All packed & ready to head off to stay with Teta Barica (dad's sister) and her family for a while. Before we move on we need to say a few goodbyes. Dad's younger sister (teta Jelka) & her family were finishing of their vine pruning - so we helped. A few drinks later we said our goodbyes for this trip & headed off back down the hill to have a final lunch with Biserka & Co. A few tears later we were on our way. We were greeted with heartfelt joy w...

No market photo - forgot to take the camera. Every Thursday there is a large market (Sijam) in Zagreb. This market is set in different outer suburbs on specific days of the week. Basically what it does is provide the locals with farm fresh produce ranging from in season fruit & vegetables through to home-made cheeses, yogurt, eggs, live chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, piglets and various pets. It also provides hardware & clothes, both everyday & up...

We went into Zagreb to meet Marija and her family. She is my cousin, dad's sister Barica's 3rd child and only daughter. Her husband Stjepan and children Marko & Martina were home and the initial meeting whilst warm felt a slight touch tense. The food and drink broke the ice and we quickly chatted as though we had known each other for years. The oldest child (Natalija) had walked to Marija Bistrica church the night before along with many others. This pilgrimag...

Today we had another day out with Ivan & Biserka. We went to the 'shrine' created to remember Matija Gubec. He was a peasant who created a rebellion in 1573 where the peasants across Croatia / Yugoslavia rose up against the ruling class of the times. 400 years later a statue was built in 1973 to commemorate his effort to improve the rights of the peasants. In the 9 day war there were 4 battles where the peasants used garden implements to fight against men on ...

With the 3rd & 4th generation off on their beach holiday, we headed off with Ivan & Biserka to swim in the thermal springs & do some sight-seeing for the day. The Varaždinske Toplice (thermal springs) were originally built by the Romans (the site has recently been excavated). Now the springs feed 5 different pools; 3 indoor & 2 outdoors that range in temperature, size & depth. Many Croatians use these poos for relaxation & others use the...