culture

Rijeka – European Capital of Culture 2020

Published on 30 Jan 20208 Feb 2021 by Diana's Escapes3 Comments

What an important year for my beloved hometown! In 2020, Rijeka shares the title of European Capital of Culture with Galway and is getting ready for its grand entrance onto the European cultural stage. And the symbolic grand opening of the programme is only a day away – on 1 February.

It is ridiculous how exciting it all is.

The city is finishing up with its makeover and sprucing up for its grand opening day which will mark the beginning of Rijeka 2020 programme. For the last year, some very important building projects have been under way, most prominently, the development of the new museum quarter in the ex-factory complex Rikard Benčić. Its historic building are being given a new life with relocation of a new Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (which was opened in 2017) and work is also in progress in relocating Rijeka’s City Museum, Library and Children’s House in the same complex and opening this year. A very controversial project of turning Tito’s ship Galeb into a floating museum is also one of the cornerstones of Rijeka 2020 project, and other building projects include development of Ri-Hub and renovation of Exportdrvo building. New infrastructure is maybe the most visible aspect of the project, and the physicality of new buildings and institutions which will remain for years to come might turn out to be the greatest legacy of Rijeka’s title, but the European Capital of Culture project is much more than just infrastructure and the number and scope of programmes, initiatives, exhibitions, interventions and events that Rijeka will offer in 2020 is just amazing.

And it all begins in only two days! The date 1 February 2020 will serve as a symbolic start of Rijeka 2020 programme and the opening day promises to be super eventful with all of its activities, concerts, performances, shows, tours and pop-up events fit for such a big day. It will be a day to remember and, personally, I am just so excited and already super proud of my hometown. Rijeka, forever so unique, so different, so full of attitude – so deserves to be in the European cultural spotlight this year. It deserves to tell its story of art, culture, history and life in its own way. It deserves to be heard of, visited and experienced. And more than anything else, its people deserve a year of cultural abundance, heightened spirit and celebration.

The overall effect, and worth, in a way, of the European Capital of Culture title will only be visible after the end of the project, but many things have already became apparent about Rijeka and its people, even in this preparatory period:

Rijeka is young and fresh

Rijeka strives on its young people (and those who feel young), fresh ideas and unburdened perception of the world and life. Many activities of Rijeka 2020 project were developed by young people, for the younger generation and for all those people who are, regardless of their age, ready to see the city, experience its culture and evaluate its history and traditions from a different perspective. Freshness and willingness to experiment are visible in many aspects of Rijeka 2020 project even now, before it all even officially started – in the visual design of the project, promo videos made in order to promote the project, choice of activities and people invited to participate in creation of the programme, interventions and provocative actions announced to take place in the city during this year. Some traditionalists among the public see such approach as a token of “lesser” culture and a way of useless spending, weighing culture only by a number of museums and grand exhibitions. I hope that the project, through its success, will make those people understand how important it is to challenge traditional notions of culture and art and, hopefully, make them reconsider their opinions.

Not all of us are as liberal and open-minded as we like to think

Open-mindedness is a trait that the people of Rijeka pride themselves most with. Unfortunately, a project of such great scope such as Rijeka 2020 might show that we are less liberal, accepting and open than we think. Ever since Rijeka got its ECOC title, there is a tiring amount of comments on social networks and on the streets and even vandalism performed by the narrow-minded, petty, angry people of our city. Those people are negative about everything: the city, its leaders, their decisions, the money being spent on culture, even the slightly progressive or controversial aspects of Rijeka 2020 programme… While I still believe such people are in the minority, I honestly hope that they will be able to see things from a different perspective, relax and spread less anger and hate. If not… well, then I hope that this year in Rijeka blows their mind and at least gives them something to be shocked about.

Rijeka still stands strong with her willingness to provoke and challenge

In direct opposition to the previous point, some of the activities and events that will take place as a part of Rijeka 2020 programme show that the force of provocation is strong in us. Rijeka is such a wonderfully rebelious town. Its people have that fight within them and this really is the only place in Croatia where some of the art installations and interventions planned as a part of the ECOC programme could ever happen. I can’t wait for the drama, Negative Nancies, watch and weep!

Rijeka’s neighborhoods have a strong sense of community and belonging

Rijeka is definitely different from the rest of Croatia, but preparatory activities for Rijeka 2020 showed that there are even smaller units of the city that foster a strong sense of individuality and community. It is great to see that Rijeka’s neighborhoods gathered and developed initiatives with the aim of improving the quality of life and through it, manifested how unique different parts of the town are. Maybe this will turn out to be the best heritage of Rijeka 2020 when all is said and done – people working with their neigbours and fostering the sense of belonging.

