Sunday, January 17, 2010

Day 16 - Zagreb

We left at 10 am this morning. We had to pack everything up. We brought everything we wanted for the next 8 days with us, and the rest we had to pack up and put in one of three rooms that we've rented for the 8 days for storage. I managed to get everything in my backpack and a small string bag. I feel accomplished. Others are dragging along big suitcases and everything. And here I am with a backpack and small bag.

The bus ride was a little long, 4 hours. There was an accident along the way, completely blocking traffic. But everyone pulled over to the side to wait, leaving plenty of room for the tow trucks and ambulances. Very civilized.

We also had to go through the border crossing. First, we had to leave Slovenia, where Boris had to report some stuff to them, then we drove a hundred feet or so to the Croatian station, where a guard came through the bus to stamp visas. It was a different experience for most of us. For some people, this is their first trip out of the country, so they received their second stamp. For others, it was our first time crossing a border via road. I doubt many people have crossed into Mexico in a bus before.

Anyway, we arrived in Zagreb, where they spend Kuna instead of Euros. A kuna is a small weasel-like animal, which I assume derives from when furs were more important than paper. The exchange rate is about 4.5 kuna to a dollar. I was excited when they gave us 270 kuna last night, but its only around 35 dollars. So far, I've spent 90 of my kuna on dinner. We ate Chinese food. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't so great, either. Tomorrow lunch is pizza, and we have a group dinner tomorrow night in Osijek.

Unfortunately, it's Sunday, which means everything is closed, even in the capital city. We stopped in a souvenir shop, but I didn't really see anything worthwhile. Maybe there'll be something in Osijek or Split that I can buy. Split will probably be a better bet, since we'll be there on a Saturday (market day) morning and it's a tourist seaside town.

Aside from the language differences, and our inability to use the tram system, Zagreb doesn't really seem foreign. Maybe I'm used to the older building style now, but it is not as close as Piran, Venice, Paris or London. There are wider sidewalks and breathing room. Also, the elevator fits 4 people and 2 suitcases at a time, which is crazy! They're just a little smaller than the US. Must be a younger city. Or maybe it's just been rebuilt more recently.

We visited a cathedral briefly, but as its Sunday, there were actually people praying there, and confessing, and to prevent disrespect and awkwardness, we left fairly quickly.

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