I watered the plants by my front door just before leaving Motovun ahead of the film festival. I noticed that something was wrong with them as soon as I returned. There were fewer of them in the planter I had built with several large stones. At first I thought that someone had plucked a few to plant them somewhere else. Then I realized that it was most likely mischief by the festival crowds. It took me an entire day to figure out that one of the two pots was gone. In fact, about a half of plants by the front door had disappeared. I cannot imagine that someone has stolen the pot. More likely, it was tossed somewhere by someone who came to the festival. I may well discover the smashed pot down the street some day soon. Over the years, friends from the hilltown have told me about the damage to their plants during the great cultural event, but this is the first time I have actually experienced it. Anyhow, my response has surprised even myself: I will water the plants by the front door never again. Fuck Motovun.

Addendum (August 7, 2012)

Last night I learned from Zdravko and Miriam Košutić, my neighbors from across the street who stayed in Motovun during the film festival, that they had discovered one of the pots in the middle of the street not far from my house. The other one was nowhere to be seen at the time. Zdravko put the remaining pot in the middle of the stone planter that used to be occupied by two pots, which is why it took me a while to realize that only one of them was still there. At any rate, there can be no doubt any longer that the mystery has to do with the festival crowds. Film is the least of their preoccupations, of course.