Day 7 - Croatia and dinner with the hotel owner!

Swimming in the Mediterranean

Resort where we were staying

So we got up early. We have to leave Ossiach :(. Next show is in Opatija (in Croatia). To get to Croatia we had to cross through Slovenia. Croatia is on the coast, and really, it’s gorgeous! Our hotel is huge. Apparently, Croatia is the European vacation spot; kinda like when Canadians/Americans go to Cuba or Dominican. We walked down the promenade to the main part of town to see where the concert would be and to get some lunch. Note to self: watch the movie about Austria’s Empress Sisi (Elizabeth); she is not only important in Austrian history but she’s said to be the downfall of their monarchy. She comes up in Croatian history a bunch too. Then Uncle Rainer and I went for a swim in Skrbici Bay (haha, don’t ask me how to pronounce it). The water was amazing! More clean, clear and warmer than Ossiacher See. The concert was great even the second time around. I really enjoyed the second half. Afterwards, we took a taxi over to a 100-year old building newly renovated as a spa/restaurant/hotel (with only 6 rooms ;P). Must be really expensive! Beautiful building, great view of the water and Opatija. I was sitting beside Jonathan, a conductor from the conservatory of music and dance in England. He taught me a tongue twister in the Czech language. It goes like this: Strc prst skrz krk. It means push (your) finger through (your) throat. The ‘your’ is implied. Ridiculous language, making do with so few vowels; I don’t understand at all! Across from me was the Austrian ambassador to Croatia. And of course there was also: Isabelle and Remy (the conductor and his wife), Carole and Rainer, a colleague of Uncle Rainer’s, the man who organized the concerts, the man who owned the hotel and his friend. The food was pretty good except that it had octopus on it. I just couldn’t eat them, all those little legs. I think I have a serious aversion to seafood with legs. Overall it was a nice night though. Now to bed, because it’s an early morning to get back to Vienna in time for Uncle Rainer’s rehearsal.