dakle, nismo žrtve svojih gena kao što se nekoć smatralo, već smo zapravo majstori svoje genetske aktivnosti.

Zbog navedenih otkrića smatraju vas jednim od vodećih glasova nove biologije. Kakve su bile prve reakcije na vašu studiju?

I like to say that the brain is the ‘chemist’ of our body. To be precise, the brain creates the perception of the environment and thus changes the chemistry of the cells in a human body.

Volim reći da je mozak „kemičar“ u tijelu čovjeka. Naime, mozak stvara percepciju okoline i time mijenja kemiju stanica čovjekova tijela.

If you believe that genes control your life, you will become the victim of your own sabotage. In my lectures and seminars, I always encourage the audience to realise we truly are capable of tailoring our lives.

Ako vjerujete da geni kontroliraju vaš život, postajete žrtva vlastite sabotaže. Na svojim predavanjima i seminarima uvijek ohrabrujem publiku jer mi zaista jesmo sposobni krojiti svoj život kako želimo.

perception of stimuli. We are therefore not the victims of our genes, as was once thought, but the masters of our genetic activity.

Because of your discoveries, you are considered to be one of the leading voices of the New Biology.

What were the initial reactions to your research?

As I said, it was a well-established belief at the time that genes controlled our lives, and so my research was inconceivable to biologists. They thought I was insane. No one paid attention to my publications, but this most certainly changed as the years went by.

Today, everyone knows about epigenetics, a new discipline in biology. ‘Epi’ means ‘above’ or ‘over’, so epigenetics literally means ‘control above the genes’. This new field of biology shows that the environment and our perception control our genetic activity. A lack of knowledge about this new scientific discipline is what disempowers people.

If you believe that genes control your life, you will become the victim of your own sabotage. In my lectures and seminars, I always encourage the audience to realise we truly are capable of tailoring our lives. Knowledge is power.

In your book The Biology of Belief, you talk about the mind as two mechanisms: conscious and subconscious. Could you explain this?

It is a mechanism that comprises two interdependent minds working together but having different functions. The subconscious mind controls 90% of

Kao što sam rekao, tada je vladalo uvriježeno mišljenje da geni kroje naš život, stoga je moja studija bila nepojmljiva struci. Mislili su da sam lud. Nitko nije obraćao pozornost na moje radove, no to se itekako promijenilo tijekom godina.

Danas je svima poznata nova grana biologije – epigenetika. Epi znači gore, pa epigenetika doslovce znači „kontrola iznad gena“. Ta nova grana biologije otkriva da okolina i naša percepcija zapravo kontroliraju našu genetsku aktivnost. Nedostatak znanja o toj novoj grani znanosti zapravo ljude čini manje otpornima.

Ako vjerujete da geni kontroliraju vaš život, postajete žrtva vlastite sabotaže. Na svojim predavanjima i seminarima uvijek ohrabrujem publiku jer mi zaista jesmo sposobni krojiti svoj život kako želimo. Znanje je moć.

U knjizi „Biologija vjerovanja“ govorite o dva mehanizma uma: svjesnom i podsvjesnom. Možete li to objasniti?

Riječ je o mehanizmu koji se sastoji od dva međusobno ovisna uma koji rade zajedno, ali imaju različite funkcije. Podsvjesni um upravlja sa 90 posto naših radnji. Primjerice, kad ste kao dijete učili hodati, to je bio svjesni proces, no s vremenom je postala navika i danas ne morate razmišljati o tome kako pomaknuti lijevu ili desnu nogu.

S druge strane, postoji svjesni um. To je kreativni um koji izražava naše želje, težnje i ono što želimo od života. Primjerice, kad nas netko pita što bismo htjeli jesti, odgovor uvijek proizlazi iz razmišljanja.

Dakle, svijest je kreativna i misaona, a podsvijest je IN T ERV IEW | I N TERVJ U

ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 35

our actions. For example, when you were an infant learning how to walk, it was a conscious process that eventually turned into a habit, and today you don’t have to think about how to move your left or right leg.

On the other hand, there is a conscious mind. This is the creative mind that expresses our wishes, desires and what we want from life. For example, if someone asked us what we would like to eat, the answer would always be the result of our thinking.

So, consciousness is creative and cognitive, and subconsciousness is habitual. Life would be ideal if behaviour could be controlled by our wishes and aspirations, but that’s not the case. Scientific research reveals that cognitive behaviour is controlled by the conscious mind about 5% of the time, while the subconscious mind is in control 95% of our lives. You will undoubtedly ask yourself how this is possible.

Before the age of seven, we acquire about 70% of the downloaded behaviours, most of which are self-sabotaging and life-limiting. They are acquired from other people and occur without conscious recognition as to whether they are positive or negative.

The subconscious runs and controls our behaviour like an autopilot.

How can we then become the ‘masters’ of our lives?

navika. Život bi bio idealan kad bi se ponašanje kontroliralo isključivo željama i težnjama, no to nije tako.

Naime, znanstvene procjene otkrivaju da svjesni um kontrolira kognitivno ponašanje otprilike pet posto vremena, dok podsvjesni um kontrolira 95 posto našeg života. Sigurno se pitate kako je to moguće!

Love is what changes the state of mind of each person. When we fall in love, we stop focusing our conscious mind in thought and start keeping it present, which has been scientifically proven. We don’t necessarily have to fall in love with a person. We can grow to love a job, a hobby, etc.

Čovjek do sedme godine života stekne otprilike 70 posto preuzetog ponašanja, od kojeg većina djeluje sabotirajuće i ograničavajuće na život. Preuzeto je od drugih ljudi te se odvija bez svjesnog prepoznavanja je li pozitivno ili negativno. Podsvijest poput autopilota pokreće i kontrolira naše ponašanje.

After falling in love, we enter a period of mindfulness, and for the first time the subconscious mind stops controlling 95% of our actions, since it starts running programs that are based on our conscious wishes. I call this state of mind the ‘honeymoon’, since the experience of being in love is just as idyllic.

Kako onda možemo postati „gospodari“ svojeg života?

Tell us a bit more about the honeymoon concept, since you have written a book entitled The Honeymoon Effect in which you talk about how to control emotions, behaviours and beliefs.

When you fall in love, you don’t let your conscious mind wander for a simple reason: what you wanted is now right in front of you.

Unfortunately, the ‘honeymoon’ ends once our conscious mind starts thinking, and once certain obstacles in love occur. Then our subconscious mind wakes up, together with negative programs. For example, when two persons in a love relationship argue, we often ask ourselves: why is he or she behaving like this? The person suddenly starts seeing the awakened subconsciousness.

In order to reduce negative programs to a minimum and maintain the ‘honeymoon’, we should ask ourselves what behaviour negatively affects our life. By eliminating such behaviours, you will empower your36 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

I NTERVIEW | INTE RVJU

Ljubav je ono što mijenja stanje uma svakog čovjeka.

Kad se zaljubimo, prestajemo fokusirati svoj svjesni um u misli i počinjemo ga držati prisutnim, što je i znanstveno dokazano. Ne moramo se nužno zaljubiti u osobu. Možemo se zaljubiti u posao, hobi i slično.

U stanju zaljubljenosti čovjek ulazi u razdoblje pažljivosti i prvi put podsvjesni um prestaje kontrolirati 95 posto naših radnji jer pokreće programe koji se temelje na svjesnim željama. To stanje nazivam „medeni mjesec“, budući da je iskustvo zaljubljenosti jednako idilično.

Recite nam malo više o pojmu medenog mjeseca, s obzirom na to da ste napisali i knjigu „Efekt medenog mjeseca“ u kojoj govorite o kontroli emocija, ponašanja i uvjerenja.

Kad se zaljubite, ne dopuštate da vaš svjesni um luta iz jednostavnog razloga: ono što ste željeli, sad je pred vama.

Nažalost, „medeni mjesec“ završava kad naš svjesni um počne razmišljati, odnosno kad se pojave određene prepreke u ljubavi. Tada se budi podsvjesni um i s njim negativni programi. Na primjer, prilikom svađe osoba koje su u ljubavnoj vezi, često se pitamo:

After falling in love, we enter a period of mindfulness, and for the first time the subconscious mind stops controlling 95% of our actions, since it starts running programs that are based on our conscious wishes. I call this state of mind the ‘honeymoon’, since the experience of being in love is just as idyllic.

U stanju zaljubljenosti čovjek ulazi u razdoblje pažljivosti i prvi put podsvjesni um prestaje kontrolirati 95 posto naših radnji jer pokreće programe koji se temelje na svjesnim željama.

To stanje nazivam „medeni mjesec“, budući da je iskustvo zaljubljenosti jednako idilično.

Let’s presume that the old belief of genetic determinism is valid. That would mean that the genes you are born with are going to control the characteristics of your life. Then how is it possible for you to, let’s say, be completely healthy in environment A but sick in environment B? Pretpostavimo da vrijedi staro vjerovanje genetskog determinizma. To bi značilo da će geni s kojima ste rođeni kontrolirati karakteristike vašeg života. Kako je onda moguće da ćete, primjerice, u okolini A biti potpuno zdravi, a u okolini B bolesni?

self, and enhance the quality of your life and your satisfaction with it.

Kako se to on ili ona ponaša? Osoba tada vidi podsvijest koja se probudila.

One of your popular statements is: ‘most illness is just from the stress of not living in harmony’.

Kako bi se negativni programi sveli na minimum i održao se „medeni mjesec“, treba se upitati koje ponašanje negativno utječe na naš život. Izbacivanjem takvih ponašanja osnažit ćete, povećati kvalitetu i zadovoljstvo svojim životom.

More than 90% of illnesses reflect the environment and our perception of the environment. If we live in fear or under constant stress, our body will be filled with negative chemical compounds that will lead to an illness. That’s why I always emphasise that it is not genes that control our lives but us. We need to raise awareness of the fact that we have the power to change our own perceptions and therefore the strength to free ourselves of disease.

But what can we do if we are genetically predisposed to cancer or a similar disease?

Let’s presume that the old belief of genetic determinism is valid. That would mean that the genes you are born with are going to control the characteristics of your life. Then how is it possible for you to, let’s say, be completely healthy in environment A but sick in environment B? Why is this insight relevant? Because the new insight says: “No, you are not controlled by your genetics.

Your genes are controlled by your environment, and more specifically your perception of the environment.” This allows dynamic control of your biology.

If genes controlled your life, your fate would be determined regardless of what was happening in the environment.

If you believe you have a cancer gene and that this gene can turn on and give you cancer, then your belief is degrading your system and will eventually make you ill. A perception of cancer can cause cancer. Research findings have shown that less than 10% of cancer has a hereditary linkage, and the other 90% is a direct response to the environment and the perception of an individual in that environment.

Therefore, a negative belief is equally powerful in shaping our biology and our genetics. It works in the opposite direction of a positive belief. A negative belief can result in any illness and even cause us to die. Just a belief! It can do this because that belief is translated into chemistry that will not support our vitality. Such an effect is called the ‘nocebo effect’.

You are surely familiar with the ‘placebo effect’ that causes a person who is ill to get well from the effect of a fake pill. What healed them was their perception that what they took was going to make them feel better. The same goes for a negative perception. So, the power is not in genetics but in consciousness.

Have you been to Zagreb before?

I’m here for the first time and I’m truly enjoying each moment. I regret not having more spare time for sightseeing, but I’m thrilled with the kindness of the people around me.

Jedna je od vaših popularnih izjava: „Većina bolesti je samo stres življenja izvan sklada“.

Više od 90 posto bolesti odraz su okoline, kao i naše percepije okoline. Ako živimo u strahu ili smo pod konstantnim stresom, naše se tijelo ispunjava negativnim kemijskim spojevima koje vode do oboljenja organizma. Zato uvijek naglašavam da mi sami upravljamo svojim životom, a ne naši geni. Moramo osvijestiti činjenicu da imamo moć da promijenimo vlastitu percepciju, dakle i snagu da se oslobodimo bolesti.

No, što napraviti ako imamo genetsku predispoziciju za rak ili sličnu bolest?

Pretpostavimo da vrijedi staro vjerovanje genetskog determinizma. To bi značilo da će geni s kojima ste rođeni kontrolirati karakteristike vašeg života. Kako je onda moguće da ćete, primjerice, u okolini A biti potpuno zdravi, a u okolini B bolesni?

Zašto je ova spoznaja važna? Zato jer novi uvid kaže: „Ne, vaša genetika ne kontrolira vas. Vašim genima upravlja vaše okružje, točnije vaša percepcija okoline.“ To omogućuje dinamičku kontrolu vaše biologije. Da geni kontroliraju život, sudbina bi se odredila bez obzira na to što se događa u okolini.

Ako vjerujete da imate gen za rak i vjerujete da se gen može uključiti i dati vam rak, vaše vjerovanje narušava vaš organizam i s vremenom uistinu postajete bolesni. Percepcija raka može uzrokovati rak. Istraživanja su pokazala da manje od 10 posto karcinoma ima nasljednu povezanost, a 90 posto je izravan odgovor na okolinu i percepciju pojedinca u tom okružju.

Dakle, negativno vjerovanje jednako je snažno u oblikovanju naše biologije i naše genetike. Djeluje u suprotnom smjeru od pozitivnog vjerovanja. Negativno uvjerenje može rezultirati bilo kojom bolešću i čak nas dovesti do smrti. Samo vjerovanje! To može zato što je vjerovanje prevedeno u kemiju koja neće podržati našu vitalnost. Takav se efekt naziva i nocebo efekt. Sigurno ste upoznati s placebo efektom koji uzrokuje da osoba pod učinkom lažne tablete jednostavno ozdravi. Ozdravljenje se dogodilo zbog percepcije osobe da će ozdraviti zbog onoga što pije. Isto vrijedi i za negativnu percepciju. Dakle, moć nije u genetici, snaga je u svijesti.

Jeste li ikad prije bili u Zagrebu?

Prvi sam put u Zagrebu i iskreno uživam u svakom trenutku. Žao mi je što nemam više slobodnog vremena za razgledavanje, a najviše me oduševila ljubaznost ljudi oko mene.

IN T ERV IEW | I N TERVJ U

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 37

POSTOJNA CAVE

Where Baby Dragons Live

Postojnska jama – gdje živi zmajeva mladunčad A fantastic web of tunnels, passages, galleries and halls, the astonishing diversity of Karst features as well as easy access are certainly the main reasons for such popularity of the cave and a large number of visitors, which has already reached 38 million in 200 years.

Postojna Cave is the heart of the picturesque Slovene Karst. It was discovered in all its grandeur in 1818 by Luka Čeč, one of the locals – before his discovery only a very small part of it had been known. A proper underground kingdom revealed itself in front of his eyes, and the cave system of more than 24 kilometres in length with the most wonderful cave formations thus got its first admirer. He called out enthusiastically to his companions waiting outside: »Here is a new world, here is paradise!« Postojna Cave is today famous for being one of the most diverse karst caves in the world. Nowhere else is it possible to admire so many different subterranean karst wonders in a single cave system. Nowhere else but here, have visitors for 140 years been able to take a ride with a special cave train which takes you around under magnificent underground arches, through an amazing landscape dotted with playful limestone sculptures.

Postojna Cave is the cradle of a special branch of biology – speleobiology. This new science was born in the year 1831, when the Slendernecked Beetle (Leptodirus hochenwartii) was discovered in the Postojna Cave by Luka Čeč, a local of Postojna. Not long after, explorers discovered and recorded tens of new animal species adapted to the conditions inside the cave to such an extent that they are unable to survive outside of it. The most known among cave animals is Proteus (also known as the olm).

This pale and highly unusual creature can grow up to 30 centimetres in length, it is completely blind, lives in the subterranean world, even up to incredible 100 years. The olm has always excited people‘s imagination. People used to believe that olms were the dragons‘ offspring. Already for three years, we have been witnessing a special event taking place in Postojna Cave, one of our olms laid eggs, from which twenty one baby dragons have hatched so far. Let‘s keep our fingers crossed for them!

LIVING NATIVITY SCENES IN POSTOJNA CAVE This year, we will again stage one of the most beautiful stories in unique surroundings which will delight the senses and allow the audience to experience the wonder of Christmas far away from the everyday bustle. Families and all visitors will enjoy a grand spectacle in Postojna Cave that will feature 16 biblical scenes, with performances by top Slovenian singers, as well as surprises revealed for the first time.

38 | E S P LA N A DE V IEW

PROM O

Fantastična isprepletenost rovova, galerija i dvorana, šarolikost krških fenomena koja oduzima dah te njezina pristupačnost osnovni su razlozi iznimne popularnosti i posjećenosti Postojnske jame koja je u 200 godina ugostila već 39 milijuna posjetitelja.

Postojnska jama poznata je kao jedna od najraznovrsnijih krških špilja na svijetu. Naime, nigdje drugdje nije moguće u jednom samom špiljskom sustavu uživati u toliko velikom broju podzemnih krških čuda. Samo tu, u Postojnskoj jami, već više od 140 godina posjetitelji mogu krenuti u vožnju posebnim vlakićem ispod veličanstvenih podzemnih lukova kroz fantastičan krajolik posijan razigranim skulpturama od vapnenca.

Postojnska je jama kolijevka posebne grane biološke znanosti – speleobiologije. Najpoznatija špiljska životinja jest čovječja ribica. To blijedo i doista neobično biće, koje može narasti do 30 cm, potpuno je slijepo, živi u podzemnom svijetu i može doživjeti nevjerojatnih 100 godina. Čovječje su ribice oduvijek golicale ljudsku maštu. Prema narodnoj predaji riječ je o zmajevim mladuncima. Već tri godine u Postojnskoj smo jami svjedoci posebnog događaja jer je ribica izlegla jajašca iz kojih se dosad izlegao dvadeset i jedan mladi zmajić. Držimo im palčeve!

30. žive jaslice u Postojnskoj jami U želji da se u jedinstvenom ambijentu osjeti naših posjetitelja usredotoče na čudo božićne priče i zaborave svakodnevnu žurbu, i ove godine pripremamo jednu od najljepših božićnih priča u svijetu. Tijekom velikog spektakla u Postojnskoj jami obitelji i svi posjetitelji imat će priliku vidjeti 16 biblijskih prizora s najboljim slovenskim vokalistima i unikatnim iznenađenjima koja će prvi put biti otkrivena javnosti.

Living Nativity Scenes in Postojna Cave Žive jaslice u Postojnskoj jami

PARK POSTOJNSKA JAMA Wonderworld does exist

Baby Dragons People used to believe that Postojna Cave olms, which spur the imagination even today, were actually baby dragons.

Predjama Castle The largest cave castle in the world dazzles with its impressive location high in the rocks and with a romantic story about its former lord. Predjama Castle is the Guinness World Record Holder as the largest cave castle in the world.

Postojna Cave There is nothing more impressive than experiencing the majestic halls while travelling on a unique underground train.

GRAZ

A

MARIBOR

I

INFO Postojnska jama, d.d., Jamska cesta 30, 6230 Postojna, Slovenia T: +386 5 7000 100 info@postojnska-jama.eu www.postojnska-jama.eu

H

SLOVENIJA

UDINE

LJUBLJANA

PALMANOVA TRIESTE

POSTOJNA RIJEKA

UMAG

PULA

HR

CRIKVENICA

POREČ ROVINJ

ZAGREB

KRK CRES LOŠINJ

ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 39

40 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

INTERVIEW

SLAVEN KOSANOVIĆ LUNAR

I Want to Be Able to Choose My Projects and Never Compromise My Beliefs Želim sam birati što ću raditi i pri tome ne kompromitirati svoja uvjerenja We talk to our best-known graffiti artist about art, consumerism, and his career and projects Razgovarali smo s našim najpoznatijim grafiterom o umjetnosti, konzumerizmu, karijeri i projektima In cooperation with the Croatian Association of Visual Artists, our best-known graffiti artist and graphic designer Slaven Kosanović Lunar has recently published a book “From Zagreb with Love”, celebrating 30 years of creating street art. Lunar belongs to the early generation of Croatian graffiti artists, and his works can be found in many cities such as Bogota, Amsterdam, Athens, Auckland, Berlin, Hanoi, London, Seoul, Sydney and Tokyo.

