Croatia 11 - 13.08.2007

The next day we headed out to one of the most famous churches in Croatia. Around the grounds of the Church there is an external theatre for larger gatherings, a Gold statue of Mary, and the hill adjacent contains a recreation of Christ’s time up to and during the crucifixion.

After paying our respects, we had lunch at a local restaurant and sampled some more of the local foods.

Nada and Kathy in front of Church

Typical selection of local food!

History of the Church

Statue of Mary holding baby Jesus

Following lunch we headed out into the countryside to see Slavko’s brother and his family who were in the process of fixing the roof. Tools were downed and we sat inside drinking the local firewater, and enjoying more homemade meats, cheeses, etc.

We bid them farewell for an evening of rest back in Zagreb, prior to a visit to the city centre the next day.

Catching up with Slav’s brother

The next day we caught the tram into the centre of Zagreb to see the Old City.

Catching the tram in Zagreb city centre

Zagreb Old City

Zagreb Cathedral

Zagreb Cathedral

Note the tiled roof!

View from the top of the Cable Car

We visited many of the famous buildings in the city, including the Cathedral, another church with the national flag in tiles on the roof! We took a cable car down from the old city with overseeing views of Zagreb, and then finished with a walk through the parks and botanic gardens within the city.

The park areas of the city are really beautiful and some of the buildings and cobbled streets are timeless.

On Sunday a big family get-together was organized, and much in the same feel as Christmas day, we all sat down and enjoyed a great meal, with as much food and drink as one would ever need. Prior to the meal we drove out to a local Pub and ordered some Pork off the Spit. These cookers are set back just off the road so when driving by you can clearly see the meat cooking away… yum!

This is the way to cook pork!!!

After a late night playing darts with the men, I finally made it to bed. The next day we bid farewell to Nada’s family, and drove to Ljubljana Airport where Slav and Kathy dropped us off for our return flight to London.

Croatia 08 - 10.08.2007

After meeting up with Slavko and Kathy at Munich Airport, we picked up the hire car and proceeded to drive all day to get to Croatia. We traveled on the newly constructed motorways, and I did most of the driving – on the wrong side of the road! We passed through Austria and Slovenia on the way with passport checks mandatory when entering and leaving each country. Some more stamps in our passports then we were on our way!

It was getting dark as we got to Croatia, and so we decided to stay with Kathy’s sister the first night. The next day we walked around where Kathy grew up and even saw the cellar of her old home where she grew up. The cellar is all that remains now.

Kathy’s home as a child – the Cellar is all that remains

Nada’s second cousin Martia

Pumpkins ahoy!

Spring water from the hills

After seeing some of the beautiful country Croatia has to offer, we headed in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia to stay with Kathy’s other sister, which is where we were based for the next few days.

Croatia (via Munich) 07.08.2007

After saying goodbye to all the great people we have met and worked with in Bristol, we grabbed a hire car and left Bristol with just a suitcase and small backpack each, prepared (we hoped!) for the next 7 weeks of grueling travel…

We drove to Stansted airport, left the hire car and boarded a flight to Munich, Germany. We are still on our way to Croatia, however we are meeting Nada’s parents in Munich and then driving to Croatia. Nada’s father, Slavko, booked a hire car from Munich as it was far cheaper and easier than getting a car in Croatia.

Acres of Corn

Upon arriving in Munich we took the train into the city centre, on the way passing endless acres of corn. Arriving at the hotel we had one night to see as much of Munich as possible before meeting Slavko and Cathy at the airport the next morning (early flight). Nada immediately found a Munich Beer Sights tour so I said lets go do it now! Five minutes after arriving at the hotel we were on our way to the tour start point.

Beer museum display items

During the tour we sample many beers whilst also walking/subwaying around Munich to places such as the beer museum, we had a traditional meal with Oompa bans etc, and we finished off at the Hofbrauhaus House, the traditional beer hall where Hitler once spoke at. Now you can have a beer there, but they only come in 1 Litre Steins – hurrah!!!

