Buongiorno da Rovigno ~ Dobar dan iz Rovinja ~ Good day from Rovinj
Let’s start today with a continuing story that will explain what are we doing in Rovinj all of a sudden!
So, my parents and I arrived to Split in July 1969, and we lived between Sarajevo, Jahorina and Split for 22 happy years. We had a good life style and I had unforgettable childhood for good!
And then one day, everything changed, overnight. From living a great life in piece, harmony and happiness to experiencing unimaginable things.
Why? I don’t have a better explanation but to say because we had a “wrong surname”. Once again, I won’t talk about the dirty politics but our lives changed forever.
The 1990-ties war was declared just at the time we were ready to spread our wings fresh out of university and build a family nest together in the town we both grew up in.
But no! That’s not how the world rolls!
We learnt quickly others can destroy everything we own and everything around us but a hope for a better life is in our hands. We took a brave or a crazy step forward and immigrated to Aotearoa with a suitcase and a three years old Miroslav. From nothing to nothing with nothing.
With my Dad’s blessing we left him on his own in our apartment in Split hoping we will make it down under, he will survive the war, retain the apartment and one day come to NZ for a visit.
We had no clue how the life story will evolve and promised one another to put our family first, always!
In 1996 we welcomed Petra to this world, Nebojsa’s parents followed us and immigrated to NZ in 1999, after having lost everything in the war. Nebojsa’s Mum passed away and his Dad who we all call “grandpa” is well enjoying his life at the Greenvalley Rest Home in Auckland going strong at the age of 92.
My Dad came for a short visit in 2000 to check on us, I still think he never believed his princess was ok, and came to NZ not to live but to get assurance things were fine.
During his stay we agreed he would sell the apartment in Split, after winning the battle with the government, buy a smaller one in Istria, and enjoy his life. We had one of our “family board meetings” and deal was sealed.
On his return to Croatia, thanks to the support and guidance from our close friends parents, late Zlata and Lovre Vranješ, he found a lovely apartment in Rovinj and the rest is history.
Whenever we arrive to Europe, we visit Split. I always go to my Mums grave with the most beautiful bunch of flowers, we say hi to a few remaining friends and we leave. Too many horrible things happened to us and our families during the war years, mental scars are too raw despite many years gone by.
We now call Rovinj our home, as we do for Jahorina and Auckland. We always travel home to go back home and it works in every direction. Home is where your friends are.
What we have been up to?
We are here only five days, a short administrative stop over before we embark on a next adventure. We will return later on to enjoy the summer, more on this another time.
What can I tell you about beautiful Rovinj?
Rovinj was under Venetians for 500 years rather than Otoman Empire, one could argue a better option!
It’s a small coastal township with 14,000 inhabitants, and on average, 3.5 million overnight stays during the three summer months.
Situated on the north Adriatic Sea, located on the western coast of the Istrian Peninsula, it is a popular tourist resort and an active fishing port.
The town is officially bilingual, Croatian and Italian, hence both town names ( Rovinj and Rovigno) are official and equal. Here you go, now you know why I’ve been studying Italian!
Main industry is tourism, tobacco and sardines.
Rovinj flag is a yellow goat with red socks - because of the terracotta soil.
“Tabacine” and “Sardinele” were the names for ladies who worked in Tobacco and Sardines factories years ago. No one needed to ask ladies if they worked back then, by-passers knew by the smell!
Rovinj was built with narrow streets, high buildings, no balconies in old town, it was an island to begin with.
The Church of St. Euphemia, often known as the Basilica of St. Euphemia and by locals as the Church of St. Fuma is a local gathering point. Built during Venetian times, in the Baroque style, located in the heart of the historic part of Rovinj. St Fuma statute was built in the 18th century, its wooden with a brass on the outside. She rotates daily depending on winds. When she looks towards the sea everyone is in a good mood and happy, always after the wind “bora”.
We can see Alps in Italy and Slovenia from St Fuma church after the wind bora.
City hall today was a tobacco factory.
Bafi door is the entrance to old city named after Daniel Bafi who decorated the entrance door with lions in the Venetian style.
Battinade is a type of local singing.
Tourism started with a hospital built by Austrians in 1883 for kids with respiratory problems, it was a health resort at its early beginnings.
Rovinj has been cited as the number one touristy destination of Croatia for a number of years in a row! Amazing and each time we come something new surprises us.
First ever Michelin restaurant Monte opened in Croatia, now there are 3 in Rovinj.
A few fun facts!
Batana is a wooden boat with a flat bottom protected by UNESCO. It is built with a flat bottom to allow people to use it in shallow waters in Rovinj’s archipelago. When Batana go out they use decorated sails to represent family who owns them, today there are 100 sails preserved.
Battere means to hit, to slap in Italian ( flat bottom slapping the water ) 😊
Adriatic hotel is 110 years old, it has a whiskey bar with 110 bottles from all the world and each Saturday they offer a tasting with a live classical music - superb!
Malvasia is a famous white wine. 60% of all wine produced here is Malvasia. Colours are golden and yellow. Tasting the wine will produce fruitiness and mixed flavors of apricot, peach, apple and jasmine flowers, 14% alcohol.
Temperature for white wine needs to be 7 degrees Celsius, red wine 18, and olive oil 28 - aren’t you impressed with my knowledge?!
Fish must swim three times - sea, olive oil and wine. We love it when it does exactly that!
Istrian Olive oil - Buža my favorite flavor. Smell it first, feel the grass, olive fruit, tomato leaf and apple flavors. Taste it by breathing it through your teeth then swallow ( must be warm) 👌
Rovinj soup - red wine, a bit of sugar or honey, warmed up and add bread croutons with olive oil and pepper. Can add fruits, can add pelinkovac or dried figs toasted and a bit more olive oil.
Bisca is Istrian traditional grappa.
Pelinkovac is made in Rovinj, think of it as a Croatian version of Jaggermaster.
There is a lot more to say about this paradise, if interested check it here and even better come for a visit, I guarantee you won’t regret it! And we will welcome you with open arms.
https://www.rovinj-tourism.com/
That’s us for today, tomorrow a new chapter starts, we are off to our next adventure, wish us good luck as we have no idea if we are up for it!
Rovinj Album
Waiting for Robbie Willaims to come up on the stage:
Watch some of his performances here:
