LABIN & ISTRIA 2/2
Beginning of a new adventure...
Thursday, already in the afternoon and the president of the association gave us the afternoon off, well and actually the week off because it was Thursday and they told us that we would start working in the office on Monday.
I received a message from my coordinator to go with her to know a different area near Labin. This area is called Duga Luka and is located south of the town, but on the part of the coast since Labin is in the part of mountains.
Duga Luka seemed like a beautiful place, the kind of places to go when you need a break. An oasis of Mediterranean nature with forest. In addition to how peaceful it is.
Walking and talking we spend the afternoon. I had the opportunity to make a declaration of intentions and also to break some stereotype, it never hurts.
Upon returning home I could continue to meet my great flatmate and project partner and after a good dinner together I went to sleep to continue knowing the town the next day.
It was already Friday and the body knows it. We get up without a hurry and go down to do a new tour. Even if Labin is small, is big at heart and saves great things to discover.
The symbol of the city is the Lion of San Marco (historical symbol of the Republic of Venice) because of the strong Venetian influence in Istria and the coastal part of Croatia, in particular, Labin has been almost 400 years of Italian presence.
Many years later, Istria was part of the fascist Italian and it was not until 1954 that it became part of the former Yugoslavia thanks in part of the Marshal Josip Broz "Tito". Now, Istria is part of the Republic of Croatia since 1992.
The Italian influence in Labin is evident, but not as strong as in the western part of the Istrian peninsula. We can see this heritage when we go through Labin and appreciate the architecture of the people with a clear Venetian influence in the style, we enjoy the delicious cuisine and also when we hear people speak as the Labin dialect is clearly influenced by Italian, which is the co-official language in the region.
Now Labin is part of a Republic but had been Republic twice before in history. The fist was part of the Roman Empire as one of its republics. The second one was short but perhaps more important to the values of the people of Labin.
The Republic of Albona (Labinska Republika), it was an independent republic proclaimed by the "Rudari" (coal miners) of the people during a mining strike against the fascist Italian occupation forces in the Istria region.
It is considered one of the first anti-fascist movements in history. Unfortunately, the life of the Republic of Albona was short, the birth was March 2, 1921, and the end was April 8, 1921. Mussolini didn´t like this kind of revolution and ordered to end it, but the people of Labin still remembers this revolution and this spirit of resistance and mining strength that is present in the collective memory of the people. KOVA JE NASA!
"KOVA JE NASA" (MINE IS OUR)
The main motto of Labin's mining revolution.
I recommend visiting the city museum in the historic center and talking with people at any square or bar. "La Loggia", "Velo Café" or "Napoli Pizzeria" in the main square "Titov Trg" or downtown in "Rock Café", one of the best pub in the city.
I also want to say that the level of English of the people in Labin is impressive and their good attitude with the strangers as well.
We got the invitation to a dinner out, in another town near Labin, Plomin. I had never heard of this place and it did not appear in my travel guide but we arrived and were captivated by the beauty of the old town of Plomin and the small streets with an abandoned village atmosphere in a superb location.
The day ended with a wonderful dinner with all the people of the association and we had the opportunity to taste some typical pizza, local wine and also the amazing "Rakija", Balkan brandy, something that you need to try if you are in this part of the world.
I will never forget my arrival in Croatia and Labin. A set of positive emotions, a lot to discover and a very warm welcome. I was in Croatia, I had arrived in the Balkans, my new story had begun, but this was just the beginning of a new adventure.
Xoves, xa pola tarde e a presidenta da asociación deunos a o día libre, bueno en realidade a semana libre porque xa o Luns comezaríamos a traballar na oficina.
Camiñando e falando pasamos a tarde. Tiven a oportunidade de facer unha declaración de intencións e de paso romper algún esteriotipo, iso nunca ven mal.
Thursday, already in the afternoon and the president of the association gave us the afternoon off, well and actually the week off because it was Thursday and they told us that we would start working in the office on Monday.
I received a message from my coordinator to go with her to know a different area near Labin. This area is called Duga Luka and is located south of the town, but on the part of the coast since Labin is in the part of mountains.
Duga Luka seemed like a beautiful place, the kind of places to go when you need a break. An oasis of Mediterranean nature with forest. In addition to how peaceful it is.
Walking and talking we spend the afternoon. I had the opportunity to make a declaration of intentions and also to break some stereotype, it never hurts.
Upon returning home I could continue to meet my great flatmate and project partner and after a good dinner together I went to sleep to continue knowing the town the next day.
It was already Friday and the body knows it. We get up without a hurry and go down to do a new tour. Even if Labin is small, is big at heart and saves great things to discover.
The symbol of the city is the Lion of San Marco (historical symbol of the Republic of Venice) because of the strong Venetian influence in Istria and the coastal part of Croatia, in particular, Labin has been almost 400 years of Italian presence.
Many years later, Istria was part of the fascist Italian and it was not until 1954 that it became part of the former Yugoslavia thanks in part of the Marshal Josip Broz "Tito". Now, Istria is part of the Republic of Croatia since 1992.
The Lion of San Marco. Symbol of the town of Labin.
The Italian influence in Labin is evident, but not as strong as in the western part of the Istrian peninsula. We can see this heritage when we go through Labin and appreciate the architecture of the people with a clear Venetian influence in the style, we enjoy the delicious cuisine and also when we hear people speak as the Labin dialect is clearly influenced by Italian, which is the co-official language in the region.
Now Labin is part of a Republic but had been Republic twice before in history. The fist was part of the Roman Empire as one of its republics. The second one was short but perhaps more important to the values of the people of Labin.
