I saw this over at Joy in the Journey:
Things That Scare Me:
1. spiders!!!
2. Croatian drivers
3. that my baby will choke on something
3 People/Things That Make Me Laugh:
1. jokes my 10 year old tells
2. funny things that babies do, like the faces they make when they try a new food for the first time
3. my husband
3 Things I Love:
1. home cooked meals
2. memories of my mother
3. my family
3 Things I Hate:
1. how quickly the days of babyhood fly by
2. when baby bites me while nursing
3. nasty gas station bathrooms
3 Things I Don't Understand:
1. Croatian
2. why mothers leave babies at day care
3. people who are pro choice
3 Things On My Desk:
1. empty coffee cup
2. Quote journal
3. Croatian dentist's name/phone number that I need to call and make appointment with
3 Things I Want to Do Before I Die:
1. visit the Grand Canyon
2. raise my children and know they are walking with the Lord
3. read lots of good books
3 Things I Can Do:
1. balance a checkbook
2. organize
3. cook
3 Ways to Describe My Personality:
1. loyal
2. cheerful
3. reflective
3 Things I Can't Do:
1. sew
2. go barefoot on tile floors
3. watch scary movies
3 Things I Think You Should Listen To:
1. Dino
2. a laughing baby
3. singing birds
3 Absolute Favorite Foods:
1. homemade salsa
2. chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven
3. tacos
3 Things I'd Like to Learn:
1. to be consistent about exercising
2. How to quilt
3. how to drive a stick shift
3 Beverages I Like:
1. coffee
2. water
3. orange juice
3 Shows I Watched as a Kid:
1. Dukes of Hazard
2. Wonder Woman
3. Woody Woodpecker
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
Camping at Plitvice
We went camping Friday night. Yes, just for one night! We drove to a beautiful national park in Croatia called Plitvice Lakes. It was the most beautiful place we have been to so far in Croatia.
We pitched our tent at the campground there, rolled out the sleeping bags and had a restless night of sleep on our sloped spot. When we woke in the morning, our boys had slid halfway down the floor of the tent and ~N~ snaked his way back to the top edge. It was quite comical, he looked like an inchworm in a bag! Camping at this park (and maybe it is this way all over Croatia?) was different than in the U.S. We didn't drive around looking for a numbered spot to call our own. Instead we drove through the campground and looked for any grassy place that was appealing to us. It was a busy night... all of the flat, shady spots were taken, so we made the best of it on our little slope. We drove our van across the grass, down a hill, and into a grove of trees where about 3 or 4 other tents were already set up. Clara slept as good as can be expected, snuggled next to me in my sleeping bag (actually, hubby and I had twin size air mattresses, quite comfy!)
We did not bring food, as we had decided to keep it simple with the baby on this trip. We walked to the restaurant, where only one other family was eating. At first we thought it was closed, and were ready to accept this European aversion to breakfast. When we realized it was open, we saw that they had what they called "self service." On the buffet table you could choose from thick slices of bread, sliced cheese, cold turkey slices, canned fruit, oats, corn flakes, instant coffee or tea, and tomato juice. This was a costly breakfast, at 50 kuna ($9) a head, and 25 kuna ($5) for kids. We should have brought our own breakfast, if nothing else!!
After breakfast, we lounged at our campsite awhile. I put a big blanket on the ground under our shade tree for Clara to crawl around on. She nursed and had a nap there while the boys rode their scooters around and picked out a snack at the market. I read a few pages of my book, The Siren Queen by Fiona Buckley.
When Clara woke up, we packed up the tent and all our stuff, then drove about 6 km to the first entrance of the national park. We were ready for our 3 hour hike (which took us 4 hours and 45 minutes!) I put Clara in our front carrier and held an umbrella over us for shade. Dad carried the backpack that contained water, snacks, camera and diapers. Our first view of the waterfalls was breathtaking. They were gorgeous! Most of the time we were walking on a board path, and sometimes just a dirt trail. It was a hot 90 degrees or more, but we were in a forest with lots of trees which kept us shaded a lot of the time.
