We left Sarajevo behind us. It was an interesting city and the longer I was there the more I want to learn about it. I really could’ve used another day as they were many things that I was discovering about this fascinating place. But the tour must go on!
We headed towards Karanac, a small village in Croatia. It was a long drive and we didn’t arrive here until after 5 o’clock. We were greeted by Dennis and his wife, Goca. We checked into our rooms right away which were right there on the farm. Although there was no air conditioning in the room was cool and it was very hot outside. Immediately they got most people, not me, pitting plums. The plan was to make 40 pounds of plums and 8 pounds of sugar and cook it together to make jam. While that was going on Lily was in the kitchen and getting ready to show us all how to make cheese. The cheese would be ready for breakfast. It was freshly harvested milk that was Going to be used to make the cheese. They had to separate the milk into curds and whey. The Cheeseheads if you checked several times during the night and people volunteer to do that. Once again not I.
It was an authentic working fine although small. We were treated to dinner at Lily‘s house with her family. The food was very traditional and it was very good. There was homemade cottage cheese , Tomatoes from the garden, a casserole made from bread and homemade cheese and onion, there was plates of smoked ham and pork, there were sausages, and big potatoes. What may have sounded like an eclectic mishmash, was a delicious meal common into what they have on a regular basis. Although her parents did not speak any English, Liliano was quite fluent. She talked about her history and her schooling, her sister and other members of her family. Their farm had been in their Family for many generations. We asked her if she expected either her son or daughter to take over the farm and she said she was going to let them make their own choices. She was a very smart and shrewd businesswoman. She also made jams and cheeses and sold them at the local farmers market on Saturdays.. Time flew at her house and all of a sudden it was 930. We were tired and it was time to go to bed. We were all pretty tired from the day.
The next morning I was up at six and others had already been up. The farm was in full swing. Goca Was already up making bread for breakfast and some of the women from the group were in the kitchen helping her. People were out cutting up tomatoes as Dennis was going to make tomato sauce. They were also putting ingredients into Clay pot. We were going to have goulash for lunch and they were going to make it on the fire outside in Clay pot.
We then headed into breakfast. Friday eggs, different kind of bread’s, the plum jam that we made the day before and the fresh cheese. It was a wonderful breakfast. After breakfast we had a little free time and then we walked around the village. It was absolutely nothing to see in the village. They were probably hundred families that lived in the environments of the village.
We got back in time for lunch and we had the most delicious goulash for meal. We said goodbye to Dennis and his wife and we were on the road again. On to Zagreb.
The village was not a place I would want to live however it was a wonderful experience. The couple that run the farm were wonderful hosts and willing to share this simple life with us. Although I could smell the typical farm smells in my room it was still a peaceful and pleasant place to be. It is going to be one of the highlights of this trip. In fact it may be The highlight of the trip.
We headed towards Karanac, a small village in Croatia. It was a long drive and we didn’t arrive here until after 5 o’clock. We were greeted by Dennis and his wife, Goca. We checked into our rooms right away which were right there on the farm. Although there was no air conditioning in the room was cool and it was very hot outside. Immediately they got most people, not me, pitting plums. The plan was to make 40 pounds of plums and 8 pounds of sugar and cook it together to make jam. While that was going on Lily was in the kitchen and getting ready to show us all how to make cheese. The cheese would be ready for breakfast. It was freshly harvested milk that was Going to be used to make the cheese. They had to separate the milk into curds and whey. The Cheeseheads if you checked several times during the night and people volunteer to do that. Once again not I.
It was an authentic working fine although small. We were treated to dinner at Lily‘s house with her family. The food was very traditional and it was very good. There was homemade cottage cheese , Tomatoes from the garden, a casserole made from bread and homemade cheese and onion, there was plates of smoked ham and pork, there were sausages, and big potatoes. What may have sounded like an eclectic mishmash, was a delicious meal common into what they have on a regular basis. Although her parents did not speak any English, Liliano was quite fluent. She talked about her history and her schooling, her sister and other members of her family. Their farm had been in their Family for many generations. We asked her if she expected either her son or daughter to take over the farm and she said she was going to let them make their own choices. She was a very smart and shrewd businesswoman. She also made jams and cheeses and sold them at the local farmers market on Saturdays.. Time flew at her house and all of a sudden it was 930. We were tired and it was time to go to bed. We were all pretty tired from the day.
The next morning I was up at six and others had already been up. The farm was in full swing. Goca Was already up making bread for breakfast and some of the women from the group were in the kitchen helping her. People were out cutting up tomatoes as Dennis was going to make tomato sauce. They were also putting ingredients into Clay pot. We were going to have goulash for lunch and they were going to make it on the fire outside in Clay pot.
We then headed into breakfast. Friday eggs, different kind of bread’s, the plum jam that we made the day before and the fresh cheese. It was a wonderful breakfast. After breakfast we had a little free time and then we walked around the village. It was absolutely nothing to see in the village. They were probably hundred families that lived in the environments of the village.
We got back in time for lunch and we had the most delicious goulash for meal. We said goodbye to Dennis and his wife and we were on the road again. On to Zagreb.
The village was not a place I would want to live however it was a wonderful experience. The couple that run the farm were wonderful hosts and willing to share this simple life with us. Although I could smell the typical farm smells in my room it was still a peaceful and pleasant place to be. It is going to be one of the highlights of this trip. In fact it may be The highlight of the trip.
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