Golden Pen Award 2016 in Split, Croatia

Friday evening saw the Golden Pen Award 2016 ceremony in Split, Croatia. The Croatian Tourist Board had nominated and invited journalists and bloggers from around 15 countries, and in the evening they all gathered in the basement vaults of Diocletian's Palace in a festive mood.

Award ceremony in the palace's basement vault

Diocletian's Palace was built by Roman Emperor Doicletian in the 200s, and encloses the old parts of Split.

The basement vaults are more or less intact, and in these grandiose premises, all the journalists and bloggers gathered in their formal attire, along with representatives of the Croatian Tourist Board, Croatian TV crews and the musicians and opera singers who provided the entertainment. After some bubbly and snacks, it was time for the ceremony itself.

Each nominated journalist/blogger was presented with a description of their work on Croatia and received a certificate on stage. In our case, they talked about how we travelled two months in Croatia in 2015, from south to north, and all the places we visited and blogged about.

At the end, one in each category was announced as the winner: a British newspaper journalist, a German TV crew and a Polish blogging couple. All had done impressive work, often for major newspapers or TV companies, and it was great to be part of this!

Här har vi fått motta våra diplom på scen, foto: Elisabeth Axås — Here we have received our diplomas on stage at the Golden Pen Award 2016, photo: Elisabeth Axås.

Elisabeth Axås, frilansjournalist och Ylva Yngvesson, fotograf — Elisabeth Axås, freelance journalist who often writes for Expressen, and Ylva Yngvesson, photographer.

Gala dinner at Re di Mare restaurant

Once the awards ceremony was over, it was time for the gala dinner at the Re di mare restaurant, which was beautifully situated by a marina. The setting was festive and there was music playing all evening. We were served five different dishes and it all felt very luxurious. The timing of the dinner was un-Swedish to say the least (I don't think dessert came in until around 1am), but the participants took the opportunity to dance between courses, so the atmosphere was great!

All we can say is that it was great to be a part of this, and it's great that the Croatian Tourist Board is showing us appreciation for our blogging about Croatia during our European trip!

Galamiddag på restaurang Re di mare — Golden Pen Award 2016, Gala dinner at Re di mare restaurant

Peter i full fart med kameran och Helena, foto: Elisabeth Axås — Peter at full speed with the camera and Helena, photo: Elisabeth Axås.

READ MORE: Golden Pen Media Awards 2022 in Croatia
READ MORE: 15 things to do in Split - your guide in Croatia

01 May 2016 9:45

Media and digital

blogging

Helena

Administrator

37 Comments

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Lanclin-Linnea says:

It's crazy fun what you can get involved in because you "write and take photos in a blog"! In 5 years, Lanclin will probably have achieved something too, the one who lives will see if any prizes are won, ha ha! 🙂 Congratulations to you!

01 May 2016 - 9:55

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Travel Friday says:

So cool that you got to be part of it - what an honour! Congratulations again, see you soon! Hugs

01 May 2016 - 10:04

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Denandraresan.com says:

Congratulations! Must have been wonderful to be part of this!

01 May 2016 - 10:10

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Lena & Jan says:

FANTASTIC FUN and GREAT CONGRATULATIONS to both of you who, in addition to your own experiences and those of your blog readers, have now also received an APPRECIATION CERTIFICATE from the country of Croatia for your frenetic and unvarnished PICTURE BLOGGING ???

01 May 2016 - 10:19

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Travelling happiness says:

Hi, Helena and Peter
Congratulations! It's so nice for you to experience this. Well done!

/ Mette

01 May 2016 - 10:29

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Ama de casa says:

What a fantastic honour - and well deserved! - that you get to be part of all this, Congratulations! 🙂

But I think the wrong blog won. Maybe I'm biased... 🙂 ...

01 May 2016 - 10:33

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Lola says:

Congratulations again! What fun!

01 May 2016 - 10:45

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FANTASYDINING-A blog about themed restaurants and travel says:

Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations!!!! 🙂

01 May 2016 - 11:26

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Linnea, yes it's really true! At the same time, I have to say that many times it is probably more work than others think 😉 You do such a good job with your blog so I'm sure it will lead to good things in the future!!!!

Travel Friday, thank you so much! It was great fun to be involved!

Denandraresa, thank you very much! 🙂

Lena & Jan, many thanks! Yes, when you blog you show the destinations exactly as they are and as you experience them when you are there. Funny that it was appreciated!

Reiselykke, thank you so much Mette! 🙂

Ama de casa, haha, maybe you are "a bit" biased 😉.

Lola, thank you so much!

Fantasy travel, please!!!

01 May 2016 - 11:36

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JoY says:

It's great that you have been so recognised and have been involved in this, congratulations.
Hugs

01 May 2016 - 11:37

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Imelda says:

Great fun and well deserved! Congratulations to you! Looking forward to your trip to Istria.

01 May 2016 - 11:42

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Renate's travels says:

It's so nice that travel bloggers are starting to be appreciated in this way! Great! 😀

01 May 2016 - 11:54

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Ann-Mari says:

So funny! Congratulations so much, it is a great work you put into the blog, so it is very good that it is appreciated 🙂 .

01 May 2016 - 11:58

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Lennart says:

What a nice weekend you had!

01 May 2016 - 12:42

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Across the board says:

Very funny! You are well worth it.
Congratulatory hugs

01 May 2016 - 13:18

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Solan says:

Congratulations to both of you. Hooray! You are now certified bloggers....

01 May 2016 - 13:57

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BP says:

To be in that company is absolutely fantastic! Just like AMA, I also think the wrong blog won;-)

But you are sooooo worthy of the diploma after all the great posts you have written about Croatia.

