A beach strewn with rubbish in a hidden cove at Štinjan near Pula has been transformed into an idyllic seaside attraction thanks to the tireless work of a local bar owner and his wife. In 2016, Mario Krekman and his wife were walking their dog when they came across a beach that had been used as a rubbish dump for years. Instead of ignoring it, the couple contacted the local council, which carried out a minimal clean-up.
Then Mario decided to take matters into his own hands. He and his wife designed an eco-friendly bar ideal for the surroundings, a minimalist oasis for relaxation. They presented the idea to the council and got the go-ahead. Over six months, they transformed the beach completely, making furniture and the interior from the wood they found there and in the surrounding forests. They also repurposed old waste, coming up with a name and motto for their new initiative: the Lost Bay beach bar, under the watchwords No Plastic Is Fantastic.
Music shows, art exhibitions and various other cultural happenings now bring plenty of visitors to this once neglected slice of coast north-west of Pula. For more details, see here.
Paula Bosančić