History lesson number 42
So I told T I cannot believe I knew nothing of Croatia, or Eastern Europe for that matter – and she said her friend in Seattle told her what he had learned in school about Yugoslavia is that it is composed of two different ethnic groups – the Yugos and the Slavs.
That was more than I learned.
July 7th, 2008 at 4:00 am
I’m a N.O. native who now lives in Belgium. I started reading your blog over a year ago and really enjoy it. I lived in Osijek in the 90s. You and I are about the same age, and I am a bit surprised that you did not learn more about Eastern Europe when you were young. I am not really taken aback by your acknowledging that you didn’t learn about Eastern Europe until recently, but I knew several N.O. families who called themselves Yugoslavs when I was young. I don’t recall that my childhood teachers placed much emphasis on Eastern Europe; however, I learned about Tito and also about the Nazi influence in Croatia long before college. Anyway, here is a link re Croatians in Southeastern Louisiana that I think may be of interest to you
http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/main_misc_croatians_s_la.html
Thanks for your great writing about my beloved hometown!
July 8th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
hey, writing you from lastovo, but when we were eating oysters in ston, it came to mind that the people who own dragos and uglesich were both croatian families and yet, again, i did not get an eastern european education even though i thoroughly enjoyed their love of fresh seafood – i will look at your link when i am not on borrowed computer on a remote island – in other words when i am back in new orleans. right now back now back to the local rose brandy and the sea.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:54 am
Thank you for your reply. Your vacation sounds splendid. I am writing to you from Oberammergau. I’m reading the news online and just came across a NYT piece re Zadar. Check it out when you’re back in N.O.
After 2,000 years, a Croatian port town still seduces
http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/travel/06next.html?ref=travel
I must say that I am glad that I just ate breakfast; otherwise, I might be feeling sorry for myself that I can’t eat some of the delicious food at Drago’s or Uglesich’s anytime soon! I am so glad to learn that Uglesich’s reopened.
Have a great trip!
July 9th, 2008 at 4:58 am
I now think after looking up info online that Uglesich’s reopened only for a book signing. Is that correct?
July 9th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
as far as i know uglesich is not opened but what do i know – i am on a remote island and the phone has not been working for the last two days – oh well.