Over the morning coffee at Klaudio’s I mention to all assembled that I am having repaired the collapsed wall under my garden. “Actually,” I turn to Emil Soldatić, who is one of the top men in our local government and who is sitting at a neighboring table, “the wall is communal property!” “Hey,” laughs Jozo Brandić, who is rebuilding the wall and who is sitting next to me, “I’ll come to Emil’s office for payment!” Emil guffaws and waves his hand at us: “Count yourselves lucky if the conservation people do not fine you for what you’re doing with our historical heritage!” He has a point, too. One can never tell what the conservation people will do in Motovun. Minus conservation, that is.