Author: ANA GRUDEN Photographs: IVO KOSANOVIĆ, JULIE BALESTRIERI, LAURA PIANTONI

Naš najpoznatiji grafiter, umjetnik i grafički dizajner Slaven Kosanović Lunar nedavno je u suradnji s Hrvatskim društvom likovnih umjetnika objavio knjigu „From Zagreb With Love“ u kojoj sažima svojih 30 godina rada. Lunar je proizašao iz rane hrvatske grafiterske scene, a njegovi se radovi nalaze u gradovima poput Bogote, Amsterdama, Atene, Aucklanda, Berlina, Hanoja, Londona, Seoula, Sydneyja, Tokija...

IN T ERV IEW | I N TERVJ U

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 41

Slaven Kosanović Lunar was born and raised in Zagreb. He was immersed in drawing from an early age, and first discovered graffiti during a family trip to Berlin in the late 1980s. Together with a friend, Lunar founded the hip-hop graffiti crew YCP, and in 1993 produced his first piece of graffiti art. We found out about Lunar’s career and projects, and what he thinks about art, graffiti, and social issues in an interview he gave to Esplanade View.

Slaven Kosanović Lunar rođen je i odrastao u Zagrebu. Odmalena je zaljubljen u crtanje, a na obiteljskom putovanju u Berlin krajem osamdesetih godina prošlog stoljeća otkriva grafite. Početkom devedesetih s prijateljem osniva hip-hop grafitersku skupinu pod nazivom YCP, a 1993. slika svoj prvi grafit. O umjetnosti, grafitima, karijeri, projektima te društvenim anomalijama razgovarali smo s Lunarom za časopis Esplanade View.

When did you become fascinated by graffiti? Was it during a trip to Berlin?

Kada se javila ljubav prema grafitima? Na jednom putovanju u Berlin?

I’d been into drawing since I was a little kid, and made my first interventions in outdoor public spaces towards the end of primary school. At the time, I was highly inspired by Rembrandt, a gang member from Walter Hill’s film “The Warriors”, who would draw the letter W everywhere he went. I started by scribbling over the posters featuring the grinning faces of folk singers, which I would usually come across in the passage near Marinkovićeva Street on the way back from my German course in the evening hours.

Ljubav prema crtanju traje od djetinjstva, a pred kraj osnovne škole napravio sam prve intervencije na vanjskim površinama. Jedan od poticaja bio mi je Rembrandt, član bande u filmu Waltera Hilla „The Warriors“, koji za sobom ostavlja slovo W. Jedna od prvih intervencija bilo je šaranje po plakatima novokomponiranih narodnjaka koji su se kesili sa zida u prolazu nakon ulaza iz Marinkovićeve, na koje sam nailazio u večernjim satima, vraćajući se s tečaja njemačkog.

How did you get to choose your nickname Lunar?

Kako je nastao nadimak Lunar?

I borrowed the pseudonym from the title of a video game I played on my first ZX Spectrum computer: “Lunar Jetman”.

Pseudonim sam posudio iz dijela naziva videoigrice sa svojeg prvog kompjutora ZX Spectruma, „Lunar Jetman“.

You’re one of the pioneers of the Zagreb street art scene. In what way does it enrich the city?

Jedan ste od pionira zagrebačke ulične umjetnosti.

Na koji način street art obogaćuje grad?

Everybody wants to leave a mark on this world, and this always reflects the person’s stage of development.

Most people who decide to write something on a wall do so late at night under the influence of drugs or alcohol to boost their courage, or on a wall that is hidden from curious eyes. As I see it, this mostly results in obscene drawings or expresses affiliation to an interest group or tribe. Few people are interested in a more complex manner of expression that requires time and effort and hopefully results in a work they could be proud of. I find most graffiti, even fine art, ugly and just serving to promote the author’s pseudonym, which only members of the same or a similar milieu can recognise. Some, however, wish to demonstrate their wall painting skills, and this is where the difference between works that enrich public space and those that do not becomes clear. The ratio of effort and output is always proportional, just as in any other human activity.

Svaki čovjek ima potrebu da ostavi trag za sobom, a tragovi su uvijek u skladu s razvojnim stupnjem osobe. Većina ljudi koji se odluče izraziti na zidu na intervenciju će se odvažiti u kasnim noćnim satima pod utjecajem opijata, što im daje prividnu hrabrost, ili tamo gdje smatraju da ih nitko ne vidi. Rezultat su uglavnom lascivni crteži, izražavanje pripadnosti interesnoj skupini bilo kojeg tipa, iako to više nalikuje pripadnosti plemenu. Manji dio ljudi želi se izraziti na kompleksniji način, uložiti vrijeme, trud i ostaviti za sobom nešto čime bi se mogli ponositi i eventualno izraziti misli na složeni način. Većina je grafita, čak i likovnih, ružna i cilj im je isključivo reklamirati pseudonim autora koji je prepoznatljiv samo dijelu pripadnika istog ili sličnog miljea. Dio autora pak nastoji demonstrirati vještinu slikanja na zidu i tu nastaje razlika između radova koji oplemenjuju ljudski habitat od onih koji ga nagrđuju. Omjer uloženog truda i dobivenog rezultata uvijek je proporcionalan, baš kao i u svakom drugom području ljudskog djelovanja.

How did the Zagreb graffiti scene come to be? What role did hip-hop play in popularising graffiti?

Hip-hop is a movement that used to make my heart jump with joy because it seemed to channel the inexhaustible energy of youth in the right direction. More specifically, I saw it as a creative bridge between ideas and actual results in the shape of songs, dance or wall paintings. In the context of youth behaviour, I have witnessed both at home and abroad that it is a very positive thing for a healthy society. There are smart young people that follow the path to a bright future regardless of the tendencies in society, but most of them are dissatisfied both with themselves and their environment. Their lack of potential can easily lead 42 | E S P LA N A DE V IEW

I NTERVIEW | INTE RVJU

Kako je nastala zagrebačka grafiterska scena? Kakvu je ulogu imao hip-hop u popularizaciji grafita?

Hip-hop je pokret koji me je veselio jer mi se činilo da kanalizira neiscrpnu mladenačku energiju u pravom smjeru. Točnije, da iz intelektualnog vlasništva i vještine, dakle onoga što imaš u glavi, izbacuje rezultate: pjesmu, ples ili rad na zidu. U kontekstu ponašanja mladih, kojem sam svjedočio i kod nas i u inozemstvu, to je vrlo pozitivna stvar za zdravo društvo. Postoje pametni mladi ljudi koji streme dalje bez obzira na tendencije u društvu, no veći-

Hip-hop is a movement that used to make my heart jump with joy because it seemed to channel the inexhaustible energy of youth in the right direction. More specifically, I saw it as a creative bridge between ideas and actual results in the shape of songs, dance or wall paintings.

Hip-hop je pokret koji me je veselio jer mi se činilo da kanalizira neiscrpnu mladenačku energiju u pravom smjeru. Točnije, da iz intelektualnog vlasništva i vještine, dakle onoga što imaš u glavi, izbacuje rezultate: pjesmu, ples ili rad na zidu.

them into a trap set by a superficial consumerist society that promotes bad food, terrible music and films, and only cares about profit. Hidden in their ivory towers, the governments of many countries silently support this, receiving their share of the profit away from the public eye and not thinking about future generations.

The Zagreb scene emerged and evolved just like any other around the world: there were groups of like-minded kids who would hang out and produce graffiti together, until one by one they stopped and went on with a kind of a regular adult life, as usually happens. There are a few prominent names on the scene at the moment, but it is hard to predict who will stand out and for how long.

na je nezadovoljna prvenstveno sobom, a sekundarno okolinom.

Radi manjka potencijala lako upadaju u zamku koju im servira konzumerističko površno društvo koje ih hrani lošom hranom, užasnom glazbom, filmom i gleda isključivo profit, a velik dio svjetskih vlasti na to zatvara oči, prima svoj dio kolača u tišini i korača dalje, ne razmišljajući da ni njihovo potomstvo neće biti izostavljeno iz te igre, unatoč prividu da ostaju u djelomično imaginarnoj kuli od slonovače. Zagrebačka je scena nastala i mijenjala se baš kao i svaka druga diljem svijeta – skupine klinaca istomišljenika družile su se i djelovale skupa, dok jedan za drugim nisu otpali i okrenuli se redovnim životnim stvarima, kao što radi većina. Trenutačno ima svoje protagoniste, teško je predvidjeti koga i koliko dugo.

IN T ERV IEW | I N TERVJ U

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 43

Children’s adventure books fuelled my imagination, so before I started to draw, my greatest wish was to become an explorer. My role model was David Attenborough, whom I still admire.

Would you tell us more about your early days?

Recite nam malo više o tome kako ste vi počeli.

Just like any kid, I was very idealistic. I wanted to experience freedom of expression and enjoy doing what I loved without anybody pestering me. I would meet like-minded people, go a different way from some of them after a while, and then meet new ones, all the while trying to make connections and learn as much as I could. My curiosity was the main catalyst. I dreamt about adventures, travels, love affairs, friendships and true knowledge. Children’s adventure books fuelled my imagination, so before I started to draw, my greatest wish was to become an explorer. My role model was David Attenborough, whom I still admire.

Počeo sam naivno kao i svaki klinac. Želio sam slobodu izražavanja, želio sam uživati radeći ono što volim i želio sam da me svi puste na miru. Nailazio sam na istomišljenike, razilazio se s nekima, tijekom odrastanja upoznavao nove ljude, nastojao graditi mostove i učiti. Osnovna energija koja me je pokretala bila je radoznalost. Maštao sam o avanturama, putovanjima, ljubavima, prijateljstvima i spoznajama. Avanturističke dječje knjige bile su lijepo gorivo za maštu, a prije crtanja žarko sam želio postati istraživač. David Attenborough mi je bio uzor, a s istim ga poštovanjem gledam i danas.

In the late 1990s, you began working for a wide range of clients and in 2009 started a small business under the name Lunar. How did you carve out your business path?

Krajem devedesetih godina počeli ste raditi za razne naručitelje, a 2009. osnovali ste vlastiti obrt Lunar. Kako se razvijao vaš poslovni put?

For the first ten years, together with my best friend Krešo 2Fast, I was accepting jobs that allowed me to travel, get new material and enjoy greater autonomy.

By the late 1990s, I had visited a number of European countries, made connections and learnt the basics of drawing and communication with colleagues, project organisers and clients. Over the next ten years, I worked from nine to five, advancing from a number of small design studios to a position in an advertising agency.

I would also accept the projects I could carry out in a way I found acceptable. I didn’t care that much about my salary because I earned money from the projects I worked on in my free time and thus learned to multi-task. When the recession hit, I was ready to pursue my career as a small business owner. Today, I work with my brother and hire other graffiti artists when needed.

Organising the Zagreb section of the Meeting of Styles Festival with Stupni helped me understand cooperation with many different people. I always take up the projects I enjoy, and will definitely keep doing so. Even though I have never thought about leaving Croatia, 44 | E S P LAN A DE V IEW

I NTERVIEW | INTE RVJU

Prvih deset godina s najboljim prijateljem Krešom 2Fastom prihvaćao sam ponuđene poslove koji su mi služili kao dobra potpora za putovanja, novi materijal, odnosno mogućnost za veću slobodu. Do kraja 1990-ih proputovao sam dio Europe, ostvario poznanstva i naučio osnove crtanja i komunikacije s kolegama, organizatorima projekata i klijentima.

Iduće desetljeće proveo sam radeći redovni posao od devet do pet, od raznih malih studija za dizajn do oglašivačke agencije. Paralelno sam prihvaćao projekte koje sam mogao realizirati na način koji mi je bio prihvatljiv. Mjesečna plaća kod poslodavaca nije mi bila najbitnija jer sam zarađivao na projektima koje sam vrtio paralelno i to desetljeće bilo je presudno u učenju multitaskinga. Kad je došla recesija, već sam imao registriran obrt i jednostavno nastavio samostalno. Danas brat i ja radimo zajedno, a ako je potrebno, angažiramo i druge autore. Organizacija zagrebačkog dijela festivala Meeting of Styles sa Stupnijem pomogla mi je u shvaćanju suradnje s mnogo različitih ljudi. Primam se projekata koji me vesele i svakako ću nastaviti u tom smjeru. Iako se nikada ni-

Avanturističke dječje knjige bile su lijepo gorivo za maštu, a prije crtanja žarko sam želio postati istraživač. David Attenborough mi je bio uzor, a s istim ga poštovanjem gledam i danas.

It is fun to observe local artists who sometimes have a prejudice against foreigners from the West who have come to promote their innovative ideas, but once we start working together and bond with each other, the result is often a lifelong friendship.

Zanimljivo je promatrati lokalne autore koji ponekad znaju s predrasudom promatrati strance sa Zapada koji su došli promovirati šarenu priču, a zatim u zajedničkom radu dolazi do zbližavanja koje nerijetko rezultira dugotrajnim prijateljstvima.

there is a lot of pressure on the private sector so part of my work is oriented to clients from abroad. The best option is to work here and make occasional business visits to other countries, primarily to gain experience and work in a bigger market. Otherwise, it is difficult to be realistic about your qualities and weaknesses. Testing your skills abroad is a wise thing to do.

Would you tell us a bit more about the Hope Box organisation and the projects you have participated in?

As my colleague Chaz from The London Police art collective once said, Hope Box is an NGO that keeps us firmly grounded. Our task is to work with creative children living in less fortunate places. This is the easiest way to explain it, at least to me. Behind Hope Box, there is an Amsterdam artist, Rienke Enghardt. She has been visiting children’s institutions worldwide for more than 20 years now, and I was lucky enough to meet her in 2005 and participate in some of her projects, together with another ten international artists. Hope Box was a window onto the reality of the world, and I’ll definitely continue with this kind of work. Of course, things are easier when you have enough money to live and do what you love, but to me it has never been a driving force. I even think that most people are unscrupulous and so consumed by greed that they are unable to see the bigger picture. Hope Box has visited all continents and left a mark on them.

Your works can be found in many cities across the globe. Would you tell us something about your most interesting experience?

When I was way younger, I would be impressed by how my colleagues’ graffiti pieces could be found in art collections all over the world. I later realised that this is a logical course of events: as your career progresses, you expand your circle of clients and get to travel and work everywhere, leaving a trace behind you. It is hard for me to pick just one interesting experience, since every journey is unique, mostly for the experience directly related to the people I meet and work with, and not for the city I travel to. Team projects in the places where machoism dominates and where people would not expect everything to be organised and led by a woman, as is the case with Hope Box, can be quite interesting.

It is fun to observe local artists who sometimes have a prejudice against foreigners from the West who have come to promote their innovative ideas, but once we start working together and bond with each other, the result is often a lifelong friendship.

sam poželio odseliti iz Hrvatske, kao i svi drugi privatni generatori posla i ja osjećam pritisak struktura koje se hrane našim radom i moj je rad djelomično orijentiran prema inozemstvu. Idealna je varijanta ovdje imati bazu i povremeno odlaziti, ponajprije radi iskustva i većeg tržišta jer boraveći isključivo doma, teško je biti realan prema sebi i vlastitim kvalitetama i nedostacima. Okušavanje vani je zdravi trening.

Recite nam malo više o organizaciji Hope Box i projektima u kojima ste sudjelovali.

Kako je svojedobno spomenuo kolega Chaz iz umjetničkog kolektiva The London Police, Hope Box je NGO koji nas drži nogama na zemlji. Naša zadaća je rad s kreativnom djecom iz područja manje sretnih od onih u kojima živimo. Najlakše mi je tako objasniti. Hope Box je zapravo jedna osoba iz Amsterdama, umjetnica Rienke Enghardt koja već više od 20 godina posjećuje institucije diljem svijeta i čiju sam energiju imao sreću upoznati 2005. i od tada sudjelovati u dijelu njezinih projekata kao jedan od desetak međunarodnih autora. Hope Box mi je dao realniju sliku svijeta i svakako ću nastaviti raditi na tom polju. Iako nemam ništa protiv novca kao sredstva olakšanja vlastitog djelovanja, novac mi nikada nije bio pokretačka energija i mislim da je pohlepa rak većine ljudi koji slijepo trče za njim, a mnogi ne biraju sredstva niti mogu sagledati sliku širu od vlastitog mikrosvemira. Hope Box je do sada temeljito prošao svim kontinentima i ostavio lijepi trag.

Vaši se radovi nalaze u brojnim gradovima diljem svijeta. Koje vam je iskustvo najzanimljivije?

Kad sam bio znatno mlađi i čitao u nečijem CV-u o tome kako su mu radovi u kolekcijama širom svijeta, zvučalo mi je impresivno. Logičnim slijedom događaja, kamo putuješ i gdje radiš krug klijenata se širi i radovi na zidovima, kao i platna ostaju za autorom.

Teško bi mi bilo izdvojiti jedno interesantno iskustvo jer je svako putovanje zanimljivo, ponajviše radi iskustva direktno povezanog s ljudima koje susrećem i s kojima radim, a ne radi grada u koji putujem. Zanimljive su intervencije u mjestima gdje ljudi nisu očekivali ženu koja organizira projekt i dirigira, kao što je slučaj s Hope Boxom kad se tim pojavi negdje gdje mačizam vlada. Zanimljivo je promatrati lokalne autore koji ponekad znaju s predrasudom promatrati strance sa Zapada koji su došli promovirati šarenu priču, a zatim u zajedničkom radu dolazi do zbližavanja koje nerijetko rezultira dugotrajnim prijateljstvima.

IN T ERV IEW | I N TERVJ U

ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 45

What inspires you? How do you come up with ideas for your work?

I find my inspiration in everyday life, in both good and bad things. When sketching, I mostly use the motifs I used to apply as decorative elements in standard graffiti for upgrading the letters: arrows, balloons, gradation, sashes, asterisks, drip painting, etc. I like having two basic elements on almost every wall: a precise line, either curved or straight, and a mist effect, a distinctive trail left by the spray paint. These are the two elements I believe should represent graffiti. I use the old term graffiti on purpose, I prefer it to the currently popular, pretentious term street art.

Which of your graffiti would you single out and why?

“The Rhythm of the Saints” in Osijek, dedicated to the murdered peacemaker Josip Reihl-Kir, is definitely one of the works that reflects my beliefs. “All Colours Are Beautiful”, created in honour of all the victims of the most shameful episode in the country’s history, is another one of them. It was painted at the spot where innocent people were forced by the pawns of a criminal system into train cars and taken to concentration camps to be killed. Since most criminals prefer black uniforms, on the wall that I painted for five days I decided to run an entire spectrum of colours, which is obtained when white light is dispersed through a prism. I used the spectrum to depict all the people who love and celebrate life, including myself, as a direct opposite to the black that stands for the absence of light.

“Woke up on a Good Day and the World was Wonderful” in Bogota is also one of my works that comments on life in less fortunate places. “Esteban the Hammerhead” in Havana is one of the pieces that incorporates the existing traces on the wall and part of the local fauna with standard graffiti.

In my opinion, too many people paint celebrities, children, tacky souvenirs, etc. just for the simple reason of easily attracting the attention of a non-critical audience and selling them their artwork. I’m not judging them, but I think that such an attitude is both immature and pathetic. This was one of the key reasons why I looked for a steady job some twenty years ago: to secure my existence instead of being forced into shameful compromises with clients having poor or no taste at all. This is not the worst thing that can happen to an artist, but if I can choose (and I’ve always aspired to it), I want to choose what to do myself and in what way, and hold my head high. Any other approach would be lying both to myself and my clients.

