All access roads to medieval Motovun state in several languages that access is allowed only to residents. There are several ramps on the way, and they are all guarded by employees of a company that regulates parking in the hilltown on a contract with the municipality. Everyone I know is thus surprised to find eight Mercedes Benz vintage convertibles lined up in front of the church on the upper square. And they all have Munich license plates. How did they pass so many ramps? And how did they end up in a square where parking is strictly prohibited even to the inhabitants? “Motovun must have been sold to Germany,” I laugh. More likely, the Germans who own all these cars are behaving as though this is indeed the case. It would never cross their minds to do anything like this in Munich or its surroundings. For there would be a policeman collecting fines in no time. Come to think of it, why does Motovun not have a policeman to collect fines from the good Germans, or anyone else who breaks the municipal access and parking rules so brazenly? A good question, this. Praying for a policeman is the best we can do at this time.

Addendum I (May 31, 2014)

Five French motorcyclists parked their huge bikes in the middle of the lower square yesterday evening. What was worse, they came up Borgo, where the traffic goes in the opposite direction. I suggested to the mayor of Motovun shortly after moving here that a ramp should be put at the bottom of the street, but he chose to disregard my suggestion. The motorcyclists were staying in the bed and breakfast close to the lower square, and so they started taking their bags off their bikes. They jammed the square for at least a quarter of an hour before moving their bikes to the parking lot on Barbacan. And so I was praying for a policeman for the second time the same day. But in vain, as ever.

Addendum II (December 8, 2014)

Starting the next tourist season, there will be guards around Motovun at long last. This is what I have heard from several people in the know. Although they will not be policemen, they will have all the powers needed to keep the hilltown in order. And everyone is pleased about the upcoming change. Traffic and parking are among the greatest problems most inhabitants face, and especially during the tourist season, when thousands of visitors crowd the medieval streets and squares from dawn to tusk. Anyhow, praying for a policeman has paid off in the end!