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Telegraph
3 days ago
- Telegraph
My partner hates my ‘boring' beach holidays – so we tried a boat-and-bike odyssey instead
My partner Mico hates holidays. More to the point, he hates beach holidays, saying he finds them boring and would rather be at work. I, meanwhile, am never happier than when lying prone with a book, or watching the world go by from a five-star vantage point, Bellini in hand. Meanwhile, Mico is only happy in perpetual motion – and happier still if a near-death experience is involved. We skied together once. He flitted off down the black runs while I sipped hot chocolate in a Tyrolean cafe. I barely saw him. As a result, I generally go on holiday alone. Last month, however, I decided we should go away for my 60th birthday and – as I was calling the shots this time – he agreed to join me. I agonised over finding a trip which would suit us both until, at last, I hit upon what seemed like a happy compromise: a boat and bike tour, ticking enough 'luxury boxes' for me while simultaneously addressing his need for adventure. It would, I resolved, keep us both happy – or make us both miserable. It was worth a try. I'd long fancied Croatia, but had always been a bit confused by all the islands. Where do you start? People are always telling me a boat is the only way to go, but if you aren't a sailor, or one of the super-rich capable of affording a charter, where does that leave you? Here, too, I eventually found a solution – a tour with Freedom Treks, involving the classier type of motor boat, plus e-bikes. Rather than join the throngs that descend on Split and Dubrovnik, I opted for Istria, the verdant northern peninsula that borders Italy and Slovenia. As his father came from Croatia, Mico had been there as a child, and remembered it as the most beautiful part of the country. I was cautiously optimistic. We flew to Zagreb and made the roughly two-hour drive west to the tiny port of Omišalj on the island of Krk, where we boarded our boat, the Andela Lora. Under blazing sunshine, we met our fellow cyclists – a friendly, cosmopolitan bunch of English- and German-speakers mostly in their sixties – and our Croatian guides, Kristofor and Martina, who explained that a WhatsApp group would alert us to the daily schedule as we threaded our way around the Istrian coastline. We set sail for Cres, the joint largest of Croatia's islands – dropping anchor in a bay en route so that we could plunge into the cool Adriatic for a dip – before disembarking to explore the medieval town with its pastel coloured houses and narrow winding streets. We had a glorious dinner on deck and, the following day, continued onwards to Pula – the capital of Istria, on the southern tip of the peninsula. As we sailed, Kristofor and Martina took the opportunity to give our group a crash course in the Croatian language – including the alphabet, and such crucial phrases as 'two beers please' – then we docked, right in front of the well-preserved Roman amphitheatre for which the city is famous. The e-bikes were unloaded and Kristofor explained the route – a gentle loop of 27km, with a coffee stop in Vodnjan, a medieval town with twisting cobbled streets, painted shutters, and vibrant murals painted by a collection of graffiti artists. We set off along the seafront before turning in-land through olive groves and vineyards, pulling over every few kilometres for water and a detailed briefing on the upcoming terrain. Though I am not an experienced cyclist (excepting my weekly spin class), Mico is frighteningly fit, and I worried initially that the 'moderate level' tour I had chosen – where daily bike rides were all between a (seemingly manageable) 27-59km – might not be 'active' enough for him. I needn't have worried. Despite Kristofor's reminders that this was not a race, Mico paid no heed and, during less challenging stretches, entertained himself by riding behind me, egging me on as if might be in training for the Tour de France. 'Come on Sharon, you won't get far like that!' he'd yell as I puffed away, virtuously trying to remain in the bike's more challenging 'eco' mode as much as possible. The next morning we sailed on to Vrsar, from where we cycled along the Limski Canal to Poreč and spent the night, before heading off on the longest, steepest ride of the week – sensibly scheduled right in the middle of the trip – the following day: a 66.3km loop from Poreč to Novigrad. The most intense portion of this 'undulating' (as Kristofor euphemistically phrased it) ride was the incline up to the hilltop village of Grožnjan. Pedalling hard, eyes ahead, head down, I pushed through a wall of heat, as beads of perspiration trickled into my eyes. I could hear cyclists behind me clicking down their gears. One of the Swiss women sailed past; 'Switch it to turbo!' she yelled in a tone that seemed to suggest there was no way I'd manage it. But I'd made up my mind. Fed up with my snail's pace, Mico whizzed by in a race to the summit, neck and neck with one of the fit Germans who'd brought a proper cycling kit. When I eventually arrived, red faced and drenched, he informed me that he'd 'won' – though he did later admit he'd broken our pact to ride in eco mode. 