Emigrants from Cres and Lošinj gathered in Martinščica to revive the stories of their ancestors, as well as the scents and tastes of their homeland.
A visit to the Andrija Linardić Heritage Museum and a lecture by the head of the Magriž Association, Captain Ivo Saganić, entitled How Our Ancestors Emigrated brought together emigrants from the island of Cres on August 8 in Martinščica. The event was organized by the Croatian Heritage Foundation – Rijeka Branch.
During their summer stay in the old country, members of the emigrant clubs Anchor Benevolent Society, IMAS and Society Chersina gathered, as well as friends whose forefathers emigrated from Cres and Lošinj. Each of them tells their own unique emigrant story, and all of them are connected by their love for their native island.
Participants also learned about the first distillery of immortelle, sage and laurel essential oils from 1908, which was run by father and son Linardić. They could see how island emigrants used to dress and admire the model of an old Lošinj sailboat, made by the emigrant and ship modeler Leonardo Maver. Zorica and Lucija gave a special personal touch to the gathering with their kroštule (sweet fried pastry) and fritule (fritters).
The head of the CHF Rijeka office, Renata Garbajs, also visited Stivan nearby, where emigrants gather on Sundays after Mass, under the leadership of Pero Vlakančić and, until recently, the late Ivan Toić.
Text and photo: CHF Rijeka
