Both these contestants had faced-off three times before this encounter and the Romanian was victorious on every occasion; dumping the Dutch in straight sets in Barcelona Ladies Open 2010, Makarska 2009 and French Open (juniors) 2008.

It was a neck-to-neck battle at the start with both players holding their serves to cement their position in the set. Rus was the underdog performer in the match; she was pressurized with a change in game style from the Romanian that worked in the fifth game. She committed a silly unforced error by gifting a break opportunity to her opponent. Halep wasted no time in ousting her opponent and registering the maiden breakthrough of the contest.

Rus was trailing one break down that forced her to shift gears but that backfired at her. A couple of drop shots from the Romanian took the pace off the ball and allowed no opportunity to the Dutch to make any sort of impact.

Another breakthrough to the Romanian consolidated her position and she successful served for the set to take the lead. Seeing herself behind in the match, Rus was heartbroken and had already lost in the mind. It was just a matter of time for the Romanian before she could grab a spot in the main round of the tournament.

The second set started with a successful breakpoint for the Romanian who doubled her lead with another break in the fifth game. Scores raced to 4-1 with the Dutch contestant failing to create an opening for her.

It was a monumental task to fight back from that stage. Rus was not equipped to absorb the pressure and jump back into the match. She lost the second set in despair and marched towards the exits with her opponent celebrating her triumph.

Important news related to the tournament is that world number two, Petra Kvitova, is not going to feature in the tournament due to illness.

“One of the main goals of the Dalmacija Wine Expo, besides the promotion of the wine culture and the enrichment of the Croatian gastro scene, is to highlight the necessity of continued education of the catering sector,” say organisers of the event. Over 150 exhibitors are expected to descend on Makarska for the three-day expo, reported Croatian newspaper Business.hr.

The Croatian Cultural Society’s annual seven-a-side football tournament kicks off this Friday and Saturday at the club’s McLeod Road base in Te Atatu and the on-field action is sure to be keenly contested.

“It’s been going strong for around 35 years now and interest is as keen as ever,” says club president, Ivan Pervan, “We’ve re-invented the event as a seven-a-side tournament so we could get more teams involved. The turnout over the past few years has been fantastic.”

Several top stars have graced the shirts of one of the teams over the years, none bigger than Ivan Vicelich – New Zealand’s highest capped international player and the current captain of Auckland City FC, Oceania’s champion club side.

The tournament holds a special place in Vicelich’s heart with the trophy that the teams are competing for named in honour of his brother Robert who tragically passed away after a car accident in Los Angeles in 2002.

Pervan said: “Robert was a much-loved member of our community and a very keen footballer like his brother Ivan. It is a great honour for our club to bring our community together each year to honour his memory in this way.”

Along with Vicelich, who will lead the Hvar side, fellow Auckland City teammate Daniel Koprivcic will turn out for Zagreb while former New Zealand All Whites international Paul Urlovic will be a key player for Korcula.

There will also be plenty of other entertainment including performances by touring Australian/Croatian recording artist Ivica Fonti, a bouncy castle for kids, youth football matches for boys and girls and fantastic traditional Croatian cuisine and wine.

“We welcome everyone throughout Auckland to join us this weekend to enjoy our unique and colourful Croatian hospitality, culture, music, cuisine and of course, the great football. It will be a memorable occasion and everyone is most welcome to attend!” said Pervan.

The sides are split amongst areas that experienced the highest levels of migration – the large islands of Korcula and Hvar, mainland areas Zagreb, Makarska Rivijera, and Vrgorska Dolina along with the island village of Pupnat.

The players do not have to be born in the region their team represents but must have blood ties or have married into a family with links to the area.

The football tournaments were originally held at Central United FC’s Kiwitea Street ground in Sandringham but have moved to west Auckland where many migrants first settled and descendants still reside today.

The tournament was re-established in 2003 but dates back to the mid 1970′s when migrants created a competition to celebrate the game they love and to keep alive traditions from their homeland.

In the central part of the Croatian Adriatic, at the confluence of Sibenik and Zadar islands, there is a separate and amazing group of islands. Because of its exceptional beauty, interesting geomorphology, indented coastline, and especially the rich biodiversity of the marine ecosystem, greater part of the Kornati archipelago was declared a national park in 1980. Today the National Park Kornati occupies an area of 220 km2 and includes 89 islands, islets and reefs.
Nearest airport: 33 km away, in Zadar.

