Home...sweet...home...

Made it home safe and sound...back with my babies big and small...love them all. The trip was long and a little stressful to say the least, but after being up and travelling for 24 hrs we were ready for bed. Up at 4 am and back to the grind. Now to go thru all the pictures and video and load it on a disc. All the presents handed out...kids happy, getting our share of hugs.

All in all, this trip was very educational on many levels. It's very sad to see the lack of progress in some of the war torn areas in the country, after 20+ years the devastation and damage is still visibly evident. Some family members still suffer the ptsd associated with what occurred to them specifically. Life is difficult there, unemployment is high and young people are looking for a better life...so many leave. The hope is that in July, when Croatia officially becomes part of the European Union, that the regulations involved with this changeover process, will in some way positively influence government And the economy, subsequently making life easier for the people of Croatia. It is definitely our hope that this will indeed improve the current situation and life will be easier for the people.

Having said that, Croatia is a very beautiful country, rich in culture, art, architecture and cuisine. Would recommend it as a holiday destination to anyone. May post more pictures in the next day or two, update the family tree, otherwise this chapter of tracing our roots is winding down...may forward comments from family about our trip that have been posted on Facebook. Ttfn;0)

Our last day in Croatia...Zagreb...

For not having any plans other than packing, our day came together nicely. We shopped for the odds and ends we had left to buy...went exploring in the areas we had yet to explore. Got some good exercise...5 Storey walk up and hiking up gorni grad. We went for supper at a really neat restaurant called Karaka Pirate and the inside looked like a pirate ship, the food was Mexican and absolutely fantastic, we toasted our last night with Pirate lady rum punch drinks and after dinner our waiter brought us an aperitif on the house, it was awesome. Bellies full, we headed off for a walk, visited the cathedral one last time an Tkalcevica street which is the most colorful street in town. After arriving back in at our aptmt we had a visitor...Olivers our cousin and her husband took us out for icecream....so yummy! Have ordered the cab for 5am...I'm off to bed for our last sleep...I'll see my babies tomorrow!!!!

Some video and entertainment...

Just packing up...

Did a little more shopping and packed our cases. Have been looking through photos and video taken during this trip and really wish I could post more video, but am having loading issues. So here are some more photos taken along the way...we are off for a walk.

Famous Croatian inventors...

Up bright and early this morning...

We got up 6amish and plan to finish up our shopping and catch a few sights. Weather is overcast with a chance of thunder showers. You see, we decided to send our good weather to wpg yesterday so it would be there when we returned. If it has not arrived yet it should shortly...one more sleep. Will update tonight...after packing...

More entertainment...

Last of the family visits...

Well we had the last of our scheduled family visits today with Nada, my grandfather's sister in Dubrova, a suburb of Zagreb. We took the tramway there. Looked at lots of old photos and heard some interesting stories, had a traditional croatian brunch.

 

On the way home we stopped at the dinamo Zagreb. Soccer stadium, very cool. Then went to maximir the Zagreb zoo.

We went out for dinner to our favorite restaurant...Dedin San...grandpa's dream. Food fantastic, atmosphere amazing. Then stopped at a pub patio and watched dinamo Zagreb play Rijeka and toasted Alex's birthday...happy birthday Alex!

 


We also took the vernikular up the hill to gorni grad and stopped at the museum of broken relationships...very interesting. Ttfn love my babies be home soon nite nite ;0)