"United Istrians of the World - ISTRIA 2004."

Program: meeting of Istrians emigrants in Istria

Meeting: friendly visit

Guests: Istrians emigrants from USA and Canada

Number of participants: 150-160 pax

Accommodation: Poreč (hotel Diamant, apartments)

Host: the Region of Istria, Istria County Tourist Association, towns and communes of the Region of Istria

Date: from 21th to 26 th of July 2004

Coordinators of the program: Manuela Hrvatin, Gordana Širol and Mario Jelčić (New York)

Program:

20th of July (Tuesday)

- arrival of participants

- check-in at info point in hotel Diamant

19:00 - 21:00 - Istrian dinner in hotel

21:00 - welcome of the manager and staff of the hotel (congress hall)

21st of July (Wednesday) - WELCOME DAY

07:00 - 09:00 - breakfast in hotel

09:30 - visit to the Istrian parliament in Poreč

10:00 - welcome and reception of the President of the region of Istria Mr. Ivan Jakovčić and the mayor of the City of Poreč Mr. Josip Maras

- welcome drink

- info meeting / organizers - guests

11:00 - visit to Euphrasius basilica

- welcome and reception of the bishop Msgr. Ivan Milovan

- classical concert in basilica

12:30 - 14:00 lunch in hotel

16:00 - departure for Rovinj

17:00 - welcome and reception of the mayor of the City of Rovinj Mr. Giovanni Sponza

- sight-seeing tour of the old part of town (guide)

17:30 - football match (Istria Club and Rovinj)

19:30 - dinner at the waterfront

- after dinner entertainment (Magnolia and Sergio Pavat)

22:00 - return to Poreč

22nd of July (Thursday) - WINE DAY

07:00 - 09:00 breakfast in hotel

09:30 - presentation of the first Croatian DVD magazine "Moja Istra"

12:00 - departure for Motovun

13:00 - sight-seeing of the place (guide)

14:30 - departure for Livade

- visit to the Zigante truffles firm (tasting of truffles and wine)

16:00 - departure for Barban

18:00 - 20:00 - "Trka na prstenac" - old knightly game

20:30 - dinner and cultural and entertainment program (presentation of Istrian folklore opus, animation games, Anelidi, Vesna Nežić Ružić, Sergio Pavat, Eleonora)

23:00 - return to Poreč

23rd of July (Friday) - AGRITOURISM DAY

07:00 - 09:00 - breakfast in hotel

9:30 - lecture: Possibilities of renovation of old houses and investments in tourism (Istria County Tourist Association and ID Riva Tours)

11:30 - lecture: alternative tourism (Davor Šišović)

12:30 - 14:00 - lunch in hotel

15:30 - departure for Savičenta

16:30 - exhibition of Istrian souvenirs

- folklore program

18:00 - departure for Paladnjaki (agritourism)

- sight-seeing of the farm (traditional cattle breeding, agriculture)

19:00 - Istrian dinner

20:30 - return to Poreč

21:30 - entertainment at swimming pool of the hotel

24th of July (Saturday) - GLAGOLITIC DAY

07:00 - 09:00 - breakfast in hotel

09:30 - departure for Buzet

10:00 - lecture: Croatian heritage foundation (Ana Bedrina)

10:30 - Fontana square

- welcome and reception of the mayor of the City of Buzet Mr. Josip Flego

- visit to the old town (stands, traditional music, town museum)

12:30 - visit to Istrian water supply or Buzet's brewery

14:00 - lunch (picnic)

15:00 - departure for Roč- Gutemberg printing-house (glagolitic script)

- presentation of the USA 2005 project (educative program for young people)

16:00 - departure for Hum - accordion performers (trieštine)

17:30 - return for Poreč

17:30 - football match (Istria Club and Jadran)

20:00 - dinner in Poreč in the restaurant "Da Pietro" (Magnolia)

25th of July (Sunday) - ISTRIAN DAY

07:00 - 09.00 - breakfast in hotel

11:00 - High mass in Euphrasius basilica

12:30 - 14:00 - lunch in hotel

15:00 - departure for Labin- meeting at the square in the old part of town

16:30 - welcome and reception of the mayor of the City of Labin Mr. Tulio Demetlika

- folklore program / brass band

- sight-seeing tour of the old part of town / museum (mine)

17:30 - football match (Istria Club and Rudar)

18:30 - departure for Kršan (agritourism "Stare staze")

19:30 - dinner and big fiesta (Istrian night) - Anelidi, Vesna Nežić Ružić, Eleonora, Alen Vitasović, Alen Lazarić, Magnolia, Lidija Percan, Bruno Krajcar, Vili Škuflić, Silvija Rejec

Host: Vesna Petrović - Foškera

24:00 - return to Poreč

26th July (Monday)

07:00 - 09:00 - breakfast in hotel

10:00 - check-out from hotel

- possibility of excursion to the National Park of Brijuni islands

USA 2005 PROJECT (young people from Buzet in coordination with organizers)

- education program for young people from emigration.

AIM: present and introduce Istria to children of Istrian emigrants, join them with young people from Istria

- this will be an introduction to future continuation of this program

MODELS: meetings, excursions, lectures and workshops

CONTENTS: geography, history, tradition, customs, culture, agriculture, tourism,

gastronomy, linguistics, sport, meeting with studentsÂ…