Only a one day stop in Zagreb before we push on to Budapest. Sightseeing was limited to the central city area. Which was OK because that in itself is a sight to see. The most prominent feature here is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the Zagreb Cathedral. Even if you're not a religious person, you can't but help wonder at the architectural wonder of the place (the same could be said of all churches in Europe). The original construction of the cathedral was in 1093, but has undergone a few reconstructions through the ages.

Of even more interest, at least to us, was the large fresh food market set up in one of the main squares of the city. Everything from fruit, vegetables, spices, nuts and seeds, and cheese was available. We bought some grapes and mandarins - amazing flavor, and only $1 a kilo too.

Time for a spot of lunch (we missed breakfast today and we're feeling a bit undernourished). The people at the hotel recommended a place just a block away. Normally we don't put much stock in hotel recommendations - we figure they're doing it for kickbacks. But this time we thought "What the heck, why not." And we weren't disappointed. We both had a bowl of onion soup with fresh bread, a glass or two of very fine red, and coffee, which was the best we had had in Croatia. Perusing the menu, we decided to go back for dinner. Again we were not disappointed. Julie had a dish of Sesame coated chicken fillets with a courgette puree (scrumptious), while I had a bowl of cream of broccoli soup, followed by grilled duck breast with grilled veg and a raspberry and peppercorn sauce. Again washed down with a couple of glasses of red and coffee. We were both blown away by the food, the service, the atmosphere of the restaurant. A very pleasant end to our sojourn into Croatia.

Croatia has been a highlight of the trip so far. We didn't know what to expect. Visions of the Bosnian-Serb war kept popping into our minds. However, Croatia has both surprised and delighted us. Next to Italy, it is now one of our favorite destinations. It's definitely on our "Come Back To" list.