Zagreb to Split

This morning as we were still gettin

g our jet lagged body clocks re-adjusted and after what seemed like a sleepless night, we had coffee with creame. It was espresso with sweetened whipped cream on top and it was just what we all needed. Thanks go to L & R for going out and bringing it back for Marilyn and me. I made an exception to my no coffee regimine and was glad I did.

After that delicious treat it was time to get ready to head to the train station. The owner of the apartment, Eliana, came by to pick up the keys and kindly called us a cab because we just couldn't fathom walking to the train station toting all our luggage. Robert went with the luggage in the cab and M, L, and D made the 10 minute walk minus the bags. Once at the train station, we grabbed a sandwich to take with us on the train as it is a 6.5 hour ride to the southern coastal town of Split.

The train was all non-smoking which was a big relief. The seats were comfortable and ours faced each other with a table in the middle. There were many young people on board, we think heading home from school to the various towns along the way. The train quickly filled up and we were glad to have prepurchased our tickets the day we arrived in Zagreb.

The topography varied greatly along the way. Parts were flat with mountains in the distance that we eventually crossed, mostly farmland with the soil freshly plowed in garden preparations. Mostly deciduous trees but in some areas there were more evergreens. Nearly all the houses have red tiled roofs. We crossed over or went around two mountain ranges before reaching the Adriatic Sea. The landscape was speckled all over with granite rocks throughout, which were collected to make stone structures and walls. As we got further south, we kept hoping we'd see our first Adriatic sunset but didn't make it in time tonight.

Upon arrival in Split our apartment host picked us up and delivered us to our lodging. A nice place within 5-10 min walk of the waterfront where we eventually had dinner. By the time we got back to our rooms it was close to midnight. We are ready to "get horizontal" and see the sights in Split with fresh eyes in the morning.

Our internet connection will be spotty after we set sail tomorrow, and most likely only available on nights when we pull into a marina with services every 3 or 4 days. We will see. More to come!

Thursday in Zagreb

Zagreb is probably typical European and most assuredly eastern European. People are friendly; few speak English so far but somehow we do fine. Prices are reasonable everything is paid in the Kuna. MLDR ate tonight at Vinodol restaurant and it was fabulous. Wine was Istra Cabernet Sauvignon and it was perfect with the Wild Asparagus and Greens soup and Gnocchi with Gorgonzola. While bread was not on a par with everything else, the olive oil and balsamic vinegar more than made up for it. We all had something like gelato for desert and it was the perfect finish.

R stayed at base camp still preparing for shoving off on Saturday. MLD went touring and we'll leave D to tell about that. 2130 time for R to get horizontal.

Addendum: Typing on a Croatian keyboard and the keys are laid out differently as well as contain interesting characters like č ć č0ž ß which makes writing 3 strokes back up two to correct! :-)

As R said above, Larry (L), Marilyn (M) and I (Donna or D) went out this morning for about 3 hours and we walked all over. The main square is where all the trams converge and then head out to different parts of the city. Where we went did not require taking a tram, but maybe if we knew better, we could have saved some walking. As it was, the weather is warm and it was a beautiful day, so walking was just fine.

We first saw Zagreb Cathedral, which is very ornate in neo-gothic style. There were several tours going through but none in English, so we were unable to listen in and understand, but most areas of the cathedral were accessible and I took quite a few pictures. There was a glass tomb with what looked like a bishop or some important person lying in it. Working around the glass tomb was a nun who was arranging flowers and greenery around the outside.

From there we walked to the venicular, a counterweight tram that takes passengers up to the 'old' part of the citz. As it was, it was closed for rennovation and so we walked up the several flights of stairs to get to the top. The old city used to have gates that closed every evening. To warn residents that they needed to get back, a canon was fired from the lookout tower. So, we found a sidewalk cafe to get a beverage and wait for the canon to fire - which it does each day at noon. Even though we were expecting it, it still made M and me jump! It was really loud!

Ended up coming back to the apartment as we are still feeling a bit jet lagged and needed to take a nap. The apartment is clean, basic, with comfortable beds and a computer with internet so no complaints.

Tomorrow we train from Zagreb to Split in the afternoon, getting into Split at 8PM. Then Saturday we pick up our boat! The weather and winds look to be perfect, so stay tuned.

SeaTac to Frankfurt, Germany

Seattle, Washington to Frankfurt, Germany:

Left SeaTac on-time (1340) flew north toward Kelowna, WA and Calgary, Canada. Estimated flight-time into Frankfurt is 9 hrs about 0700 local time.

1520 PDT 35000 ft; ground speed: 622 mph 7.5 hr to dest. Halfway between Saskatton and Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg on a course of ENE.

At 1545 closing on eastern Hudson Bay at 575 mph. It's 0045 in Frankfurt.

1707 PDT awakened from turbulence. Directly north of Montreal near Hudson Strait headed toward Godthab and Ungava Bay. It's getting dark.

1830 over southern tip of Greenland and beginning to finally turn south in the Great Circle route. 650 mph and 38k feet looks like we're headed right at Dublin. Time to Frankfurt 4:19.

2015 looks about half way between Greenland and Frankfurt. 863 kph, 1250 mi and 2:30 hrs to go.

2215 PDT / 0715 local time Wed over Rhine at 39000 ft. 322 km to Frankfurt was a nice flight. Not perfect. Got little sleep last night or night before. Food was great. Service was perfect. More professional than seen in a long time. Touch down 0745 temperature 7 deg C and cloudy.

We're in Frankfurt 2 hrs then off to Zagreb 1.5 hr flight.

FRANKFURT:

Robert slept about an hour on a few seats in Frankfurt Airport waiting for the delayed flight to Zagreb, Croatia. We will still have to make it to Split, Croatia to pickup our catamaran "Danina" on Saturday.

Well, the flight to Zagreb was delayed do to weather in Zagreb. Somehow I think weather is going to be the operative word on this trip.

Frankfurt, Germany to Zagreb, Croatia:
Short and sweet trip with just more of the impeccable European service. Flight over the Alps was breathtaking.

WE MADE IT. ALL INTACT except for Robert's suitcase alittle smashed.

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Almost there...

We made it to Frankfurt! The flight was excellent with less than an hour of turbulence over Hudson Bay and then again a little later. Gotta run. Our flight info is being announced and this internet connection is a pay by the minute in the airport. Next stop, Zagreb!

Departure day!

Well, we survived the packing stage and initial departure. Got thru PDX check in and security with no issues, even tho we were concerned that we would be

over weight. But, I should back up to Saturday when we were frantically trying to determine if two skipper licences were required to charter our boat! Thankfully, that stipulation was only if we were planning to sail to Montenegro (which we are not.)

The United Express shuttle to Seattle was a two propeller commuter plane. It's been a long time since I flew in one of those!

This is the first time I've tried posting to the blog using my phone, so we will see how it goes. I have a couple of pics too if i can figure out how to upload them.

More when we land in Zagreb. Stay tuned!