The wall of the Pliva wastewater treatment plant in Savski Marof boasts the biggest graffiti in Croatia, one that you and your friends worked on for eleven days. Tell us about this experience.

46 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

I NTERVIEW | INTE RVJU

Što vas inspirira? Kako dolazite do ideja za radove?

Inspirira me svakodnevni život, dobro i zlo. U skiciranju uglavnom koristim motive koji su mi nekad u klasičnim grafitima bili dekorativni elementi za nadogradnju slova: strelice, balone, prijelaze, lente, asteriske, cijeđenje boje i slično. Dvije osnovne stvari volim imati na gotovo svakom zidu: preciznu liniju, zakrivljenu ili ravnu, i maglicu, karakterističan trag koji raspršena boja ostavlja. To su dva elementa koja smatram da trebaju predstavljati grafite. I namjerno koristim stari termin grafiti, draži mi je nego pretenciozni, danas popularni street art.

Koje biste svoje grafite izdvojili i zašto? „The Rhytm Of The Saints“, posvećen ubijenom mirotvorcu Josipu Reihl-Kiru u Osijeku, svakako je jedan od radova koji zastupa moje stavove. „All Colors Are Beautiful“, posvećen žrtvama najsramotnije epizode u domaćoj povijesti, također je jedan od njih. Naslikan je na mjestu s kojeg su u vagonima odvođeni nevini ljudi koje je zločinački sustav odlučio pobiti u konc-logorima. Iz jednostavnog razloga što većina zločinaca preferira crnu boju uniformi, odlučio sam kroza zid koji sam oslikavao pet dana provući čitav spektar boja, koji se dobiva kad se bijela svjetlost provuče kroz prizmu. Spektar mi je poslužio da prikažem sve ljude koji vole i slave život, u koje se i sam ubrajam, a kao direktnu suprotnost crnoj, odnosno potpunom odsustvu svjetlosti. „Woke Up On A Good Day And The World Was Wonderful“ u Bogoti također je jedan od radova koji komentiraju život u manje sretnim sredinama. „Esteban The Hammerhead“ u Havani jedan je od radova koji inkorporira postojeće tragove na zidu i djelomičnu lokalnu faunu s klasičnim grafitima.

Smatram da preveliki broj ljudi svjesno crta celebrityje, malu djecu, kičaste suvenire nekog mjesta iz jednostavnog razloga – jeftinog privlačenja pažnje nekritične publike i plasmana svojeg rada među njih.

Ne optužujem, ali mislim da je takav pristup nezreo i žalostan. To je bio jedan od osnovih razloga zbog kojih sam prije 20-ak godina potražio stalan posao: da bih mogao imati osiguranu egzistenciju, a ne biti gotovo prisiljen na sramotne kompromise s klijentima lošeg ili nikakvog ukusa. To nije najgora stvar na svijetu koja se autoru može dogoditi, ali ako mogu birati (a oduvijek sam želio), želim sam birati što ću i kako raditi i držati kičmu uspravno. Drukčiji pristup bila bi laž prema sebi i klijentu.

Na zidu Plivinog pogona za pročišćenje otpadnih voda u Savskom Marofu nalazi se najveći grafit u Hrvatskoj, koji ste s prijateljima radili 11 dana. Opišite nam to iskustvo.

I use the old term graffiti on purpose, I prefer it to the currently popular, pretentious term street art.

Namjerno koristim stari termin grafiti, draži mi je nego pretenciozni, danas popularni street art

We thought about a solution for quite a while with the people from Pliva before we finally chose an abstract one. It made me really happy, since I don’t do such things very often. Besides the drawing part, the project was exceptionally technically demanding, as it involved many people and required the undertaking of precautionary measures, given the nature of the facility and the fact that construction work on it was underway. It also required the purchase of paints on a daily basis and travelling back and forth between the location and the studio.

Besides drawing and producing graffiti, you have also been successful in acrylic painting on big format canvases (the “Continents” and the “Golden Age of Ballooning” exhibitions). Do you prefer street art or a brush as a means of expression?

I started using brushes when I was I child. Once I discovered spray, I put away my brushes, colour pencils, marker pens and collages, as I was thrilled with the possibility of painting on large vertical surfaces. During a less turbulent moment, I took up brushes again, and used them, as well as rollers and acrylic paints, on my travels to countries where I either could not find any paint sprays or their quality was too poor. I found my way around pretty quickly. The pencil has always been my basic tool, and all the rest are upgrades used for the purpose of adapting to various surfaces.

You have a series of solo and group exhibitions in Croatia and many other countries, such as Japan, South Korea and the US behind you. What is your favourite exhibition? Into which one did you invest the biggest effort?

Razgovor s Plivom trajao je dugo i na kraju su se odlučili za apstraktno rješenje, što me je veselilo jer relativno rijetko radim takve stvari. Osim crtanja, projekt je bio izuzetno zahtjevan s tehničke strane jer je uključivao mnogo ljudi, mjere opreza radi objekta i njegove funkcije te zato što su građevinski procesi bili u tijeku, svakodnevnu nabavu boje i putovanje na lokaciju i natrag u studio.

Osim crtanjem i slikanjem grafita, istaknuli ste se i tehnikom akrila na platnu velikog formata (izložbe „Kontinenti“, „Golden Age of Balloning“). Izražavate li se radije street artom ili kistom?

Kist je sredstvo kojim se koristim odmalena. U trenutku kad sam otkrio sprej odložio sam kistove, bojice, flomastere i kolaže jer sam bio oduševljen mogućnošću slikanja na velikim vertikalnim plohama. U jednom mirnijem trenutku ponovno sam se primio kista, a na putovanjima u zemlje gdje se sprejevi ne mogu nabaviti ili im kvaliteta nije zadovoljavajuća primio sam se kistova, četki, valjaka i akrilne boje i brzo se snašao. Moje osnovno oruđe uvijek je olovka, sve ostalo je nadogradnja radi prilagođavanja različitim površinama.

Iza vas je niz samostalnih i skupnih izložbi u Hrvatskoj i drugim zemljama od Japana, Južne Koreje do SAD-a. Koja vam je izložba najdraža? Na kojoj ste najviše radili?

Najviše vremena oduzela mi je izložba „Kontinenti“.

Ideja se rodila u Sydneyu, a razradu sam planirao na putu od Aucklanda do Seoula i kasnije tijekom realizacije u studiju u Zagrebu.

The “Continents” exhibition took up a lot of my time.

The idea was born in Sydney, and I worked it out on my way from Auckland to Seoul, and later during its realisation at the Zagreb studio.

Aktivni ste na društvenim mrežama, imate puno obožavatelja. Što mislite o digitalizaciji i utjecaju društvenih mreža na ljude, pogotovo mlade? Vidite li ih kao platformu za stjecanje još veće popularnosti?

You are active on social media and you have lots of followers. What is your opinion about digitalisation and the impact of social media on people, especially young people? Do you see it as a platform for becoming even more popular?

Netko me je davno pitao koja je najbolja stvar vezana za društvene mreže, a koja je najgora. Odgovor je bio jednostavan: najbolja stvar je nesmetano povezivanje ljudi s dobrim namjerama, a najgora povezivanje onih s lošim namjerama za društvo. Ako si imalo inteligentan, naći ćeš sve što ti treba, ljude koji su stručnjaci vjerojatno za sve što postoji i za ono što tek nastaje. Ako imalo vjeruješ u sebe i ako si u stanju koncentrirano raditi, društvene mreže su pomoć. Nažalost, njihovi se vlasnici trude zagorčati život natrpavajući ih reklamama, a algoritmi kojima se služe „stručnjaci“ nisu u stanju prepoznati da postoje i ljudi kojima neće na pamet pasti kupiti niti jedan proizvod koji mu netko nasilu gura pod nos.

Društvene mreže su i preslika društva koje, kako sam već spomenuo, vrlo rado slini za mamcima koje im komercijalni sustavi nude i vidljivi su društveni feno-

A long time ago, someone asked me what the best and worst thing about social media was. The answer is simple: the best thing is making connections with good-intentioned people easily, and the worst is connecting with those who have ill intentions towards society. If you are smart, you will find everything you need there, such as experts in probably any field there is or will be. If you have faith in yourself and you are willing to concentrate on what you do, social media will be of help. Unfortunately, its owners are making this hard by swamping it with commercials, while algorithms used

IN T ERV IEW | I N TERVJ U

ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 47

by ‘experts’ are incapable of recognising that there are people who would never think of buying a product forced upon them. Social media reflects society, which, as I said, eagerly falls for the bait offered by commercial systems, and is a visible social phenomenon. People that should be spending time at certain other institutions are serving up their idiotic ideas and products to the masses, who readily accept them with no questions asked. The world and human system are the heritage of the first organisms on Earth, and the globe revolves according to nature’s rules. There is no help here, despite all the technological and other achievements down to rare individuals; the rest have never been truly aware nor will they be able to keep pace with understanding. Social media can, therefore, be an excellent platform for launching new, useful ideas, but it is mostly used to blind a greedy society.

As an artist, I’m not interested in being popular but in selling my work and sharing useful ideas. For this latter, I mostly use Facebook. This could be interpreted as hypocrisy, but I’m selling something that has never existed before and not just knowingly presenting an embellished product with the life span of a week or a year only to sell a new one afterwards, which is the principle both large corporations and dealers apply. The world has been infected with seriously criminal ideas, and young generations are being taught about the importance of materialism and prestige. This principle has been adopted by the most populous countries and will probably present the worst problem for the planet. Greed and stupidity are the worst possible combination.

You have recently published a book entitled “From Zagreb with Love”, in which you, among other things, reflect on social problems such as a lack of care for the environment, materialism, consumerism, etc.

My book ends with the sketch of a character wearing a medieval mask, such as those worn by doctors to protect themselves from the plague, taking out a dead rat, with the inscription above saying “Ignorance equals plague”. By this, I do not mean ignorance about sophisticated things out of the reach of the poor, but I have in mind all layers of society: no one is immune, even if it’s about ridiculously simple things that are seemingly close to everyone.

What are your favourite spots in Zagreb?

I’m fond of the paths by the Vrapčak, Kustošak and Črnomerec streams. I also like the route from the “Dubravkin put” restaurant to Cmrok. As for Maksimir, I’ve taken a lot of walks there, run some races and done many training sessions; it’s the most beautiful park in the immediate city area.

48 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

I NTERVIEW | INTE RVJU

meni: neki ljudi koji bi trebali sjediti u nekim drugim institucijama serviraju svoje budalaštine širokim masama koje ih halapljivo gutaju. Svijet i ljudski sustav naslijeđe je prvih organizama na Zemlji i vrti se prema pravilima prirode i tu nema pomoći unatoč tehnološkim i svim ostalim dostignućima, što je zasluga rijetkih pojedinaca; ostatak ljudi nikada nije bio iskreno svjestan niti će s razumijevanjem pratiti taj tempo.

Društvene mreže, dakle, mogu biti izvrsna platforma za plasman novih korisnih ideja, ali se većinom koriste za zaglupljivanje društva koje kao ptići u gnijezdu halapljivo otvara usta.

Kao autora me ne zanima popularnost, već prodaja rada i širenje korisne ideje; za to drugo najviše koristim Facebook. To bi se moglo shvatiti i kao licemjerje, ali ja prodajem nešto što prije nije postojalo i ne pakiram proizvod koji sam svjesno napravio tako da traje tjedan ili godinu, da bih nakon toga mogao prodati novi – što je princip na kojem rade velike kompanije, kao i onaj na kojem funkcioniraju dileri. Svijet je inficiran ozbiljnim zločinačkim idejama, a mlade generacije uče kako je bitno imati i biti prestižan u odnosu na ostale. Taj princip su usvojile i mnogoljudne zemlje i to će vjerojatno biti poguban problem za Zemlju. Pohlepa i glupost, najgora moguća kombinacija.

Nedavno ste objavili knjigu „From Zagreb With Love“ u kojoj se osvrćete i na društvene probleme kao što su nebriga za okoliš, materijalizam, konzumerizam itd.

Moja knjiga završava skicom lika sa srednjovjekovnom maskom kakvu su nosili liječnici za zaštitu od kuge, koji iznosi mrtvog štakora, a iznad piše „Ignorance equals plague“. Pritom ne mislim na neinformiranost o sofisticiranim stvarima nedostupnima siromašnim ljudima, nego mislim na sve slojeve društva: niti jedan nije imun, makar se radilo o začudno jednostavnim stvarima, naizgled bliskima svakome.

Koja mjesta u Zagrebu najviše volite?

Stazice uz potoke Vrapčak, Kustošak i Črnomerec su mi drage rute, zatim potez od restorana „Dubravkin put“ do Cmroka. U Maksimiru sam osim šetnji odradio i neke utrke i mnogo treninga; to je najljepši park unutar okvira našega grada.

Advantages of ZagrebCard: — Unlimited access to public transportation —Free admission to city attractions It also includes discounts at more than 55 locations such as museums, galleries, restaurants, shops, and others.

From now on, Zagreb Card can be purchased online within Tourist Information Centre on the Zagreb’s main square.

*Free admission to the Museum of the City of Zagreb, the Museum of Arts and Crafts, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Broken Relationships, Zagreb 360° – Zagreb Eye observation deck, and the Zagreb ZOO. For more information, visit our website at www.zagrebcard.com

Zagreb Card24 98 kn

Zagreb Card72 135 kn

TUDOR Black Bay Chrono Dark Chronograph in Limited Edition Kronograf TUDOR Black Bay Chrono Dark u limitiranom izdanju

TUDOR, a Swiss-made watch brand presented a black version of its Black Bay chronograph in a limited edition, to mark the Rugby World Cup 2019 and celebrate its partnership with New Zealand’s national rugby team. The Black Bay Chrono Dark model will be available in a limited edition of 1181 timepieces, the same number as All Blacks players since the team’s creation in 1884 to the RWC 2019. An additional model will be added every time a new player is selected.

To celebrate the All Blacks legacy and mark the Rugby World Cup 2019 (RWC) as the team will defend its back-to-back champions title, TUDOR is launching the Black Bay Chrono Dark model, a new black version, matching the All Blacks’ famous jersey, of its chronograph, fitted with a Manufacture Calibre with column wheel and vertical 50 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

PROM O

Švicarski brend satova TUDOR predstavio je crnu verziju kronografa Black Bay u limitiranom izdanju, kako bi obilježio Svjetsko prvenstvo u ragbiju 2019. godine i proslavio partnerstvo s nacionalnom ragbi reprezentacijom Novog Zelanda. Model Black Bay Chrono Dark bit će dostupan u limitiranom izdanju od 1181 primjerka, što je jednako broju igrača koji igraju za reprezentaciju “All Blacks” (popularan naziv novozelandske ragbi reprezentacije) od njenog osnutka 1884. do Svjetskog prvenstva u ragbiju 2019.

Kako bi proslavili nasljeđe “All Blacksa” i obilježili Svjetsko prvenstvo u ragbiju 2019., budući da tim brani naslov prvaka, TUDOR predstavlja model Black Bay Chrono Dark. Nova verzija crnog kronografa opremljena je manufakturnim mehanizmom i vertikalnom spojkom. Neuobičajeno za TUDOR,

clutch. Unusually for TUDOR, the new model is a limited edition: a watch to pay tribute to every player who has been selected for New Zealand’s national rugby team from its creation in 1884 to the RWC 2019, or 1181 timepieces at the time of writing. The number will be adjusted according to the final composition of the World Cup team. The series will grow over the coming years as new players join the ranks of the All Blacks.

The Black Bay Chrono Dark model features a characteristic satin-brushed steel bracelet for a matt effect, finished with a black PVD-treated coating. Directly derived from the thin-film technology originally developed by NASA for its various space programmes, PVD, or Physical Vapour Deposition, enables practically any inorganic material to be bonded with metals. Of course, the colour choice is a reference to the All Blacks team that TUDOR has been supporting since 2017, reinforced by the presence of a special engraving on the case back indicating the serial number of each timepiece.

Boasting a 70-hour power reserve, a silicon balance spring and a certification by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute, the Manufacture chronograph Calibre MT5813 that drives the Black Bay Chrono Dark model is a high-performance movement. It has been crafted in the purest watchmaking tradition, with column wheel mechanism and vertical clutch. In keeping with the TUDOR philosophy of quality, it presents extraordinary robustness and reliability,

novi model dolazi u limitiranom izdanju: sat će odavati počast svakom igraču koji je od osnutka 1884. godine do Svjetskog prvenstva u ragbiju 2019. godine izabran u nacionalnu ragbi reprezentaciju Novog Zelanda, odnosno proizveden je u 1181 primjerak sata u vrijeme pisanja. Broj će se prilagoditi konačnom sastavu tima Svjetskog kupa. Serija će rasti tijekom narednih godina pridruživanjem novih igrača redovima reprezentacije “All Blacks”.

Model Black Bay Chrono Dark dolazi s karakterističnom satenski brušenom čeličnom narukvicom za mat efekt, završno dorađenom crnom PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition ) obloženom presvlakom.

Fizičko taloženje pare (PVD) izravno proizlazi iz tankoslojne tehnologije koju je NASA razvila za svoje različite svemirske programe i omogućava spajanje praktički bilo kojeg anorganskog materijala s metalima. Izbor boje referenca je na reprezentaciju “All Blacks” kojoj TUDOR pruža podršku od 2017. godine te je obogaćena posebnom gravurom na poleđini kućišta i upućuje na serijski broj svakog primjerka sata.

Uz 70-satnu rezervu snage, silikonsku balansnu oprugu i certifikat Službenog švicarskog instituta za ispitivanje kronometara, manufakturni kronograf kalibra MT5813 koji pokreće model Black Bay Chrono Dark predstavlja mehanizam visokih performansi. Napravljen je u skladu s izvornom tradicijom izrade satova, sa sklopnim kotačem i vertikalnom spojkom. U skladu s TUDOROVOM filozofijom, sat nudi izvanrednu robusnost i pouzdaP ROM O

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 51

guaranteed by an array of extreme tests applied to all TUDOR products.

nost, zajamčenu nizom ekstremnih testova koji se primjenjuju na sve proizvode TUDOR.

Derived from the Manufacture chronograph Calibre Breitling 01, with a high-precision regulating organ developed by TUDOR and dedicated finishes, the movement is the result of a lasting collaboration between the two brands. They have chosen to pool their expertise in the design and production of certain mechanical movements so that both parties can benefit from their use.

Izveden od manufakturnog kronografa Caliber Breitling 01 s visoko preciznim regulacijskim organom i završnim detaljima koje je razvio TUDOR, mehanizam je rezultat suradnje dviju tvrtki. One su odlučile udružiti svoju stručnost u dizajniranju i proizvodnji određenih mehaničkih mehanizama kako bi obje strane mogle imati koristi od njihove upotrebe.

Despite limited number of only 1181 timepieces, TUDOR Black Bay Chrono Dark model was exclusively available in Zagreb, in Mamić 1970 boutique. www.mamic.com.hr

52 | E S P LA N A D E V IEW

PROM O

Unatoč limitiranom broju od svega 1181 primjerka, model TUDOR Black Bay Chrono Dark bio je ekskluzivno dostupan i u Zagrebu, u butiku Mamić 1970. www.mamic.com.hr

Franchisees Weekend Max Mara: ZAGREB - TESLINA 8 OPATIJA - MARÅ ALA TITA 108

54 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

Hotel Staff

Working at the Esplanade Hotel is a Great Honour Velika je čast raditi u Hotelu Esplanade

To build a career at a hotel such as the Esplanade, where customer satisfaction is of primary importance, you need to have a number of skills and competencies but also a strong passion for learning and a clear vision. This is precisely the path Melida Bešić followed to become manager of a team of seventy people.