Towards the end of our hike, we ate a meal of what they called "chicken on a spit", pork cutlet, 2 hamburgers and 2 orders of french fries. The chicken was delicious! We topped it off with ice cream, and then boarded a ferry to cross the lake. More walking to get to the tram which would take us back to the park entrance. Well, it would have if we had gotten on the right tram. We unknowingly boarded the tram that took us all the way to the other end of the park!!! Ack! And with a tired, hot and sweaty baby! I stripped her down to her diaper and she enjoyed grabbing at the shirt that belonged to the man who was standing next to us. He was hiking with a small child himself, and often smiled and cooed at Clara.
Realizing our mistake after we got off the tram and things didn't look familiar, we did the right thing and ASKED SOMEONE FOR HELP, then got right back on the dumb tram and rode back down again. We got off and had to walk another 20 minutes or so to get back to our van and the wonderful cool A.C. Whew!!!
On the way back home, we stopped at a little waterfall area/swimming hole where Dad and the boys jumped in for a little cool-down. It looked like fun, but Clara thought the water too cold for her taste!
I'm glad we took the time to get out of the busy city for awhile. I always love the night sounds as we drift off to sleep in the tent, and also when we wake in the morning and see the trees with the sun shining through them, the call of the birds, and the fresh dampness of the morning dew. So simple, so peaceful, so refreshing! Thank you Lord, for the beauty of Your Creation. Open our eyes so that we may see your Glory!
We pitched our tent at the campground there, rolled out the sleeping bags and had a restless night of sleep on our sloped spot. When we woke in the morning, our boys had slid halfway down the floor of the tent and ~N~ snaked his way back to the top edge. It was quite comical, he looked like an inchworm in a bag! Camping at this park (and maybe it is this way all over Croatia?) was different than in the U.S. We didn't drive around looking for a numbered spot to call our own. Instead we drove through the campground and looked for any grassy place that was appealing to us. It was a busy night... all of the flat, shady spots were taken, so we made the best of it on our little slope. We drove our van across the grass, down a hill, and into a grove of trees where about 3 or 4 other tents were already set up. Clara slept as good as can be expected, snuggled next to me in my sleeping bag (actually, hubby and I had twin size air mattresses, quite comfy!)
We did not bring food, as we had decided to keep it simple with the baby on this trip. We walked to the restaurant, where only one other family was eating. At first we thought it was closed, and were ready to accept this European aversion to breakfast. When we realized it was open, we saw that they had what they called "self service." On the buffet table you could choose from thick slices of bread, sliced cheese, cold turkey slices, canned fruit, oats, corn flakes, instant coffee or tea, and tomato juice. This was a costly breakfast, at 50 kuna ($9) a head, and 25 kuna ($5) for kids. We should have brought our own breakfast, if nothing else!!
After breakfast, we lounged at our campsite awhile. I put a big blanket on the ground under our shade tree for Clara to crawl around on. She nursed and had a nap there while the boys rode their scooters around and picked out a snack at the market. I read a few pages of my book, The Siren Queen by Fiona Buckley.
When Clara woke up, we packed up the tent and all our stuff, then drove about 6 km to the first entrance of the national park. We were ready for our 3 hour hike (which took us 4 hours and 45 minutes!) I put Clara in our front carrier and held an umbrella over us for shade. Dad carried the backpack that contained water, snacks, camera and diapers. Our first view of the waterfalls was breathtaking. They were gorgeous! Most of the time we were walking on a board path, and sometimes just a dirt trail. It was a hot 90 degrees or more, but we were in a forest with lots of trees which kept us shaded a lot of the time.
Towards the end of our hike, we ate a meal of what they called "chicken on a spit", pork cutlet, 2 hamburgers and 2 orders of french fries. The chicken was delicious! We topped it off with ice cream, and then boarded a ferry to cross the lake. More walking to get to the tram which would take us back to the park entrance. Well, it would have if we had gotten on the right tram. We unknowingly boarded the tram that took us all the way to the other end of the park!!! Ack! And with a tired, hot and sweaty baby! I stripped her down to her diaper and she enjoyed grabbing at the shirt that belonged to the man who was standing next to us. He was hiking with a small child himself, and often smiled and cooed at Clara.
Realizing our mistake after we got off the tram and things didn't look familiar, we did the right thing and ASKED SOMEONE FOR HELP, then got right back on the dumb tram and rode back down again. We got off and had to walk another 20 minutes or so to get back to our van and the wonderful cool A.C. Whew!!!
