CATALINA MERKVA ... (Part One)
No flight may souls may sail out of memory ...
Today ... a part of the experience of Catalina Merkva, a resident of Santo Domingo. Immigrants born on July 19, 1919 in Yugoslavia and, since childhood, a resident of this town. A history of agreements and disagreements, frustrations and love, which deserves to be told to understand and learn ...
His family consisted of his parents Stephen and Catherine, and her younger sister Teresa. Catalina is 88 years and describes her life with enthusiasm, as if reliving every moment ... stops at times delving into his memory ...
tells us that it was in 1930 in his home in Yugoslavia, and every morning when I wake up renewed hope receiving the call from his father where they were told to travel to meet him. Kept in mind the memory of your words before you go: "I lived a war, I do not want to happen again ..."
had gone almost three years to Uruguay, with a group of acquaintances, hoping for a peaceful future. News sent periodically, in his letters telling them that the greatest difficulty was the language, and had learned that in a neighboring country, Argentina, the problem is reduced because there were large numbers of immigrants, then would try their luck in this "great land" .
happening in November when they received a letter that would mark his future. Don Esteban already had a steady job in the province of Santa Fe, Cologne Cavour, and had gotten home in a small village called Santo Domingo.
With uncertainty, and with the pain of leaving his homeland, his family, his dreams ... the mother was ready to sell you need to travel expenses, packed kitchen utensils considered important, and her clothing and their daughters. He retained his house, hoping to return someday, and with the forces that inspired her love for her husband, started the game. Catalina
wistfully recalls that when he took leave of his grandfather heard him say that never again would see, she consoled him answer soon return.
Without another thought went to take the medium which would move to Bremen where the boat would rise to Madrid to reach South America. Says that the train was going lazy, slow ... crossed Zagreb, Bonn, Hamburg and Bremen finally reached where European immigrants were concentrated ready to undertake their adventure.
waited several days until all the passengers arrived. Meanwhile, enjoyed the gorgeous landscape that offered the port full of passengers eager future.
sailed from Bremen, housed in Madrid that the shelters during the twenty-seven-day cruise. Catalina compares that boat with a small town. "Because it had everything: cinema, doctors, nurses, cops, nuns, .... "
has to spend much time on the terrace feeding the seagulls and watching the scenery on the horizon, waves, sky, ... until no land in sight of landscapes, but only seawater. That happened almost interminable ten days, accompanied by the infinite intensity of the blue sea.
The crew of Madrid trod ground after many days in a Brazilian city ... They enjoyed for several hours, the walk through the streets filled with flowers.
continued to travel and at dawn on January 10, 1931, the Port of Buenos Aires received Merkva family and other crew members. They descended the steps that took them to the mainland, happy and grateful to have arrived safely at their destination: ARGENTINA.
(Continued on next post)
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