Da biste svoju karijeru gradili u hotelu poput Esplanade, mjestu na kojem je fokus isključivo na zadovoljstvu gosta, potrebno je imati mnoge kvalitete i sposobnosti, ali i veliku želju i volju za učenjem te istovremeno biti svojevrsni vizionar. Upravo je tim putem krenula Melida Bešić te došla do pozicije na kojoj rukovodi timom od 70 ljudi.

Eleven years ago, the then twenty-four-year-old Melida Bešić walked through the door of the Esplanade for the first time to participate in the first phase of the applicant testing procedure for a front desk job. She remembers how amazed she was by the hotel’s interior, and how excited it made her feel. Melida completed economics secondary school and decided to study tourism at the Faculty of Economics with the aim of pursuing a career in the industry. The opportunity to work at a hotel such as the Esplanade was something not to be missed. “I remember when a colleague of mine from the HR department called me to say that I was the one who had got the job. I was thrilled but also a bit worried if I’d be able to manage such a responsible position, considering that the hotel always stood head and shoulders above the competition.”

Author: PETRA NIKIĆ Photographs: HOTEL'S ARCHIVE

Prije jedanaest godina tada 24-godišnja Melida Bešić prvi je put ušla u hotel Esplanade, da bi sudjelovala u prvom krugu testiranja za otvoreno radno mjesto na recepciji. Sjeća se kako je odmah ostala očarana interijerom hotela, a koliko je bila uzbuđena u tom trenutku, kaže, pamti i danas. Melida je završila srednju ekonomsku školu i upisala smjer turizma na Ekonomskom fakultetu, pa je svoj karijerni put itekako željela nastaviti u tom pravcu. Kad se pojavila prilika da radi u hotelu poput Esplanade, nije je mogla propustiti. „Sjećam se kad me je kolegica iz odjela ljudskih potencijala nazvala da mi kaže da su izabrali baš mene. Bila sam presretna, ali istovremeno malo i preplašena, hoću li se moći nositi s tom mjerom odgovornosti jer ipak se radi o hotelu koji je oduvijek bio izvan svake konkurencije.“

MEET THE ESPLANADE STAFF | PREDSTAVLJAMO OSOBLJE HOTELA

ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 55

As Melida knows all 208 hotel rooms very well, she often helps staff decide on room assignments, especially if they need to accommodate a delegation or VIP guests S obzirom na to da Melida vrlo dobro poznaje svih 208 soba u hotelu, 훾esto se uklju훾uje u odlu훾ivanje o tome koju sobu dodijeliti prema preferencijama gosta, posebice ako je rije훾 o delegaciji ili VIP-gostima

56 | E S P LA N A DE V IEW

MEET THE ESPLANADE STAFF | PREDSTAVLJAMO OSOBLJE HOTELA

It turned out that Melida did a great job as a receptionist. Her greatest strengths were her deep love of languages and passion for continuous learning, which soon caught the eye of her managers. As a dedicated and hard-working employee, she was promoted to Front Desk Shift Manager. A few years later, Melida moved to the position of Front Desk Manager before being appointed Front Desk Manager and Head of Housekeeping, a position she has held to the present day.

Melida’s current position involves keeping a balance between the two departments and making sure that staff members achieve a high level of customer satisfaction. As Front Desk Manager and Head of Housekeeping, she is also in charge of checking compliance with hotel standards, issuing staff approvals, and managing expenses and calculations to keep them on a sound footing. Her tasks include communication with all hotel departments, which is a prerequisite for the smooth functioning of the entire team.

High occupancy levels throughout the year are a good indicator that the business is being well run. The spring and autumn used to be the peak periods, but in recent years hotel reservations have remained at a high level regardless of the season.

Da se posao zaista dobro obavlja, pokazuje velika popunjenost hotela tijekom cijele godine.

Nekad je naglasak bio više na proljetnom i jesenskom periodu, ali posljednjih nekoliko godina posjećenost hotela visoka je u svim sezonama.

As Melida knows all 208 hotel rooms very well, she often helps staff decide on room assignments, especially if they need to accommodate a delegation or VIP guests. Along with her own everyday tasks, Melida gladly helps her colleagues and, if necessary, escorts guests to their room, making sure they get all the information they require. Together with the hotel florist, she also has a hand in decorating both the indoor and outdoor premises. “This is just the way things are done at the Esplanade. We are not bothered so much about positions but try to help each other as much as we can so we can complete our tasks on time. All of us are true professionals whose primary focus is on customer satisfaction”, Melida says. The sharing of knowledge among hotel staff is certainly one of the key reasons why the hotel’s high standards are consistently met. “It’s important that all staff members understand how the hotel operates. Older colleagues were always happy to share their knowledge with me, so today I can share what I’ve learned with new colleagues. If necessary, I can also give my opinion or advice to those I’ve been working with for a long time, which makes me extremely happy”, Melida explains.

High occupancy levels throughout the year are a good indicator that the business is being well run. The spring and autumn used to be the peak periods, but in recent years hotel reservations have remained at a high level regardless of the season. The hotel’s rich history and charming atmosphere have been recognised outside Croatia as well, and guests from all over the world stay at the Esplanade and gladly return. The hotel prides itself on its tradition and historical heritage, but cultural barriers are never an issue. Staff members are very familiar with the diverse cultural backgrounds of hotel guests. This is why our restaurants offer, for example, halal and kosher food and gluten-free dishes, and we always do our best to meet guests’ expectations.

“There is simply no such thing as the impossible. We always strive to meet our guests’ needs, from getting a clean tie for a wedding to delivering an enormous bouquet of flowers to a hotel room, or renting a private jet”, Melida points out.

This is why our guests feel at home as soon as they

Melida se sjajno snašla na mjestu recepcionarke. Njezine najveće prednosti bile su ljubav prema stranim jezicima i stalna želja za učenjem, zbog čega je prepoznata kao predana i vrijedna djelatnica te ubrzo promovirana u voditeljicu smjene recepcije. Nekoliko godina kasnije postaje i voditeljica recepcije te na kraju voditeljica recepcije i odjela domaćinstva, što je i danas.

Njezina sadašnja pozicija podrazumijeva održavanje ravnoteže između dva odjela i nastojanje da ljudi koji rade u oba odjela postižu zadovoljstvo gostiju. Kao voditeljica recepcije i odjela domaćinstva odgovorna je i za provjeru ispunjavaju li se hotelski standardi, daje odobrenja za osoblje i upravlja izdacima i proračunima, kako bi se omogućilo održavanje odjela. Njezin posao uključuje i komunikaciju sa svim hotelskim odjelima, što je izuzetno važno za uspješno nadopunjavanje cijelog tima.

S obzirom na to da Melida vrlo dobro poznaje svih 208 soba u hotelu, često se uključuje u odlučivanje o tome koju sobu dodijeliti prema preferencijama gosta, posebice ako je riječ o delegaciji ili VIP-gostima.

Uza sve dnevne poslovne zadatke, Melida vrlo rado uskače u pomoć kolegama iz tima, a ako je potrebno, sama otprati gosta do sobe i sve mu detaljno objasni. Uključena je, naravno, i u uređenje interijera i eksterijera s hotelskom cvjećarkom. „U Esplanadi jednostavno funkcioniramo tako. Ne gledamo tko je na kojoj poziciji, već pomažemo jedni drugima koliko možemo, kako bi se svi zadaci obavili na vrijeme. Svi smo veliki profesionalci, a naš primarni fokus usmjeren je na zadovoljstvo gostiju“, pojasnila je Melida. Jedan od ključnih razloga zbog kojih se visoko postavljeni standardi u hotelu uspijevaju ispuniti svakako je razmjena znanja među hotelskim osobljem. „Važno nam je da svi djelatnici shvate princip funkcioniranja hotela. Nekad su stariji kolege rado dijelili stečeno znanje sa mnom, a danas ja mogu sve što sam naučila podijeliti s novim kolegama ili ako je potrebno, kazati svoje mišljenje ili dati savjet onima s kojima radim već dugo, što me posebno veseli“, objasnila je Melida.

Da se posao zaista dobro obavlja, pokazuje velika popunjenost hotela tijekom cijele godine. Nekad je naglasak bio više na proljetnom i jesenskom periodu, ali posljednjih nekoliko godina posjećenost hotela visoka je u svim sezonama. Bogata povijest i šarmantna atmosfera prepoznati su i izvan Hrvatske, pa u Esplanadi odsjedaju gosti iz svih krajeva svijeta i rado se vraćaju. Iako se Esplanada ponosi svojom tradicijom i povijesnom ostavštinom, kulturne prepreke između njezina četiri zida ne postoje.

Hotelsko osoblje dobro je upoznato s različitim kulturnim nasljeđem gostiju koji ovdje odsjedaju. Zato hotelski restorani u svojoj ponudi imaju, primjerice, i halal i košer hranu te bezglutenska jela i uvijek se daje maksimum kako bi se sva očekivanja gostiju ispunila. „Za nas zaista ne postoji nemoguće. Uvijek se trudimo dati gostu što očekuje, bez obzira na to radi li se o čistoj kravati za vjenčanje, dostavi jako velike količine cvijeća u hotelsku sobu ili o unajmljivanju privatnog aviona“, ističe Melida.

Zbog toga se u Esplanadi gosti već prilikom ulaska i prvog kontakta s vratarom osjećaju kao kod kuće.

MEET THE ESPLANADE STAFF | PREDSTAVLJAMO OSOBLJE HOTELA

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 57

set foot in the hotel lobby. Our front desk is not typical: there is a sitting area where welcome drinks are served. In the summer time, it is usually sparkling wine, while in the winter we serve tea. We pay special attention to our youngest guests, who get a plush toy at the front desk, while in their room they will find a children’s bathrobe and a toiletry set. “The Esplanade’s great historical significance perfectly blends with our numerous innovations. I might say that we are always one step ahead in order to maintain the highest level of customer service”, Melida adds. For example, guests at the Esplanade can make room service orders via a TV application, or schedule a massage, book a table at one of our restaurants, or ask for another pillow. It should also be noted that environmental awareness and the reduction of energy consumption are constantly being addressed. Guests can also contribute by choosing not to have their bedding changed every day, and thus help us save energy. We use a number of applications to keep the hotel perfectly clean and ensure the smooth running of hotel tasks, which puts us at the forefront of technological innovations in the industry.

The hotel welcomes guests of different profiles and is well-known as a favourite place for many VIP guests.

Melida remembers many interesting stories from her days on the front desk. Once, the English national football team stayed at the hotel. As one of them was particularly popular with women, she received a phone call from a woman who claimed to be his wife, asking Melida to put her through to him. Of course, Melida knew that it was a fake call but nonetheless decided to tell the player about it, and he found it quite amusing.

She was also invited on a radio show to talk about how to get a job as a hotel maid and have the chance to meet a football star. The radio host told the listeners to drive around the hotel and blow their car horns all night to annoy the rival team before the match on the following day. Her reaction was swift and well thought out, as she told the radio host what skills and competencies are required for the position and kindly asked listeners not to disturb the guests.

Her experience and that of her colleagues show that working at the front desk does not just mean checking guests in and out. In addition, making sure that the hotel is clean and tidy is not as simple as it sounds. Both her departments must always be prepared for unexpected situations and be able to respond accordingly.

The fact that most employees have been working here for many years indicates that it is a professional and well-organised team, always striving to provide the best solution to all guest requirements. Our guests value this and gladly return to the Esplanade.

“Eleven years have passed and I still find myself thinking: is this real? I simply can’t explain how happy and proud it makes me feel to work at this hotel and with this team - it’s truly priceless. The Esplanade’s impeccable reputation motivates me to give my best and to add to the brand value that has been created over so many decades”, Melida concludes.

58 | E S P LA N A DE V IEW

Na recepciji, koja nije tipična već se za njom sjedi, goste se poslužuje pićem dobrodošlice. U ljetnim danima to je šampanjac, a zimi čaj. Osim toga, misli se i na najmlađe goste – djecu kojima osoblje na recepciji daruje plišane igračke, a u sobama ih čekaju dječji ogrtači i kozmetika. „Iako je Esplanada važna povijesna ostavština, taj se povijesni faktor isprepliće s uvođenjem inovacija. Čak smo uvijek i korak ispred vremena, kako bi naši gosti bili zadovoljni pruženom uslugom“, dodala je Melida. Gosti u hotelu Esplanade mogu putem aplikacije na televizoru u svojoj sobi naručiti obroke ili primjerice, zakazati termin za masažu, rezervirati stol u restoranu ili zatražiti drugi jastuk. Osim toga, stalno se radi na ekološkoj osviještenosti i smanjivanju potrošnje energije. I gosti mogu tome pridonijeti, odabirući da se posteljina na krevetima ne mijenja svakog dana, čime se direktno štedi energija. Tu su i mnoge interne aplikacije, kako bi čistoća i ispunjavanje hotelskih zadataka funkcionirali besprijekorno, u čemu Esplanada također prednjači.

Osim zadovoljnih gostiju različitih profila, u ovom hotelu odsjedaju mnoge poznate osobe. Melida se prisjetila nekoliko zgoda iz vremena kad je radila na recepciji i u hotelu je odsjela engleska nogometna reprezentacija, a jedan njihov član bio je posebno omiljen ženskom dijelu publike. Prisjeća se kroz smijeh kako je primila telefonski poziv i ženska se osoba predstavila kao supruga tog vrlo popularnog nogometaša te zatražila da je spoji s njim direktno.

Naravno, Melida je odmah prepoznala da je riječ o lažnom pozivu, ali je ipak o tome obavijestila gosta kojem se dogodovština činila jako simpatičnom.

Melida je imala i priliku govoriti uživo u eteru radija i to opet zbog jedne nogometne momčadi koja je odsjela u hotelu. Naime, radijske je voditelje zanimalo kako se zaposliti kao hotelska sobarica, da bi bili bliže nogometnim zvijezdama. Usput su pozvali slušatelje da cijelu noć trube oko hotela, kako se nogometaši ne bi mogli odmoriti za utakmicu sutradan.

Melida se snašla i nabrojala nekoliko ključnih kvaliteta osobe koja bi mogla raditi u hotelu te slušatelje lijepo zamolila da ne ometaju goste.

Iz Melidinog iskustva i iskustva njezinih kolega zaključuje se da rad na recepciji ne podrazumijeva samo prijavu i odjavu gostiju, a briga o čistoći i uređenju hotela nije tako jednostavna kao što zvuči. Osoblje oba odjela mora uvijek biti spremno na nenadane situacije u kojima će znati pravilno postupiti. No, da je ovdje riječ o profesionalcima i dobro uhodanom kolektivu govori činjenica da većina djelatnika u Esplanadi radi već godinama te se uvijek trudi ponuditi kvalitetno rješenje za sve zahtjeve gostiju, što na kraju gosti uvijek prepoznaju i rado se vraćaju u ovaj hotel. „I nakon jedanaest godina rada u ovoj instituciji ponekad se uhvatim kako u čudu razmišljam: radim li ja zaista ovdje? Isprepletenost ponosa i sreće, ali i velikog zadovoljstva što radim upravo u ovom hotelu i to s ovakvim timom jednostavno je neopisiva.

Esplanadino ime tjera me i dalje da dajem najbolje od sebe i nikad ne iznevjerim ono što se gradilo desetljećima“, zaključila je Melida.

MEET THE ESPLANADE STAFF | PREDSTAVLJAMO OSOBLJE HOTELA

Once, the English national football team stayed at the hotel. As one of them was particularly popular with women, she received a phone call from a woman who claimed to be his wife, asking Melida to put her through to him. Of course, Melida knew that it was a fake call but nonetheless decided to tell the player about it, and he found it quite amusing.

Prisjeća se kroz smijeh kako je primila telefonski poziv i ženska se osoba predstavila kao supruga vrlo popularnog nogometaša te zatražila da je spoji s njim direktno.

Naravno, Melida je odmah prepoznala da je riječ o lažnom pozivu, ali je ipak o tome obavijestila gosta kojem se dogodovština činila jako simpatičnom.

sanpellegrino.com

EXHIBITION IZLOŽBA

The Group that Changed the Croatian Art Scene Skupina koja je mijenjala hrvatsku umjetničku pozornicu

The exhibition Art and Life Are the Same: The Earth Group Arts Collective 1929-1935 will be opening at the Klovićevi Dvori Gallery at the end of November 2019. The author of the exhibition is Dr Petar Prelog, and the exhibition marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Earth Group Arts Collective in 1929. The exhibition can be visited until 1 March 2020.

U Galeriji Klovićevi dvori krajem studenoga 2019. godine otvorena je izložba „Umjetnost i život su jedno: Udruženje umjetnika Zemlja 1929. - 1935.“. Autor izložbe je dr. sc. Petar Prelog, a izložbom se obilježava 90 godina od osnutka Udruženja umjetnika Zemlja, 1929. Izložbu možete posjetiti do 1. ožujka 2020.

The Earth Group Arts Collective was a unique phenomenon in national modern art and one of the key Croatian arts groups in the inter-war period. It was the only group that succeeded in bringing together a large number of painters, sculptors and architects and at the same time changed the Croatian art scene with an emphasis on transforming the dominant social values and establishing new, clearly articulated artistic strategies and exceptional engagement and motivation in society. One of the main aims of the artists of the Earth Group was the creation of a national artistic expression that sought to improve the artistic literacy of the poorest sections of society.

62 | E S P LA N A D E V IEW

EXHIBITIO N | IZLOŽBA

Udruženje umjetnika Zemlja jedinstvena je pojava u cjelokupnoj nacionalnoj modernoj umjetnosti i jedna od ključnih hrvatskih umjetničkih skupina u međuratnom razdoblju. To je jedina skupina koja je uspjela okupiti velik broj slikara, kipara i arhitekata i ujedno promijeniti hrvatsku umjetničku pozornicu s težnjom za promjenom dominantnih društvenih vrijednosti i uspostavljanjem novih, jasno artikuliranih umjetničkih strategija te izuzetno angažiranom motivacijom u društvu. Jedan od glavnih ciljeva protagonista Zemlje bilo je stvaranje nacionalnog umjetničkog izraza u kojem se nastojalo likovno opismeniti i najsiromašnije slojeve društva.

Franjo Mraz, Zima 1936., Moderna galerija Zagreb

Ivan Generalić, Pogreb Štefa Halačeka 1934., Moderna galerija Zagreb

Kamilo Ružička, Autobus 1930., Moderna galerija Zagreb

EXH IB IT ION | I Z LOŽ BA

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 63

Krsto Hegedušić, Rekvizicija 1929., Muzej moderne i suvremene umjetnosti Rijeka

At the exhibition Life and Art are the Same, visitors will be able to see a representative cross-section of the works of the figures in the Earth Group: paintings, drawings, graphics, sculptures, architectural and urban projects, and documentary material. Works by the following will be exhibited: Krsto Hegedušić (ideologue, driving force and author of the Earth Group programme), Leo Junek, Oton Postružnik, Marijan Detoni, Đuro Tiljak, Omer Mujadžić, Ivan Tabaković, Vinko Grdan, Kamilo Ružička, Edo Kovačević, Kamilo Tompa, Ernest Tomašević, Željko Hegedušić, Ivan Generalić, Franjo Mraz, Vilim Svečnjak, Fedor Vaić, Antun Mezdjić, Branka Frangeš Hegedušić, Petar Smajić, Vanja Radauš, Drago Ibler (president of the group and author of its manifesto), Drago Galić, Stjepan Gomboš, Mladen Kauzlarić, Lavoslav Horvat, Stjepan Planić, Zdenko Strižić and the Radna group of architects in Zagreb.

