European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 21, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Brioni Tito s Island Retreat now attracts tourist Story and photos by Linda White travel editor Fulloni islands of peace and Beauty. Ii would be difficult to imagine any place More peaceful and Beautiful but the slogan has a larger meaning As Wall brioni for More than 30 years was summer residence of Yugoslavia s president Josip Broz Tilo meeting place of Heads of state the place where the non aligned movement eventually materialized. The archipelago consists of 14 islands and several rocks the most important of which Are veil big brioni. Mali Small brioni and Vanga. It Lias just off the coast of Yugoslavia s latvian Peninsula. Although it is Lauty far North the climate is mild enough to support subtropical plants and to encourage migratory Birds to Stop their flights South for the Winter. An setrian legend says that god created a piece of Paradise on Earth but that the Devil maliciously turned the splendor to Stone. An Angel look a look at he destruction and found some Beautiful parts left among the ruins. With great care he gathered the Beautiful things and piled them up in the sea where they would be protected by the Waves. That is now the islands came to be. Now this piece of Paradise is open to the Public. Two years ago Briony became a National Park and memorial. Three first class hotels on Veli brioni Are open year round and Day trippers make the 20-Mlnute ferry ride from Mainland Fazanta six limes daily except tuesday. No one lives there the Alaluf comes in aboard a special ferry. Pimm excuse the dirt said promotion manager Nikolic Zoran indicating dead leaves swept into neat piles along he Roadside. We Ere cleaning the Island he took the wheel of a minibus one of the few vehicles allowed on brioni Lor a tour around the big Island. Day trippers Are shown around in the Little Blue and White train but hotel guests can wander As they like he said. We have lots of walking rails and bicycles Are Lor rent at the hotels. In the stables we have lipizzaner horses Lor Riding or for the the leather and push coach that guests can rent 4.000 dinars about 112 per hour is luxurious but not so deluxe As the one that the Queen of England once gave to the Island s owner or Tito s own coach which is used by slate guests. The tour continued past several Villas three fenced and guarded for foreign dignitaries the others for rent at $100 per person per Day full Board. Deer and Mouton roam the Green Meadows there s a better place for a photo a Little farther along Zoran said. Don t worry you la see plenty of Deer herds of them. They Graze peacefully around the Trees the saplings Are fenced to keep them from being stripped. We have More than 680 kinds of Trees Here Zoran said. Tito brought Little ones Back in his pocket from wherever he the islands enjoyed development Al the turn of the Century once malaria was wiped out by the Nobel prize Winner or. Robert Koch. In 1894, they had been bought by an austrian Paul kurd Wiesser to be turned into a first class resort. Bui they were devastated during world War ii. Tito visited them in 1947 when the buildings were still in ruins and the plants and animals almost totally lost. Two years later a chose by Long As a place of residence and he personally helped in the of the islands. Zoran wheeled up to an Iron bar Gate. This is our safari Park. We have 10 kinds Al animals Here kangaroos camels zebras Llamas elephants. They were gifts then Many were born a second zoo cages instead of free Range this Lime is built in an old Quarry. This zoo was begun in 1912 As a a yug Talmin Mountain t w a tin brioni too. A wildlife reception station where exotic animals slaved until they became acclimated to he temperate climate and were ready to move on to zoos farther North ii was revived to hold the animals Given to Tito Canadian Lynx Puma Black Panther. One of the most Janle reeling is the rare yugoslav Mountain Bear which took ate a lovable Steif toy. Then there Are the pheasant farm with Bright winged parrots Loo and the Duck Pond and greenhouses where Young plants and Dowers for me hotels grow. Water is always a problem on islands Zoran said. Fresh water has been found 253 meters about 760 feel below ground. But that is Lor Back up. The water we use is piped Over from the Tow attractions of Mont Are not limited to nature and the Lovely beaches. Roman and byzantine ruins abound the artefacts Are collected in the archaeological museum. Some of the ruins Ai still in the sea said Zoran. It is remarkable to look Down from a plane into the dear water and see the a second museum has a Fine ethnological collection. Its courtyard is typical of Istria with a round Stone hut in one Comer inside Are examples of lace pottery Wood flutes and utensils Clay whistles in the shape of Birds or Lions or horses Bells Silver belts and Gold embroidery. The National costumes displayed Are All handmade and a map shows where they Are from. Brioni has its own Post office fire brigade and Page 14 the stars and stripes
