Highlights E Europe Day 6

Day 6 – Tuesday, May 4, 2010 – Zagreb, City Tour Kumrovec (Marshall Tito’s Birthplace) and Farmhouse Lunch

After our wake up call at 6:30, then breakfast, we met our City Guide, Milovan who gave us a short history of Croatia and Zagreb on our drive to the Cathedral where we began our walk of the city.

Croatia was once part of the Austria-Hungarian Empire and one can see the influence in the architecture and the life style that is very Western European. Zagreb is an old medieval city that is over 900 years old, founded in 1094 and ruled as a Bishopric by the Catholic Church.

After devastations by fires and earthquakes, it was rebuilt into the capital and with 800,000 inhabitants; it is now one of the “Greener” cities in Europe. There are many parks, trees now in full bloom, and flowers beds everywhere.

We walked around the lower city retracing our path from our previous trip here. Then we climbed to the old city for a wonderful panoramic overlook from the top of the funicular station. We saw St. Mark’s Square and the beautiful colored roof tiles.

While we were listening to Milovan tell us about the government buildings, four black Mercedes pulled up with red & blue lights flashing to drop the Prime Minister, Jadranka Kosor off for work at 9:00.

A few more blocks down the street we saw a plaque commemorating Nikola Tesla, a Croatian who lived in this area of Zagreb, then moved to the USA to work with Edison. Later he moved to Colorado Springs to do more experiments with electricity.

We began our descent back down to the Lower City and made our way back to tour the neo-gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Kamlan met us and took us back to our hotel where we had 15 minutes to organize for our afternoon Optional Tour.

As we came down to the lobby we saw many dignitaries who were there for the Croatian Economic Conference. I asked one aid what was happening and he asked if I wanted to meet the Economic Minister.

I met and shook hands with Đuro Popijač; he was very friendly to an American tourist! A few minutes later the Prime Minister and her body guards arrived.

Cameramen and TV film crews crowded around the entrance where we were waiting for our Trafalgar coach. Although there were security guards everywhere, I managed to snap a close-up photo of her getting out of her car.

As soon as the security was lifted we were able to get back on the bus and leave for our afternoon excursion. Our drive took us to the typical Croatian village of Kumrovec, birthplace of the late President of Yugoslavia, Marshall Tito.

Milovan gave us a tour of his house, now a museum, which contains many original photos and documents from his years as the head of Yugoslavia. Tito is revered here in Croatia as a powerful but benevolent dictator who kept these Slavic Countries together as a unified nation.

Our next stop was lunch at a farm 30 minutes from of Kumrovec very near the Slovenian border. We had a welcome drink of two different kinds of brandy and corn bread.

The lunch was served family style, beginning with generous plates of cold meats, cheese, and more of the course cornmeal bread. Our entry was beef and duck served with cabbage salad, potatoes, and pasta, all home grown and slow cooked.

We sat with new friends from New Zealand and Australia, whose good humor never cease to amaze us! Wine was poured generously and by the time we left at 3:15 for our journey back to Zagreb, everyone was in a happy mood.

Kalman returned us safely to the hotel where we found a beautiful bowl of fruit waiting for us. With our heavy farm lunch; it was perfect for our evening meal.

Hotel: The Westin Zagreb (Buffet Breakfast)

A good read, as usual. Lovely to see a photo of Mum and Dad!

First close to the Russian president in Denmark and now the Croatian prime minister and economic minister. Are you starting a political career? I thought you are on vacation ;o)

Day 11: Mediterranean Navigation

Light House of Malaga

Overnight Ferry

Olive Oil Grinding Stones

Terra Cotta Oil Containers

Home Hosted Group

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Day 11 - Wednesday, March 12, 2025 – Visit Olive Oil Coop; Home Hosted Lunch; Salinas, Spain

After breakfast, Antonio, our local guide, met us for our day’s adventure. Our driver was Miguel, who navigated our full-size bus through the narrow streets of downtown Malaga....

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