The Earth Group of artists left an extremely important mark on Croatian art and bear witness to a turbulent historical moment, a society in a dysfunctional state with many complicated political relationships, and an art that did not hesitate to set itself the most complex of tasks.

64 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

Na izložbi „Umjetnost i život su jedno“ posjetitelji mogu vidjeti reprezentativan presjek djelovanja protagonista Zemlje: slike, crteže, grafike, skulpture, arhitektonske i urbanističke projekte te dokumentarni materijal. Izložena su djela Krste Hegedušića (ideologa, pokretača i autora Zemljina programa), Lea Juneka, Otona Postružnika, Marijana Detonija, Đure Tiljka, Omera Mujadžića, Ivana Tabakovića, Vinka Grdana, Kamila Ružičke, Ede Kovačevića, Kamila Tompe, Ernesta Tomaševića, Željka Hegedušića, Ivana Generalića, Franje Mraza, Vilima Svečnjaka, Fedora Vaića, Antuna Mezdjića, Branke Frangeš Hegedušić, Petra Smajića, Vanje Radauša, Drage Iblera (autora manifesta i predsjednika Udruženja), Drage Galića, Stjepana Gomboša, Mladena Kauzlarića, Lavoslava Horvata, Stjepana Planića, Zdenka Strižića i arhitekata Radne grupe Zagreb.

Udruženje umjetnika Zemlja ostavilo je iznimno bitan trag u hrvatskoj umjetnosti i veliko svjedočanstvo o burnom povijesnom trenutku, društvu u jednoj nefunkcionalnoj državnoj zajednici, mnogim zapletenim političkim odnosima, kao i o umjetnosti koja se nije ustručavala pred sebe postaviti i najsloženije zadatke.

EXHIBITIO N | IZLOŽBA

Krsto Hegedušić, Poklade 1935., Muzej moderne i suvremene umjetnosti Rijeka

Marijan Detoni, Pijana kočija 1935., Muzej savremene umetnost, Beograd

Weekend Max Mara: Chaotic Elegance Weekend Max Mara launches a new signature collection called “Chaotic Elegance” and Inspired by the work of master glass artist Ritsue Mishima. She combines materials and shapes in unique and unexpected ways: a seemingly haphazard mixture of fabrics, textures and colors juxtaposing two different worlds. The result is a chaotic elegance built around contrasts. Unexpected bursts of colors, cuts and finishes serve to redefine iconic Weekend wardrobe staples such as the padded jacket, trench coat, comfortable skirts and velvet pants, creating a splendidly imperfect beauty in which each piece becomes a work of art in itself. During Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2019/20, Weekend Max Mara will present the collection at their Piazza del Liberty Headquarters and in Zagreb you can see this work of art in Weekend Max Mara store located in Teslina Street no 8.

Weekend Max Mara lansirala je novu autorsku kolekciju pod nazivom Chaotic Elegance, nadahnutu radom na staklu umjetnice Ritsue Mishima. Ona kombinira materijale i oblike na jedinstvene i neočekivane načine: naizgled neobičnom mješavinom tkanina, tekstura i boja koje spajaju dva različita svijeta. Rezultat je kaotična elegancija bazirana na kontrastima. Neočekivana eksplozija boja, krojeva i detalja stvara umjetnički redizajn ikona Weekend Max Marine odjeće, od toplih,punjenih jakni I balonera do udobnih suknji i baršunastih hlača, stvarajući sjajnu nesavršenu ljepotu u kojoj svaki komad postaje umjetničko djelo. Tijekom milanskog modnog tjedna Jesen / zima 2019./20., Max Mara Weekend predstavit će kolekciju u svojem sjedištu na adresi Piazza del Liberty, a u Zagrebu ovaj umjetnički izričaj možete doživjeti u trgovini Weekend Max Mare, u Teslinoj 8.

P ROM O

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 65

Zagreb 2020 Festival of Lights Festival svjetla Zagreb 2020.

Photographs:

Croatia’s capital will host the Festival of Lights for the fourth year in a row from 18 to 22 March 2020 Od 18. do 22. ožujka 2020. Festival svjetla održat će se četvrti put u hrvatskoj metropoli Art, design, spectacle, entertainment and architecture are all brought together in the Festival of Lights in a celebration of positive vibes and beautiful vistas that will momentarily make everything around us seem completely different, more colourful and brighter.

The Croatian capital Zagreb will host the Festival of Lights for a fourth consecutive year from 18 to 22 March 2020 as part of the Festival of Lights International. The creator and organiser of the event is Zagreb Tourist Board, which has brought about this project by successfully cooperating with a number of cultural institutions and public entities such as the City of Zagreb, HEP (the national energy provider), the Zagreb Archdiocese Church of St. Catherine, the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service, Hrvatske šume (the Croatian forest management company), Zrin66 | E S P LA N A DE V IEW ZAGR EB

Umjetnost, dizajn, spektakl, zabava, arhitektura – sve je to Festival svjetla. Festival dobrih emocija i lijepih prizora, zbog kojeg je svijet oko nas barem na trenutak potpuno drugačiji, šareniji, blještaviji.

Od 18. do 22. ožujka 2020. Festival svjetla održat će se četvrti put u hrvatskoj metropoli. Festival je uvršten u međunarodnu organizaciju Festival of Lights International. Autor i organizator je Turistička zajednica grada Zagreba koja u realizaciji projekta uspješno surađuje s nizom kulturnih institucija te javnih i gradskih službi kao što su Grad Zagreb, HEP, Zagrebačka nadbiskupija – crkva sv. Katarine, Hrvatski hidrometeorološki zavod, Hrvatske šume, Zrinjevac, ZET, Sveučilište u Zagrebu – Pravni fakultet, Galerija Klovićevi dvori, Hrvatski institut za povijest, Muzej grada Zagreba i mnogi drugi.

TZGZ ARCHIVE/ SANJIN KAŠTELAN, DUBRAVKO MILOSLAVIĆ, JULIEN DUVAL, MARKO MIHALJEVIĆ

Last year’s festival lit up twenty locations below and beside the Upper Town, whose charming ambience makes it an ideal venue for such events Prošlogodišnji festival zasjao je na čak dvadeset lokacija u gradu, neposredno ispod Gornjega grada i uzduž njega koji svojim šarmom stvara idealno okruženje za takvo događanje

jevac, ZET (the Zagreb tram operator), the University of Zagreb Faculty of Law, Klovićevi Dvori Gallery, the Croatian Institute of History, and Zagreb City Museum.

Their joint dedication and efforts have contributed to the tremendous quality and success of the festival, with Zagreb Tourist Board enjoying enormous support from citizens, particularly those in the Upper Town, whose cooperation and patience have been crucial for the successful realisation of the project.

By applying state-of-the-art light technologies in the historical centre, the Zagreb Festival of Lights will of-

Njihov zajednički rad i trud doprinose kvaliteti i uspješnosti festivala, a posebno treba istaknuti da Turistička zajednica grada Zagreba ima veliku podršku sugrađana, posebice stanovnika Gornjega grada, koji svojom potporom i strpljivošću doprinose uspješnoj realizaciji projekta.

Cilj Festivala svjetla Zagreb je primjenom recentnih svjetlosnih tehnologija u povijesnom okruženju posjetiteljima pružiti izuzetan doživljaj, a grad Zagreb svrstati uz bok svjetskim metropolama koje su domaćini međunarodnih festivala svjetla. Stoga festival oživljava najpoznatije gradske simbole i odijeva

ZAG R EB

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 67

fer visitors an extraordinary experience, and place the City of Zagreb alongside other major cities hosting international festivals of light. The city landmarks will be revived and dressed in vivid colours announcing spring and inviting everyone to enjoy the breathtaking magic of light out in the open.

Last year’s festival lit up twenty locations below and beside the Upper Town, whose charming ambience makes it an ideal venue for such events. Visitors were able to enjoy 23 colourful installations for five days, a day longer than in the first two years, which will also be the case in next year’s event. Since 2019 was the Year of Culture and Tourism in both the Republic of Croatia and the People’s Republic of China, visitors were able to enjoy three attractive installations by Chinese artists. The event also featured the presentation of a project entitled ‘Cloud Pergola/Mathematised Cloud’, the work of curator Bruno Juričić and Alisa Andrasek.

This magnificent installation found a home in Zagreb City Museum, which also hosted the festival opening.

Other locations offering light attractions included Grič Tunnel, which was transformed into a magic wood, Gradec Plateau with the chiaroscuro ‘She/he loves me – she/he loves me not’, the Church of St. Catherine, the Strossmayer Promenade with a lighting lounge zone, Tomić Street with its lit stairs, the atrium of the Klovićevi Dvori Gallery, Jesuit Square with a 3D mapping dance performance, and many other parts of the city brought to life by creative light solutions.

As a result of the exceptional interest and positive reactions of both foreign and local visitors, the Zagreb Festival of Lights is becoming more diverse from one year to the next, raising the quality and creativity of what it has to offer. Next year’s festival will feature various light effects, animations and art creations, some of which will be accompanied by music, and also a number of surprises, all making it a must-visit event.

68 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW ZAGR EB

ih u živopisne boje. Festivalom se najavljuje proljeće te pozivaju svi na uživanje na otvorenom – u čaroliji svjetla, koja nikoga ne ostavlja ravnodušnim.

Prošlogodišnji festival zasjao je na čak dvadeset lokacija u gradu, neposredno ispod Gornjega grada i uzduž njega koji svojim šarmom stvara idealno okruženje za takvo događanje. Posjetitelji su imali priliku pet dana uživati u čak 23 instalacije živopisnih boja.

Festival svjetla 2019. trajao je dan duže nego prve dvije godine, što će biti slučaj i s festivalom iduće godine. Budući da je 2019. obilježena kao godina kulture i turizma Republike Hrvatske i Narodne Republike Kine, na festivalu su posjetitelji mogli vidjeti tri živopisne instalacije iz Kine. Predstavljen je i projekt „Oblak pergola / matematizirani oblak“ kustoske koncepcije Brune Juričića i autorice dizajna Alise Andrasek, čija je veličanstvena instalacija svoje mjesto našla u Muzeju grada Zagreba, gdje je bilo i otvorenje festivala.

Ostale lokacije na kojima su posjetitelji mogli uživati šetajući su tunel Grič koji je bio svjetlosno transformiran u čarobnu šumu, plato Gradec na kojem je bila instalirana svjetlosna igra „voli me – ne voli me“, crkva svete Katarine, Strossmayerovo šetalište sa svjetlosnom lounge zonom, Tomićeva ulica s osvijetljenim stubama, atrij Galerije Klovićevi dvori, Jezuitski trg s plesnim performansom sa 3D mapingom i mnogi drugi dijelovi grada, koji su oživjeli zahvaljujući kreativnim svjetlosnim rješenjima.

Zbog izuzetnog zanimanja i pozitivnih reakcija domaćih i stranih posjetitelja, Festival svjetla Zagreb obogaćuje se iz godine u godinu, podižući kvalitetu i kreativnost sadržaja. I Festival svjetla Zagreb 2020. sadržavat će razne svjetlosne efekte, animacije i umjetničke kreacije, među kojima će neke pratiti glazba, uz pokoje iznenađenje, što ovaj festival čini događajem koji se ne propušta.

By applying state-ofthe-art light technologies in the historical centre, the Zagreb Festival of Lights will offer visitors an extraordinary experience, and place the City of Zagreb alongside other major cities hosting international festivals of light Cilj Festivala svjetla Zagreb je primjenom recentnih svjetlosnih tehnologija u povijesnom okruženju posjetiteljima pružiti izuzetan doživljaj, a grad Zagreb svrstati uz bok svjetskim metropolama koje su domaćini međunarodnih festivala svjetla

Events Događanja

A COMBINATION OF A GLAMOROUS ATMOSPHERE AND BEAUTY PRODUCTS

The new luxury cosmetics brand Neva 1918 Hommage à la Beauté was presented in the elegant surroundings of Zinfandel’s restaurant. The fifteen new products embody a century of beauty in three new collections of floral fragrances inspired by the first ever Croatian cosmetics for women: Optoderm. Everything about this cosmetics brand pays homage to and expresses admiration for the beauty of the beginning of the 20th century.

Neva’s new collection of products is based on perfectly feminine, romantically refined, but always modern, floral fragrances of violet, lilac and heavenly rose.

70 | E S P LAN A DE V IEW

EV E N TS | DOGAĐANJA

Spoj glamuroznog ambijenta i proizvoda za ljepotu

U elegantnom Zinfandel’s restoranu predstavljen je novi luksuzni kozmetički brend Neva1918 Hommage à la Beauté. Petnaest novih proizvoda utjelovljuje stoljeće ljepote jer su tri nove kolekcije cvjetnih mirisa nadahnute prvom hrvatskom kozmetikom za njegu žena – Optodermom. Sve je bilo podređeno ovom kozmetičkom brendu, kako bi odali divljenje i počast ljepoti s početka 20. stoljeća. Naime, nove se kolekcije Nevinih proizvoda temelje upravo na savršeno ženstvenim, romantično profinjenim, uvijek suvremenim cvjetnim mirisima ljubičice, jorgovana i nebeske ruže.

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 71

WORLD TOURIST ORGANISATION MEETING

The 64th meeting of the European Commission of the UNWTO, which was attended by the most countries and delegations to date (140 participants from 44 countries, including 40 member countries) was held in the Emerald Ballroom. Zurab Pololikashvili, the General Secretary of the UNWTO, thanked the hosts for their hospitality and excellent organisation, highlighting how Croatia was a leader in innovation and setting tourism trends, and would remain an important UNWTO partner in the future.

72 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

EVE N TS | DOGAĐANJA

Sastanak Svjetske turističke organizacije U Smaragdnoj dvorani održan je 64. sastanak Komisije za Europu UNWTO-a, kojem se odazvalo najviše zemalja i izaslanstava do sada – prisutno je bilo 140 sudionika iz 44 zemlje, među kojima je 40 zemalja članica. Zurab Pololikashvili, glavni tajnik UNWTO-a, zahvalio je domaćinima na gostoprimstvu i odličnoj organizaciji, istaknuvši kako je Hrvatska jedan od najznačajnijih lidera u inovacijama i postavljanju turističkih trendova te će i ubuduće ostati važan partner UNWTO-a.

Olive Oil – A Cure Ulje masline – lijek

Curative properties of olive oil have been known since the Antiquity. Most of its today’s consumers however are unaware of the key word linking the human health and the olive oil: PHENOLS.

Od antičkih vremena poznata je ljekovitost ulja masline, a većina današnjih korisnika ne poznaje ključnu riječ koja povezuje zdravlje čovjeka i ulje masline: FENOLI.

Polyphenols are plant compounds of powerful antioxidative value. They protect the heart, blood veins and immune system, and have a positive effect on the prevention of chronic inflammatory conditions, cancer and the aging process.

Polifenoli su biljni spojevi snažne antioksidativne vrijednosti koji štite srce, krvne žile i imunološki sustav s pozitivnim učinkom na prevenciju kroničnih upalnih bolesti, karcinoma i procesa starenja.

According to the EU laws, olive oil must contain minimum 250 mg/kg of phenols to be declared beneficial for human health. In the background of many human medical conditions are the inflammatory processes and phenols act against inflammation.

An interesting fact is that olive oils with low polyphenol share have negative effect on LDL and HDL cholesterol levels while the effect of olive oils rich in polyphenols is positive. Olive oil is a rich source of natural antioxidants (phenols, phenolic acids, vitamin E, carotenoids).

This year’s OLYMPIA AWARDS have gathered scientists from around the globe (Greece, Harvard, University of California, Northwestern) who interpreted positive effects of oil with high polyphenol level on the human health.

Medals were awarded including bronze medal for oils exceeding 250 mg/kg polyphenol share, silver medal for oils exceeding 500 mg/kg polyphenol share and gold medal for oils exceeding 1000 mg/kg polyphenol share.

More than 1500 samples were received at the contest, making it the leading global competition event by the number of samples arrived.

NAI 3.3 coratina contains 1648 mg/kg polyphenol share. At the London contest in “HEALTH CLAIM” category, where polyphenols accounted for 70% points and organoleptic properties accounted for the rest, NAI 3.3 was one of only six gold medal winning olive oils in the world.

Prema EU legislativi, u ulju masline treba biti minimalno 250 mg/kg da bismo ga nazvali korisnim za zdravlje čovjeka. U pozadini ljudskih bolesti su upalni procesi , a fenoli djeluju protupalno. Zanimljivo je da maslinovo ulje s niskim udjelom polifenola negativno djeluje na LDL i HDL kolesterol, a ulja bogata polifenolima pozitivno. Bogat je izvor prirodnih antioksidansa (fenoli, fenolne kiseline, vitamin E, karotenoidi).

Ovogodišnja dodjela OLYMPIA AWARDS okupila je znanstvenike širom svijeta (iz Grčke, s Harvarda, Universitx of California Northwesterna) koji su tumačili pozitivan učinak ulja s velikom količinom polifenola na zdravlje čovjeka. Dodijeljene su i medalje: brončane za ulja s više od 250 mg/ kg polifenola, srebrna za ulja s više od 500 mg/kg polifenola i zlatna za ulja s više od 1000 mg/kg polifenola. Na natjecanje je pristiglo i više od 1500 uzoraka, zbog čega je to najveće svjetsko natjecanje po broju pristiglih uzoraka.

NAI 3.3 coratina sadži 1648 mg/kg polifenola. Na londonskom natjecanju u kategoriji HEALTH CLAIM gdje su 70% bodova nosili polifenoli, a ostatak organoleptika, NAI 3,3 je jedno od šest maslinovih ulja iz cijelog svijeta koje je dobilo zlatnu medalju.

P ROM O

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 73

JUTARNJI LIST CONFERENCES

Konferencije Jutarnjeg lista

The leading Croatian newspaper, Vodeće hrvatske dnevne novine Jutarnji list, which is published by Jutarnji list, koje izdaje Hanza MeHanza Media, has held a number dia, već godinama održavaju niz of successful conferences over the uspješnih konferencija u Smaragyears in the Emerald Ballroom of dnoj dvorani hotela Esplanade. the Esplanade Hotel. In the past Proteklih mjeseci na konferencijafew months, hundreds of well- ma pod nazivima „Sigurnost ceknown guests from the worlds stovnog prometa“, „Električni auof sport, economics and poli- tomobili“, „Domovinska sigurnost“, tics have had the opportunity to „Sportske novosti“, „Poljoprivredna discuss current issues and par- konferencija“ i „Digitalna konferenticipate at conferences entitled cija“ raspravljalo se o aktualnim “Road Safety”, “Electric Cars”, temama, a sudjelovalo je nekoliko “Homeland Security”, “Sports stotina uglednih gostiju iz svijeta News”, “Agricultural Conference” sporta, ekonomije i politike. and “Digital Conference”.

74 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

EV E N TS | DOGAĐANJA

Mjesto / Venue

Solana Nin Nin Saltworks Ilirska cesta 7, 23232 Nin www.solananin.hr

• 1500 years old saltwork • Tradition and hand harvesting by saltworkers • Museum House of Salt & Souvenirshop • 100.000 visitors annually • 150 salt products • Salt fields guided tours • 17 km from Zadar

• 1500 godina stara solana • Tradicija, ručna berba i solari • Muzej Kuća soli i suvenirnica • 100.000 posjetitelja godišnje • 150 proizvoda od soli i sa soli • Ture sa stručnim vodičem po poljima soli • 17 km od Zadra

ZINFANDEL’S DECLARED THE BEST HIGH-CLASS HOTEL RESTAURANT IN CROATIA

Zinfandel’s proglašen najboljim hotelskim restoranom visoke kategorije u Hrvatskoj

Numerous well-known chefs from Croatian restaurants, food critics, culinary connoisseurs, and other guests eagerly gathered this summer on the Oleander Terrace to see who the winners of the eighth Good Restaurants Awards would be. In the presence of many well-known figures from the culinary world and representatives of the media, Zinfandel’s proudly received the award for the Best High-class Hotel Restaurant in Croatia, which was presented to Chef Ana Grgić

by Minister of Tourism Gari Capelli.

76 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

Brojni poznati chefovi hrvatskih restorana, kulinarski kritičari, znalci gastronomije i drugi uzvanici popunili su ljetos kultnu Oleander terasu, željno iščekujući laureate osmog izbora „Dobri restorani“. U prisutnosti brojnih zvučnih imena iz svijeta gastronomije i predstavnika medija, Zinfandel’s restoran ponosno je primio nagradu za najbolji hotelski restoran visoke kategorije u Hrvatskoj, koju je chefici Ani Grgić uručio ministar turizma Gari Capelli.

EV EN TS | D O GA Đ A N JA

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

BEST TOURISM FILM AWARDS

Nagrade najboljim turističkim filmovima

The 8th ZAGREB TOURFILM FESTIVAL Osmi ZAGREB TOURFILM FESTIVAL na brought together filmmakers, tourism svečanoj je večeri u Smaragdnoj dvoraexperts and lovers of attractive desti- ni tradicionalno okupio filmaše, turističke nations to present awards to the best znalce, profesionalce i ljubitelje atraktivfilms in the area of tourism at a gala nih destinacija, kako bi dodijelio nagrade evening in the Emerald Ballroom. Out najboljim filmovima u području turizma. of 300 films from a total of 41 coun- Između čak 300 filmova pristiglih iz 41 zetries, the film Dubrovnik Riviera won mlje svijeta film „Dubrovnik Riviera“ osvothe festival Grand Prix and was also jio je Grand Prix festivala, a proglašen je declared the best Croatian tourism i najboljim hrvatskim turističkim filmom. film, while the lifetime achievement Nagradu za životno djelo primila je Daaward went to Dagmar Meneghello. gmar Meneghello.

HBO FILM SCENES FOR THE POPULAR SERIES SUCCESSION AT THE ESPLANADE

For a full two days, a large HBO film crew and wellknown Hollywood actors occupied the hotel to film the popular series Succession. The Emerald Ballroom, lobby, presidential suite and some of the conference rooms provided ideal settings for filming the ninth episode of the second season of a series which has received a prestigious Emmy award.

78 | E S P LA N A D E V IEW

EV E N TS | DOGAĐANJA

HBO u Esplanadi snimao scene za poznatu seriju „Succession“ Puna dva dana brojna ekipa snimatelja HBO-a i poznatih holivudskih glumaca zauzela je prostore hotela za snimanje popularne serije „Succession“. Smaragdna dvorana, predvorje, predsjednički apartman te neke konferencijske dvorane poslužile su kao idealna scena za snimanje devete epizode druge sezone serije koja je nagrađena i prestižnom nagradom Emmy.

A TOUCH OF NATURE: IMMORTALLE BY L’OCCITANE

The renowned cosmetics brand L’Occitane held a sales training event for cosmetics consultants to launch its new Immortalle skin care collection at The Club.

Long-time partners the Esplanade Hotel and L’Occitane created the perfect blend of ambience, pleasant socialising, training and luxury for the event. L’Occitane produces award-winning French cosmetics for skin, body and hair care, which are inspired by nature and which for many years have been placed in the rooms of guests at the Esplanade Hotel.

THE KOZLOVIĆ WINERY PRESENTS ITS MALVAZIJA

At Le Bistro in the Esplanade Hotel, Franco and Antonella Kozlović presented their Malvazija 2018 with the intention of showing the wine’s vibrancy and how it excellently accompanies everything from aperitifs to dessert. Thus, everything at the event revolved around the “orange label”, while imaginative treats were provided

by Executive Chef Ana Grgić.

Dodir prirode Immortalle L’Occitanea

Poznati kozmetički brend L’Occitane održao je u The Clubu prodajni trening za estetske savjetnice, u povodu lansiranja nove kolekcije za njegu lica Immortalle. Dugogodišnji suradnici Hotel Esplanade i L’Occitane stvorili su za tu prilogu savršen spoj ambijenta, ugodnog druženja, edukacije i luksuza.

L’Occitane je nagrađivana francuska kozmetika za njegu lica, tijela i kose, inspirirana prirodom, koja se već godinama nalazi u sobama za goste hotela Esplanade.

Kozlović predstavio svoju Malvaziju U Le Bistrou hotela Esplanade Franco i Antonella Kozlović predstavili su Malvaziju 2018 s namjerom da pokažu živost ovoga vina koje funkcionira izvrsno od aperitiva do deserta. Stoga se na događanju sve podredilo legendarnoj „narančastoj etiketi“, a pratili su je maštoviti zalogaji šefice kuhinje Ane Grgić.

EV EN TS | D O GA Đ A N JA

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 79

“Save Me” Campaign Inicijativa „Spasi me“

As part of the “Save Me” cam- U organizaciji inicijative „Spasi paign, a charity auction was held me“, u hotelu Esplanade održaat the Esplanade Hotel to raise na je humanitarna aukcija na money for victims of domestic vio- kojoj se prikupljao novac za žrlence through the Emergency As- tve nasilja i uplaćen je u fond sistance and Protection for Victims Udruge za hitnu pomoć i zaštitu of Domestic Violence Association. A žrtava obiteljskog nasilja. Svecharity dinner in the Emerald Ball- čana humanitarna večera u room brought together a number of Smaragdnoj dvorani okupila je well-known figures from the world of brojne poznate osobe iz svijeta show business and politics. The event šoubiznisa i politike. Događaj was broadcast live on RTL Television, je emitiran uživo na RTL televiand funds were also raised by mem- ziji, a novac je prikupljan i tebers of the public, who phoned in to lefonskim pozivima građana make their donations. u pozivnom centru.

80 | E S P LA N A D E V IEW

EV E N TS | DOGAĐANJA

NEM BRINGS FAMOUS SPEAKERS TO ZAGREB NEM dovodi poznate predavače u Zagreb The first NEM Zagreb, an event focused on the development of the television and film industry in Croatia and the region, will be held from 11-13 December 2019 in the Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb. Some of the first speakers to confirm their arrival are: Allan Starski, set designer, set decorator and Oscar winner for the film Schindler’s List; Gabrielle Tana, a producer nominated for an Oscar for the film Philomena (in the best film category 2013) and for two BAFTA awards; Vanja Černjul, the Zagreb director of photography with a successful career abroad, known for his work on the popular film Crazy Rich Asians (2018); and Harold Gronenthal, executive vice president of AMC Networks International, a leading international production company and channel, content and video service distributor in more than 130 countries, who worked on putting together the global broadcasting rights for AMC’s most well-known series like The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad and Mad Men.

Prvi NEM Zagreb – događanje usmjereno na razvoj televizijske i filmske industrije u Hrvatskoj i regiji – održat će se od 11. do 13. prosinca 2019. u Hotelu Esplanade Zagreb. Neki od predavača koji su prvi potvrdili dolazak su Allan Starski, scenograf, dekorater seta i dobitnik Oscara za film „Schindlerova lista“; Gabrielle Tana, producentica koja je s filmom „Philomena“ nominirana za Oscara (u kategoriji za film godine 2013.) te za dvije BAFTA nagrade; Vanja Černjul, zagrebački direktor fotografije s uspješnom inozemnom karijerom, poznat po radu na popularnom filmu „Crazy Rich Asians“ (2018.); te Harold Gronenthal, izvršni dopredsjednik AMC Networks Internationala, vodeće međunarodne produkcijske tvrtke i distributera kanala, sadržaja i videoservisa u više od 130 zemalja, koji je radio na sklapanju globalnih prava na emitiranje najpoznatijih AMC-jevih serija poput „The Walking Dead“, „Breaking Bad“ i „Mad Men“.

RBA SUMMER TALK ON THE OLEANDER TERRACE

This year, the annual gathering of representatives of Raiffeisen Bank and its clients in the informal surroundings of the Oleander Terrace attracted a few hundred guests from the worlds of banking and finance who enjoyed the evening socialising with tasty delicacies and an excellent music programme.

RBA Summer Talk na Oleander terasi

Tradicionalno godišnje druženje predstavnika Raiffeisen banke i klijenata u neformalnom okružju Oleander terase i ovog je ljeta privuklo nekoliko stotina uzvanika iz bankarskog i financijskog svijeta, koji su cijelu večer uživali u druženju uz vrhunske delicije i odličan glazbeni program.

EV EN TS | D O GA ĐA N JA

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 81

ANNUAL CELEBRATION Tradicionalna proslava OF NIKOLA TESLA’S BIRTH rođendana Nikole Tesle

Every year, the birth of Nikola Tesla is formally commemorated in the Esplanade Hotel. This year, Science, Technology and Innovation Day and the 163rd anniversary of the celebrated inventor’s birth were marked with a programme presenting the annual “Nikola Tesla: Genius for the Future” awards at which a number of prizes were presented to young innovators.

Već tradicionalno se u hotelu Esplanade svečano obilježava rođendan Nikole Tesle. Programom i dodjelom godišnje nagrade „Nikola Tesla – genij za budućnost“ proslavljeni su Dan znanosti, tehnologije i inovacija i 163. obljetnica rođenja velikog izumitelja.

Dodijeljene su brojne nagrade mladim inovatorima.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

The 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China was celebrated with spectacular fireworks on the specially arranged Oleander Terrace in the centre of Zagreb. Numerous figures from Croatian politics and sport, as well as leading academics, attended the event organised by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. The Chinese Ambassador Xu Erwen underlined that Sino-Croatian relations had never been stronger.

82 | E S P LA N A D E V IEW

EVE N TS | DOGAĐANJA

Godišnjica Narodne Republike Kine

Na posebno dotjeranoj Oleander terasi spektakularnim vatrometom u središtu Zagreba obilježena je 70. godišnjica uspostave Narodne Republike Kine.

Na proslavi koju je organiziralo veleposlanstvo NR Kine našle su se brojne osobe iz političkog i sportskog života Hrvatske te značajni akademici. Kineska veleposlanica Xu Erwen istaknula je kako su odnosi Kine i Hrvatske ušli u najbolje razdoblje u povijesti.

ZINFANDEL’S PROVIDES THE DANCE FLOOR FOR SHOOTING A LEDO ADVERT

The luxurious space of the Esplanade Hotel provided the setting for the shooting of a Ledo advert. The producers of Val Productions took advantage of the sumptuous premises of the hotel and stylish Zinfandel’s restaurant to shoot a secretive ad for the royal ice cream Ledo King.

Zinfandel’s kao plesni podij za snimanje Ledove reklame

Luksuzno ozračje hotela Esplanade prepustilo je svoj prostor snimanju Ledove reklame. Producenti Val Produkcije iskoristili su raskošne prostorije hotela i otmjenog restorana Zinfandel’sa kao pozornicu za snimanje tajanstvene reklame za kraljevske sladolede Ledo King.

Photographs: ANTE CVITANOVIĆ

MISS UNIVERSE CROATIA 2019

Miss Universe Hrvatske 2019.

The Esplanade Hotel this year once again hosted con- Hotel Esplanade i ove je godine bio dom natjecateljitestants during their preparations for the Miss Universe cama za vrijeme priprema za izbor ljepote Miss UniverCroatia beauty contest. “We are extremely grateful to se Hrvatske. „Neizmjerno smo zahvalni menadžmentu the hotel management, Mr Krizmanić and the entire hotela, gospodinu Krizmaniću i cijelom osoblju koji su staff, who made the stay of our contestants and VIP boravak u hotelu našim natjecateljicama i VIP gostiguests in the hotel an unforgettable one”, said Vladimir ma učinili nezaboravnim“ – rekao je Vladimir Kraljević, Kraljević, the owner of the Miss Universe Croatia li- vlasnik licencije Miss Universe Hrvatske. Među VIP gosticence. The VIP guests at this year’s event included New ma ovogodišnjeg izbora bili su Ivana Trump, članica York socialite Ivana Trump, the first wife of the current visokog društva New Yorka i prva supruga aktualnog US president, and Gimmi Baldinini, the Italian designer predsjednika SAD-a, te Gimmi Baldinini, talijanski dizaand one of the biggest shoe manufacturers in Italy. jner i jedan od najvećih proizvođača cipela u Italiji.

EV EN TS | D O GA Đ A N JA

ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 83

A Sensational Choice of Original Dishes from Executive Chef Ana Grgić Senzacionalni izbor autorskih jela šefice kuhinje Ane Grgić

On a sunny Oleander Terrace with a fantastic af- Na sunčanoj Oleander terasi na raskošnom popodternoon brunch, accompanied by a terrific DJ and nevnom brunchu, uz odličnu glazbu DJ-a i ledene ice-cold Absolut cocktails, the new innovative Zin- koktele Absolut, uzvanicima je predstavljen novi inofandel’s restaurant menu of talented chef Ana Grgić vativni jelovnik restorana Zinfandel’sa, koji potpisuje was presented to guests. A summer gathering on the talentirana šefica kuhinje Ana Grgić. Ljetnom druženju most beautiful terrace in town and the presentation na najljepšoj terasi u gradu i predstavljanju novog jelovof a new menu attracted numerous members of the nika nazočili su brojni predstavnici medija, gosti restomedia, restaurant guests and well-known figures, rana i poznate osobe, koji su među prvima imali priliku who were among the first to have the opportunity to kušati nove Anine delicije. Uz fine zalogaje šarmantna taste Ana’s new creations. The charming Zinfandel’s ekipa restorana Zinfandel›sa gostima je poslužila odrestaurant team served guests with excellent wines lična vina. Osvježavajući ledeni mjehurići šampanjca

84 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

EV E N TS | DOGAĐANJA

to go with the delicious treats. The refreshing iced-cold bubbles of Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial champagne, supplied for the occasion by Miva galerija vina, paired with the delicious snacks, provided guests with the perfect introduction to a tasty summer gathering. Ana’s summer culinary story was further enhanced by wines from excellent local wineries. Istarski Benvenuti delighted guests with their selection, while the award-winning wines of the Moslavina Voštinić Klasnić winery and those of the Stina winery from the island of Brač added the finishing touch to Ana’s delicious treats.

Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial, koje je za ovu priliku nabavila Miva galerija vina, spojeni s finim zalogajima, pružili su uzvanicima savršeni uvod u slasno ljetno druženje. Aninu ljetnu gurmansku priču dodatno su naglasila vina vrhunskih domaćih vinarija. Istarski Benvenuti oduševio je uzvanike svojom selekcijom, a nagrađivani Škrlet moslavačke vinarije Voštinić Klasnić i vina vinarije Stina s otoka Brača zaokružili su privlačne Anine zalogaje.

EV EN TS | D O GA Đ A N JA

ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 85

Woman of the Year 2019 Žena godine 2019.

Since 1995, the magazine Zaposlena (Female Employee) has presented an award for Woman of the Year. The project recognises women who have had an impact through their work during the year, and a panel of judges presents the award to one of the nominees. The event has traditionally been held in the luxurious atmosphere of the hotel’s

86 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

Časopis Zaposlena od 1995. godine održava izbor za Ženu godine.

Tim projektom predstavlja žene koje su svojim radom posebno obilježile godinu, a ocjenjivački sud titulu dodjeljuje jednoj od nominiranih. U hotelu se ova glamurozna manifestacija već tradicionalno održava u raskošnom ozračju Oleander terase koja je

EV E N TS | DOGAĐANJA

Oleander Terrace, which this year played host to numerous women from the world of business. The winner was Nina Išek Međugorac, one of the first Masters graduates in public relations in Croatia, who is currently Head of Corporate Communications at Croatian Telecom.

ovog ljeta ugostila brojne dame iz poslovnog svijeta. Najboljom je proglašena Nina Išek Međugorac, jedna od prvih magistrica na području odnosa s javnošću u Hrvatskoj, koja je trenutačno na čelu korporativnih komunikacija Hrvatskog Telekoma.

EV EN TS | D O GA Đ A N JA

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 87

Old Timers in front of the Esplanade Oldtimeri ispred Esplanade

The Esplanade Hotel has always Hotel Esplanade oduvijek je privladrawn aficionados and drivers of čio strastvene ljubitelje i vozače luxury cars. Many drivers still love luksuznih automobila. Brojni vozato park their beloved vehicles in či i dan-danas vole parkirati svoje front of Zagreb’s beautiful Espla- limene ljubimce ispred zagrebačnade. The Endurance Rally Asso- ke ljepotice Esplanade. Nedavno ciation (ERA) recently organised je Endurance Rally Association a drive through Croatia for its (ERA) za svoje članove organizimembers with a stop-off in Za- rao vožnju kroz Hrvatsku sa stanigreb. Fifty attractive old timers com u Zagrebu. Pedesetak atrakwere parked outside the histo- tivnih oldtimera zasjalo je uz poric hotel and caught the attenti- vijesni hotel i privlačilo poglede on of numerous passers-by. brojnih prolaznika.

88 | E S P LA N A DE V IEW

EV E N TS | DOGAĐANJA

Attractive Porsches Atraktivna Porscheova vozila

Porsche Travel Experience offers Porsche Travel Experience svojim its clients attractive rides in the- gostima nudi atraktivne vožnje se luxurious sports cars, and one u ovim luksuznim jurilicama, a of the stop-offs this year was Za- jedna od stanica i ove su godine greb and the Esplanade Hotel. bili Zagreb i hotel Esplanade. Na On their departure, the sports odlasku su limeni sportski ljubimcars lit up the hotel parking lot, ci zašarenili parking hotela, gdje where the first destination char- se upravo za vlasnike Porscheoger for Porsche vehicles is situa- vih vozila nalazi i prvi destinated. This allows Porsche hybrid cijski punjač koji vlasnicima hiowners to charge their cars free bridnih Porscheovih automobila of charge. omogućuje besplatno punjenje.

EV EN TS | D O GA Đ A N JA

ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 89

Gala Fashion Event at the Esplanade - ELLE Style Awards 2019.

Svečani modni događaj u Esplanadi ELLE Style Awards 2019.

The glamorous Elle Style Awards powered by H&M fashion brought together 170 prominent guests at a luxury dinner at the Esplanade Hotel. In addition to the prestigious awards ceremony, the event was also Elle magazine’s 17th anniversary celebration and

90 | E S P LAN A D E V IEW

Najglamuroznije modno događanje Elle Style Awards powered

by H&M okupilo je 170 odabranih uzvanika na luksuznoj večeri u hotelu Esplanade. Osim što su dodijeljene prestižne nagrade, proslavljen je 17. rođendan magazina Elle i bila je to lijepa prilika za dru-

EV E N TS | DOGAĐANJA

Photographs: ROBERT GAŠPERT, DRAŽEN KOKORIĆ, KRASNODAR PERŠUN, MIRNA BARTOLIĆ

a wonderful opportunity to socialise with distinguished fashion professionals. Besides the ceremony, winners and guests were treated to an unforgettable culinary experience by Ana Grgić, the Esplanade’s renowned chef, and music by Ana Opačak. This year’s awards were presented in twelve categories by the event’s hosts, Ivan Vukušić and Iva Šulentić, and after dinner the guests enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere of the Esplanade Hotel deep into the night.

ženje s profesionalcima iz modne struke, čijem se radu divimo. Dobitnike nagrada i goste dočekao je i nezaboravan gastronomski doživljaj za koji se pobrinula slavna šefica kuhinje hotela Esplanade Ana Grgić, uz glazbenu gošću Anu Opačak.

Ovogodišnje nagrade u dvanaest kategorija pobjednicima su uručili voditelji programa Ivan Vukušić i Iva Šulentić, a uzvanici su nakon večere još dugo u noć uživali u prekrasnom ozračju hotela Esplanade.

