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Post by mambo on Jun 13, 2007 21:42:40 GMT 1
I also would not want to have an apartment or house in the port of Rotterdam nor in the port of Antwerp or any other port.
Why anyone would want to buy something in Kastela, with a 'beautiful' view of a shipyard, some shipwrecks, wasteland etc is beyond my comprehension, but apparently there are people who don't mind.
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Charles
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Post by Charles on Jun 13, 2007 22:55:37 GMT 1
I know, I know - these comments should be ignored as the equivalent of a red-flag waving fisherman but I can't resist! I'm sure there will be lots of people all too eager to jump up and attack me for 'daring to be an estate agent based in Kastela talking up my own book' or some such nonsense. I am actually a family man who has really enjoyed the last 2 years living with a sea view and spending much more time with my 2 young boys for whom I chose to give up a very lucrative career in the City to spend more time with. The agency was something to facilitate this, as well as to provide a change of perspective from a busy London life.
Anyway, here goes.....I'm not sure what the Croatian equivalent of chacun à son goût is but, in any case, a major Austrian hotel chain is spending €45 million refitting one of the old 'grande dames' (no particular reason for the French theme this evening) hotels of Yugoslav tourism, turning it into a 5 star hotel with wellness centre and conference centre, I guess in the relatively well researched belief that people would, surprise, surprise come to Kastela. Further more a German/Croatian consortium plan to spend €150 million on a 600-900 berth marina with hotels, 1500 apartments, hotels, shops, restaurants, cafes etc on the site of the old chemical factory which, at a stroke removes both an eyesore and creates a great attraction for the area. There is even a (relatively!) serious proposal to build a tunnel through the mountain to connect the motorway with this development. This is in addition to the already large marina in Kastel Gomilica.
Added to the substantial upgrading of the main road through Kastela linking Split and Trogir, the introduction of a train shuttle service between Trogir and Split through Kastela (up to 15 times a day), the huge redevelopment of the north port of Split and the building of a bridge linking it to Kastela, the fact that it is officially the fastest growing city in Croatia, that it has an international airport with frequent budget flights (as well as scheduled) through out Europe (including easyJet and WizzAir to London) and the fact that you can be sitting having a beer in a pretty old stone village overlooking the sea within 10mins of leaving the airport all add up to at least a reasonable case to consider them!! (in my admittedly biased opinion!)
Look us up next time you're down Mambo and we'll show you the 'inside scoop', not the 'driving past en-route to...' view as even I have to admit that seen from the magistrala (main road) Kastela doesn't do itself many favours. It's all about the waterfront and the series of well-preserved villages that grew up around 7 castles or Kastel (hence the plural Kastela) built to protect the local noble families from the threat of Turkish invasion in the 15th and 16th century.
NB Not many people can say they live within 3km of 3 16th century castles (2 within 500m)!
Enough of the tourist promotion and my meanderings.
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Post by rijekafan on Jun 14, 2007 1:02:42 GMT 1
I think Port cities are often the most interesting. In the case of Rijeka it means the locals have a more worldly view and there are lots of people with money who work in the shipping industry. The port underpins the excellent rental market I have spoken of. My flat has been bought by a ships captain.
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Post by rijekafan on Jun 14, 2007 5:27:56 GMT 1
Charles, it sounds as though you are on a winner in Kastela. Especialy if you like living there.
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Post by jill on Jun 14, 2007 7:48:30 GMT 1
I must admit, i initially thought Kastela was a bit grim, having only driven through on my way to big stores or towards Trogir. However, we spent a little more time there on our last visit and the villages are rather lovely and you don't actually see the industrial and shipbuilding area in the further Kastelas. The Marina is very pleasant (bar over the road sells big bottles of beer for 6 kuna!), Kastela Gomilica looks great (not actually explored but seen from a distance). The other points Charles makes are valid too, proximity to airport etc. etc
(so she hasn't hidden the rose tinted specs then!!)
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Charles
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Post by Charles on Jun 14, 2007 8:58:36 GMT 1
not the rose-tinted ones, just the big dark ones which allow plenty of eye, not head, movement I'm afraid!
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twf
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Post by twf on Jul 3, 2007 22:55:36 GMT 1
As for honourable and decent, I find Croats to be very honourable once they have accepted you into their atomic structure. If you are not part of their small group, anything goes. thats what I experienced during the dark franjo times from 1991 to 1996, and guess how some of the fellows disliked novinars....
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