Belvederes

It is not possible to single out a belvedere (Kornati top) and say that it is better than the others. Each brings a special joy and excitement. Metlina on Kornati Island is the highest and the most impressive peak (237 m), but it is difficult to reach. Opat and Litnji peak on Vela Smokica, provide a beautiful view of the Murter Sea to the northeast part and the other side of the Kornati National Park.

Crowns

Famous Kornati “crowns” (steep cliffs) facing the open sea, characteristic for most of the outer islands, are special features an great value of this area.

Basilica

Very interesting building from the Byzantine era is early Christian basilica, which is located below the fort Tureta, and which still posesses most of the apses and part of the former ground. Given the size of the church (30 x 13 m), it is assumed that a considerable number of people lived on Kornati, at that time.

Fortress Tureta

Byzantium era left the most prominent building on Kornati islands. Tureta fort on Kornat island (probably from the 6th century). It is supposed that the fort had military purposes, security and navigation control.

2. The Nature Park Biokovo

Mountain Biokovo divides the Adriatic from Dalmatia background. A part of the mountain is, due to uniqueness and natural beauties, protected and declared a nature park in 1981. It is located above the Makarska Riviera, and is abundant with protected plant and animal species. Hikers can use the hiking trails as the entrance to the park. You should visit the botanical garden Kotišina, Nevistina stina, Sheep field and botanical reserve. The entire 36 km long mountain, especially the part that lies above Baska Voda, is considered the most picturesque landscapes on the Adriatic. The highest peak is Sveti Jure (1762 m). Although beautiful, the mountain Biokovo is dangerous. The curious are advised extreme caution and the use of marked trails.
Recommendation: mountain climbing, hiking, organized tour

3. Blue Cave

The Blu Cave on Biševo is a notable natural phenomenon that is visited by tourists from around the world. The very entrance, about 1.5 high and 2.5 meters wide, is a special sight. Submarine entrance of sun rays, their reflections on the cavewalls, making the entire color spectrum where blue always dominates, silvery blue drops and underwater bridge at a depth of about six meters, is what makes this cave the world attraction.
Recommendation: The boat tour, photographing

4. Desert Blaca

Once famous Glagolitic desert, and later the observatory, located on the eastern slope of the valley on the south side of the island, between Bol and Milna. It has a great heritage value, and in the 16 century a Renaissance church was built there. mud created by rivers during heavy rains probably motivated its name (blato/mud).
Recommendation: walking and touring the ancient way of life and valuable astronomical devices.

5. Nature Park Sutivan

Next to Sutivana, in a pine forest, you can enjoy the peace and quiet of the untouched nature, great food, a small zoo and the space suitable for children. The park can arrange trips for all ages, from youngest to oldest, with transportation from almost all major places.
Recommendation: The trip with the family, lunch in the nature

6. Red Lake

Red Lake is a karst pit filled with water, near Imotski. In 1998, Croatian Speleological Federation organized an international expedition to the Cave, which measured that it was the deepest lake in Europe.
Recommendation: The water surface can not be accessed without special equipment, but it is certainly worth seeing from the belvedere

7. Krka National Park

Wealth of water, the sound of rapids, green trees, cultural and historical heritage – it’s Krka. National Park is open for visitors all year round, and most tourists prefer to visit Skradin buk, Roski waterfall, walk the educational trail and refresh in restaurants.
Island Visovac, Roški waterfall and the Monastery of Krka and fort Trošenj, can be visited on the excursion boats. All the major attractions of the national park are easily reached, and the true nature lovers and those interested in folk customs, will not be disappointed.
Recommendation: walk, ethno trails, swimming

8. Franciscan islet Visovac

Franciscan monastery on the island near Drniš abounds with great value and attractions of monastery museum, the library, Lapidarium and the church of Our Lady of the Angels from the 1694. each year, on 2 August, 10,000 pilgrims gather. Visovac is open to visitors and pilgrims from 1st April to 1st November. Visovac is the sanctuary, so it is necessary to dress and behave properly.
Recommendation: Ideal for the faithful, peace and nature lovers