Original flag of Republic of Albona. ✊
It is considered one of the first anti-fascist movements in history. Unfortunately, the life of the Republic of Albona was short, the birth was March 2, 1921, and the end was April 8, 1921. Mussolini didn´t like this kind of revolution and ordered to end it, but the people of Labin still remembers this revolution and this spirit of resistance and mining strength that is present in the collective memory of the people. KOVA JE NASA!
"KOVA JE NASA" (MINE IS OUR)
The main motto of Labin's mining revolution.
I recommend visiting the city museum in the historic center and talking with people at any square or bar. "La Loggia", "Velo Café" or "Napoli Pizzeria" in the main square "Titov Trg" or downtown in "Rock Café", one of the best pub in the city.
I also want to say that the level of English of the people in Labin is impressive and their good attitude with the strangers as well.
We got the invitation to a dinner out, in another town near Labin, Plomin. I had never heard of this place and it did not appear in my travel guide but we arrived and were captivated by the beauty of the old town of Plomin and the small streets with an abandoned village atmosphere in a superb location.
The day ended with a wonderful dinner with all the people of the association and we had the opportunity to taste some typical pizza, local wine and also the amazing "Rakija", Balkan brandy, something that you need to try if you are in this part of the world.
I will never forget my arrival in Croatia and Labin. A set of positive emotions, a lot to discover and a very warm welcome. I was in Croatia, I had arrived in the Balkans, my new story had begun, but this was just the beginning of a new adventure.
GALICIAN VERSION
O Comezo dunha aventura... 2/2
Recibín unha mensaxe da coordinadora para ir a coñecer unha zona diferente perto a Labin. O nome desta zona é Duga Luka e atópase no sur do pobo, pero na parte da costa xa que Labin sitúase nas montañas.
Duga Luka é precioso, a clase de lugar ao que ir cando un precisa de tranquilidade. Un oasis no Mediterráneo con bosques, un sitio calmo e pacífico.
Camiñando e falando pasamos a tarde. Tiven a oportunidade de facer unha declaración de intencións e de paso romper algún esteriotipo, iso nunca ven mal.
Unha vez de volta na casa puiden continuar a coñecer a miña compañeira de piso e de proxecto e despois dun xantar xuntos, fun dormir para seguir coñecendo o pobo ao día seguinte.
Era Venres e o corpo sabía diso. Erguémonos sen présa ningunha e baixamos a facer un novo tour. Mesmo se Labin é pequeno, é grande de corazón e garda moitas grandes cousas para descubrir.
O símbolo da cidade é o león de San Marco (símbolo histórico da República de Venecia) dada a forte influencia veneciana en Istria e na parte costeira de Croacia, en concreto en Labin foron case 400 anos de presencia italiana.
Tempo despois caeu nas garras da Italia fascista e non foi ate 1954 que pasou a ser parte da antiga Iugoslavia grazas en parte ao Mariscal Josip Broz "Tito". Actualmente forma parte da República de Croacia dende 1992.
O León de San Marco. Símbolo histórico da República de Venecia.
A influencia italiana en Labin é evidente, pero non é tan forte coma na parte oeste da península da Istria. Podemos ver esta herdanza cando paseamos polo pobo e apreciamos a arquitectura con clara influencia veneciana no estilo, desfrutamos a deliciosa gastronomía e tamén cando escoitamos a xente falar, xa que o dialecto de Labin está claramente influenciado polo italiano, que é lingua cooficial na rexión.
Agora Labin forma parte daa República Croata, pero xa fora Républica dúas veces durante a historia. A primeira foi parte do Imperio Romano como unha das súas republicas. A segunda foi curta, pero se cadra máis importante para os valores do pobo de Labin.
Bandeira oficial da República de Albona. ✊
Estou a falar da República de Albona (Labinska Republika), foi unha república independente proclamada polos "Rudari" (mineiros de carbón) do pobo durante unha folga mineira contra as forzas de ocupación da Italia fascistas na rexión da Istria.
É considerado como un dos primeiros movementos antifascistas da historia . Lamentablemente a vida da República de Albona foi curta, o nacemento foi no o 2 de marzo do 1921 e o fin foi no 8 de abril de 1921. Parece ser que Mussolini non gostou deste tipo de revolución e mandou acabar con isto, pero a xente de Labin aínda lembra esta revolución e este espirito de resistencia e forza mineira que está presente na memoria colectiva do pobo. KOVA JE NASA!
"KOVA JE NASA" (A MINA É NOSA)
Lema principal da revolución mineira de Labin.
Recomendo visitar o museio da cidade no centro histórico e falar coa amigable xente de Labin en calquera praza ou bar. "La Loggia", "Velo Café" ou "Napoli Pizzeria" na praza pincipal "Titov Trg" ou no downtown no "Rock Café", o mellor pub do pobo. Tamén quero destacar o bo nivel de inglés da xente de Labin e a facilidade que teñen para falar e relacionarse cos descoñecidos.
O día estaba a piques de rematar, pero recibimos unha invitación para unha cea fora, noutro pobo perto a Labin, Plomin. Nunca había oído falar deste sitio e non aparecía na miña guía de viaxe, pero chegamos e quedamos prendidos pola beleza do seu centro histórico e rúas pequenas con un ambente de pobo abandonado nunha paraxe soberbia.
O día acabou cunha magnífica cea con tódala xente da asociación e tivemos oportunidade de probar algunha das especialidades istrianas, pizza, pasta e bo viño. Tamén a exquisita aguardente dos Balcáns "Rakija", algo que tendes que probar se visitades esta zona do mundo.
Nunca vou a esquecer a miña chegada a Croacia e a Labin. Un conxunto de emocións positivas, moito por probar e unha benvida moi calurosa. Estaba en Croacia, había chegado aos Balcáns, a miña nova historia había comezado, pero isto foi só o comezo dunha nova aventura.
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