I go crazy over handmade items, those things that take time to be learned, those requiring long and repetitive procedures, which are handed down from grandmothers to mothers and daughters; then, if these things are made by grannies dressed in black at the corners of the streets, well I really cant help.
So, I’ll tell you about my walk around the streets of Pag, the town within the homonymous island, well known for its architecture, its local cheese and its old lace, indeed. They have been recently declared Intangible Cultural heritage of Croatia by UNESCO.
These laces are crocheted by local old women with techniques used since the 15th century.Well, such grannies are quite like divas, they really couldnt wait for having pictures taken together with their works. And they also are a step ahead of the others, they love the idea of their works travelling around the world, unlike what happens at the fairs, where some exhibitors fear their products can be stolen.
My favorite one is the chubby one with two pairs of glasses, one above the other, who, speaking in Croatian (totally incomprehensible to me) was trying to explain me how she was able to create earrings in white and green cotton.
Some of these grannies also took advantage of the pictures taken by the tourists to force them buying at least one pair of their lace earrings. Anyway, it has been so romantic walking around this town where time seems to have stopped and to have no intention to go at the right speed.
