2geonomads

Monday 5th May 2014

First task after breakfast is to return the rental car and on the way back to call in at the railway station. We had tried previously to book tickets for the Zagreb  to Belgrade 6 hour 37 minute journey, a challenge which one would expect to be fairly straightforward. Our first discussions with the railway clerk had taken place on Saturday 3rd May and she had informed us that the 11.15am train which we had planned to take two days later was running over 200 minutes late so she obviously had remarkably prophetic powers.

Gail had subsequently checked out the website and true enough the 11.00 am train was showing up as leaving at 14.50.

Armed with this information we approached the same afore-mentioned clerk again and she now confirmed that the train was leaving at 15.20.

With no other options available to us Gail bought two tickets ( I left it up to her as my patience was running rather low) and left the station to return to the hotel to check out. On the way out of the station we noticed that the 11.00 am was still showing on the departures so we asked another information clerk to check this out. She confirmed that the 15.20 was the only train leaving for Belgrade that day.

Totally confused, we walk back into the centre of Zagreb, check out and enjoy a few hours strolling around the lovely Old Town. This led to a re-appraisal of our views on Zagreb as the Old Town is delightful with some very pretty tree-lined streets and an ambience a far cry from the more frenetic newer part of the town.

Arrive at the station in good time for our train, having bought some food to eat during the long journey as we had been advised that no restaurant car was available. Wrong again as we found the the said restaurant car next to our own carriage!

A very uneventful but comfortable trip through some fairly uninspiring scenery although Gail did offer a moment of light entertainment with a ‘Gailism’. She was checking the details on the journey’s duration and casually remarked that having checked the calculations the train ” was in fact on time but 4 hours late”.  Mrs I’ s logic is always a source of joy and amusement.

Train chugged into Belgrade shortly after 10 pm and after short taxi ride we arrive at the flat we are sharing with Maureen and John, our friends from Busselton. Too tired to have more than a quick cup of tea then off to bed feeling decidedly jaded.

Cheers

The Obese Ferret.