Large Number of Croatians from the Diaspora at Thompson’s Concert
It is impossible to determine the exact number, but a significant portion of the half a million people at Marko Perković Thompson’s magnificent concert at the Zagreb Hippodrome came from abroad.
Several groups arrived from Australia, many came from the USA and Canada, and the largest portion came from European countries.
Numerous people who usually visit Croatia once a year specifically timed their arrival so they could attend Thompson’s concert.
Fans Travel from Across the Globe
Journalists from Croatian media spoke with some of them and recorded fascinating stories.
“I live in New York, but every summer I come to Croatia to visit my grandparents.
This year, I made sure to come when Thompson’s concert was on,” said 27-year-old Paula, who described the event as a dream come true because she has been listening to Thompson her whole life.
She shared how her father would constantly buy Thompson’s CDs and they would listen to them together while driving, so today she knows all his songs by heart.
With pride, she said that as a Croatian, this is her second home and she will always return to Croatia.
Embracing Heritage and Music
Accompanying her was Dillon, who was born in North Carolina and now also lives in New York.
He proudly told the journalists that he had recently acquired Croatian citizenship through his Croatian ancestors.
He proudly mentioned that he was also in Zagreb in 2018 when Croatia celebrated the silver medal at the World Cup in Russia.
He, too, visits Croatia every summer and changed his plans to be present at Thompson’s concert.
“I love visiting Croatia, I have relatives here. Croatia is beautiful, and it’s so lovely to leave New York and enjoy the stunning Croatian beaches and nature,” Dillon shared enthusiastically.
A Family’s Determination to Attend
Journalists also met a Croatian family from Switzerland.
Part of the group travelled by car for 12 hours, while others arrived by plane.
The evening before the concert, they spent time in the centre of Zagreb at Cvjetni Trg, which was packed, singing and celebrating until dawn.
The day after the concert, on Sunday, they said they would be heading back home, as Monday is a workday.
“We’re aware that this is something that will happen only once in our lifetime, and there was never any question of whether we would come or not,” they said.
An Act of Generosity and Unity
One returnee from abroad did something that pleasantly surprised many.
In his Zagreb home, he decided to host around a hundred people from abroad for free who came for the concert.
“There will be around 100 people at my place over the next two or three days, free of charge. They’re coming from Austria, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Japan, the United States… I don’t want anything, just to enjoy this historic spectacle together,” said Bare Vardić, who is originally from Travnik in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He later moved first to Croatia, then to Germany. Now, he has returned to Croatia and lives between Zagreb and Rosenheim.
He explained that this is an opportunity for him to feel part of a community.
“This concert is not just music, but unity. I’m glad I can be part of it,” said Vardić, who works as a screenwriter and producer.
It’s hard to find a more fitting message to end this story with: Croatian unity.