9. Green Cave

Green cave on the Ravnik island was named after the strange green light that is reflected in the sea, and reaches through the holes in vault of the cave. The cave is accessed by boat and you are allowed to swim there.
Recommendation: The boat trip, swimming, photographing

10. Grapčeva cave

The cave on the island Hvar, east of the village Gromin Dolac in the central part of the island (Jelsa Municipality), is protected in 1964. It is significant because of the archaeological Neolithic culture. It is located in a relatively inaccessible place.
Recommendation: Research, accompanied by expert guides

“Antun Gojak” city gallery is situated in the ex Classical high school building called “The old school” (Don Mihovila Pavlinovica 1) with the 91,45 square meters of exhibition place and 67 square meters for depot and office.

In 1988. Marin Gojak donated to the City of Makarska 132 pictures and 201 graphics from his brother Antun Gojak. With that donation begins establishment of the Gallery. With efforts of few art lovers this donation is presented to the public, and become a collection for final establishment of City gallery. Donation is property of City.

Through various donations, number of pictures grown to 400. Every year was organized about 12 exhibitions.

Emoployees:
- Ivana Kokic, higher curator, director
- Veljko Skarici, museum tehnician

The Malacological Museum in Makarska displays the shells of sea moluscs. This museum resulted from the systematic and self-sacrificing work of the theologian and natural scientist Fra Jure Radic and the support and cooperation of many people, scholars, museum workers, collectors, and especially his faithful colleague Fra Franjo Carev. They worked under the slogan:”BY THE PEOPLE – TO THE PEOPLE – FOR THE PEOPLE”.

The museum was opened to the public on 30th April 1963 in the old part of the Franciscan Monastery, which is under protection as a cultural monument. Over 3,000 shells include not only those from the Adriatic, but also many species from tropical and subtropical seas, in color and shape the most magnificent of all shells.

SPLIT

This trip takes you to Split, the administrative, economic and cultural centre of Dalmatia. It is necessary much more tehn a day to reveal all the richness and beauties offered by Split, the town of the young, the Mediteranean spirit and world-known sportsmen, such as Goran Ivanišević, Toni Kukoč and Dino Rađa. Split is the town of classical Roman, early Croatian, Romanesque and Renaissance architecture. The Diocletian’s Palace evidences about 1,700 years of this town. The peak moment of the visit is seeing the sights of the cathedral of St. Dujam, one of the oldest Christian churches in the world, arisen from the mausoleum of emperor Diocletian.

DUBROVNIK

The words of the famous writer Bernard Shaw: “Those who search for a paradise on earth should come and see Dubrovnik” speak enough about the beauty of this town. In the very south of Croatia, this town of stone and light is entered in the UNESCO list of world heritage. It is an exceptional experience to go sightseeing around the town walls, 2 km long, as well as to visit the Rector’s Palace, the Dubrovnik Maritime Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, the Cathedral Vault, the Art Gallery, and churches and monasteries. The Franciscan monastery with a cloister, from the 14th century, in which one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe is situated today, is also special, as well as the synagogue from the 15th century, situated in the very city centre, also one of the oldest in Europe.

MEDJUGORJE

Until 1981, Medjugorje was an unkonown village in western Herzegovina. Since the word spread that, on 24th June 1981, the Lady had given a message of piece to the seeres, Medjugorje has been drawing pilgrims like a magnet. In the past twenty years, over 20 million people came here, so that Medjugorje is today one of the best known and best visited sanctuaries in the Catholic world. Međugorje is the place of religious and spiritual peace where one gains confidence in himself and in other people. Although the whole territory of Međugorje gives out a special atmosphere, there are three localities connected with appearance of the Lady: Brdo ukazanje (Appearance Hill), Krizevac and the church of St. Jakov.

RAFTING ON CETINA

Rafting is one of the most exciting ways of getting acquainted with the river and its banks. After the short instructions about the way of steering a boat, you descend the rapids of the Cetina river, lead by the skipper, all the way to the estuary. With a short break and the traditional lunch at Radmanove mlinice, you continue this wet adventure to the town of Omiš.