Ovaj vikend bila sam u Rijeci pa sam otišla i na jedan izlet do Labina. Put smo započeli prolaskom kroz Park prirode Učka. Park prirode Učka obuhvaća planinu Učka i dio područja planinskog vijenca Ćićarija. Učka je proglašena za park prirode zbog svoje specifične klime koja se razvila zbog njenog reljefa i blizine mora te zbog bogatih šuma i livada koje su staništa brojnim endemskim i zaštićenim biljnim i životinjskim vrstama.

I was in Rijeka this weekend so I went on a trip to Labin. We started the trip by going through Učka Nature Park. Učka Nature Park includes Učka mountain and part of the Ćićarija mountain range. Učka was declared a nature park because of its specific climate that developed due to its relief and proximity to the sea and the rich forests and meadows that are habitats of numerous endemic and protected plant and animal species.

Vozeći se kroz prekrasan krajolik Parka prirode Učka stigli smo do ulaza u grad Labin. Na samom ulazu u Labin nalazi se park skulptura Dubrova. U parku Dubrova, na površini od oko 40 hektara, nalazi se 80 kamenih skulptura, autorskih djela 90 kipara većinom iz Hrvatske, ali i iz inozemstva. Park skulptura Dubrova je dio Mediteranskog kiparskog simpozija koji se održava od 1969. godine. Baš kad smo mi bili tamo, u parku se održavao nekakav maraton ili nešto slično, uglavnom sve je bilo puno djece i mladih ljudi koji su trčali i park je bio ograđen trakama, tako da nisam previše fotkala, ali morala sam iskoristiti priliku barem da se popnem na neke od skulptura.

Driving through the beautiful landscape of Učka Nature Park, we reached Labin town entrance. Just before the entrance into the town, there is Dubrova Sculpture Park. In the park of Dubrova, on the surface of about 40 hectares, there are 80 stone sculptures, works of 90 sculptors from Croatia and from the rest of the world. Dubrova Sculpture Park is a part of the Mediterranean Sculpture Symposium, held since 1969. When we were at the park, some kind of a marathon or something was being held there. A lot of children and young people where there and the park was marked with the tapes so I took just a few photos, but I just had to take the opportunity to climb on some of the sculptures.

Zatim smo stigli u Labin. Labin je gradić u Istri, nastao na mjestu rimskog naselja Albona. Poznat je po svojim rudnicima ugljena, koji su bili glavni dio labinske industrije preko 400 godina, no rudnici danas više nisu u funkciji, a Labin se okrenuo razvijanju gospodarstva kroz mala i srednja poduzetništva. Labin se još naziva i „Gradom umjetnika“. Razlog tome je što u Labinu djeluje preko 30 akademskih umjetnika, a sam gradić je dom dugogodišnje kulturne manifestacije Labin Art Republika, projekta oživljavanja povijesne i kulturne baštine starogradske jezgre. Labin je pun umjetničkih galerija, a poznat je i po keramičarskoj tradiciji. S obzirom da smo mi bili u Labinu u subotu i to izvan sezone, većina galerija je bila zatvorena tako da nisam doživjela Labin u punom sjaju, ali nadam se da ću se vratiti opet kad sve galerije budu otvorene.

Čim smo stigli u Labin ja sam odmah morala isprobati neki kolač jer obožavam isprobavati slastice, pogotovo tradicionalne i domaće. U Velo kafeu, kafiću i restoranu u samom centru grada, naručila sam tortu sa svježim sirom i smokvama, po preporuci gospođe koja radi tamo. To je bio pun pogodak, torta je bila odlična! Nastavili smo obilazak po Labinu, a kasnije smo sjeli na ručak u pizzeriju Napoli.

After Dubrova Sculpture Park we came to Labin. Labin is a small town in Istria, built on the site of the Roman settlement of Albona. It is known for its coal mines, which have been a major part of Labin’s industry for over 400 years, but the mines are no longer in use, and Labin’s economy is now focused on developing small and medium-sized businesses. Labin is also called “The City of Artists”. The reason for this is that more than 30 academic artists work in Labin, and the town itself is the home of a long-standing cultural event, the Labin Art Republic, a project which aims to revive the historical and cultural heritage of the old town core. Labin is full of art galleries and is famous for its ceramic tradition. Since we were in Labin on Saturday and off season, most of the galleries were closed so I didn’t experience Labin in its full glory, but I hope I will return again when all the galleries are going to be open.

As soon as we arrived in Labin I had to try some cakes because I love trying desserts, especially traditional and homemade. At Velo kafe, a coffee shop and a restaurant in the center of Labin, I ordered a cake with fresh cheese and figs, as the lady who works there recommended me. That was a great choice, the cake was delicious! We continued our Labin tour and we went for lunch at the Napoli pizzeria.

Idući dan već sam išla za Zagreb, a s obzirom da je kolodvor u centru grada, iskoristila sam priliku da uhvatim koju fotku Međunarodnog karnevala u Rijeci. Maske su stvarno bile fantastične i iznenadilo me koliko su se ljudi zbilja potrudili oko maski. Baš sam primjetila da je nekim maskama posvećeno jako puno pažnje i pazilo se na svaki detalj. Atmosfera je bila vesela, šarena i zaigrana. Ljudi su mi sami iskakali pred objektiv i pozirali. Ovim putem posebno pozdravljam ljubaznog mladića koji me pitao gdje ću objaviti fotku. Evo, tu su fotke! Za više fotografija s Karnevala posjetite portal Kultivirajse gdje sam detaljnije pisala o Karnevalu.

I had to go to Zagreb the next day, and since the bus station is in the center of Rijeka, I took the opportunity to take some photos of the International Carnival in Rijeka. The masks at the Carnival were really fantastic and I was amazed at how people really made an effort to make such detailed masks, I really noticed some people put a lot of devotion to their masks. The atmosphere was cheerful, colorful and playful. People jumped in front of me and posed for the camera. By the way, I especially salute a kind young gent who asked me where will I post the photos. The photos are here! And if you want to see more photos from the Carnival, visit Kultivirajse news portal where I wrote more about the Carnival.

Pusa, Antonia
Kisses, Antonia