Croatian Update #6

February 8, 2009....hi there folks...another late blog update...i guess this is just the way..but ts only 2 behind....things here in my life have been crazy busy...plus, for some reason it just keeps raining here...which is not good for morale....anyway...here's the fifth update showing christmas in graz, austria and zagreb, croatia....fun places to be for the holidays here in europe...

as i look back across my year, it has been pretty darn amazing...12 countries..some for the first time, some for return trips....i was hoping to put together a holiday card with pictures from each stop, but it hasn't happened...maybe when i get back...it was hard year as my grandmother  passed away at the start of the year and my dad went thru lung cancer, but is now free and clear...i spent two months in the states, which i haven't done in quite a while and hung with many people on the east and west  coasts....its a pretty charmed life i get to lead and i thank each of you for your role within it :)  

okay...enough remembering...the past three weeks here in croatia it has  been raining pretty regularly....BUT today the sun is out and i hope i  get to the park to take in some sun and walk around before the flights  tomorrow to africa...three of them :)  but below are some shots of things that have been going on...hope you enjoy the story and pictures....

the day after thanksgiving me and some friends went to graz, austria to do

a little shopping...what a fun day we had...we were in IKEA forever :) 

and then went to the quaint town that was all set up for xmas....walked 

around lovin the xmas market and festivties and then it started to snow...

it was quite perfect :)

the first three shots are from austria - a huge ferris wheel....no we didn't ride it...way too cold and it made some awful creaks...didn't want to tempt the fates...instead we opted for mulled wine and pretzels...the second shot is some of the buildings all decked for the  holidays....austria just seems to be a country that has it all together.. the last shot from that day...me with a pretzel and a beer...imagine :)
back to croatia we head, the rest of the shots are from zagreb...which  has gotten quite dressed up for the holidays...they have the entire main  square, and the smaller ones as well, shining with lights and trees and  vendors selling croatian crafts and food and drinks....plus there is a big tent in the middle of town serving sausages and wine and beer....and  they have lots of live music...its been awesome....this country is about  90% catholic so this holiday is one of their biggest and they definitely have fun celebrating....

so the following shots start off with the sculpture choice this update -  zagreb actually has a full scale model of the solar system....and what you see is the sculpture of the sun...i have seen jupiter as well...but am  planning a solar system walk for the four inner planets with my 8th grade and therefore will find the others when i get back....then the holiday pictures start....the first is the main fountain in the main square that they have turned into an advent wreath....so cool...and then there follow some of the decorated buildings....
sretan bozic i nova godina - means merry xmas and happy new year....that's the main post office...the next shots come from the main square...you can see the big tent and the lights around all of the light posts and the xmas tree in the middle of it all :) there is also a shot of one of the main booths of the xmas market...i  have gotten a bit addicted to the gingerbread...am even freezing some for  when i get back....so good....

So unfortunately I cannot keep blogger happy and it keeps changing what i copy and paste...so i am a bit angered...this is sooooooooooooo not easy to use at the moment...i might be changing where i keep this as it makes me angry every time i use it....but for the moment this is my update...maybe blogger is against macs...i just don't know....the last shot is one of me with a beer here in croatia...but its not for you to see this time around...

i hope each of you had a great holiday season and i wish you all a happy valentines day....drop a line when you wish and if you want to be added to the update list directly, please email me at danid7@yahoo.com....

talk soon and peace out....dani