Back in Zagreb

We made it back to Zagreb--with our baggage, even! Much as I loved Barcelona, it's always good to get home. And Zagreb is beginning to feel like home.

We arrived home late Saturday and took the airport bus to the main bus station, which is only 2 tram stops from our place. Couldn't be more convenient! On Sunday I learned that some of the local groceries--Konzum is the name of the chain where we usually shop--are open on Sundays, at least until 2pm. So we were able to get some shopping done. And since the weather was fairly gray and dreary, we spent the rest of the day being lazy indoors.

Today was more productive. Our twice-a-month cleaning lady came and was able to restart the pilot on the heater in the living room. We have two huge ceramic heaters, which I'm guessing are original to this building (circa 1880), although now they run on gas. The pilot on one went out while we were in Barcelona. Glitches aside, I've coveted these heaters since my first trip to Europe in 2001, and now we have two. :-)

Also today, Allison and I went to the campus where I'll be teaching. It's in Borongaj, a little way out from the city center, on a former military base. We catch the tram in front of our building, take it for about 20 minutes, and then transfer to a bus that takes us straight to the building where I'll teach. I met with the chair, who gave me a clearer idea of what to expect class-wise and how to prepare. And I got an office. It's huge--probably three times the size of mine in California--and it has a big window, which my usual office lacks. I wonder if I can bring the office back with me? By next week I should know what days ans time's I'll teach and in what room, and how many students.

Finally, we went to the post office, which is almost across the street from us. I'd shipped 2 boxes of Allison's school books here, but the USPS is a bit euphemistic when it labels it International "Priority" Mail. This box arrived last week. The other's still on its way, having taken a detour to Canada. Retrieving the package took a little wandering back and forth, but the post office employees were very helpful and we found the right spot at last, and the package was in our hands quickly. Then we carried 20 pounds of books down the block and up 80 stairs. Allison was less than ecstatic to be reunited with her math book.

So now it's still gray out, but she's doing school work and all is well. A few flakes of snow fell earlier today but didn't stick.

BCN

We have really been enjoying Barcelona! I have cool pictures, even, which Blogger is refusing to upload. But we took a motorcycle tour (taking turns in the sidecar!) and have checked out several of Gaudi's creations. We've taken the elevator to the top of the Christopher Columbus monument (which is very un-politically correct) and walked La Rambla. We have tried new foods including xocolata--hot chocolate almost the consistency of pudding. And today we took the train to Figueres to see the Dali museum. I'm impressed with Spanish trains--clean and easy to figure out. I have practiced my bad Spanish (I don't even try with Catalan!). I have used my Kindle to buy a novel somewhere an hour outside of BCN, while zooming down the train tracks.

Hola!

Yes, the blog is titled "Phyllis in Croatia" but today I'm in Barcelona. Allison and I arrived here late this afternon, having sprinted to make our tight connection in Paris. Unfortunately, my suitcase had no such luck. Allison's made it, at least. The Air France people have been friendly and apologetic, but they have no clue where my suitcase is. Argh.

Well, I'm going to have a good time anyway. This looks like a fascniating city--what little I've seen of it. Lots of motorcycles everywhere going fast. :-)

Yay! I got to escape the Superbowl!

Yesterday was a shopping day, in part because most things are closed on Sundays. We bought a printer/scanner and blanket and some pillows. We also went to one of the bookstores off Trg Bana Jelacica and Allison bought a couple of DVDs (with English and Croatian). The weather was gorgeous, and Allison sampled some of the delicious local ice cream.

Today we went to see The King's Speech at the theater across the street. There are lots of English-language movies here and except for the little kids' movies they're subtitled instead of dubbed. Tickets were cheap--less than $5 each--although there's some sort of extremely complicated pricing schedule that I can't understand, with 9 different prices not including 3D movies and T-Mobile Wednesdays. The seats are bigger and more comfortable than in US theaters (they even have loveseats) and you reserve particular seats when you pay, just like at live theatre. We enjoyed the movie, and who can beat the convenience of a theater across the street?

