Every hot summer, and they've all been like that for a while now, doesn't work in the favor of those who ordered the cutting down of the cypress trees back then. What a foolish act that was! What good would the cypress trees be now, because there's no shade without natural shade.
The Cypress Tree Rebellion was the first real civic protest in Bar. Their energy has not died down: whoever plays a prank on a century-old Bar tree again can count on the reincarnation of the Cypress Tree.
* * *
The Queen's Beach near Čanj stood out from everything around us, from our habits and way of life, as if it were in some land of prosperity, high standards, cleanliness, and tolerant people... I proudly took my "shy" guest to that piece of paradise. It was like that for years. Until this summer. Vladimir Beljkaš from Baran is no longer the tenant of that beach, new ones have not yet appeared, and no one cares about it, except for the old lovers of its transparent water and invigorating peace, the locals, and the boatmen who transport passengers from Čanj. But that's not enough - there is no furniture of any kind, there are piles of garbage and human excrement everywhere.
Will the pearl of the Montenegrin Adriatic, Queen's Beach, survive Tender 2025, the question now is?
* * *
The Italian doctor who said that civilization has returned to its natural state, to barbarism, to a time when man was a being who was classified on the basis of strength and violence, is right. Once again, there are no rules, laws, or lasting human values. The one who has the power and strength decides. No one stops him and we all live in a state of frustration, a feeling of powerlessness, regardless of racial, religious, or political affiliation.
* * *
Between two blogs, Mićo Rakočević, my godfather, passed away. He was an unusual craftsman by profession: educated, well-read, informed. A half-open book was always peeking out from under the counter in his optician's shop. Many people from Bar, of various professions, enjoyed coming here, not only to shop, but also for a pleasant conversation.
He was probably the best optician in the south of Montenegro, the glasses from "Optika Rakočević" were a brand.
He held himself and his views dearly and defended them fiercely. There was no compromise there. On the other hand, he was also soft as cotton, ready to lend a helping hand to anyone at any time.
A chessboard was a must-have in the optics. He played with a sense of risk, based on his instincts, which did not deceive him, because he had a chess "string".
When his father Novo died a few years ago, Baran's unique comment was: "A good and honorable man died." It's nice when that can be said for both father and son. A strain is a strain.
* * *
The most universal enemy of man is the word. It can hurt, sting, upset, disappoint, anger...
* * *
It occurred to me to open the fourth "Annual Starry Nights" on July 4th.
Why am I loyal to the "Annual Starry Nights"? Because it is an unusual, unique festival, with soul, charm, and creative energy. Not only poets, like Srđan Leković, its creator, come here, but also prose writers, visual artists, professors and literary theorists, musicians, archaeologists, actors, graduates, journalists...
In the courtyard of the Leković house where the previous three events were held, many sensible, smart thoughts and beautiful verses went from the improvised stage to the Godinje sky. And they are still floating, I am convinced, above Godinje, following what is happening and wondering how that small festival has grown into such a serious two-day summit. And that happened because the people of Godinje were eager. They were invited by the good spirit of this village, doctor Neven L, on their mobile phones and no one was left behind.
Incidentally, the star of "Starry Nights" was the writer Enes Halilović, winner of the festival award "Kosarin vijenac" for his novel "Bekos".
* * *
In Bar, fruit is more expensive than in London: cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries... And the average British salary is incomparably higher than in Montenegro. The largest family expenses are for food, so all the increases in pensions and salaries, all of Europe now 2, 3, 4, etc., are meaningless.
* * *
I headed to the checkout of a supermarket, determined to make the cashier give me back seven cents if she asked for a euro and 80 cents for a change that cost 1,73 euros. That rounding up always drives me crazy, always to the detriment of the customer.
"One and 70," she said, with a smile.
I left 1,80 and simply rushed out, ashamed as I've rarely been. Of myself.
* * *
"We mentioned you last night..."
It has become something of a curse. After that, there is usually silence. Neither the one who said it has any intention of explaining anything further, nor does the person being mentioned want to know why he was mentioned. And it certainly wasn't for a good reason.
"We mentioned you last night..."
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