On the way back home, we stopped at a little waterfall area/swimming hole where Dad and the boys jumped in for a little cool-down. It looked like fun, but Clara thought the water too cold for her taste!
I'm glad we took the time to get out of the busy city for awhile. I always love the night sounds as we drift off to sleep in the tent, and also when we wake in the morning and see the trees with the sun shining through them, the call of the birds, and the fresh dampness of the morning dew. So simple, so peaceful, so refreshing! Thank you Lord, for the beauty of Your Creation. Open our eyes so that we may see your Glory!
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Welcome to the Zagreb Zoo!
Yesterday the temperature was a cool 80 degrees, a perfect day for strolling through the zoo. Many of the animals were having their afternoon siesta, but we found a few who were wide awake and happy to interact with people... like this enchanting little otter!
~D~ loved seeing the tiger. Clara didn't seem to notice we were at the zoo. To her it was just a walk outdoors!
I have to say, these were the most interesting critters I ever layed eyes on:
Clara's zoo visit tip: "When you can't hack it anymore, lie back and take a nap!"
Sunday, July 16, 2006
The Milk Sign
Yesterday, to our amazement and joy, Clara made the milk sign! I have been showing her the sign for milk since she was 6 months old, and yesterday she made the motion with her right hand like she was milking a cow, the milk sign! We happened to all be sitting in the computer room at the time and like crazy people, we all started making the milk sign back to her. I hope we didn't confuse her. After our excitement died down a little, I nursed her briefly to reinforce the fact that she had asked for milk. She only wanted a little drink. I'm wondering though, if maybe she just happened to be learning that she could do this thing with her hand, and it had nothing at all to do with actually wanting any milk. If you are reading this and you have ever taught your children any sign language, what would you think? Does it start out this way, and gradually they connect their ability to make the sign with their desire for what they can sign? I did not even know about signing with babies until after my boys were way out of babyhood, so this is an exciting new realm for me. How awesome to think that my little baby will be able to communicate in this way!
We have consistently showed Clara the sign for kitty, since she adores Becca. Since she started crawling, I have to watch her like a hawk if Becca is in the same room. So far, Becca has been very patient and has allowed Clara to touch her, pull out handfuls of fur, and today Clara even had the joy of yanking the kitty's tail (without nary a meow from Becca!) How is it that pets can sense a baby is different, and will allow them to do things that no one else in the house could ever do without paying for it?
Other signs we are showing Clara are: More, Book, Blanky, Mama and Daddy.
I first read about signing with a baby from this book: Sign With Your Baby
And just the other day I wanted to learn the sign for blanky, so I went to this American Sign Language website, which has a wonderful dictionary of words and pictures showing how to make various signs.
If you have ever signed with your baby, I'd love to hear about it!!!
We have consistently showed Clara the sign for kitty, since she adores Becca. Since she started crawling, I have to watch her like a hawk if Becca is in the same room. So far, Becca has been very patient and has allowed Clara to touch her, pull out handfuls of fur, and today Clara even had the joy of yanking the kitty's tail (without nary a meow from Becca!) How is it that pets can sense a baby is different, and will allow them to do things that no one else in the house could ever do without paying for it?
Other signs we are showing Clara are: More, Book, Blanky, Mama and Daddy.
I first read about signing with a baby from this book: Sign With Your Baby
And just the other day I wanted to learn the sign for blanky, so I went to this American Sign Language website, which has a wonderful dictionary of words and pictures showing how to make various signs.
If you have ever signed with your baby, I'd love to hear about it!!!
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
So, what's it like there?
With today's entry, I'll try to give you a glimpse of our life in Croatia. Today it is a balmy 93 degrees. It is a little on the humid side, but not unbearably so, as it might be in my home state of Missouri.
Zagreb is a city of about 750,000 people. It is more congested with traffic than even just a few years ago, due to more and more people owning cars now. Zagreb is made up of many small neighborhoods with winding side streets and always parked cars along the sidewalks. I'm not sure if its illegal to park on sidewalks, since so many people do it, but there rarely is any other place to park. It is uncommon to see big cars, like pickup trucks, Suburbans, or mini-vans. Most people who have a car drive very small economical cars, either because that's what they can afford, and/or because of the excellent gas mileage. This is a mighty big consideration since it costs us about $5 per gallon! We commonly see Peugot, BMW, Ford, (though not the styles we are familiar with in U.S.), Audi, etc.
