Zagreb

We left Pula Sunday morning and arrived in Zagreb later that afternoon. We had tried to contact our new friend Ivanna, the art curator we met on the train on Friday, but for some reason her phone wasn’t working. She had invited us to stay with her when we came back to Zagreb and we were hoping to take her offer or at least hang out with her for the day. We didn’t actually get a hold of her until after we arrived at the place we booked in Zagreb at airbnb.com (which if you want a hostel alternative this is a great site).

We agreed to meet in main square after we got our next day’s train ticket. Along the way, we came across some beautiful monuments and fountains (taking pictures of course). When we got to the square, there was a local crafts market where I found some really beautiful pressed flower jewelry.  I bought a ring as a souvenir.

Our friend, Ivana

We found Ivanna and she gave us a tour around Zagreb showing us her favorite spots. Croatians are so warm and inviting. I have moments where I don't know how to respond because it's so unusual to me. 

The most exciting part for me was when we got to see the churches. Before coming to Europe, I had hoped that I would be able to experience local folk music and spontaneous music making. One moment where I experienced this was, on the way to Pula, the bus stopped at a gas station/restaurant rest stop. On the patio of the restaurant, there were lots of people playing music, singing, and dancing. I secretly hoped that we could have stayed and joined in, but unfortunately the bus was leaving again in 10 minutes. This is what I was hoping I’d come across in my travels. 

In Zagreb's St. Catherine’s Church, there was a folk music festival going on with a large choir in native Croatian dress singing religious folk music. It was so beautiful to listen to- if I wasn’t with other people I could have stayed all evening. I really hope that I get to experience more things like that.

St. Catherine's Church

Folk Music Festival Choir

I did have an interesting experience regarding the Croatian religious culture within the churches. I have wanted to be respectful of the fact that the churches we go in are places of worship. As a tourist, it’s easy to go in, snap a few pictures, and not really experience the place as it was intended: A place for humbling worship. I quickly realized, if I take pictures, I have to sit down, pray and worship or I miss the real experience of the church.

With that said, I walked into a church completely in awe of the unusual stained glass (it was about the seven days of creation, and the 4 elements earth, wind, fire, and water). An older woman came up to me and started scolding me in Croatian. I knew I was doing something wrong, but I had no idea what it was. Then she came up to me and lightly slapped my leg above my knee (I was wearing shorts). She then commenced to tell me in English that I should be ashamed of myself. It was quite an experience.

As we leave the church, Ivanna explains that it’s disrespectful for a woman to go into a church without covering her shoulders, arms, and legs. Whoops.

I’m just thankful that they allow tourists to come in to their place of worship at all. They could very well say no.

---------------------------------------

Well, this morning I got up and looked at my alarm and it said 7 am. I sat straight up, and woke Priscilla up saying we need to leave right now. Our train, and the only one to Graz for today, leaves at 7:25. My alarm, set for 6:15, didn't go off. With running, praying, riding the tram, and more praying and running we hopped on the train seconds before it left. We found our friends from AIMS in one of the cars and sat down sweating with heavy heaving. Thank you Jesus, we made it. Traveling en route to Pula I realized I packed way too much in my pack for this trip. But, running across Zagreb with my pack? I definitely packed too much. 

Mental Note No. 2: Pack for agility not obnoxiously over-preparedness.  

Zagreb in the evening