Oompa Bands

1 Litre Steins - Prost! (German for Cheers!)

Overall it was a great tour and a top way to get a brief introduction to Munich – apart from the rain which was quite heavy all night. The beer made up for that though!

Farewell to Bristol and England 06.08.2007

After a busy year of working and traveling through England and Europe, we made the decision to finish up in Bristol and make our way back to Australia. We did have a little detour planned on the way… via Croatia to see Nada’s extended family, then western Europe for 28 days, then Scotland, then Egypt for 8 days! We should be home in 7 weeks or so…

Just before we left, Ed and Zoe had us over for a traditional English Roast. Complete with Yorkshire Puddings and all. Fantastic meal and a great evening, even though I had a fair bit of red wine!

Ed and his 'soon to be world famous' Yorkshire Puddings!

We of course had to clean our apartment from head to toe before leaving and also ship back items we had collected over the past year.

After getting the apartment ready to hand the keys back, we headed out for one last walk around Queens Square to reminisce on the great times we had whilst overseas, in particularly in Bristol. Of all the places in the UK, I think we chose well picking Bristol. Great people, great Bristolian accents, Great Ciders, Close to Cornwall, has its own airport, and just so much more relaxed and quieter than London!

Queens Square

More Queens Square

Overlooking the Bristol floating harbour

How clean does the apartment look now!

Goodbye Apartment 212…

Paul and Diana visiting Bristol 28.07.2007

Paul and Diana have recently moved from Adelaide to London to work and travel, and since we only have 2 weeks until we head back home to Australia via Europe, this was the only time we could show them all that Bristol has to offer.

This weekend was also the Bristol Harbour Festival, so there were street markets, food stalls, concerts and rides all over the city centre, and people everywhere!

A lot of people arrive for the Festival by boat and the floating harbour is also full of boats over this weekend.

After their bus eventually made it to Bristol after having a flat battery (and a backed up stinky toilet), we showed Paul and Diana our apartment, then we headed off to Queens square to see the markets.

We spent the afternoon on Corn Street enjoying some beers and catching up on all our past experiences in the year so far.

We headed back to let them check into the hotel then we headed straight for the Clifton Suspension Bridge by taxi.

Boats everywhere


Floating Harbour


The 'beach' on the harbour - made with imported sand...


Queens Square markets


Brass Band playing at the Cider Boat

Clifton Suspension Bridge

(Thanks for the photo Phil)

Our previous post on the suspension bridge covers the history of this landmark structure in Bristol. In the whole year we have been in Bristol, this is the first time we have actually walked across the bridge.

The sheer height of the bridge over the water was enough to put Diana off, but Paul and I walked over feeling the bridge move up and down when a car went past!

After a few photos, the rain became heavier so we headed to the Coronation Tap (Corrie Tap to the locals) who are famous for their Cider, in particular their Exhibition Cider (8.4% - only served in half pints!).

Paul and Diana

Clifton College
After a Cider, we then towards Whiteladies Road and went via Clifton College. The College was used during World War II as a training facility, but more interestingly is that the cricket ground (where I have trained on previously) is the location of the highest individual cricket score, a mere 628 runs by a 13 year old school boy AEJ (Arthur) Collins.

The College itself is picturesque, but the weather did not make for standing there, so we continued on in search of a place for dinner. Heading down Park Street, we decided on an asian noodle bar (by this time it was 10pm) before heading home in preparation for Sunday.

Clifton College

The Scorecard from the historic match:

http://uk.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/1890S/1899/ENG_LOCAL/OTHERS/CLARKES_NORTH-TOWN_22-28JUN1899.html

His profile:

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/11769.html

Concert Stage in foreground

The Old Docks

Sideshow entertainment at the Festival

We had Diana and Paul over for an English breakfast, then headed back into the centre of town where we had a few pints of beer and enjoyed the Harbour views whilst the sun shone brightly.

We then bid Paul and Diana farewell for now, as we had to head off for a Sunday Roast at Ed and Zoe’s place, and Paul and Diana had to catch a bus back to London.