It's a good thing that it rarely rains during the summer. The only time it really rained, I found myself driving on Žukotrlica, a tourist area of Bar, near the sea. Everything turned gray in an instant, both the sky and the landscape. Vehicles littered the streets, it was impossible to move forward or back. Water came up from the canal, throwing dirt onto the road. People, with matted hair and wrapped in towels, were running away from the sea, as if even the rain was not just water. As long as you could see from the foggy vehicle, you could feel the low-budget breath.
We drank coffee in a cafe, right on the shore. The footprints of the person who held the same glass before me were clearly visible on the glass that held the lukewarm water. I didn't see any lip prints on the coffee cup, it looks like the cup was used by a man or a woman with good lipstick before me.
* * *
The Minister of Health wrote to me, four pages.
Veli, my appeal against the decision of the first-instance commission from the Bar to not reimburse me for the treatment costs at the eye clinic "Miloš" in Belgrade is rejected.
From the explanation, I understood that I should have twisted things a bit and stated that the retinal rupture occurred outside the territory of Montenegro and that I was admitted to the "Miloš" clinic as an emergency. And I was an emergency, but the hole in the retina was created in the Bar. The fact that, subsequently, a retinal ablation could have easily occurred with serious consequences for my right eye, that the rupture occurred before Easter, that they do not perform laser intervention at the Clinical Center of Montenegro - it does not matter. Well, I should have followed the procedure and applied for the consilium first. Only then should I go to Belgrade.
But I'm not sorry that I ran out of money and that I can still see through a fog in my right eye - the minister addressed me personally!
* * *
The state finally showed its strength - it broke the smuggling channel near the Green Market in the center of Bar. She chased away the Roma who were selling so-called miscellaneous goods on the sidewalk. And I don't believe that all the value that was with a dozen always cheerful and story-loving "traders" exceeded 300 euros.
It doesn't matter that the Bar coast is concreted like Old Olive and that, for example, Bar is dirtier than ever maybe in the last 25 years - the main thing is to show authority in the most innocuous place.
* * *
The junior basketball team of Serbia defended the title of European champion. When the final match with the home team Latvia was over, the young Serbian basketball players flew into the arms of the boys who were the only ones cheering for them in the full hall - the Montenegrin national team, to share the common joy.
But very soon one of the elders will be found to "explain" to the young Montenegrin basketball players that their Serbian peers are not their brothers.
Something similar happened in Sopron, Hungary. When the women's basketball team of Serbia defeated the defending champion France in the semi-finals of the European Junior Championship, with an incredible turnaround in the last quarter, they were met in front of the hotel by their friends from Croatia, with congratulations, kisses and the song "The World Loves Winners" by Kolonia.
And the older ones will already find a way to "explain" to the young basketball players that it is preferable that they hate each other, not love each other.
* * *
Fortunately, the best athletes in this area, Sandra Perković and Ivana Španović, can no longer do anything. Because the palanquin mentality of the patriots on duty bounces off them like a rock, they are much more successful, much more mentally (and physically, of course) strong. Sandra explained it nicely: "I get along a hundred times better with Ivana than with an English woman." We don't come from rich countries, our path was much more difficult and that's why we stick together. We love each other, so what?'
* * *
I don't know if it's like that in other countries - here, in our country, everyone gossips about everyone. That's why no one will be the first to leave society, no matter what obligations they have. He knows that, in his absence, he will be in the main role. Maybe it has always been like that, but it seems to me that we are, more than ever, ready to make fun of others. The one who does something wrong or is just clumsy, no one will come to help, but they will rather make fun of him, to his face or, mostly, behind his back.
* * *
The 31st "Bar Yearbook" has ended. He was average. Only a few music programs managed to stir my emotions. There were no theater performances, although the last one, "Taximeter" from Zagreb, was very good and one of the two actors, Robert Budak, deservedly received the award for the best acting performance. And the show that was expected the most was simply not wanted: the Serbian-Montenegrin-Hungarian co-production, "Jami district", winner of seven Sterija awards, was canceled twice, first due to an injury to one of the three actresses, and then due to rain .
* * *
After twelve years spent abroad (Slovenia, Germany, USA), Lara finished her education at the beginning of August. She received her doctorate from Tufts University in Boston.
Was it worth it?
I do not know.
* * *
And this summer, the bar's only defense against the unbearable heat is: "How is it in Podgorica?!"
Bonus video:
