Aspira students and faculty spent Saturday November 4 on an interesting, activity-packed field trip to Šibenik. It was an opportunity to learn about the renovated hotel resort Solaris, the city of Šibenik itself, and the Etnoland family farm in Pakovo selo. The trip had an educational purpose, with having a good time coming second.
Conference Tourism at Solaris
The first stop of the field trip was the hotel resort Solaris, outside of Šibenik. At Aspira, efforts are always being made to provide as much practical experience for our students as possible. At Solaris, our students witnessed conference tourism being done at a high level indeed. A multi-purpose, modular conference hall leaves no visiter untouched. The accommodation and wellness facilities at Solaris are no less impressive. The visit was concluded by a visit to the Dalmatian Village, a open-air museum of traditional rural life. Most exhibits are entirely authentic, as opposed to modern-day reconstructions.
Timeless Beauty of Šibenik
A tour of the city of Šibenik followed. The expert guide, Mrs Jasminka, displayed great skill and flair in describing the rich history of her hometown. After a succession of Old Town cultural monuments, the group came to the St Michael Fortress, famous for the views. The city tour was concluded by a visit to the magnificient cathedral of St James, the iconic work of master builder George the Dalmatian.
A Touch of the Past in Pakovo Selo
The final act in this eventful day took place in Pakovo Selo, a village in the Šibenik hinterland. The Etnoland family farm was a great place to learn about the past of continental Dalmatia. Life was tough back in the old days, but also subdued with a quiet, modest charm. The dinner was unforgettable, with the entire menu grown on the farm. However hard we try, it is impossible to describe the flavors, colors, or textures of everything our hosts prepared.