Hungary & Croatia -- Day 4

Despite not going to sleep until after midnight, I awoke at 5 a.m. Not able to get back to sleep, I got up at 6 a.m. (!!) and went to the lobby to download yesterday’s pictures onto the computer and check e-mail. When breakfast began being served at 7 a.m., I participated and then went back to the room to pack. Luggage to the bus at 8:30 for a 9 a.m. departure, which we actually made.

Today was mostly driving – a very long day on the bus. So it’s appropriate to show a picture of the bus here. They’re really nice vehicles but spending 7 hours on it today tested my patience.

One and a quarter of those hours were spent sitting at the Croatian border. Since there were no other buses behind us, the crossing guards did their diligent job, collecting and checking individual passports. Ah, well. . . .

We arrived at Delnice at 4:30, were greeted by the Delnice brass band,

and then given an aperitif of the area’s famed blueberry liqueur. It was actually quite good.

The Star of the North concert is part of the celebration of the city’s parks and of the local band’s 100^th anniversary. There were a number of activities ongoing. A miniature “4-H” exhibit showed rabbits, chickens, pigeons, and goats. At the rabbit exhibit I met 11 year old Paula and her 12 year old friend Matea who were showing animals. They spoke a little English and seemed to like following me around.

People were selling local crafts and the blueberry liqueur. Rides in a horse-drawn cart were provided to children who also were playing on the park playground equipment while the adults listened to the variety of entertainment provided on the bandstand. The setting was a GORGEOUS park with wonderful tall trees. All in all a fun event.

Later Paula, Matea, and I were joined by 8-year old Marianne. Here are the four of us "good buddies" and a picture of Paula with the Star of the North pin I gave her.

I promised Paula I would put the pictures on my Facebook page. Guess she’ll figure out how to get there.

The concert went well. For some reason (the concrete underfoot, the trees above), the acoustics were quite good for an outdoor concert where people are standing on all sides of the band. And the setting was quite lovely.

When the concert was over, dinner was provided in the hotel, a buffet with a variety of food. Socializing lasted until 9:30 when the bus took us to the neighboring town of Fuzine where we were put up in a large hotel and four smaller guest houses. It looks like a charming town; hope we get a little time to explore.