'Winning was more important,' he shrugged. Grožnjan was, however, a fitting consolation – a pretty village known as 'the City of Artists' where once-abandoned houses now play host to a community of creatives who sell their crafts and paintings to visitors like us. That night at dinner, my new Californian friend Janet leant over and asked in a conspiratorial whisper if the rumours were true. I blushed – what could she be talking about? 'I heard you spent the whole day in eco mode.' She grinned, 'what an achievement!' Hearing Janet's congratulations, Sally – who, at 77, was pretty fit herself – leaned across and said she was 'jolly impressed', and I felt a sudden pang of pride. Mico wasn't bothered, but now that I had other friends – people who I couldn't help thinking might make more suitable travelling companions on future holidays – I didn't care. On the penultimate morning of our trip, as Rovinj – a place Martina had excitedly told us was the 'pinnacle' of the week – came into view, I was reminded, once again, just how lovely it is to arrive by boat. Arriving at picturesque Rovinj by boat was a highlight of Sharon's trip With its colourful, tightly crowded houses plunging almost straight down to the water and the hilltop church of St Euphemia soaring above, it was enchanting, as was the beautiful pine-covered coast and the stunning bays beyond, which we explored by bike. On our final day – just as a 'heat dome' engulfed the region – we sailed away from Istria and back towards the mainland, docking on Krk once more, this time at the village of Njivice. A few sensible souls stayed on board fearing heat stroke, while the rest of us disembarked and prepared to bike the 43km on to Omišalj. This time – still basking in the satisfaction of my eco-mode achievements – I felt I'd earned a bit of respite, and was only too happy to call on the bike's battery power (oh, what a blessed relief it was to flick through the settings into turbo when we reached the hills). If I'd put it on at the beginning of the week, there would have been no going back, but – despite all the truffle-loaded fresh pasta, local wines and gelato – I really did feel fitter after a week of hard graft and perpetual motion. It was, I'll admit, refreshing to come back from an indulgent holiday feeling slimmer and with such a sense of achievement – not something I've ever experienced after a week lying on a beach. And despite the constant moving from place to place, not having to worry about arranging anything myself (no faff with maps, or packing and unpacking or having to find your way, or the endless hours looking for hotels) meant that I still came back thoroughly relaxed. Crucially, Mico's verdict was also a positive one: moving at the pace of a large group did frustrate him to begin with, but by the end of the trip, even he seemed to have chilled out. 'You do so much you can't get bored, and you come back feeling really good,' he enthused. 'I'd definitely go again, just on a different route with fewer stops.' So, our great holiday compromise was an overall success. Though he's now plotting a self-guided bike tour with his friend Simon, a keen cyclist. So much for holidaying together: I'm afraid I've unleashed a monster. Essentials Freedom Treks (01273 977906) has a seven-night Highlights of Istria Deluxe Boat and E-Bike Tour trip from £1,469 per person, including stops in Omišalj, Cres, Pula, Poreč, Novigrad, Rovinj and Rabac. E-bike hire from £235pp; transfers from Zagreb airport from £64pp. Various departure dates throughout 2026. Flights extra.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Woman, 28, 'gang-raped by three Brits was bitten all over her body during two-hour ordeal in Croatian beach hotel'
Three British men have appeared in court in Croatia charged with the gang rape of a local woman at a popular holiday resort. Ami Arifi, 29, Gezhim Xhafa, 28, and Sohqib Shakibi, 24, appeared before an investigating judge on Thursday. The men have all been remanded in custody pending further investigations into the incident which happened on Tuesday in the port of Split. Police said the 28-year-old woman, who is local, was the victim of a planned attack and the men, who are all from London, face up to ten years in jail if convicted. One of the suspects is said to have offered a bail of 30 thousand euros, but it was not accepted. The suspects met the woman that same evening on Matejuška, the popular waterfront in Split and popular with tourists and locals. She is said to have taken a ride on