Day 5 Off to the Motherland-Rijeka

Our flight was at 10:30. Brussels to Zagreb.  We left around 8:15 from Leuven train station.  I went directly to Brussels airport and Drew needed to stop at the Cuban Embassy in Brussels for a visa for a future trip.  The train ride was 15 minutes and I got checked in and waited for Drew.

Drew arrived and we got to our gate for Brussels Airlines direct to Zagreb.  Nice plane, no frills and arrived on time.  We had an easy time getting a vehicle from Enterprise and thank goodness Drew had google maps on his phone to get on on our way.  The drive from Zagreb to Rijeka was 2 hours.  We went through flat land, mountains, snow, and then to the beautiful Adriatic sea.

For the past two weeks I have been communicating with my second cousin Karmen.  Karmen speaks English and has always exchanged Christmas cards with my mother.  My mom loves Karmen and enjoys hearing from her also at the holidays.

We were  expected for dinner at Karmen's parent's house n Krascia, at my mom's first cousin Franjo & family at 6:00.  The last time I had seen these cousins was 1973.  I was 16 years old and Karmen was 8.  We arrived right on time and were greeted by Karmen standing in the middle of the road in the village of Krasica flagging us down.  So welcoming!!!  She was beautiful and greeted us with such warmth, it made my heart melt.  I was home.  I was where my grandparents were born.  The motherland.  I cried inside for my mother, because I know she was home crying to be here.  She would want to be here right now!  She would have soooo enjoyed this visit.  Her cousin Franjo and wife Katrina are beautiful.  Katrina fixed a traditional Croation dinner.  First chicken soup, then gnocchi with meat/gravy, along with plenta.  I thought I was at many grandmother's house1. A traditional croation meal!!  We laughed, cried and looked at old pictures.  I had lots of questions and pictures to show.  They were a wealth of information, about the Vicievic and Randic side of the family.  So many emotions. Such wonderful people!!

After dinner, Darko, another first cousin of my mothers came.  He was so cute!!  Very loving and hugged and kissed every time I looked at him!  Big teddy bear!! reminded me of my Uncle Bo...had his smile and his twinkle in his eyes!!   He lives in the house next to his brother Franjo.   Beautiful evening.  Met Darko's daughter Elenora and his granddaughter Elenora too.

Franjo and granddaughter Antonija (who speaks English)(Karmen's daughter) took us to another Aunt's house, Teta Anica, in Kostrena.  All of these villages are about 5-10 minute drives.  Even though my grandparents came to America and different times in their lives, and did not know each other rm the old country, they met upon Joliet Illinois and marries...their villages only a stone throw away from each other!!  I loved that Franjo and Darko knew of my grandfather's family in Krasica.  Franjo sings in the choir in Bakar, where my grandmother went to church and school.  He said he would help me with family records when I come back!  I HAVE TO COME BACK TO DO FAMILY RESEARCH!!!!

Off to Teta  Anica, who lives in Kostrena.  She and my mother bonded when we visited in 1973 and my mother's other visit in 1984.  She is wonderful and could be my mom's sister.  She too welcomed us with open arms and wanted us to come back for breakfast.  Funny, they kept pulling out the wines and spirits to celebrate.  I laughed and said I would under the table like my dad was in 1973.  They laughed and remembered celebrating back then with him!!  GiGi came down to visit, this is my second cousin.  He and my brother Chris became friends at Chris's visit in 1984.  He is so cute and always smiling.  Met his daughter Mia, who is 18 and speaks English too.

It was a beautiful evening and it felt like home.  Just wish my mother was here.  I promised them I would bring her back this year.  They cried for Petra, Petra, Petra.  Pretty emotional for me.  Such lovely people and so giving and generous of their time.

Drew and I went back to Hotel Jadarn in Rijeka and fell into bed.  I can't wait to call my mother tomorrow!!

Anica, Gig and daughter Mia

Franjo, Antonija, and Ancica

Darko

Karmen and her father, Franjo

Katrina, Karmen's mother

Gig and Mia

Day 4 And Still Loving Leuven

Slept better last night.  Woke up after Drew sent text he was going into work early since he would be taking the next three off to go to Croatia with me.  I had a busy day ahead.  Wanted to get in more of the sites for Leuven, grocery shop for drew and wash clothes.  I started with going to Panos for cuppacino and chocolate croissant.  That got my energy level up!!  I picked up some of Drew's laundry and walked 6 blocks to the laundromat.  I am pretty efficient when it comes to laundromat.  I was out of there in 1 hour after 4 loads!!  Getting the laundry back to Hotel and then Drew's was great exercise!  Again, used a suitcase on wheels to cart this stuff around.

Next, grocery store.  I grabbed The suitcase on wheels again, and walked several blocks to the grocery store.  Like I said before, most people only eat what they can carry, unlike Americans who load up the back of their station wagon!!

Leuven, and I must say most of Eurpose, is very ecological.  Saving on electricity, water, garabage and recycle, recycle, recycle.  Very impressive.  Not much waste here.  Modest living, not glutness.  The groceries are expensive.  Meat and Chicken are really expensive and fish pretty reasonable.  I loaded Drew up on a few groceries and tried back to his apartment.  Quite the work out going up and down his stairs with 50 pounds of stuff!!

Drew got home about 7:00 (he has an hour drive everyday to and from Maasmechlin).  We headed out for our Valentine Dinner reservation.  Mussels and Frits!  They were fabulous!! Good wine and again, no room for dessert!!  Both went home and prepackaged for our trip to Croatia to come.