EV EN TS | D O GA Đ A N JA

ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 91

WOMEN’S CHOICE AWARDS

This year, for the first time in Croatia, the Women’s Choice Awards were presented. The women’s media brand team miss7 were behind the project. The event was held in the sumptuous setting of the Emerald Ballroom and was filled with female elegance. Respondents had revealed their preferences in almost all areas of life and chosen between the brands available on the Croatian market.

Women’s Choice Awards

Ove godine u Hrvatskoj su prvi puta su dodijeljene Woman’s Choice Awards, a iza projekta stoji tim ženskog medijskog brenda - miss7. Svečanost je održana u raskošnom prostoru Smaragdne dvorane hotela, ispunjenog ženskom elegancijom. Ispitanice su otkrile svoje preferencije u gotovo svim kategorijama života, a birale su između brendova prisutnih na hrvatskom tržištu.

THE ESPLANADE HOTEL IS A PROUD CO-ORGANISER OF THE MARATHON OF HOPE

Hotel Esplanade ponosni suorganizator Maratona nade

Humanitarna akcija „Terry Fox Run“, koju orgaThe humanitarian Terry Fox Run, organised by the MPG niziraju agencija MPG, veleposlanstvo Kanade i agency, Canadian Embassy, Croatian League against Hrvatska liga protiv raka, Zagrebački holding, HoCancer, Zagreb holding, Esplanade Hotel and XOXO tel Esplanade i agencija XOXO, održava se svake agency, is held every year at Zagreb’s Lake Jarun. The godine na zagrebačkom jezeru Jarunu. Na jubimoney raised by the 20th Marathon of Hope will be do- larnom 20. Maratonu nade prikupljen je novac koji nated to the Ruđer Bošković Institute for the purpose će se donirati Institutu Ruđera Boškovića za istraof cancer research. The Esplanade Hotel has been a živanje raka. Hotel Esplanade već je petaestak co-organiser of the event for some fifteen years now, godina jedan od suorganizatora; na dan utrke and on the day of the run we’ll be preparing and sell- tradicionalno priprema i prodaje poznate Esplaing the Esplanade’s well-known štrukli at a promotion- nadine štrukle po promotivnoj cijeni, a cjelokupni je al price, with all the money raised going to the cam- prihod namijenjen u humanitarnu svrhu. Sudionici paign. Participants at the run, who this year number utrke, kojih je ove godine bilo više od 5000, podršku more than 5,000, will express their support by running, su izrazili trčanjem, rolanjem, hodanjem i vožnjom roller-skating, walking and cycling, and also by buying bicikla te kupnjom majica sa znakom akcije. campaign T-shirts.

92 | E S P LAN A DE V IEW

EV E N TS | DOGAĐANJA

THE FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

Petnaesta međunarodna konferencija o razvoju nekretnina

This May, Filipović Business Advisory organised the fifteenth International Conference on Real Estate Development. More than 800 people from 16 countries participated at the event, and there were more than 100 speakers on 22 panels. The participants were board members and presidents, directors, senior managers, bankers, lawyers, architects, consultants and numerous experts from Croatia and abroad.

Tradicionalno u svibnju, u organizaciji Filipović poslovnog savjetovanja, održana je Petnaesta godišnja međunarodna konferencija o razvoju nekretnina. Na konferenciji je sudjelovalo više od 800 osoba iz 16 država te više od 100 predavača na 22 panela. Sudionici su bili predsjednici i članovi uprava, direktori i visoko pozicionirani menadžeri te bankari, odvjetnici, arhitekti, savjetnici i brojni stručnjaci iz Hrvatske i svijeta.

EV EN TS | D O GA Đ A N JA

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 93

New Jacadi Paris Collection Meets Most Beautiful Cities in the World Nova Jacadi Paris kolekcija putuje najljepšim gradovima svijeta Bold and poetic, the new Jacadi collection invites you to travel the globe as it shines a light on the most beautiful cities in the world.

From Paris to Tokyo, it paints a stylish, positive line which plays with deep blues, intense reds and graphic whites. Here, a cherry blossom Liberty print. There, an Eiffel Tower crosses a rising sun. Passing through London, the collection awakens the start of the school year with elegance and fineness in soft pink, sparkling red, green turf and grand materials. The British spirit and English style.

Odvažna i poetična, nova Jacadi Paris kolekcija poziva vas na putovanje svjetlima najljepših gradova na svijetu. Od Pariza do Tokija, elegantna i pozitivna kolekcija razigrano skakuće između duboko plave, intenzivno crvene i bijele obojene grafike. Pogledaj, Liberty print cvijeta trešnje! Tamo se Eiffelov toranj budi uz izlazak sunca. Dok šeće Londonom, kolekcija budi početak školske godine elegancijom i profinjenošću u nježnim ružičastim, pjenušavim crvenim, odmarajućim zelenim i sjajnim materijalima, donoseći britanski duh i engleski stil.

A small detour to Edinburgh in a wardrobe to die for where culture is in full swing; items with character and materials warm you up as we enter into winter. And on a voyage on a cruise liner sailing under the stars to New York, the season decorated in pearly white and navy blue, sprinkled with a few hints of gold, the signs of the start of the Christmas period. Ready to depart, the journey is just beginning for the kids!

U kratkoj šetnji Edinburghom, u ormar iz snova, gdje je kultura u punom jeku donosi materijale koji će vas brižno grijati u nadolazećim zimskim danima. A na putovanje brodom koji plovi pod zvjezdanim nebom sve do New Yorka, kolekcija ukrašena biserno bijelom i mornarsko plavom bojom, posuta tragovima zlata najavljuje početak svjetlucavog blagdanskog ozračja u krugu obitelji i prijatelja.

Spremni za polazak, putovanje za djecu tek počinje!

Jacadi Paris, holder of “French heritage” has found its home in Zagreb among 39 most beautiful cities in the world. The interior is lighten by French style which gives the impression of a happy and carefree childhood.

The Jacadi Paris is located in Masarykova 14 in Zagreb. Open hours Monday to Friday from 9 am to 8 pm and on Saturdays from 9 am to 3 pm.

94 | E S P LA N A DE V IEW

PROM O

Visit us and get 10% discount with promotion code: JacadiView19 Posjetite nas i ostvarite 10% popusta uz kod: JacadiView19

Trgovina odjeće za djecu Jacadi Paris, nositelj prestižnog znaka „French heritage“ među 39 najljepših gradova svijeta svoj dom je pronašao i u Zagrebu. Interijer zrači francuskim stilom i ostavlja dojam sretnog i bezbrižnog djetinjstva.

Jacadi Paris poslovnica se nalazi u Masarykovoj 14 u Zagrebu, a otvorena je od ponedjeljka do petka od 9 do 20 sati i subotom od 9 do 15 sati.

FASHION EDITORIAL

Clothes Inspired by the World Odjeća inspirirana svijetom

In the last ten years, the name of Boris Pavlin has become synonymous with what he loves to do most – creating clothes that make women look beautiful Ime Borisa Pavlina u zadnjih je deset godina postalo sinonim za ono što i on najviše voli stvarati – odjeću koja čini žene lijepima

96 | E S P LA N A DE V IEW

In 2005, after graduating from the prestigious Istituto Marangoni in Milan, Boris Pavlin established his own fashion label and made his first foray into the Croatian fashion world. His debut collection, filled with unorthodox colour and pattern matching, combined with fresh tailoring solutions, earned him instant recognition and acclaim from both critics and audiences. He followed this up in 2006 by winning the prestigious Croatian fashion Oscar award for the best collection of the year, and he is the youngest designer to win it to date.

In the work that has followed, his designs have become increasingly refined, maturing into a delicate tapestry of handmade details, intricate embroidery and clear feminine forms easily recognised by fashion connoisseurs. Today, his name has become synonymous with what he loves to do most – creating clothes that make women look beautiful.

Boris Pavlin prvi se put predstavio hrvatskoj publici u proljeće 2005. godine, nakon završenog poslijediplomskog studija na prestižnom talijanskom Institutu Marangoni. Njegovu debitantsku kolekciju punu boja i svježeg dizajnerskog promišljanja podjednako su toplo dočekali publika i hrvatska modna kritika, lansirajući ga gotovo preko noći među najistaknutija imena hrvatskog dizajna.

U sljedećim kolekcijama njegov je modni rukopis postajao sve zreliji i jedinstveniji, što je već 2006. godine nagrađeno hrvatskim modnim Oskarom za najbolju dizajnersku kolekciju godine. Odjeća inspirirana svijetom koji ga okružuje, od delikatnih cvjetnih pupoljaka do bespuća Male Azije, sa svakom je kolekcijom postajala sve više profinjena. Izrađivane gotovo u potpunosti rukom, satima i satima metikuloznim nevidljivim bodom, nastajale su nove čipke, intrigantni uzorci zlatovezom, ispunjeni kristalima, te haljine koje savršeno pristaju svakom milimetru ženskog tijela. Tako je ime Borisa Pavlina u zadnjih deset godina postalo sinonim za ono što i on najviše voli stvarati – odjeću koja čini žene lijepima.

FASHION EDITORIAL | MODNI EDITORIAL

ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 97

98 | E S P LA N A DE V IEW

Photographs | Fotografije: Franjo Matković Production and creative leadership | Produkcija i kreativno vodstvo: Boris Pavlin

FASHION EDITORIAL | MODNI EDITORIAL

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 99

Famous & Distinguished Guests Poznati i slavni gosti

Ever since it was opened back in 1925, the Esplanade Hotel has attracted numerous well-known people in public life from Croatia and abroad. From writers, artists and Hollywood stars to high-ranking state officials, many famous people have enjoyed the Esplanade’s unique service and excellent cuisine, an experience which always makes them want to come back. Many well-known and famous guests have recently stayed at the hotel, including singer Michael Bublé, rock groups Whitesnake and The Cure, actress Salma Hayek, writer Markus Zusak, American biologist Bruce Lipton, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Spanish Foreign Minister Borell Fontelles Josep, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Hasan Šukri, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, German Minister of Finance Peter Altmaier, and the whole crew and cast filming an HBO series, including Brian Cox, Christo Morse, David Rasche and Sarah Snook.

Michael Bublé

Salma Hayek

Hotel Esplanade već je nakon otvorenja davne 1925. privlačio brojne poznate osobe iz domaćeg i stranog javnog života. Od književnika i umjetnika preko holivudskih zvijezda do visokih državnih dužnosnika – brojni su uživali u jedinstvenoj Esplanadinoj usluzi i vrhunskoj gastronomiji, iskustvu zbog kojeg su se uvijek rado vraćali. U hotelu su nedavno boravili mnogi poznati i slavni gosti, među ostalima pjevač Michael Bublé, pjevačke grupe Whitesnakes i The Cure, glumica Salma Hayek, pisac Markus Zusak, američki biolog Bruce Lipton, njemačka kancelarka Angela Merkel, španjolski ministar vanjskih poslova Borell Fontelles Josep, litvanski ministar vanjskih poslova Linas Linkevičius, mađarski ministar vanjskih poslova Péter Szijjártó, egipatski ministar vanjskih poslova Sameh Hasan Šukri, japanski ministar vanjskih poslova Taro Kono, njemački ministar financija Peter Altmaier te cijela ekipa sa snimanja serije HBO-a, u kojoj su Brian Cox, Christo Morse, David Rasche i Sarh Snook.

The Cure Markus Zusak (Photo: Iva Perki) 100 | E S P LAN A DE V IEW

FAMOUS & DISTINGUIS HED GUE STS | P OZ N ATI I S LAV N I G O STI

Péter Szijjártó

Taro Kono

Sameh Hasan Šukri

Borell Fontelles Josep

Angela Merkel

Peter Altmaier

Linas Linkevičius

Brian Cox

Christo Morse

Whitesnake

David Rasche

FA M OUS & D IST IN G U ISH ED G U E STS | P OZ N ATI I S LAV N I G O STI

Sarah Snook ES P LA N AD E V I E W | 101

Did You Know?

Jeste li znali?

About Zagreb O Zagrebu

Did you know that the funicular is one of the most wellknown symbols of the city of Zagreb? Although this was not its original purpose, over time it has become an unmissable Zagreb tourist attraction. The funicular is 66 metres long and is the shortest city funicular in the world. It goes up or down the difference in height of 30.5 metres in 64 seconds. It can carry 28 passengers with the help of its 37-kilowatt engine.

There are dragons in Zagreb! The city is full of reptiles and medieval statues of snakes and dragons. Zagreb is well-known for its legends, and while strolling around the city tourists can experience the magic of ancient tales whose imaginative qualities rival the stories of the Brothers Grimm. One of them is the legend of the unfortunate young queen who is buried somewhere at Medvedgrad.

Did you know that the city of Zagreb has the largest number of galleries and museums per capita in Europe? This is why Zagreb is known as the city of museums. Besides the Archaeological Museum, Croatian Museum of Naïve Art and many others, a museum that is particularly worthy of attention is the Museum of Broken Relationships, which is dedicated to remembering all failed relationships. It’s unusual, and evokes a certain nostalgia and even a little melancholy, and is the biggest museum attraction in Zagreb.

102 | E S P LA N A D E V IEW

DI D YO U KNOW | JE STE LI ZNALI

Jeste li znali da je uspinjača jedan od najpoznatijih simbola grada Zagreba? Iako to isprva nije bila njezina namjena, s vremenom je postala nezaobilazna zagrebačka turistička atrakcija. Duljina vožnje uspinjačom je 66 metara i najkraća je gradska uspinjača na svijetu.

Svladava visinsku razliku od 30,5 metara u 64 sekunde, koliko traje vožnja. Može prevesti 28 putnika uz pomoć motora snage 37 kilovata.

U Zagrebu postoje zmajevi! Grad je pun reptila i srednjovjekovnih kipova zmija i zmajeva. Zagreb je poznat po svojim legendama, a turisti u šetnji gradom mogu osjetiti čaroliju drevnih priča koje maštom konkuriraju čak i bajkama braće Grimm. Jedna od njih je i legenda o nesretnoj mladoj kraljici koja je zakopana negdje na Medvedgradu.

Jeste li znali da grad Zagreb ima najveći broj galerija i muzeja po stanovniku u Europi? Zbog toga su Zagreb prozvali gradom muzeja. Uz Arheološki, Hrvatski muzej naivne umjetnosti i mnoge druge, jedan poseban muzej privlači pažnju – Muzej prekinutih veza, posvećen sjećanju na sve propale veze.

Neobičan je, izaziva nostalgiju, pomalo i melankoliju, no najveća je muzejska atrakcija u Zagrebu.

About the Esplanade Hotel O hotelu Esplanade

Did you know that a documentary film was made about the Esplanade Hotel? The hotel’s luxurious past was the subject of a television documentary in 1985 to mark the hotel’s 6oth anniversary. The documentary was written by Zvonimir Milčec.

Jeste li znali da je o hotelu Esplanadi snimljen dokumentarni film? Svojom raskošnom prošlošću hotel se pohvalio u televizijskom dokumentarnom filmu 1985. godine, u povodu svojeg 60. rođendana. Scenarij za film napisao je Zvonimir Milčec.

Today, the Esplanade is a synonym for culinary excellence, but did you know that in 1991 it was the first and only hotel to offer a macrobiotic menu? This was such a rarity that American newspapers wrote about it.

Danas je Esplanada sinonim za gastronomsku izvrsnost, a jeste li znali da je 1991. bila prvi i jedini hotel koji je predstavio makrobiotički jelovnik? To je bila takva rijetkost, da su o tome pisale američke novine.

About Croatia

O Hrvatskoj

The island of Hvar has received further international recognition: a great award from the readers of the magazine Condé Nast Traveler, who have placed it at the top of a list of the best islands in the world and given it the title of the best island in Europe! Did you know that Hvar is the island with the most hours of sunshine in the whole of Europe, which is why it is often called sunny Hvar? It has more hours of sunshine annually than Sydney – an amazing 2,715!

Croatia can boast many excellent singers and songs, and a rich musical culture. When you think of music from Dalmatia, you probably first think of klapa multipart singing. Did you know that klapa singing has been inscribed on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage?

Otok Hvar dobio je još jedno međunarodno priznanje: veliku nagradu čitatelja uglednog časopisa Condé Nast Travelera, koji su ga svrstali na vrh popisa najboljih otoka na svijetu i donijeli mu titulu najboljeg otoka u Europi! Jeste li znali da je Hvar otok s najviše sunčanih sati u čitavoj Europi, pa se zbog toga često zove i sunčani Hvar? Godišnje ima više sunčanih sati nego Sydney – čak 2715!

Hrvatska se može pohvaliti brojnim vrhunskim pjevačima, pjesmama te bogatom glazbenom kulturom. Kad pomislite na glazbu koja potječe iz Dalmacije, vjerojatno najprije pomislite na klape. Jeste li znali da je klapsko pjevanje uvršteno na UNESCO-ov popis nematerijalne baštine?

D ID YOU K N OW | J ESTE L I Z N A L I

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 103

(K)not

Just Any Tie! The tie – purely as a fashion accessory – has always indicated a refined sense of style. It will never make you warm or cool you down, nor will it make your life easier. However, ever since Croatian soldiers introduced it to Europe in the 17th century, men who take pride in how they look have accepted it wholeheartedly.

Even though the tie today looks quite different from the original scarves, it is a must have in every fashionable man’s apparel.

It doesn’t surprise, therefore, that the tie was also adored by the Brit Beau Brummell, who was at the end of the 18th century considered the leader of dandies – gentlemen who paid a lot of attention to esthetics, personal style, and grooming.

Brummell allegedly took five hours a day to get ready and proved that style is not reserved only for the upper echelons of society. He was soon followed by many artists such as Oscar Wilde and Charles Baudelaire in the 19th century, and David Bowie in the 20th century.

Dandies flourish nowadays as well.

Modern dandies view fashion as a way to embrace their individuality and express themselves. A modern dandy understands the importance of quality clothes and, as did his predecessors, appreciates even the smallest details – interesting seams and perfectly coordinated colors. For a single impressive detail, a dandy knows, can elevate the whole look to a piece of art.

This is precisely why a dandy will carefully select an accessory that will attract attention, break up the monotony of a pattern and show itself a true fashion expert – the tie. For inspiration we must at times return to the origins. Therefore, the best place to look for ties is where they come from – Croatia. Croata, the luxury Croatian brand that stands out with the selection and quality of its ties, is the favorite destination of contemporary dandies.

Because dandies, men who bring beauty into the world around them, and are self-confident, satisfied and know what they want, have made known that they want to accentuate their look with precisely Croata ties.

104 | E S P LA N A DE V IEW PROM O

Kravata – kao čisto dekorativni modni dodatak – oduvijek je ukazivala na stilsku samosvijest. Ona vas neće ugrijati ni ohladiti, niti će vam olakšati život. Pa ipak, otkad su je hrvatski vojnici proširili Europom u 17. stoljeću, muškarci koji drže do svojeg izgleda objeručke su je prihvatili. Iako se danas uveliko razlikuje od prvobitnih marama, neizostavni je dio garderobe svakog muškarca sa stilom.

Ne čudi stoga što je kravate obožavao i Britanac Beau Brummell, koji je krajem 18. stoljeća proglašen predvodnikom dandyja - džentlmena koji su posvećivali izrazitu pozornost estetici, pažljivo se njegujući i uređujući.

Brummell se navodno uređivao pet sati dnevno te je dokazao da stil nije rezerviran za više staleže.

Njegove korake uskoro su slijedili i brojni umjetnici, od Oscara Wildea i Charlesa Baudelairea u 19. do Davida Bowieja u 20. stoljeću.

