Croatian president is coming to Motovun today. Hooray! To the best of my knowledge, this is the first such visit. A pity, too. I wish he would come more often. Once a week, at least. Perhaps he could move here, as well. Why? The town is glorious without cars, and there is no-one but the president who can sweep away this nuisance of our civilization.

Addendum I (September 26, 2003)

Having written this piece and circulated it to my friends as an electronic postcard, I was so pleased with my wit that I decided to send a similar letter to the Motovun Municipal Council. And this is what I did. The letter is in the fine tradition of humble proposals, and that is how it is entitled. It starts with my enthusiastic welcome of the president; proceeds to the idea of inviting him as often as possible to all kinds of gatherings, as well as the idea of offering him a house in Motovun; mentions that many people I have talked to agree with the idea wholeheartedly; and then concludes that the town is simply glorious without cars. Ah, if it could only be like that every day! The letter ended up in a box recently installed in the town loggia, intended for all complaints to and praises of our local administration. Anonymous letters are presumably acceptable, and maybe even encouraged, but I proudly signed my humble proposal.

Addendum II (September 29, 2003)

A well-informed and well-meaning person close to the municipal officials and administrators has warned me that such intellectual stunts as my letter would never work in Motovun. To begin with, their subtlety is lost on almost everyone. Moreover, letters like this one may only make my life difficult here. The car is too sacred to too many people in power, or close to power, and all my attempts to challenge these people will ultimately come to grief. While we were talking, the well-informed and well-meaning person kept repeating that all this is being said so as to make sure that I understand the consequences of my stunts. And it was all said with my own interests in mind.

Addendum III (December 19, 2015)

Pray, who was this well-informed and well-meaning person from the previous addendum? It was Mariano Maurović, with whom I had a close albeit somewhat guarded relationship since my arrival in Motovun. Unfortunately, he died only three years afterwards (“Our Own Historian,” June 25, 2006). I always hoped to establish a more cordial relationship with him because he knew a great deal about the hilltown’s history (“The Last Motovun Historian,” November 26, 2009). My own book on the subject is thus dedicated to him. Returning to my intellectual stunt, his warning was right on the money. My letter signaled the beginning of a fraught relationship with the then mayor and the municipal council as a whole. Live and learn.