February in my town...by Nevenka Erceg

Imotski-Croatia

February is the shortest and definitely the most unpredictable month of the year. In Imotski, February has two different faces every other year. The first face of February is shown when Easter is in May and, to be honest, during that year February is just an average month of the year. There are more people in the streets because the weather is better and there are more sunny days than in January. People flock out and enjoy the sun in front of the cafes which are situated around the central square. Farmers prepare their fields for new crops and it is really beautiful to see open fires all across the valley which means that the land is ready for new vegetables and fruits of nature.
The second and more exciting face of February is shown when Easter is in April because, then, February belongs to carnival groups which actually receive the keys of the town from the mayor and they begin to rule the town. Carnival in Imotski brings out the best in people because that is their chance to be relaxed and live as they want to, basically, they become someone else. There are a lot of carnival groups and they all work as one to make all the citizens happier and show them some other worlds through their masques. The most important day of the carnival is Fat Tuesday, the day before the Ash Wednesday, when all the carnival groups meet in the town centre and they prepare for the great procession through the town. Procession is the most impressive when it goes through the oldest street in Imotski called Bazana passing near the old fortress Topana. In that moment there is such beautiful scenery - vivid masques and medieval buildings seen through the foggy February sun. The end of the procession is really impressive when carnival celebrants read the indictment to krnje, prince of the carnival, who is responsible for all the bad things that happened to the town and its people through the last year. In the end, krnje is burnt and its fire takes away all the sins and bad deeds from the town.
In short, February is really unpredictable; it can bring out the best in people or be as simple as any other month. However, February is truly appreciated in Imotski, especially because of its sunny days mixed with fresh waves of northern winds. February opens the door for spring and it really means a lot for farming which is widespread activity in Imotski. 

January in my town....by Petra Ćerluka

Imotski - Croatia

January is the first and most exciting month of the year. However, in Imotski, excitement begins as early as possible on 31^st December. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old as long as you are prepared to welcome the New Year somewhere in town. Imotski has a long tradition of organizing small, almost private, parties in cafes and restaurants. Every single person has already chosen his favourite place and they visit it every single year to welcome the days full of things that has never been. Traditionally, town and its citizens witness modest but beautiful fireworks at midnight. All other days of the month may be different, but the New Year’s Day is an inevitable spring of happiness when people cannot wait to wish each other all the best.January usually brings true winter because snow comes and goes so frequently in January that there is no need to take your gloves and scarf off. Imotski is surrounded by mountains and hills but the most impressive one is Biokovo Mountain which has its thick white snowy cover during the winter days and because of it Imotski is really cold in winter. Nevertheless, people got used to it and they try to enjoy whatever nature offers them, so it comes as no surprise to see children and their parents or grandparents playing and enjoying themselves while it snows.Although January may not be a month which invites people to enjoy and experience the nature on daily basis, it still offers a lot of excitement for inhabitants and visitors of Imotski. As it is well known, Imotski is very proud of its two lakes, Blue Lake and Red Lake, which can be very attractive in winter due to long periods of rain and snow. Their water levels sometimes rise so much that inside cliffs of the lake become little islands. What is more, according to the legend, fairies that live and dance at the bottom of the lake are so silent while they sleep waiting for the spring. So, younger people usually go for a walk to see and hear if the lake fairies still sleep while the older ones check up the water levels and forecast the arrival of spring.Thus, the beginning of January is very loud and exciting while the rest of the month is calm and quiet, town sleeps and dreams of sunnier and warmer days just as nature does. 

February 2015.

 21. School party

 22. Field view

 23. Footprint

 24. Going south

 25. Rear Light

 26. Cross country

27. Fallos

 20. Playground

19. Daily walk

Januar 2015

31. Village

30. Stairs to haeven

29. Winter day

28. Winter garden

27. Backyard

26. VW Beetle exibition

25. Devotion

24. Snow love

23. Night bridge

22. Sunrise



21. Horse Sunny

20. Sunflower

19. Panorama

18. Colors of the sky

17. One school day

16. Two lakes

 18. Walk the line

17. Night fall

16. Sunset

 15. Leafs

14. Let it be

13. Music

12. Flood

11. Train weather

10. Flowers

9. Bad weather

8. Parking lot

7. Night light

6. Street view

5. School yard

4. Square

3. Living by water

2. Heat

1. Snow

15. Winter tale

 

14. Sunny Day





13. Nature



12. Sunset





11. Fly high





10. Twilight





9. Road to wilderness





8. Friendship bracelet



7. Watefalls



6. Faith



5. Fog







 

4. Snow lake





3. Primary school





2. Ice table