Zagreb to Belgrade

Enjoyed my day in Zagreb, beautiful old world European city. Weather was interesting. Assumed since heading north would be colder. Arrived and it was sunny and warmer than entire week at Brac. However, cloud rolled over, temperature probably dropped 20-30 degrees and it got very windy. It ended up being hotter and colder than Brac. Got in around 2:30 and walked through the old town centre. I ate dinner at what my guide book ranked as one of the top five restaurants in Croatia, Bobar. It was nice. Italian, in the cellar, with bar above. I had a drink, bruschetta and very good homemade gnocchi with ham in cream sauce. Total meal cost about $18.

Had already purchased my for overnight, but got interesting at the train. When I bought ticket, asked for sleeper car. There were two options, three per car or six per car. Three was about 40% higher (actually only $20 but still). So I choose six. When I showed conductor he pointed to first car, last cabin. It only had three beds and I was alone in it. Not bad. Another conductor comes and says I am in wrong cabin, I told him other guy told me to go here. He said it was fine, but this was more money, tomorrow morning I could pay him 6 euros (I told him I only had Croatian kunas or American dollars, and it would be ok), don’t change. He also took my ticket and told me to lock door because of “Croatian thieves you ride train”. The next morning I gave him $10, surprisingly I didn’t get a receipt. Passport inspection at 4 am was also interesting. Serbia is the eleventh different European country I have entered. Most passport checks have been very quick and easy. This on not as much. I heard him come down the car, most went very quickly, which is what I expected. Came into my car, looked at my passport, inspected all pages, then left with passport without ever saying a word. Closed my door. I could then hear him on radio saying and spelling my name and listing all of the countries I had stamps for. A minute or two passed, he got a response, came back in, gave me my passport and continued, never said a word. Somewhat anxious few minutes, especially half asleep at 4 am, but all was well and I arrived in Belgrade.