We got into Zagreb today after travelling on the bus for about four hours. I slept most of the way, and only got up to pee and feed myself when we stopped at a gas station.
I love their gas stations here!
When you go in its like a mini restaurant. In the front is the normal gas store, but in the back there is a food place where its mostly fresh and made in front of you. Soups, bread and cheese, warm food, its was the bomb! I wondered why the US did not have these type of things, or at least better ones.
On the ground there was snow, completely white and cold as we travelled. I couldn't help but shiver since I wanted a warmer climate to be in. Thank goodness the bus had a heater and I wore some warm clothes. I was very pleased with myself that I was able to fit everything into my backpack and a plastic bag. Sure things were tight, but nothing I couldn't handle.
Zagreb is a nice sized city with a lot of history. We stayed in a four star hotel and let me tell you I was all over that place! They had nice beds and a tub in the bathroom, which I took advantage of as soon as I could. I still roomed with Miriam while the others were put into twos and threes. Luckily the hotel was near the train station, no more than two minutes away. So when we settled down I went over to Cateys room and watched some TV while Mei went somewhere. We planed to meet at three fifteen for a walk and dinner. I wanted to go to the chapel for a bit. On the news was the information about Haiti. That poor, poor country. Literally poor. Its hard for the help to get in, and provisions are not enough for the people because there were people in need before this so of course they will go and get food when its handed out and those in the accident will be left out.
The world better be ready for me when I come into power and become a major politician. No crap will be allowed. Or else it will be worse than any natural disaster they ever encountered.
After Mei got a map we headed out into the square. Well, we went back in for directions on east and west and so forth, then we went back out and headed towards the chapel. There was a big square where the train station was and in the middle of that square was a statue of a famous person who fought against the Turks or some people like that. Damn people kept getting in my way with the picture. Grr.
The chapel had a beautiful square, its form built in the old part of town. After passing some souvenir shops, which we stopped in briefly to see, we headed to the giant structure. I took a lovely picture of the center piece that looked like a candle with the mother Mary standing on the top and the angles around her at the bottom. The cathedral was very impressive, and I thought how my Poppa would love to come to Europe and see all the churches they had here.
One day.
Inside, words can not explain the beauty. I bowed my head and made the sign of the cross when I saw what was before me. With a high ceiling one is immediately envisioned with the alter and side pillars that support the inside. The hallways on the left and right sport little prayer sections of Saints and their helpers. Dazzling architecture and paintings littered the entire interior. It was dark inside, with candles lit for the small alters. Catey told me to turn off the sound on my camera, and I did so nosily. But after that I took pictures. The alter was very impressive and the pupil was lovely. I managed to take a slightly less blurry picture of the angel attached to the bottom.
We stayed there for only a few minutes, but that was enough for me.
Catey did a not so smart thing of making Mei head of directions. She wanted to go to the Chinese restaurant after we had looked around a bit. We stood in the Tran area, looking at the map and deciding where to go. Well, they looked at the map while I observed the people around me. It was a good mixture of old and young people. Finally Mei decided she wanted to take the Tran.
"Do we have to pay?" Catey asked. We all looked at the train and how people were boarding and getting off.
"No, we dont," I replied. But they were still unsure, so we spent a few minutes out in the cold looking until we finally boarded the Tran. It wasn't full, because it was Sunday and stores were closed. People came out at night for strolls during the weekend, so it was the slow part of the week. We rode two blocks, got off, and walked four more to the Chinese restaurant.
We had to divide seven Kuna into the original price to get a Euro. So seven Kuna for one Euro. That is why when we looked at the prices we thought they were high. Say about 25 to 150 digits. But you had to divide it by seven and there you had the price in Euro. So we decided that the prices were okay and went inside.
It felt nice and warm and had Chinese decorations. We sat near the bathroom door and looked at the menu. They had Chinese there and I recognized some of the characters. Nothing really excited happened, save for a few topics about our future and what we planned to do after college. Apparently my plans were not thought out enough like the others and I felt like I got some bite for that, but I didn't say anything to them because I knew I would start looking things up when I got back to school.
Overall, the meal was okay.
We walked back to the hotel and I managed to get a nice bath in before my roommate came in later on. It is funny because when I look back on the conversations that I had with the others in my group, I could predict what they are about to say. Growing up I was not around alot of other kids, so I can not help but wonder if it has affected how I see myself around other people.
"Yeah, you have been complaining alot," Catey told me conversationally one day as we waited for the bus. I was surprised, because I had not seen my behavior as whinny or complaining. Neither had I seen my questions on some topics as personal or awkward. I have always been straight forward, if not politely blunt on a certain manner. I am always myself and if not, I correct my noticed faults for later actions. But apparently I have not been looking through the eyes of others. Not that I care what the majority of people think of me in the end, but it is a distinct feeling to have someone else tell you of yourself. Maybe I am a bit like Mei.
"Oh well, fuck them. I don't care what they think."
I think there is something wrong with that, and at the same time, something right.
No comments:
Post a Comment