Woke up ridiculously early and the explored the neighbourhood more. Some grand updated mansions, some showing hints of their former grandness … wood shutters, mostly brick or stone with lath and a concrete plaster overlay. Yards were filled with a variety of bushes and flowers - especially oleander and roses.
Rendezvoused with a friend for brunch -after ordering I pulled out a small baggie of gray, granular Metamucil (in the event of issues with a different diet while travelling). They asked “What’s that?” Without missing a beat, I replied “it’s the last of my Mom’s ashes. She was part Croatian.”
It was hard to keep a neutral face as they stared at the baggie. ‘It’s a Croatian tradition to save a part of the ashes, mix a bit with water and drink it once they are returned to the Homeland.” Now they stared rather appalled at me - perhaps trying to keep their mortification from showing.
“It would mean a lot to me and I would be super honoured if you would take part in this with me.” I said as I opened the baggie and dipped a teaspoonful each into the two water glasses on the table and started stirring.
At this point I thought they would figure things out as the Metamucil turns an orange soda colour when mixed with water - nope, they were not familiar with the product!
I hoisted my glass, saluted the air with it, and swilled it back. ‘Not too bad.” I said, “a bit gritty and grainy” and pushed the other glass to them.
To my surprise they picked up the glass and took a mouthful - grimaced horribly as they swallowed, eyeballed the mouthful left and literally choked it down.
Most people who know me, know my family has a history of practical jokers, this friend included. When they looked up and saw my body shaking in silent laughter and tears streaming down my face, they realized they had been had … “OMG, I can’t believe I fell for that” was the polite part of what they said.
My afternoon wandering would take me to the Zagreb Botanical Gardens - 5 hectares in the middle of the city with English, French and Japanese style gardens and a great collection of carnivorous plants.
From there to the Chocolate Museum (where you can taste as much white, milk and dark chocolate as you want!) passing stately former mansions/palaces, street art in nooks and crannies, with smokers and cigarette butts everywhere (grateful for our no smoking rules back home!).