No dandyji su živi i zdravi i danas. Suvremeni dandyji prigrlili su modu kao oblik samoizražavanja, pa čak i produžetak samih sebe. Moderni dandy razumije važnost kvalitetne odjeće i poput svojih prethodnika cijeni i najmanje detalje - zanimljive šavove i savršeno usklađene boje. Jer jedan istaknuti detalj, zna dandy, može podići cjelokupan izgled na razinu umjetničkog djela.

Upravo stoga dandy će pomno birati detalj koji će ga istaknuti u masi, razbiti uzorak i ukazati na to da je riječ o modnom stručnjaku - kravatu. A za inspiraciju, ponekad se trebamo vratiti izvoru. Zato je kravate najbolje potražiti u njihovoj domovini - Hrvatskoj. Croata, luksuzni hrvatski brend koji se ističe izborom i kvalitetom svojih kravata, omiljeno je odredište suvremenih dandyja. Jer dandy, muškarac koji širi ljepotu svijetom oko sebe, samouvjeren je, zadovoljan i zna što želi, pokazao je da svoj izgled želi zaokružiti upravo Croata kravatama.

ZAGREB K � SPLIT K�������

� �3� ���� � ���

� ��� � ���� � ��, ���� ���

���� �� ������ ���� ���

DUBROVNIK ���� �

� � 2 ��

��

�

����� � �� ��� ���

�� �� �� ZADAR � � � C������

VARAŽDIN T�� �� �� T ����

www.croata.hr

2 RIJEKA K �� 3

MAJA & PETAR VIDAKOVIĆ

Traditional Croatian

g n i d d We

Tradicionalno hrvatsko vjenčanje

Maja and Petar Vidaković decided to celebrate their big day in the heart of their home city at the Esplanade Hotel Svoje sudbonosno „da“ Maja i Petar Vidaković odlučili su proslaviti u srcu rodnoga grada, u hotelu Esplanade Maja and Petar grew up in the same neighbourhood and have known each other virtually their entire lives.

Their houses were just a short distance from each other. While growing up, they did not move in the same circles but would greet each other when they met in the street. Nevertheless, a combination of circumstances meant that a little more than seven years ago they started going out with each other.

Maja is a 30-year-old graduate in primary education, while Petar is a 37-year-old electronic engineer. They live and work in Dubai, where they moved together two and a half years ago. This is when they celebrated their engagement, which they did in a very special way. As Maja really loves animals, Petar decided to surprise her for her birthday and take her to Atlantis Dubai to swim with dolphins. But this wasn’t the only surprise 106 | E S P LAN A DE V IEW

WE DDING S | VJE NČANJA

Author: PETRA NIKIĆ Photographs: ROBER BALAŠKO/ ART STUDIO, TIHANA BETCIK

Maja i Petar odrasli su u istom ‘kvartu’ i poznaju se gotovo cijeli život. Njihove su kuće neznatno udaljene jedna od druge. Tijekom odrastanja nisu se kretali u istim društvima, ali bi se pozdravili kad bi se sreli u prolazu na ulici. Ipak, zahvaljujući spletu okolnosti, prije malo više od sedam godina započeli su svoju vezu.

Maja je 30-godišnja magistrica primarnog obrazovanja, a Petar 37-godišnji inženjer elektrotehnike. Žive i rade u Dubaiju, kamo su se zajedno preselili prije dvije i pol godine. Tada su proslavili i svoje zaruke, i to na vrlo poseban način. Naime, budući da Maja jako voli životinje, Petar ju je na njezin rođendan odlučio iznenaditi i odvesti u Atlantis Dubai na plivanje s dupinima. To nije bilo jedino iznenađenje koje je Petar pripremio Maji za rođendan. Trenerica

W EDD IN G S | VJ EN ÄŒA N JA

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 107

that Petar prepared for Maja’s birthday. At one point, the dolphin trainer invited Maja out from the audience to throw a hoop to a dolphin, which the dolphin returned to her. Maja didn’t suspect anything but on the hoop there was a pendant with a small case with an engagement ring inside. After this, they started talking about sharing their life together in the Emirates. Maja recalls how the decision to move to Dubai was not an easy one. Petar had lived in Oman when he was a child, and later on in the United Arab Emirates, where he had many friends and colleagues, but for Maja the country was completely unknown. However, love and the desire to build a life together won the day.

After moving, Maja and Petar started planning their wedding. They immediately knew that they only wanted to get married in Zagreb. When it came to choosing the venue, the Esplanade Hotel was their first choice. “Knowing that we would have many guests from abroad, we wanted to make it easier for them to come to Croatia and provide them with proximity to the airport, first-rate accommodation and access to the city’s attractions. This was one of the many reasons why we chose this particular hotel”, explains Petar.

“We were both already familiar with the history of the Esplanade. Both Petar and I had previously had the opportunity to come to the hotel for lunch or a reception. We’d always liked its elegant interior and feeling of comfort, so we were sure that the Esplanade was the right place for us, and that our guests would be delighted with the best hotel in Zagreb”, Maja adds.

They wanted to get married in spring and have the reception in the Emerald Ballroom. The number of guest was enough to fill the ballroom and they chose 17 May 2019 as their wedding day. They left the organisation of the reception in the hands of Monika Pustaj, the hotel events coordinator, with whom, as a result of the distance involved, they were in constant contact via e-mail, although they agreed on details in person when they returned to Croatia for holidays. “As far as the organisation and communication with the hotel staff were concerned, everything went like clockwork.

At no point did we feel that things weren’t under control. We received plenty of advice so that everything would not only live up to our expectations but exceed them”, Maja and Petar explain.

They decided to leave the decoration of the Emerald Ballroom to the hotel floral designer, Tihana. Maja initially wanted the ballroom to be dominated by pastel colours, but after talking with Tihana her ideas crystallised and she settled on a combination of delicate and pale tones. Naturally, finding the perfect wedding dress and suit was also vital. Maja decided upon a wedding dress from a well-known Zagreb salon, while Petar’s suit came from a tailor in Dubai.

The bride and groom wanted a traditional Croatian wedding, and so they both invited guests to their homes. A few hours before the ceremony, as is the custom in these parts, Petar and his guests went over to Maja’s. “The whole of May had been exceptionally rainy. The day before the wedding, and on the day itself, it rained. However, when I came for Maja and when she first appeared on the balcony, the sun broke through the clouds”, recalls Petar. Maja and Petar hap108 | E S P LAN A DE V IEW

WE DDING S | VJE NČANJA

dupina u jednom je trenutku pozvala Maju iz publike da baci obruč dupinu koji joj je obruč zatim vratio.

Maja nije ništa posumnjala, no na obruču je visio privjesak u kojem se nalazila kutijica sa zaručničkim prstenom. Nakon toga počeli su razgovarati o zajedničkom životu u Emiratima. Maja se prisjeća kako odluka o preseljenju u Dubai nije bila nimalo jednostavna. Petar je, naime, živio u Omanu kad je bio dijete, a kasnije i u Arapskim Emiratima te je tamo imao mnogo prijatelja i kolega, a Maji je zemlja bila nepoznata. No, presudila je ljubav i želja da život grade zajedno.

Nakon preseljenja u novu zemlju Maja i Petar počeli su planirati vjenčanje. Odmah su znali da se žele vjenčati isključivo u Zagrebu. Kad je došao trenutak odabira lokacije, hotel Esplanade bio je njihov prvi izbor. „Budući da smo znali da ćemo imati mnogo gostiju iz inozemstva, željeli smo im pojednostavniti dolazak u Hrvatsku i omogućiti blizinu zračne luke, kvalitetan smještaj i dostupnost gradskih znamenitosti. Bio je to jedan od mnogih razloga zašto smo odabrali baš ovaj hotel“, objasnio je Petar. „Esplanadina povijest nama je poznata otprije. I Petar i ja smo već imali priliku doći u ovaj hotel na ručak ili svadbu. Oduvijek su nam se sviđali elegantan interijer i osjećaj udobnosti te smo bili sigurni da je Esplanade pravo mjesto za nas, ali i da će naši gosti biti oduševljeni najboljim zagrebačkim hotelom“, dodala je Maja.

Vjenčati su se željeli u proljeće, a svadbenu svečanost prirediti u Smaragdnoj dvorani. S obzirom na to da je broj njihovih gostiju bio dovoljan da popuni navedenu dvoranu, odabrali su 17. svibnja 2019. za datum svojeg vjenčanja. Planiranje svečanosti prepustili su Moniki Pustaj, hotelskoj koordinatorici za evente, s kojom su zbog fizičke udaljenosti bili u stalnom kontaktu putem e-maila, a o detaljima se dogovarali uživo, kad bi u Hrvatsku došli za blagdane. „Što se tiče organizacije i komunikacije s hotelskim osobljem, sve je išlo kao po špagi. Niti u jednom trenutku nismo osjetili da nam nešto izmiče kontroli.

Dobili smo mnogo savjeta kako bi sve bilo u skladu s našim očekivanjima, ali i bolje od toga”, rekli su Maja i Petar.

Dekoraciju Smaragdne dvorane odlučili su prepustiti hotelskoj cvjećarki Tihani. Maja je najprije željela da dvoranom dominiraju pastelne boje, međutim, u razgovorima s Tihanom njezina se želja iskristalizirala, pa je odabrala kombinaciju nježnih i zagasitih boja. Dakako, važna je bila i potraga za savršenom vjenčanicom i odijelom. Maja se odlučila za vjenčanicu iz jednog poznatog zagrebačkog salona, dok je Petar svoje odijelo dao šivati u Dubaiju.

Mladenci su željeli tradicionalno hrvatsko vjenčanje, pa su oboje primili goste u svojim domovima. Nekoliko sati prije vjenčanja, kako je uobičajeno u ovim krajevima, Petar je sa svojim uzvanicima krenuo k Maji. „Cijeli svibanj bio je iznimno kišovit. Dan prije vjenčanja, ali i na sam dan, padala je kiša. Međutim, kad sam došao po Maju i kad se prvi put pojavila na balkonu, sunce se probilo kroz oblake“, prisjetio se Petar. Maja i Petar rado se sjećaju još jednog detalja sa svojeg vjenčanja. Pri izlasku iz crkve dočekali su ih

“We’d always liked its elegant interior and feeling of comfort, so we were sure that the Esplanade was the right place for us, and that our guests would be delighted with the best hotel in Zagreb” «Oduvijek su nam se sviđali elegantan interijer i osjećaj udobnosti te smo bili sigurni da je Esplanada pravo mjesto za nas, ali i da će naši gosti biti oduševljeni najboljim zagrebačkim hotelom»

W ED DIN G S | VJ EN ÄŒA N JA

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 109

pily remember another detail of their wedding. As they came out of the church, their friends were waiting for them with lit flares, after which the newlyweds and their convoy of guests headed for the Esplanade Hotel.

“I remember entering the Emerald Ballroom. I was immediately enchanted by the lighting and decoration.

The ballroom is beautiful anyway, but with additional touches like the flower arrangements it was even more special and magical, and I was simply impressed the whole evening”, recalls Maja.

Given the large number of guests from overseas, Maja and Petar chose a variety of dishes in order to satisfy different tastes, and guests even had the opportunity to try the famous Esplanade štrukli. The wedding cake, with its three kinds of chocolate, and other sweets were also made in the Esplanade’s kitchen.

The happy atmosphere lasted until the early hours of the morning, thanks to the efforts of the band ExZodiac, but also to the surprise that Petar had prepared for Maja and their guests, as at midnight they were treated to a twenty-minute performance by trumpet players, who blew away the guests, particularly delighting those from the Emirates, who had never seen anything like it before. “I also wanted us to surprise guests with trumpet players, but when I asked Monika about it she explained that unfortunately because of the other hotel guests it wasn’t possible. However, I didn’t know that Monika and Petar had already secretly prepared the surprise”, adds Maja.

110 | E S P LA N A DE V IEW

WE DDING S | VJE NČANJA

njihovi prijatelji s upaljenim bakljama, a potom su se novopečeni bračni par i kolona gostiju uputili prema hotelu Esplanade. „Sjećam se ulaska u Smaragdnu dvoranu. Odmah sam ostala očarana rasvjetom i dekoracijom. Ta je dvorana i inače prekrasna, ali s dodatnim detaljima, poput cvjetnih aranžmana, bila je još posebnija i čarobnija i ja sam jednostavno cijelu večer bila pod dojmom”, prisjeća se Maja.

S obzirom na velik broj stranih gostiju, Maja i Petar odabrali su kombinaciju različitih jela, kako bi zadovoljili mnogo različitih ukusa, a gosti su imali priliku probati i slavne Esplanadine štrukle. Svadbena torta s tri vrste čokolade i ostale slastice također su pripremljeni u Esplanadinoj kuhinji.

Vesela atmosfera potrajala je do ranih jutarnjih sati, za što je bio zaslužan bend ExZodiac, ali i iznenađenje koje je Petar pripremio za Maju i goste. Naime, u ponoć su ih iznenadili trubači koji su 20-minutnim performansom „raspametili“ sve okupljene, što je posebno oduševilo goste iz Emirata, koji su prvi put vidjeli takvo nešto. „I moja je želja bila da goste iznenadimo trubačima, ali kad sam upitala Moniku za tu mogućnost, objasnila mi je da nažalost radi ostalih gostiju hotela to nije izvedivo. Međutim, nisam znala da su potajice Monika i Petar već pripremali iznenađenje“, dodaje Maja.

Osim takvih trenutaka, Petar i Maja pamte i svoj

When it came to choosing the venue, the Esplanade Hotel was their first choice Kad je došao trenutak odabira lokacije, hotel Esplanade bio je njihov prvi izbor

“Like any future bride and groom, we were a little worried about things that could go wrong, but with the professionalism and experience of the hotel staff we had the wedding of our dreams” "Kao i svaki budući supružnici, pomalo smo se brinuli zbog stvari koje bi mogle poći krivo, ali uz ovakvu profesionalnost hotelskog osoblja i njihovo iskustvo imali smo vjenčanje o kakvom smo sanjali"

Besides these moments, Petar and Maja also remember their first dance, for which they chose a song that held many wonderful memories for them, such as their first trip to Spain. This was the Spanish song Coleccionista De Canciones, for which they had prepared a special choreography while back in the Emirates.

In addition to his dancing skills, Petar also had the chance to show guests his musical talents, and he performed several songs with his sister.

It really was an evening to remember and one full of special moments, and Maja and Petar’s guests made many kind comments about it to them. Returning to Dubai, their friends and colleagues recounted their experiences of Croatia and the wedding, but also how the quality of service and the rooms in the Esplanade had impressed them. “I would agree with our guests’ comments on the quality of the service in the hotel.

For example, Maja at one point remarked on how surprised she was that the best man and I had drunk so little, because our glasses were full. What she hadn’t noticed was that the waiters filled our glasses every time we had a drink. Because of this, Maja will never find out how much we really drank that evening”, jokes Petar.

“Of course, like any future bride and groom, we were a little worried about things that could go wrong, but with the professionalism and experience of the hotel staff we had the wedding of our dreams. In the end, even the weather obliged us”, concludes Maja.

prvi ples za koji su odabrali pjesmu uz koju ih vežu brojne lijepe uspomene, poput prvog zajedničkog putovanja u Španjolsku. Riječ je o španjolskoj pjesmi „Coleccionista De Canciones“ za koju su još u Emiratima pripremali posebnu koreografiju. Osim plesnog umijeća, Petar je imao priliku gostima pokazati i svoj talent za glazbu. Budući da je glazbenik, sa svojom je sestrom izveo nekoliko pjesama.

Zaista, bila je to večer za pamćenje, prepuna posebnih trenutaka. Maji i Petru njihovi su uzvanici ostavili mnogo lijepih komentara. Vraćajući se u Dubai, njihovi su kolege i prijatelji prepričavali doživljaje iz Hrvatske i s vjenčanja, a osim njega, kažu, posebno ih se kvalitetom usluge i hotelskim sobama dojmila Esplanada. „Složio bih se sa svojim gostima kad je riječ o kvaliteti usluge u hotelu. Maja je, na primjer, jednom prilikom prokomentirala kako je iznenađena da smo ja i moj kum tako malo popili jer su nam čaše pune. No, nije vidjela da su nam konobari punili čaše svaki put kad bismo popili piće. Tako Maja nikad neće saznati koliko smo zapravo popili te večeri“, kroz šalu je rekao Petar. „Dakako, kao i svaki budući supružnici, pomalo smo se brinuli zbog stvari koje bi mogle poći krivo, ali uz ovakvu profesionalnost hotelskog osoblja i njihovo iskustvo imali smo vjenčanje o kakvom smo sanjali. Čak nas je na kraju i vrijeme poslužilo“, zaključila je Maja.

W ED DIN G S | VJ EN ČA N JA

ES P LA N A D E V I E W | 111

City Guide Gradski vodič

CONCERT: LUKA ŠULIĆ — VIVALDI - THE FOUR SEASONS 5 February 2020 - Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall Koncertna dvorana Vatroslava Lisinskog Virtuoso Luka Šulić, with his outstanding musical project, will be the first musician in history to play Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons for solo violoncello. This dramatic interpretation of Vivaldi is a concert not to be missed. This violoncellist today enjoys the highest respect on the international music scene, and after seven years of touring as part of the celebrated duo 2CELLOS, Luka is returning to his classical roots with his first solo album for Sony Classical and a new live project with which he will embark on a world tour.

Glazbeni virtuoz Luka Šulić svojim je izvanrednim glazbenim projektom postao prvi glazbenik u povijesti koji će svirati Vivaldijeva Četiri godišnja doba na violončelu solo. Ova dramatična interpretacija Vivaldija koncert je koji se ne propušta. Violončelist Luka Šulić uživa najveće poštovanje na međunarodnoj glazbenoj sceni, a nakon sedam godina turneja kao član slavnog dua 2CELLOS vraća se svojim klasičnim korijenima, prvim samostalnim albumom za Sony Classical i projektom uživo, kojim će nastupati po svijetu.

CONCERT: CELINE DION — COURAGE WORLD TOUR 5 June 2020 - Arena Zagreb Celine Dion, one of the most famous and respected stars in the history of popular music, is coming to the Arena in Zagreb on 5 June. The concert is part of her large world tour on which Celine will be promoting her latest studio release Courage. Celine Dion is one of the best-selling artists of all time, and the winner of five Grammy awards, two Film Academy awards, 7 American music awards, 20 Juno awards (Canada) and an unbelievable 40 Félix awards (Quebec). She has been performing for 35 years and has had a number of hits that have dominated the charts.

Céline Dion, jedna od najpoznatijih i najcjenjenijih zvijezda u povijesti pop-glazbe, 5. lipnja 2020. dolazi u Arenu Zagreb. Koncert je dio velike svjetske turneje na kojoj će promovirati svoje najnovije studijsko izdanje (Courage). Céline Dion jedna je od najprodavanijih umjetnica svih vremena, dobitnica pet Grammyja, dvije nagrade filmske akademije, sedam američkih glazbenih nagrada, 20 kanadskih Juno nagrada i nevjerojatnih 40 nagrada Félix u Quebecu. Iza sebe ima 35 godina karijere i pregršt hitova koji su dominirali top-ljestvicama.

CONCERT: OFF CYCLE: ZAGREB PHILHARMONIC AND ZORAN PREDIN, VOCALS Off ciklus: Zagrebačka filharmonija i Zoran Predin, vokal 6 March 2020, Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall Koncertna dvorana Vatroslava Lisinskog This March, the great Slovenian singer-songwriter and a favourite of Zagreb audiences Zoran Predin will be taking a lap of honour with the musicians of the Zagreb Philharmonic and performing a concert not to be missed.

Veliki slovenski kantautor, miljenik zagrebačke publike Zoran Predin s članovima Zagrebačke filharmonije trči „počasni krug“ i najavljuje koncert koji se ne propušta u ožujku.

112 | E S P LA N A D E V IEW

C I TY GUIDE | GRADSKI VODIČ

www.maras.hr