LET'S MEET MENTALITET

Why do people love Europe so much?

The idea to write about a country and it's mentality came about this week. Each country has its own mentality, which people either like or they don't! When you go traveling, how do you pick your destination? Why do you go?  Because you like visiting a new city, meeting new people, experiencing a new culture, relaxing and taking a break from the daily grind & work, or some other reason! Why do you like a country?  What makes it appeal to you more than another?

Everyone in this world is different; some live for their job & working 12h per day, some like winter sports, some like water and water activities like swimming, sailing & fishing, some like traveling for fun, or traveling for business....each of us is different!

But there is one thing that connects us all!  PASSION & EMOTION!  With these two words we are all connected! Some of us have a passion for sailing, some of us have a passion for working, some of us have a passion for sports, for winter, for summer, some of us have a passion for traveling, and some of us have a passion for partying!

Everyone has passion for something! But its emotions, that connects us all! Connecting us because each passion can be different, depending on each person's likes & dislikes, but the presence of an emotional experience is the same!

Europe has a past. A long & colourful past. A past that has created a certain culture. A culture that breeds passion and emotion. Passion and emotions that you can't see, but that you can feel! Who experiences emotions? People! People have emotions and feelings! People learn how to express their emotions & feelings! This is such an important part of life. In relationships between friends, in sports, a love for a city or place in the world! Why? Its simple, because the emotions are so authentic & passionate! 

That's why people love Europe so much. Because Europe has a past, a culture, a heart and a spirit! People visit Europe because they want to be a part of the buzz, to experience first-hand the passion & emotion that haunts every cafe, every street corner, every major attraction and always, every bus, train & railway station!

Split, the Croatian coastal city in Dalmatia (and a lot of people who have been there, even for only one day, will agree with me!) has a PAST. a CULTURE. a SPIRIT. and a HEART. Each corner of Split is full of locals & tourists all buzzing with passion, with anger, with excitement, with amusement, with joy. All of the feelings co-exist amongst and within each other, and just walking down the promenade or touring the market you can't help get swept up by the authenticity and passion of it all! 

Here is just one example of Split's mentality. The past & culture of this city! Maybe a lot of people will not understand the words in the song, but take a second to watch the video.  Just see the emotion in everyone's faces, the devotion, the love and the passion for Hajduk.

The song is about Hajduk, Split's soccer team, and in the end it is not important how this club will play in the future or how its playing now, it is more about the tradition.  A tradition started and passed on by our elders, our grandfathers, grandmothers, our fathers! And this devotion and tradition to Hajduk is not just about winning, it is more about people who we love and who we respect!

These moments & feelings are the reason we are happy! 

And this is one of the reasons why everybody loves Europe.  All of Europe has a spirit and a heart.  It varies drastically amongst countries, amongst cities, even between small towns. But it is a heart, and this heart is what people like, its authenticity, innocence and presence!

You can check out the song here.

In the video you might notice a donkey!  The donkey is the symbol of Dalmatia.  Dalmatians are famous for their stubbornness & their determination....what was a joke has become a standing symbol of the coastal region.  Sidenote: Donkey's also played an important role in transportation on the coast before cars were invented.  It is these traits that make the Dalmatians unique, entertaining and authentic.  They carve a path and follow it relentlessly, listening to nothing but their heart (this is a key to success). If you want be happy, tune out the noise around you and listen only to your heart but remember to always respect the others around you! :)   

  

By the way: Good luck to the Croatian soccer team at EURO 2012!!!!

xo