Day 3: Loving Leuven

Well, since I was up dancing most of the night, I slept in until 9:30.  Drew was long gone to work.  He works in Maasmechlin, about an hour away.  I got up, showered and made my way to Drew's apartment.  This town is so dang cute!!  I see why he lives here.  Lueven is a college town.  Tons of students and the beautiful women.  No one drives cars, everyone walks, hence the toothpick legs, or rides a bike.  Leuven in anchored by two magnificent building, a church on one end and city hall on the other.  The street are cobblestone with lots of shops, no big box department stores.  The grocery stores are tiny and stocked with essentials.  I figured out that people only buy what they can carry!!  Hence, their thin and trim bodies.  Just a darling darling town!  I love Leuven!!

Today I did a lot of walking.  I checked out Drew's apartment in the daylight.  He set up his apartment last fall and did a very nice job!   It is an efficiency and after walking up a couple flights of stars, it is very relaxing.  I noticed on my way to his apartment, no one eats/drinks while walking.   Everyone sits down at an outside cafe and has their food.  No McDonalds here.  Belgium is known for its waffles!  I had to munch on one with my cappuccino

!!  So yummy!!  Later in the afternoon I had a bowl of tomatoe soup with a few slices of baguette for dripping.  YUM YUM YUM!  I love the Leuven lifestyle, no rush and so relaxed!!

Drew got home around 7:00 and we headed out for dinner.  Drew picked a place which was rated #1 on Trip Advisor.  When we got to the door they were full, but a few spots at the bar.  We asked if we could sit at the bar.  The people were unbelievable kind and welcomed us!!   We were looking for mussels and Frits, however, their specailty was beef.  They had beef from Greece, France, Spain, Italy...all grass fed, some 6 years old, all kinds of backgrounds....however, as we soon found out, the the food was phenomenal!  They talk to you about the types of beef and how to have it prepared.  They supplied us with wine and oh my, we were in heaven.  Fabulous evening.  Drew said Gin is another Belgium gem.  I had a gin and grapefruit tonic...easy to go down.  No room for dessert.  Left with big smiles and new friends.  Drew will have to go back there! Nice corner restaurant with great people!!  Reasonable bill too.

After dinner, Drew dropped me off at hotel.  He had one more day of work before we take off for Croatia.

Day 2: Paris

We stayed at the Novel, one block from the train station and easy access to catch our trail to Belgium later today.  We had a good night sleep and breakfast at the hotel.  Lots of meats and cheeses, along with lots of bakery!  Swedish pancakes wee on the buffet, however, not as good as my mom's!!  And my new favorite, Cappuccino!  Everyone is so relaxed and conversational.  Next table over were 5 Scottish men in kilts having their morning beer to get fired up for their country's game against France.  Drew and I considered going to the game, but it was cold, wet and rainy. The weather only hampered our walking tour, so we hopped on the Seine River Cruise to take us near most of the sites.  Since both of us have been here before, walking the Eiffel Tower was not imperative.  We enjoyed the cruise and then headed for a walk to Church of Notre Dame across the river.

Since this is winter and not a tourist season, lines were short and not to crowded.  Drew had purchased tickets earlier for Brussels, approximately a hour and a half speed train ride.  Comfortable seats and away we went.

Lueven:  we got to Brussels and caught the 20 minute train to Leuven.  It was dark, so not much to see.  We were both hungry.  First we went to Drew's apartment and then to my hotel, two blocks away.  I was staying at the Getaway.  Nice hotel with easy access to everything in Leuven.

We walked about 6 blocks to an eatery.  Drew had steaks and fries and I had the most delicious fish soup.  I also tried, and loved, a cherry beer, called Kriek.  Very tasty!  They had mussels on the menu, so we decided to book an 8:00 reservation for Valentines Day since restaurants were sure to be packed.  Drew dropped me off at the hotel and I fell asleep quickly, only to get up at 2:00 a.m. Due to jet lag!!  Uffda!!  Drew had to go to work on Monday and Tuesday, and I was going out exploring Leuven.

Paris, Belgium and Croatia with Drew

Friday, February 10th - Its my birthday today!!  Best gift ever.....flying over to Paris to spend the week with Drew.  Drew moved to Belgium last September and we been waiting for the green light from him on when to come visit.  The light turned green in January, so I made my reservation and packed my bags!!

Now, as many of you know, I am not a great fan of flying. The thought of flying over the ocean freaks me out, however, Drew put me at ease earlier in the week when he explained that the majority of my flight is over land. Friday at noon Paul picked me up and dropped me off at Delta.  Delta Comfort was fabulous.  Left at 4:30 p.m. And  landed 8 hours later....7:30 a.m. Paris time.  French entry was painfully slow.  Drew took the train from Lueven to Paris to meet me!  He greeted me with a box of Neuhaus chocolate for my birthday!! Uffda, they are great.  One a day is all you need!! Thank you Drew, you know how to keep your momma happy!!

Drew knew his way around the Paris airport.  We grabbed a taxi and headed for the Novel Hotel, two blocks from the Louvre.  We stopped for lunch and then took a 2 hour nap.  After the nap we headed to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa and other interesting paintings and sculptures, including Venus De Milo, goddess of love...an appropriate visit since Valentines Day is next week!!

On our way back to the hotel, we stopped for dinner at a quaint little place.  All eateries are very small and cute.  Drew ordered roast duck and fries and I ordered steak and fries.  Fries are big in France and per Drew, even bigger in Belgium.  We ordered duck pate and it came with s wonderful banquet.  The bread is fabulous and I could make a meal just on that alone.  I also ordered a sweet glass of white wine, which was very good.  After dinner, 20 minute walk back to the hotel and fell into bed.  Good first day.