Sunday, December 12, 2010, to Zagreb

Today we left the boat early and traveled by bus for many hours to Zagreb. We fly out of Zagreb early on Monday morning. Our trip back in the bus was through the mountains and tunnels with several stops. It has snowed here overnight also, and it's cold enough for it to stay. I looked for some souvenirs on this trip back, but wasn't lucky. Even the small shops in Croatia are decorated for Xmas. I asked at one shop for the tiny reed or grass woven ornaments I saw in the beginning of our trip, but with no luck. they were really unique. Being only one to two inches tall they were woven of grass or reeds into angels, bells and Xmas shapes and decorated with a tiny red ribbon. they would have been perfect to carry home as they weighed almost nothing.
Once we arrived in Zagreb we were able to go on a tour of the town around our hotel. The first day here we arrived so late that we couldn't do it. They have a Christmas Market downtown and it is nice and chilly outside. It had snowed overnight so it is laying on the cars, houses and grass. It is like a festival downtown with lots of people of all ages. Outside of the Roman Catholic church was a live display of the nativity scene. They had goats and one was eating the thatch on top of the hut! There were sheep and donkeys too. it was called Bethlehem. All around the church were small shops so I was able to do some souvenir shopping. I bought a mug with a map of Croatia on the outside with the towns listed that we visited. In the Xmas Market I was able to buy the gingerbread baked and painted ornaments for which Zagreb is known. I also bought an unbreakable red Xmas ball with Croatia and its symbol on it. The man added our name and the year also for us. At first he didn't understand me because I can't speak Croatian, but another local man shopping alongside of us interpreted for us.
We stayed down at the market till it was dark. They had an ice skating rink set up and the line was extremely long to get in. daddy took some pictures of it. We are at the end of the camera's battery because Daddy forgot to bring the battery charger and I dropped my camera and messed up the lens. I really liked my camera because it had a good zoom. We stopped inside a huge tent set up with all kinds of stalls selling food. the hit dog stand was unique. They served beer along with the dog, but their rolls have no slit for the dog to fit into. Instead they have a contraption that is a heated cone sticking up and they slip the roll onto this cone to toast it. Then they slip the hot dog into the slot the cone made. It was really neat! We have never seen anything like it!
We went back to the hotel for our Farewell Drink which was red and white wine and orange juice. The 2 guides: Darko and Matt gave each couple a gingerbread ornament just like the set I bought in the Xmas Market. Darko was buying them as we were buying ours and I didn't even realize it. Then Bruce and Cynthia walked with Daddy and I to eat dinner at a restaurant called Hansel and Gretel. It is amazing that so many families are outside this late at night with young children and it is school tomorrow. It is really cold outside, but the locals are used to it. A lot of the people in our group are just dressed in layers with no winter coat. I'm glad I have my coat, scarf and gloves!