It's soooooo Beautiful !!!!!
Lynda Frey, High River, USA
For the title we have to thank Ms. Linda Frey. It was said on the turn of the 15 km race of the Stonmarathon 2011. Like in a fairytale, bewitched, she forgot about the race and walked, gazing around, instead of running. Although not like fairytale, in fairytales evil witches bewitch for some sinister plot. On Stonmarathon you are bewitched by an ancient good spirit. This spirit was named, couple of years ago, the spirit of Mediterranean as it once was. It is a spirit of times that we would like to call upon, since it is the most valuable thing that we have, but somehow we are not able to do it all of the times and everywhere.
I have been introduced personally to the spirit back in 2008 on the first Stonmarathon and it immediately bewitched me. I see it since than every time, even before I turn on the Pelješac road and we salute each other with respect. It greets me again from the Stoviš tower, as soon as I get out of the car, it waves and calls. I find it sitting in Kantun. Lurking form different smiles, open, pranky, friendly, perky. Than when I finally thread the marathon path to the wall, there on the exit form Mali Ston, with first steps uphill towards the wall I see it calling me to brag about it's rebuilt. It is refurbished to it's youth, when it was young and threaded by many; builders, soldiers. Together with them it was protecting the salt mines, the biggest gift that God gave to the people of Ston. As it is telling me this, we are already off the wall passing the path towards Broce. It is bragging about the new road towards Marčuleta, Pržina and Kobaš, and it is telling me of the life in times when the only way to get there was by the sea. One moment it is with me, than it rushes and disappears by the sea offing towards Mljet, than it hides in the forest, behind the curve, waves from the top of surrounding hills. It tries to hide in the sea, but it is so clear and I find it easily every time. The further we go it is more playfull, friskyer, younger, crazyer. We are already returning, passing the salt mines, than Hodilje, Luka, at Duba we turn, a little bit more and we are in Ston. We great each other politely, I rest and the tireless spirit of Mediterranean as it once was leaves to bewitch someone else. This year Linda form US, last year Oscar from Mexico, the year before Željko from Split. Maybe it's your turn next year?
Želimir
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