The people behind clean streets: While Tivat sleeps, they work

They say it's easier to work with music. And when the job is to make the city look beautiful, then a good atmosphere is half the battle.

While most of the people of Tivat are just drinking their first morning coffee, they have already completed part of their work. Some are landscaping parks and green spaces, others are cleaning the streets. Their common goal is the same.

"We're used to it, nothing is difficult for us... For the city to be clean, tidy, for the bosses to be satisfied with us, and we with them," said Valjton Gashi, a worker at the Tivat Municipal Company.

His colleague Feraj Alija said that there is more work during the season, and that it is hard to work in the heat.

"What are we going to do, it's the season, we have to make an effort," he said.

They start their day a little earlier, and that "a little earlier" often means much before most people wake up.

"Some of the workers start very early. They water at two in the morning," said Maja Đoković, deputy head of the city's green management.

As the first rays of sunshine illuminate Tivat, most of the work has already been completed. The flowers have been watered. The grass has been mowed. The streets have been cleaned.

For a job that starts while most people are still sleeping, the biggest reward is often neither a salary nor a day off.

"They thank us a lot, treating us to 20 percent of our salary. Tourists who treat us to food and drinks," said Naim Murataj.

"There are good people, someone greets us, talks to us. And there are those who won't even say good morning or good afternoon," says Alija.

They don't seek applause or headlines. They just do their job, day in and day out.

And perhaps we most often meet them in passing. Now we have stopped. Listened to them. And reminded ourselves that behind every clean sidewalk, landscaped park and flower there are people. Valjton, Naim and Feraj are just three among thousands of utility workers who take care of our cities every day. Therefore, at the end of this story, one big thing remains – thank you.