Two pages of today’s Glas Istre (The Voice of Istria) have been dedicated to the gala opening of a fabulous sports facility somewhere on the peninsula. The building itself is hailed as the pride of contemporary Croatian architecture, which, as everyone knows, is on the ascendance everywhere around the world. But the main photograph of the event is staggering indeed. Covering two pages, it was taken on the wide ceremonial steps leading up to the architectural wonder. In the middle, the governor stands together with one of the most important members of the prime minister’s cabinet. Tall and proud, they are a joy to behold. To their right, a large choir dressed in black and red is singing. No such event in Istria can go by without a song. To their left, there stands a flock of bishops. Dressed in black and red, as well, there must be at least a dozen of them. Feeling proud to be Istrian, this morning I stared at this photograph for a long time. Gosh, if only I could have attended this historic gala opening in person!