By the way, you were really nice in the pictures:-)

01 May 2016 - 15:06

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Ditte says:

What fun! Congratulations to you! And very nice that you are being recognised for the incredibly fine and solid work you put into your blog.
And what a good promotion for Croatia your writing and all the nice pictures are. It is also very fun to follow you in Croatia via the blog.
I understand that you had a wonderful weekend.

01 May 2016 - 15:46

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Linda, 155cm.se says:

Wihooooo! Congratulations, what an experience!

01 May 2016 - 16:25

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Matts Torebring says:

It must have felt incredibly fantastic, to be there and just stand there. A huge congratulations to you!

01 May 2016 - 17:59

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Comment by post author

admin says:

JoY, yes it really feels great! Thank you very much!

Imelda, thank you and how nice that you are interested in reading about Istria! We are very much looking forward to that trip, and it's not that far away!

Renate, it is clear that travel bloggers are getting more attention and that companies and destinations are starting to see the potential!

Ann-Mari, thank you so much! Yes, it is nice to get something back when you put in a lot of time and energy!

Lennart, it certainly has been! We haven't had time to tell you everything yet, so there will be a few more posts in the coming days.

Across the board, thank you very much!

Solan, thank you! Haha, yes, we have to start calling ourselves that... 😉.

BP, we soak up the praise and support! 🙂

Ditte, thank you so much! Yes, Croatia's tourist office sees that what bloggers and journalists do for the country. We write our own perceptions and experiences, positive and negative, but from Croatia it was probably mainly positive 😉 At the same time, I think it is the honesty of bloggers that is appreciated.

Linda, thank you so much! Yes, it was certainly an experience to be involved!

Matts, it was great fun to participate! And even though we didn't win, we felt like winners 🙂.

01 May 2016 - 18:42

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Helena says:

Congratulations! What a wonderful experience to be involved in.

01 May 2016 - 18:51

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Tess says:

CONGRATULATIONS, what fun ????

We were in Uppsala this weekend and saw a fantastic houseboat. Of course, I thought of you then ☺️
Check out the blog and you'll see a nice picture of it.

01 May 2016 - 18:51

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Mr Steve says:

I rejoice with you and your successes!

01 May 2016 - 19:24

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Anki says:

Imagine what you get to experience - and you really deserve it - so congratulations to you for your beautiful diplomas!

01 May 2016 - 19:26

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Helena, thank you very much! It was really an experience!

Tess, thank you! Uppsala is a nice city and of course it is cosy with houseboats? I wrote a comment on your blog, but do not know if it arrived? (Junk mail? Trash?)

Steve, thank you! 🙂

Anki, thank you so much! Yes, the blog has given and gives us many interesting and exciting experiences! Starting a blog is one of the best things we have done 🙂 .

01 May 2016 - 19:38

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OnTripdk says:

Super that you were involved 🙂 Again, congratulations and thank you for sharing it with us 🙂 .

01 May 2016 - 20:56

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Åsa says:

Fun! Luxurious! You were worth it, but I think you should win more prizes in different contexts. You deserve it too, but as I said, winners anyway! (PS: Imagine if the Portuguese Tourist Board did something like this:)

01 May 2016 - 21:07

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bia says:

Of course it is nice in Croatia, I was there in 2010...Makarska Riviera...also the island of Brac...very nice island...can imagine going there again. Have a nice beginning of May !!!
Hugs

01 May 2016 - 22:51

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Ontripdk, thank you! It felt nice that they have a category for bloggers and appreciate what bloggers do 🙂 .

Åsa, thank you, nicely said by you! 🙂 And it's probably not just Portugal's tourist board that has not got there yet, it feels like Croatia is far ahead 😉.

Bia, funny that you also like Croatia! We were quite long just on Brac last autumn and liked that island very much! 🙂

01 May 2016 - 22:57

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Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:

Very happy that you were nominated! It is well deserved after the work you did with all the blog posts from Croatia.

01 May 2016 - 23:23

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Jennifer i Helsingfors says:

So much fun! Congratulations to you 🙂

02 May 2016 - 12:31

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Lina says:

So much fun!!! Congratulations again !!!! Lovely pictures! Hugs L

02 May 2016 - 20:33

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Eva - People in the Street says:

Fantastic fun! It's great that you are being recognised for the great work you are doing. You deserve all the success! Congratulations 🙂

02 May 2016 - 21:01

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Marianne, thank you very much! 🙂

Jennifer in Helsinki, thank you!!!

Lina, thank you so much, and glad you like the pictures!

Eva, thank you, very nice of you to say! Yes, of course we work a lot with the blog, and it is fun when it is recognised!

02 May 2016 - 22:05

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Wojtek says:

Congratulations!
Greetings from Poland 🙂
Aga and Wojtek

05 May 2016 - 13:32

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Wojtek, thank you so much and CONGRATULATIONS to you! It would have been nice to have time to talk more with you!

05 May 2016 - 23:27

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Golden Pen Award 2016 in Split, Croatia

Award ceremony in the palace's basement vault

Gala dinner at Re di Mare restaurant

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37 Comments

Lanclin-Linnea says:

Travel Friday says:

Denandraresan.com says:

Lena & Jan says:

Travelling happiness says:

Ama de casa says:

Lola says:

FANTASYDINING-A blog about themed restaurants and travel says:

admin says:

JoY says:

Imelda says:

Renate's travels says:

Ann-Mari says:

Lennart says:

Across the board says:

Solan says:

BP says:

Ditte says:

Linda, 155cm.se says:

Matts Torebring says:

admin says:

Helena says:

Tess says:

Mr Steve says:

Anki says:

admin says:

OnTripdk says:

Åsa says:

bia says:

admin says:

Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:

Jennifer i Helsingfors says:

Lina says:

Eva - People in the Street says:

admin says:

Wojtek says:

admin says:

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