Thursday, April 23, 2009

Family Visits Croatia ~ Varaždin & Trakosčan

On Saturday the 4th my Mom, Dad and Sister flew in from Canada for their 2 week tour through Croatia. My Host Parents and I drove to Zagreb to pick them up at the airport. After picking up our rental car we drove back to Varaždin.

At Dinner.
Lara, (My host sister) Alema, (My host mom) Damir, (My host dad) Baka, (My host grandmother) Susan, (My mom) Dave, (My dad) Emily. (My sister)
On Sunday I showed my family around Varaždin. Here are a few pictures from around town: City Hall
Man playing music outside one of the coffee bars on the main square.
Main square - "Korzo"
Clock in the main park.
Backside of the Cathedral.
Inside the park.
In town.
Statue embedded in the wall of an old building.
Drinking fountain.
Mom rubbing Grgur Ninski's "Golden Toe" for good luck.

Looking down the street.
An angel built into the wall of a building.
The Castle.
After touring all the sights we headed over to my first host families house for coffee and cakes.

My family with my first host family.
My first host family and I.
On Monday we drove out to Trakosčan Castle for the day. I have been there before (And have a Blog post on it) but I wasn't able to take any pictures of the interior. Here is the interior of the Castle:

Exterior of the Castle.
The Hall in the eastern tower of the castle. It presents the hunting traditions of the Drašković family.
The chivalric, vaulted, Gothic style room.
The dining room with elaborately carved furnishings.
Coat of arms above one of the doors.
The Counts bedroom with Neo-Baroque furniture.

A stove in the music salon.
Sitting area in Countess Julijana Drašković's room. She spent a lot of her time painting and playing the piano here.
The Baroque style bedroom.
The sitting section of the Rococo style room.
The bed side of the Rococo style room.
Hand painted scene of the Seven Years War on the wall.

Room decorated in the Classicistic style.
Room in the Biedermeier Style.
Room in the Neo-Renaissance Style.

Emily in the weapons display room.
In the kitchen.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Plac (The Market)

My host mom and I visited the Plac (Market) to look around and pick up a few items.

The Plac is popular morning market as well as a gathering place. Saturday and Sunday mornings are most crowded. We didn't go until late morning so it was less crowded.

You can find fresh cottages and cheeses, eggs, vegetables, bread products, spices, meats, seafood, and imported fruits.

Varaždinski Plac

There are also stalls that sell clothing, crafts, shoes and other miscellaneous items.


Fruit section.

Meat stall.
Sausages and other meats hanging on the wall.
Nearing closing time so not all tables are occupied.

Potatoes!
Pretty spring flowers.


An old but working scale!

Fresh spices, garlic and farm eggs for sale.
Chickens.

It is common for older woman to wear headscarves such as the one the lady here is wearing.

Fresh vegetables.
Early in the morning nearly all tables are filled with products to be sold by the vendors.


Fresh bread products.

Bundles of mixed vegetables used for making soup.



Newly cut daffodils.


My host mom looking at the daily meat selection.