Croatia!

Alright, today I’m going to start off by showing you the set up I have to accomplish in order to charge my computer:

It’s a little ridiculous. My voltage converter thingy should be able to plug directly into European outlets and then have US plugs plug into it...but of course it’s not that easy. The European outlets are inlayed, so I have to use another plug thingy to get it into the inlay. Then my voltage converter only accepts 2 pronged US plugs...and my computer uses a 3 pronged. So I have to use a US to US plug converter. But it works!

My time in Zagreb, Croatia with Selene and Marko came and went so quickly! Croatia seems like me a cross between Portland climate and Cypriot culture but with a Slavic based spoken language. They got an unusual amount of rain this summer (which was also cooler in temp), so everything was green! It was sunny and beautiful while I was there up until the day I left--it thunderstormed and rained with strong, cold winds.

Most of my time in Croatia was just seeing the daily life of the people. I love seeing the different ways that us humans live. Croatians (much like the Turks) dress up to go anywhere--even just to run to the market down the street. They have a daily farmers market (the Dolats) with vegetables, beans, dried fruits, honey, flowers, crafts, etc. in a big square in central Zagreb. They insist on having their coffee outside every day--cafes put out heat lamps and blankets if it’s cold. Having coffee is not a drink; it’s a social event and you sit for at least an hour if not three. There’s the flower square close to the Dolats where you can buy every type of seasonal flower arrangement. There’s little bits of history interspersed among the shopping centers, markets, trams and alleyways in the form of statues, plaques, or beautiful old buildings. It’s beautiful.

With Marko’s best friend and sister alternately joining us, we also spent time visiting the green spaces; the botanical gardens and on a different day Sjeme (I forgot how to spell it but pronoucned roughly Slee-yeh-may) the nearby mountain (big hill). We hiked all the way to the top in a couple of hours, enjoying the view every inch of the way. I, of course, insisted on stops to sip tea from my thermos and just soak up the view. Marko allowed it but was itching to keep going.

I love that Selene and I are able to stay in each other’s lives. When I last saw her in Portland, we set the intention to keep in touch even over time and distance. I’m not very good at communicating over long distances; and as Selene adjusts to being in Croatia she has not been either, but getting together felt like no time had lapsed at all. I don’t really know how to explain our friendship. We compliment each other. We are moving towards the same goals from opposite directions; I work more physically, she works more energetically. I’m better at the details, she’s better at the big picture. She is my sister.

I know those of you who know Selene are curious to hear more about Marko. They are definitely a good match. I know this first year has had a lot of ups and downs from them, and there is more to come, but their relationship had to move quickly because of the distance and borders. What I see in them is the normal ups and downs of a long term relationship condenced into a shorter amount of time. The nature of their troubles are all on the physical plane; they are adjusting to each other’s living styles, culture, customs and finances. What carries them through the trouble is the most important part of a relationship, that their higher purposes match. They have so much love for one another and share in their goals and in their path to those goals.

Now I’m in Istanbul, staying with my cousin Ruya! For just under a week. I hope you’re all well xoxox