There are many wonderful places to sit and have a cup of coffee. Almost any street you drive on, you will find a sign which says Caffe Bar with chairs and tables outside. It is a relaxing way to spend an hour, chatting with a friend over a hot, frothy cappacino. These places do not serve food, only drinks. If we want food, we have to look for a restaurant. Restaurants are much harder to find. They are hidden away behind signs that we cannot read, making me feel like I'm in the middle of a Where's Waldo book. Back in the U.S., restaurants stick out like sore thumbs everywhere you go, with tall, bright neon signs. Chain restaurants are everywhere, even in small town USA. The only chain restaurant here is McDonald's, which is fine every once in awhile when we get a hankering for some greasy fries or an apple pie.
Speaking of McDonald's, you might enjoy this little commentary under the "Fast Food" section of our local tour guide booklet, which is called "Zagreb In Your Pocket":
Breakfast for most Croatians is a simple pastry and a coffee. Fantastic fresh baked bread is one of the pleasures of living here. It is impossible to find sliced bread. Instead, you pick up a fresh baked loaf from your local grocery, bring it home and slice it yourself. Just like in the good ole days. Croatian cuisine is often a mix of continental and coastal delicacies, with Italian, Hungarian and Turkish influence. You could choose from a long list of meats, like spiced meat patties, wild goose, wild duck, pheasant, beef, lamb, deer, sausages, wild boar or rabbit, along with a simple vegetable accompaniment. Believe it or not, we have been able to appease our love for Mexican food by eating at Mex Cantina, a beautifully decorated Mexican restaurant! Though the basket of chips was enough for just one person, the meals were tasty and delicious. There are also Chinese, French, Indian, Italian, Vegetarian, and Seafood restaurants to try out.
The currency in Croatia is called "kuna." The exchange rate has been about
5.6kn = $1. The tax rate is 22% and affects all goods and services except for bread, milk and books, and various charitable enterprises. It is very hard for the Croatian people to find jobs. We spoke with a lady who tried to get a job as a receptionist at a hotel in Zagreb. She was hired on a temporary basis for 15 days. She was told that she would be hired on 3 conditions: 1. she could not get pregnant, 2. she could not get sick, 3. if any money were to come up missing, it would be blamed on her. She did not take the job, and she was not paid for the 15 days she worked there!
Last weekend, we drove to Aviano Air Force Base in northern Italy. It was a 4 hour drive without a baby, and 5 1/2 hours with a baby! We drove through Croatia, Slovenia, and into Italy. We handed over $25 or more to traffic toll booths, but enjoyed smooth highways where we traveled at speeds between 70-80 mph, and often being passed by others who must have been traveling 90. I never knew Slovenia was such a beautiful place. It was a rolling countryside with farmlands, meadows, rivers, and small villages. There were many signs for pizzerias the closer we got to Italy. On our way back home, we stopped at a large travel plaza/gas station so I could take over driving. I was hoping to get a cup of coffee to go, but no such luck. The sign outside the building said there was coffee inside, but it was a cappacino bar, where you could stand and drink your coffee in a porcelein cup! I was disappointed that I couldn't drink my coffee while I drove, because for me, that is one of the pleasures of driving long distances!
There are many places we hope to visit during our stay here.... Art galleries, castles, cathedrals, landmarks, sculpture museums, national parks, Dalmatia Coast, Pula (where the 6th largest remaining Roman amphitheatre is located.)
All in all, not a bad place to be. Now that the boxes are unpacked and my house feels like "HOME, sweet HOME", I'm ready to get out and see Croatia... and beyond.
Zagreb is a city of about 750,000 people. It is more congested with traffic than even just a few years ago, due to more and more people owning cars now. Zagreb is made up of many small neighborhoods with winding side streets and always parked cars along the sidewalks. I'm not sure if its illegal to park on sidewalks, since so many people do it, but there rarely is any other place to park. It is uncommon to see big cars, like pickup trucks, Suburbans, or mini-vans. Most people who have a car drive very small economical cars, either because that's what they can afford, and/or because of the excellent gas mileage. This is a mighty big consideration since it costs us about $5 per gallon! We commonly see Peugot, BMW, Ford, (though not the styles we are familiar with in U.S.), Audi, etc.
