September 7th, Zagreb, Croatia

WOW!
We left Venice last night at 9:20 pm for a night train to Zagreb, Croatia for arrival at 4:15am. It was very interesting.

We shared a seating compartment with a young woman named Jessica who was backpacking around Europe, Turkey, Slovania and Croatia. She was from Australia and her travel friend had to leave her for an awesome job opportunity in London. She had traveled through Italy by herself and was going to a youth hostel in Slovenia before traveling on to Croatia. As parents, Radioactive Rob, DNA Donna and I gave her our phone numbers as well as the phone number of our friend in Croatia... She assured us she would touch base with us and let us know her status on the rest of her journey...we look forward to hearing from her.

We did not secure a sleeping compartment as there was a communication issue at the train station so we followed the scenery in the dark through Slovenia without sleep and a Croatian gentleman twisting and turning in the seat next to me trying to get comfortable. At one point there was snow on the ground (just a dusting) as we headed through the mountains.

Upon arriving in Croatia, we had our passports checked on the train. It could have been 1945 as the light in our compartment did not work, it was very dark and we could not understand the Policia who were checking our documents in the dark by flashlight while speaking to each other in Croatian.

We were able to sleep for about an hour after we arrived at Dani's home. It was fabulous! We then got up and I put my "game face" on for an assembly at the American International School of Zagreb. It was a really good show with a wonderful group of students and staff. The school has signed on for After School Science Clubs to start ASAP so we begin our International leap into Croatia! How exciting!!!

We leave Croatia tomorrow evening where we plan on securing a sleeper car for our 9 hour journey to Verona, Italy. I have two meetings there Wednesday so we are really clocking some travel time on the trains, planes and automobiles. (about 9 hours on plane, 21 hours on train and several hours in various taxi's). We look forward to Verona as we will stay at our friend Giuliana's Bed and Breakfast. I will post pics and a link...it's a beautiful tobacco warehouse that was turned into a B&B. It is one of our favorite places.

I will try to post pics now...I need to become more computer savvy.
Jupiter Jen