Croatia: Zagreb

Croatia: Zagreb: I just converted 1400 kuna, which equals 245 dollars. I feel rich. So here's your math equation for the day. If I buy a box of popcorn i...

Zagreb

I just converted 1400 kuna, which equals 245 dollars. I feel rich. So here's your math equation for the day. If I buy a box of popcorn in the park for 10 kuna, which I just did, how much did it cost in dollars and cents? We just arrived in Zagreb. Driving a Ford Focus Hatchback, I thought I rented a Peugeot and who wants to drive an American car in former communist country, the drive into Zagreb was a breeze. Just follow the signs that say City center. As I pull up to the Palace Hotel, it sounds like where you would stay in monopoly, there,s a tour bus in the middle of the street loading luggage and handicap people. There are two bellhops and a cop talking in front of the hotel. I ask where can I park. He says behind the bus. Thinking anywhere behind the bus, I straddle the electric trolley track. He yells, "get out, I'll do it." And he jumps in the drivers seat with Ann in the car looking dazed and confused. I'm sure it's because we spent the last 24 hours waiting in line, taking our shoes and belt off, waiting in line some more, sitting in a plane on the Tarmac, flying in a plane for 7 hours, and waiting in line at the Paris airport to get our boarding passes to Zagreb. Here are a couple observations about the difference in airport etiquette between the USA and Europe. There's no taking off of shoes in the security line. Nor do they take a full body scan. Thank you Europe, you know the true purpose of shoes. When I take the position in the full body scan, hands in a form of prayer above the head, I want to do some kind of T.O. Victory celebration but I always chicken out. Would it be too provocative for the TSA? Do terrorists practice victory celebrations like NFL players? Europeans don't like to wait their turn in line, nor do the airline ticket people care. Ann and I were waiting in line to get our boarding passes for Zagreb. It's 6am Paris time, and we're in the basement of Charles DeGaul international airport. Everyone is bone tired or a zombie. The two female ticket agents are on the phone way too long trying to help two dudes. After about 15 minutes of waiting, the next guy in line goes up to the counter and tells the ticket agent to hurry up because he's got to catch his flight. She starts yelling at him in French. While this is going on, a few people decide to start their own line in the middle. When she's finally finished with her dude, she refuses to help the next guy in line, the guy who asked her to hurry up, and takes a person from the newly created line. I was going to walk up to the counter and say, "no you didn't." But wisely Ann held me back, knowing that if I did object we wouldn't be sitting in the Palace Hotel at this moment. Finally, if you ever stay in a European hotel, in order to use the lights, the AC, or anything electrical, you have to insert the door pass into a holder attached to the hotel room wall. It took us awhile the first time, groping around in a dark, hot hotel room, but energy saving smart. This is the wonderful and picturesque view from our hotel window. I think I'll close the drapes and take a nap.

Dovidenja,

Dave and Ann