Since I last posted, we ate some Bavarian food, as pictured above. . . (okay, it’s actually Persian, enjoyed just across the street from our hotel in Munich, but I figure it’s Bavarian food now, one component of that region’s changing demographic. . .
Then we pulled our cases through a thunderstorm, dodging cloudbursts and flinching away from lightning flashes (okay, that was just me) as best we could until we got to the station where we boarded a night train to Zagreb. Changed out of our damp street clothes and snuggled under the quilt, relieved there wasn’t going to be anyone occupying the third bunk in our tiny compartment. Not the most solid sleep, but a romantic one, I think, the noisy rhythms of the train on the tracks and then its slowing into a station, the voices of new passengers finding their compartments, the start-up again as we move out of the station, the sinking-back into our pillows and dreams. . .
And waking to this . . . Slovenia. . .
Paul was still squeezing some ZZzzz’s out of that pillow, but I shut the door behind me, tiptoed out into the corridor with my iPhone, marvelled and snapped photos and smiled. . .
And then the stop at the border to have passports stamped by Slovenian and Croatian officials, and shortly after that we pulled into Zagreb — again!
Found our very charming little hotel/bed and breakfast where they had a room ready for us even though we were four hours ahead of check-in! Ah, the luxury of a shower after those hasty ablutions on the train.
A walk along a very long street, absorbing the sense of the city again. . .
on our way to meet this lovely woman, whom many of you here know as Dottoressa. . . We talked books and beaches and style and travel and offspring and TV — She’s already begun watching Bernard Cumberbatch playing Patrick Melrose in an adaptation of Edward St. Aubyn’s novels — and let’s see, what else did we cover? Oh, politics and wine and blogs . . . what a good catch-up we had, over Kava sa šlagom at a café terrace at first (much good people-watching!), and then we moved the party to the same restaurant we loved last visit. . . .
All too soon, it was time to hug good-bye, with hopes that we might see each other again before too long. . .
This morning, Pater and I are packing up and picking up. Picking up a car, that is, for a drive along the coast. By the end of the day, we should be reunited with three of our four adult kids, our kids-in-law, and four of the grands. There will be food and a swimming pool and a sunset and a week ahead. . . Not sure how much I’ll be blogging amidst all that, but I’ll certainly be reading your comments.
Vidimo se uskoro . . . (which apparently means “See you soon” according to a Croatian Tutorial website I just found. Dottoressa, I think you taught me a better/other phrase, but I can’t remember it. . .
I loved that little journey with you in the early morning light & that platter of food – delicious . It looked pretty enough to be vegetarian ? So nice to see Dottoressa’s lovely smile again too .
Wendy in York
It was vegetarian, in fact, Wendy, and delicious! So many satisfying vegetarian options in that cuisine. (And doesn’t she just have the best smile?!)
Lovely to hear about your train journey Frances and to see you and Dottoressa enjoying time together again. Wonderful to have so many of your family together in Italy at the same time! Happy times ahead, I predict 🙂
Hope your car journey goes smoothly.
Thanks again for sharing your travel stories and all the IG pictures, I’m really enjoying them.
Rosie
It was so good to see Dottoressa again! Glad you’re enjoying the IG posts.
With family now, so happy—we’re actually in Croatia still, on an island…
I could set about that plate of food right now. So enjoying your travels and about now you should be waking up to another day of fun and family, plus sunshine. Getting ready to pack my bags for a small trip next week. Thank heavens for Insta.
I’ve been enjoying your travels as well, via IG
It was such a pleasure to meet you two,Frances and Paul ,again and to spend time with you .
It must have been "Doviđenja"-Doh-wee-jen-ya
(I must say that Frances can already splendidly order coffee and thanks to the waitress in croatian)
Thank you all for greetings (and smile:-) compliments!)
Hugs,
Dottoressa
P.S. Photos from Slovenia are beautiful-it is a wonderful country with a lot of natural beauty-hills,mountains,lakes,good food…..
Yes! Dovidenja! And thanks for the too-kind words on my very very very limited Croatian🙄
Wonderful post: food and trains and friends, beautiful scenery. I'm loving your posts this trip, they always spark a smile.
Thanks! Glad you enjoy
Oh! That plate of food looks yummy! I have not been on a night train in years. Slovenia looks a bit like home with all the greenery. Dottoressa does indeed have a lovely smile. Enjoy your family time!
I think that too about Slovenia
What a lovely post, Frances. I haven't traveled overnight on a train in over 20 years, which is ridiculous! That's a problem easily solved.
I'm so enjoying your travel reports on this trip. I'll be in Croatia for the first time, albeit very briefly, in July as part of a longer Italy / Greece visit, cruise and tour. So many places, so little time!
Ann in Missouri
Exactly so. So many places…. your trip sounds exciting.
Taking the night train… so exciting. And an empty bunk for a third passenger who never showed up… sounds like a mystery novel waiting to be written. Or already written?
Food looks lovely. Hello…Dottoressa… I'm waving madly like Princess Charlotte at the royal wedding, except not half as cute:)
A mystery novel I wouldn’t want to star in…;-)
It's very posh nevertheless 🙂
Waving too (more like Adele)…hello from the other side!
D.
Gorgeous photos!!
The food looks wonderful and the night train sounds very romantic. Glad you got to see Dottoressa again. Fun seeing the photos of Slovenia where I might be next year. Or Croatia! Enjoy your hols. Brenda
I think you’ll love either country… you must be almost packing for this year’s trip soon…
How lovely to see the photo of you and Dottoressa! The train trip looks much more interesting than plane travel. Thank you for sharing your trip with us.
slf
I find the train more interesting and less stressful in many ways. Glad you’re enjoying the posts
That food looks fantastic, and finding out that it's Persian has my mouth watering even more.
Loving your travelogue.
Dottoressa! How wonderful to see you again, and to see these traces of friendships begun from afar and continued over time. And Frances that nighttime train ride description is absolutely fantastic. Romantic in all the senses.
I am loving your travel posts too.
Hi Lisa :-)!
It is wonderful when friendships "jump"from digital to real and continue to grow!
D.
Sp evocative and beautiful. And that plate! This train trip really has the air of a getaway. (I love train travel.)