In the morning we're off for several days in Barcelona. We're going to be slightly adventurous and take a tram 2 stops to the main bus station, where we can catch an express bus to the airport. Hopefully we'll make our 1-hour connection in Paris. I wonder whether I'll be saying hvala and dovidenja in Spain?

Today was a busy and productive day. I went back to the bank--this time by tram--and actually managed to get an account opened. It turns out I'll have to return one more time to pick up my ATM card, but at least now I now how easy it is to get there by tram. One tram line takes me door to door. Literally--on the way back it stops directly in front of my door.

I got some work done on my textbook revision today, too.

And this evening we had dinner at the home of a Fulbrighter who's been here since the fall. Also there were his lovely wife, a Fulbright student, and another US student who's here on an exchange program. The dinner and company were wonderful. They also have a fantastic apartment, although I should note it's up just as many stairs as mine. Allison was mostly jealous of their 2 TVs. They have great views, too. And they don't have trams and trains next door, but do have a church with loud bells very close, so that's even, I'd say. We rode a different tram line home.

If you're counting, I have been up over 480 stairs today (not all at once, thankfully!).

We walked through the main square, Trg Ban Jelacic (pronounced Turg Bon Yellacheech), this evening. It's about 15 minutes from our place, and it's always very busy. I tried to post a crappy picture I took of Ban Jelacic himself, but Blogger keeps giving me error messages. In Croatian. Anyway, there's a big statue of a guy with a pointy sword, astride a horse, and that's where you typically meet up with people. I like this square because it's always so vital--clearly the heart of the city. There's a skating rink there now and they often have concerts and other events. When the weather turns warm there are tons of sidewalk cafes. The only downside is you have to be careful not to get run over by a tram!

Last night I bought tickets to a Sunday morning chamber music performance at the National Theatre. The performance is only an hour long, which should be perfect for Allison. I'm looking forward to seeing the inside of the building. The outside is pretty spectacular--usually. Right now it's covered in scaffolding.

And in a couple days Allison and I will be off to Barcelona!

We are slowly getting settled in. Yesterday we registered with the police, as required by Croatian law. It was somewhat complicated due to my lack of Croatian, but we got it done. Today we walked a mile and a half or so to the bank to open an account and after arriving and waiting 20 minutes learned that to open the account I needed a piece of paper I hadn't brought with. Sigh. Well, it was a lovely day for a walk, anyway. The sun came out and  it reached a relatively balmy 36F. I feel like I earned the pastry I bought from the bakery across the street.

Speaking of bakeries, there are many. Probably a half dozen pekarnas within a block or two radius of here, including one just around the corner. Could be dangerous, except every time I visit a bakery I have to climb more than 70 steps to get back to my apartment, so it evens out.

I'm really loving this apartment. It's very spacious and comfortable. Quiet, too, other than the noisy trams, which we're getting used to. I like the sound of them, actually.

We haven't yet ventured too much around the city, but that will come. So far, we've scouted out several grocery stores nearby.

I am very happy to be able to buy blackcurrant juice here.

This is Glavni Kolodvor, the main train station. It's about 2 blocks from our place. As you can see, a nice, sunny afternoon today.

We have arrived!

Our flight was long but didn't have any problems at all, the wonderful folks from the embassy met us at the airport with a van, and we successfully dragged our suitcases up to the third floor. Which is really the fourth floor, as Americans reckon it. The apartment is very large with huge ceilings and doors. We're still figuring out the heating and plumbing and internet, but we're making progress. We did a little grocery shopping trip yesterday and today we'll buy cell phones.

It's nice to be back after two and a half years! I remember where things are, like the grocery store, and it feels familiar, although the weather's a little chillier than June.

I'm looking forward to some exploration this week!

I must say, however, it would be nice if Blogger didn't helpfully translate itself into Croatian.