A few weeks ago I got an electronic-mail message from a foreign couple living not far from Motovun. “It fills us with indignation how people are treated by a bunch of idiots who do think they are able to play god because of a frightened community without any civil courage around,” they write in connection with local authorities that have been pushing them around. Today I got a message from another foreign couple living close to the town, as well. “We are among those who have started talking about selling and leaving—something that we would have thought unthinkable a couple of years ago,” they write in response to “Another Ghost Town” (November 28, 2008). As I report there, I hear such words from many foreigners living in or around Motovun. The best I can do under the circumstances is repeat over and over again that we have two things on our side: the world economic crisis, which will prevent idiotic development in these parts, and the eventual entry of Croatia into the European Union, when the local authorities will have to stop pushing foreigners around. But am I convinced in my own words? Not really, for I know exactly what I would say to a foreign couple considering buying a house in Istria: “Are you crazy?!”

Addendum (November 1, 2015)

This piece is right on the mark concerning foreigners, but it misses that ever-so-slight distinction between foreigners proper and Croatians returning to their country after many years abroad. For better or worse, they have been treated just like Germans, Britons, or Belgians who have chosen Croatia as their new home. Although the returning Croatians may be in a slightly better position with respect to the law, they fare even worse than other foreigners when it comes to the local population. And envy explains the difference quite well. All things considered, treating Croatians returning to their country not unlike foreigners explains why there are not all that many of them in this country. Quite of few of them have left after several disappointing years. And those that have remained are usually bitter about their experience in Croatia. Which is why I know exactly what I would say to a Croatian couple from abroad considering buying a house in Istria: “Are you crazy?”