A week ago Glas Istre (The Voice of Istria) published an up-beat interview with the mayor of Motovun. The title blared that we will soon be blessed with a five-star hotel in what is now a decrepit nursing home, and what used to be barracks—first Austro-Hungarian, and then Italian. I immediately responded with an enthusiastic letter of support, which appeared in print only yesterday. I welcomed the mayor’s announcement, saying that such a hotel would mean that Motovun would finally be rid of continual troubles with electricity, water, sewerage, parking, cleaning of public spaces, maintenance and repair of public facilities, and so forth. I welcomed all these improvements, without which a five-star hotel would be unimaginable. As I was reading my letter on my computer screen this morning, there was a power shortage. At first I thought everything would be fine in a few minutes, as usual, but there is no sign of electricity several hours later. I just learned that the blackout will last through the early afternoon, as well as that it will be the same the next two days. Apparently, some electric cables somewhere are under repair. Three whole mornings without juice! Five stars, my ass.