Whether you like cultural programmes and activities that await Rijeka this year or you think they are worthless and a wrong way to spend money, the wonderful shift already happened. For months now, people of our city discuss culture and Rijeka 2020 programmes in their everyday conversations, on buses, in shops, on social networks, in public and in private, and that is so important: we communicate, discuss, share opinions, accept other interpretations, change our mind. We are motivated to learn more, to give arguments, to try to see things from other perspectives. It helps us grow, evolve and get to know each other better. It is a wonderful thing to see and hear how culture has become a hot topic in Rijeka and how people openly state their opinions that were before kept private. Through culture, we learn so much about ourselves and each other, and I bet this year will be an educational one for Rijeka. My dear city, I am holding my fingers crossed for you and for us and am so looking forward to seeing what this year of culture will bring.

The opening day is just hours away – we will be there, rain or sun, and we will show everyone what we are made of. Let the show begin!

The magic of Alhambra in 25 images

Published on 11 May 201817 Sep 2021 by Diana's Escapes1 Comment

It has inspired novels and poems; it featured in movies, shows and even video games. Its fortress-like exterior elevated above Granada, with the backdrop of Sierra Nevada’s snowy hilltops, its rich decorations, splendid rooms and inner patios – these are all truly iconic images. Alhambra is a palace woven in myth, history, supreme artistic value and wealth, telling a story of another time and life. Continue reading “The magic of Alhambra in 25 images” →

Nine things I loved about you, Portugal

Published on 22 Nov 201711 Aug 2020 by Diana's Escapes2 Comments

Some four years ago, during a youth exchange that took place in my home town, I met Joana, a girl from Porto. In the evenings, when all activities were done and participants of the exchange relaxed and mingled on the terrace of the hostel they were staying in, Joana and I talked about our homes. She talked about Porto and Portugal, while I talked about Rijeka and Croatia. She talked with much love and appreciation, without sugarcoating, about things that defined Portugal – about the then-actual economic crisis and many problems the young people were facing, about the saudade, the language, the Douro, the specific atmosphere and “feel” of her home town Porto and the way of life of the Portuguese people. And as she was leaving for home, we made a deal that, now that she has seen my home, I would have to visit hers, one day.

This year, this deal was finally realized, as Portugal became the destination of our annual family trip. Unfortunatally, I didn’t get the chance to meet with Joana (I was with my family and on a tight schedule, she was working and quite busy), but I thought of her quite often as I was visiting places and experiencing things I remembered her talking about. It turned out that she prepared me well for Portugal – the things I imagined all those years ago as I was listening to her stories were pretty similar to the things I saw and experienced “in situ”, during our ten-day trip through northern and central parts of the country. And although her stories were colored with her love of her home, they were not really exaggerated, and the Portugal we visited was as beautiful and dreamy and real, all at the same time, as she had presented it.

During our ten days in Portugal, we only scraped the surface of the complex and rich county and got a tiny peek into the life of a place, but even that was enough to see, hear, taste and experience many things to love.

I loved the relaxed, simple life of the country, not polluted by mass tourism. After visiting so many European countries that live from tourism and completely subjugate themselves to the requirements of the visitors, this felt like a wonderful refreshment and a reminder that there still are authentic countries that are so much more than just touristic destinations.

I loved the people – simple, honest, modest people, going around their daily activities, minding their own business, living a simple life of work and play in the shadow of their great, at times tragic, history and rich heritage.

I loved the coast – the never-ending white, sandy beaches of the western Portuguese coast and the mighty Atlantic… The feeling I had at Cabo da Roca of being at the edge of the world.

I loved Pasteis de Nata, the sweet pastry that became an essential part of our Portuguese every day, small, incredibly tasty and very fulfilling.

I loved vinho verde, young wine from the northern parts of Portugal, clear, of beautiful color, with a touch of fizz, tasty, fragrant and mild.

I loved the Douro, the quiet meandering river responsible for so much of what makes Portugal special.

I loved Porto, a gritty, untidy, punk city that knows what it is, loves it and savors its quirkiness.

I loved Lisabon, the capital whose twisty narrow streets and hilly atmospheric neighborhoods trick you into believing that this is a small, crowded town, and not a wondrous, monumental capital.

I loved the weather, and the constant breeze smelling of salt and sea, never allowing you to forget that Portugal is the country by the sea, of the sea.

The list could go on, with all the things springing into my head now as images through a filter with washed-out, overexposed hues. Quite a remarkable country, warm and beautiful both inside and out. A wonderful place full of wonderful people. Joana, you were right! 🙂