Minutia and details are for a different expression of the particulars of the trip you planned for us. They’re valuable, sure, but those kind of things are for my mom to examine.

That kind of stuff isn’t for me. I’m all about broad strokes. Collecting the small parts and joining them with poetry.

It wasn’t hard to do because Croatia and the people who live there made it pretty easy to feel romantic about and towards.

Never having been to Croatia before was daunting because there were high expectations and high stakes. Recognition of a fatherland is a very important part of what it is to be an American, and when that recognition turns to love it can be a valuable addition to the texture of who you are. Not only knowing where you come from, but the kind of people you’re descended from is a privilege, but a necessity.

I don’t think I would feel this way about Croatia if it wasn’t for all the work you did. It wasn’t the spectacular hotels that I’m going to remember, though they were almost universally lovely and accommodating. It wasn’t the exquisite food I’ll brag about for years. I’m going to remember the exceedingly wonderful drivers, guides, and servers who showed us their homeland with pride, precision, and intelligence I’ve never seen anywhere else. Neven, Predrag, Nenad, Philip, Andrea, Ajlin Bojo, Lea Niki, Marina, Mladin, and Lucianja are people I’ll never forget and, more importantly, see again (and I’m really shitty with names, just ask my mom).

Our guide in Korcula said, and this is a paraphrase, “I’m thankful because our ancestors left this place as a gift for us today,” as we stood in the shadow of that town’s lovey bell tower. I’ve read a hundred books about architecture, history, and world culture and hadn’t come to that resolution about our ancestors. Of course not every town is like Korcula, but it made me very emotional and made me think about what it is to be Croatian.

It’s never been easy living where great empires meet. Croatians did not have Croatia for a long, long time. They’ve lived in Rome, Austria, Yugoslavia, Venice, Italy, and a cacophony of other places over the course of history. 

They never stopped being Croatians. That’s ultimately what our ancestors left for us like the Korculans of old left for the folks who live there now.

Seeing the streets bustling with tourists, full restaurants, busy shops, and fruitful fields is an indication that the wait has been and will be worth it. Most people don’t know it yet, but Croatia is a place they’ll want to experience. If they get 1/4th the treatment we did they’ll want to go back immediately.

You didn’t plan a trip for us, you planned a pilgrimage. For that I thank you.

Ivan & Rubina Oremus – Wayne, IL
July 3, 2015