I consider myself extremely lucky not to have watched the spectacular Croatian Army Parade. Instead I am loving my country to the extreme visiting small Istrian cities and villages and enjoying in the tourism Istrian style. Everybody is posting photos of invoices with wild prices from Dubrovnik and Split. Yesterday we had the most fascinating Motovun sunset with dinner, drinks and coffee for 80 kunas. Yes, you read it right. And I am proud of these people who work their asses off, and yes, the season here is no longer than in Dubrovnik or Split, yet I am proud of these Croats that do not feel the irresistible urge to rip off anybody whose foot sets in their little city.
I was proud to be Croat in a small village of Bale in Istria during the first four days of August and the ninth edition of Last Minute Open Jazz Festival. By mixing in lots of love and with added effort of local community, charismatic Tomislav Lovro Pavleka, the founder of the Festival, brought us again magnificent Ty Le Blanc, one and only Steve Hackett, Bruno Mićetić, Marko Ramljak, legendary drummer Ratko Divjak and many other musicians from all over the world to play in this small village with some 1100 inhabitants.
And now something completely different, or entrepreneurship Dalmatian style. At the same time in Split, another venue opened literally below the Mayor’s window. Although the investors, a well-known fitness queen, TV presenter and once the sexiest Croatian girls and her boyfriend/entrepreneur were warned that they put up seven steel constructions without a permit, and although, according to Slobodna Dalmacija, they do not have all the necessary permits to start work, they had the grand opening with many minor celebrities. Who are these people and what is in their heads if they think they are above the law? What kind of message do these people send by ignoring rules and regulations?
Social networks yesterday were flooded with pathetic posts, written almost on the verge of tears of left-wing politicians and their supporters, all ecstatic about the parade. It took them 20 years to realize the importance of this day in Croatian history. They were not this loud 10 years ago when they were not in power. Obviously, they try to win over some right-wing voters counting on their low memory capacity and lower level of intelligence. Let’s parade, the election day is coming!