There are many wonderful places to sit and have a cup of coffee. Almost any street you drive on, you will find a sign which says Caffe Bar with chairs and tables outside. It is a relaxing way to spend an hour, chatting with a friend over a hot, frothy cappacino. These places do not serve food, only drinks. If we want food, we have to look for a restaurant. Restaurants are much harder to find. They are hidden away behind signs that we cannot read, making me feel like I'm in the middle of a Where's Waldo book. Back in the U.S., restaurants stick out like sore thumbs everywhere you go, with tall, bright neon signs. Chain restaurants are everywhere, even in small town USA. The only chain restaurant here is McDonald's, which is fine every once in awhile when we get a hankering for some greasy fries or an apple pie.
Speaking of McDonald's, you might enjoy this little commentary under the "Fast Food" section of our local tour guide booklet, which is called "Zagreb In Your Pocket":
The tram was crowded and a generous scent of unfiltered human body odour pervaded every crevice. Just then some jerk with a golden-arched to-go bag entered the car. The smell of pure fry immediately overwhelmed the stench and quickly had everyone in the car salivating to the floorboards. That, dear friends, is the freakish and almost terrifying power of the McDonald's french fry.
Breakfast for most Croatians is a simple pastry and a coffee. Fantastic fresh baked bread is one of the pleasures of living here. It is impossible to find sliced bread. Instead, you pick up a fresh baked loaf from your local grocery, bring it home and slice it yourself. Just like in the good ole days. Croatian cuisine is often a mix of continental and coastal delicacies, with Italian, Hungarian and Turkish influence. You could choose from a long list of meats, like spiced meat patties, wild goose, wild duck, pheasant, beef, lamb, deer, sausages, wild boar or rabbit, along with a simple vegetable accompaniment. Believe it or not, we have been able to appease our love for Mexican food by eating at Mex Cantina, a beautifully decorated Mexican restaurant! Though the basket of chips was enough for just one person, the meals were tasty and delicious. There are also Chinese, French, Indian, Italian, Vegetarian, and Seafood restaurants to try out.
The currency in Croatia is called "kuna." The exchange rate has been about
5.6kn = $1. The tax rate is 22% and affects all goods and services except for bread, milk and books, and various charitable enterprises. It is very hard for the Croatian people to find jobs. We spoke with a lady who tried to get a job as a receptionist at a hotel in Zagreb. She was hired on a temporary basis for 15 days. She was told that she would be hired on 3 conditions: 1. she could not get pregnant, 2. she could not get sick, 3. if any money were to come up missing, it would be blamed on her. She did not take the job, and she was not paid for the 15 days she worked there!
Last weekend, we drove to Aviano Air Force Base in northern Italy. It was a 4 hour drive without a baby, and 5 1/2 hours with a baby! We drove through Croatia, Slovenia, and into Italy. We handed over $25 or more to traffic toll booths, but enjoyed smooth highways where we traveled at speeds between 70-80 mph, and often being passed by others who must have been traveling 90. I never knew Slovenia was such a beautiful place. It was a rolling countryside with farmlands, meadows, rivers, and small villages. There were many signs for pizzerias the closer we got to Italy. On our way back home, we stopped at a large travel plaza/gas station so I could take over driving. I was hoping to get a cup of coffee to go, but no such luck. The sign outside the building said there was coffee inside, but it was a cappacino bar, where you could stand and drink your coffee in a porcelein cup! I was disappointed that I couldn't drink my coffee while I drove, because for me, that is one of the pleasures of driving long distances!
There are many places we hope to visit during our stay here.... Art galleries, castles, cathedrals, landmarks, sculpture museums, national parks, Dalmatia Coast, Pula (where the 6th largest remaining Roman amphitheatre is located.)
All in all, not a bad place to be. Now that the boxes are unpacked and my house feels like "HOME, sweet HOME", I'm ready to get out and see Croatia... and beyond.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Grocery Game... Round 2
More items from a Croatian grocery store. What do you think they are?
Guess who started crawling over the weekend... Yikes! She just turned 7 months old.
Back to the boxes for me!
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