a motorbike with one of them, then accepted their invitation to go to their four star hotel room at around 5.30 in the morning. According to local media, the first defendant insulted and swore at her, bit her lips and touched her private parts. The court heard the alleged victim objected to this behaviour and said it hurt, but the first defendant continued to assault her. He is alleged to have taken away the woman's mobile phone and asked her to have sexual intercourse with the second defendant. The victim, in fear, agreed and went to the room with the second defendant, it is alleged. After that, the first defendant allegedly asked the victim to perform oral sex on the third defendant, the court heard. According to the woman, he bit her and touched her all over her body. She says she resisted, but at one point managed to free herself and call her ex boyfriend who alerted police. Officers came to the hotel and arrested one of the suspects in the room. The others were quickly found. The court heard the drama in the hotel room lasted two hours. The suspects have all denied their guilt. They claim that everything happened without any coercion. Two are originally from Kosovo, but have British citizenship as does the third.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Three British tourists arrested in Croatia for 'raping local woman in planned attack'
Three British tourists have been arrested in Croatia in suspicion of raping a 28-year-old local woman in a beachside hotel. Police fear that the men, who are facing up to ten years behind bars, planned the vicious attack in the port town of Split. The alleged crime was reported shortly after 7am on Thursday, with one suspect detained at the scene, while the two others were found at a different location shortly after. A criminal investigation has now been launched, with cops believing that the Brits could have planned out the alleged rape after interrogating them. The men could spend between six months and 10 years in prison under Croatian laws. They are being held in custody as investigations continue.
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Three Brit tourists arrested in Croatia for ‘raping local woman in planned attack' facing up to 10 years behind bars
THREE British tourists have been arrested in Croatia on suspicion of raping a 28-year-old woman. The men face up to ten years in prison with cops fearing the alleged hotel attack may have been planned out. 3 3 Police in the Adriatic port of Split have accused the Brits of raping the local Croatian girl in a local hotel by the sea. A report was filed to cops shortly after 7am on Thursday. A criminal investigation was launched as one of the suspects was swiftly detained at the scene. The two others were found at a seperate location shortly after. Police now believe the men could have planned out the alleged rape after they were interrogated by the State Attorney's Office. They risk spending between six months or up to 10 years behind bars, according to Croatian laws. If they are found guilty of premeditating the alleged attack, the trio could face the maximum punishment. The men have been ordered to spend one month in custody as investigations continue. It has been revealed that two out of three of the detained Brits have the roots in Kosovo. It follows travel guidance sent out to Brits in 2023 which warned about rapist taxi drivers in Split. The British Foreign Office issued the alert following the rape of a 23-year-old woman and reports of other sex attacks in the city. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned: 'There have been reports of sexual assaults in taxis or Ubers in Croatia. "To reduce risk and help prevent potential assaults you can: Take a photo of the inside, where the number of the taxi is visible, and send to a friend or someone else Share your ride status on the Uber app." 3
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
CW Sports Goes Bananas With NASCAR And Baseball Crossover
KANSAS CITY, KS - MAY 06: Split, the mascot of the Savannah Bananas dances before the start of a ... More banana ball game against the the Kansas City Monarchs at Legends Field on Friday, May 6, 2022 in Kansas City, KS. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) While most of the attention in NASCAR broadcasting this season has gone to the Cup Series—with all eyes on Amazon Prime's flashy debut—a different kind of network has quietly been using the NASCAR Xfinity Series to rewrite the rules of sports television. And frankly, it's doing it with a lot more guts, and just the right amount of bananas. Enter The CW. Yes, that CW—the one that grew out of the smoldering remains of the WB and UPN in 2006. For years, it was a haven for capes, teenage angst, and endless spin-offs from the DC Comics multiverse. The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow—they all had a home there. It wasn't exactly a profitable few years for the network, so The CW's new owners at Nexstar decided it was time to chart a new course. Gone were superheroes and teenage dramas. They were replaced by unscripted programs, game shows, and—perhaps most surprisingly—a full-on charge into the world of live sports. But not just any sports. The CW Sports didn't pick up NFL rights or chase March Madness. No, they went rogue, became a disruptor of sorts. They signed deals with LIV Golf. Then WWE's NXT. Then the AVP (beach volleyball), the PBA (bowling), and most recently, professional bull riding. If there's a sport too wild, weird, or off-brand for the legacy networks, chances are The CW is giving it a primetime slot. Signing NASCAR's Xfinity series last year made perfect sense for the network. It was a smart move. The Xfinity Series audience is loyal and deeply engaged—just the kind of fanbase a network with big sports ambitions could rally around. A Savannah Bananas and CW-themed No. 99 Chevrolet, driven by Matt DiBenedetto, will be on-track ... More during the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, July 26. But then came a twist a few months after the deal was announced. Originally set to begin broadcasting NASCAR Xfinity Series races starting in 2025, The CW didn't wait. They jumped the green flag, taking over race coverage in September 2024. Next up on The CW? Baseball. But not the kind of baseball that gently hums Take Me Out to the Ballgame. This is Banana Ball—the high-octane, choreographed, TikTok-dominating, foul-ball-caught-by-a-fan-is-an-out baseball circus that's selling out stadiums and redefining what a 'game' actually is. Think Harlem Globetrotters meet Jackass, played in cleats. And NASCAR fans will be getting a glimpse of it Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The CW and the Savannah Bananas have partnered with Viking Motorsports to bring the spirit of Banana Ball to the track. The No. 99 Chevrolet, driven by Matt DiBenedetto, will carry a full Savannah Bananas and CW-themed livery in Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway—a high-speed billboard for the team's live broadcast debut the very next day. Since their inception in 2016 the Savannah Bananas have turned baseball on its head. With choreographed dances, celebratory antics, flaming bats (yes, literal flaming bats), and a firm commitment to entertaining the crowd first and worrying about the score later, the Bananas have become a cultural phenomenon. With over 9.8 million followers on TikTok, they've surpassed every team in MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL, and yes even NASCAR, in social reach. And every game at their home field, Savannah's historic Grayson Stadium, has sold out since day one. Just the kind of chaos The CW seems built for. "These guys are fun, and we consider ourselves that way," said Mike Perman, Senior Vice President of CW Sports. 'We're trying to grow the network from a sports perspective and reach younger demos. We just felt like this would align—it would be something fun.' Perman said the Bananas were a perfect match for a network with a strategy built around bold, unconventional moves. 'We had heard ESPN was about to do a deal, and we figured if they're looking, we should move fast. Our president Brad Schwartz has always leaned into creative risks, and Banana Ball just fits that mold.' WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 13, 2024: The Savannah Bananas perform after a game against the Firefighters ... More at Nationals Park on July 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) And it's more than just a gimmick. Perman emphasized that, while the Bananas bring energy and antics, it's still competitive sport. 'The players are really good athletes. The games still matter. The rules may be different, but they still have to perform. It's not just a show—it's competition with a twist.' Perman also confirmed that this isn't just a one-off. 'We've done cross-promotions before with WWE talent at NASCAR races, and we're doing the same here. Matt DiBenedetto will throw out the ceremonial first banana at the game in Philly on Sunday. We even turned our logo yellow this week—we're calling it Banana Palooza.' Sunday, the Bananas make their broadcast television debut live from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. A sold-out crowd of more than 40,000 will be on hand as the Bananas take on the Texas Tailgaters. DiBenedetto, fresh off Saturday's race, will trade his firesuit for a jersey and throw out the ceremonial first pitch—connecting the dots between motorsport mayhem and baseball bedlam. What began as a midseason NASCAR promotion might just be the blueprint for how The CW plans to tie its sports properties together and continue being the disruptor. One flaming bat, one painted racecar, and one national broadcast at a time.
