July 15, 1981

Travel Diary

Date: July 15, 1981

"Today, we didn't do much. This morning, gypsies came by. They had dancing bears. I took a few pictures. This afternoon we picked plus to be made into whiskey*. We were going to go to a certain persons house, but we didn't. We'll go tomorrow, I guess. Tonight, I got sorta made when I was teased about P., so I walked out - still happy. Mama apologized. I hope the teasing is over with now. Didn't mail letters today - tomorrow. Tasted my first coffee** - it wasn't too bad. When the Gypsies were here, a girl came up and asked for bread. I pretended not to understand. Before sleep - we talked for 3 hours."

* The plums were actually used for plum brandy, or "slivovitz". This stuff was made by a traveling still. People used their own plums to make their supply for the year. Slivovitz is drank by taking a straight shot of it. Let me tell you, it BURNS!

** The coffee was Turkish coffee. After pouring a tiny cup of it, you let it sit so the grounds can settle to the bottom of the cup and then you can drink it.

July 15, 1981

July 14, 1981

Travel Diary

Date: July 14, 1981

"I received my first mail today, 3 letters! I wrote 2 letters. I didn't do much else. At about 12:00, I was hanging out the window, a bus stops, and who should get off? Celo. We talked for only a few minutes. Z. wasn't there to translate. We stayed in because the rest of the tile was laid. Took a walk later on tonight. It's raining now."

July 13, 1981

Travel Diary

Date: July 13, 1981

"Today I wrote 3 letters. I didn't do much else since tile is being laid in the entry and I can't get out [of the room]. We had the window open at about 6:00, and Mama had just given me a handful of flowers - daisies & 2 glads, and a bus stopped, so Z. said, "M., It's Celo." I didn't believe her, until he stopped in front of the window. I wonder if I made a pretty picture. He said that the film had been bad - the one that he asked Z. if I wanted to watch. He didn't stay long, he was hungry, so he went to his house.
"The reason why Z. said no when he asked if I would watch TV with him is because it isn't done. Girls don't go into guys houses, and guys don't go into girls. Z. translated a song that she wrote and she asked me to write one, so I did - really a poem. It's called "You and I, Love." Z. says that she's going to give it to Celo. We'll see. I'm tired and I must use the can, but I don't know if I can."

I didn't know it at the time, but the house where we were living had recently been built. There was a front gate and once in that, it opened up into our land. There was an older house which had been Mama's parent's house (and I believe where they lived before this house was built). There were fruit trees and the land went back until it reached the train tracks. The entry to the house faced the large back yard. At this time, there was no door!! Instead, a large curtain was hung across the opening. As you entered the house, there was the tile foyer. Off to the right was a door. That lead to the stairs that went upstairs. There was nothing but storage upstairs. The second door on the right was the bathroom. This was large with a hand-held shower for the tub. Here was a stove since there was no central heat. Gas lines for heat were laid in 1997!

The next door, which was opposite to the entry way, was the room where Z. and I slept. We both had convertible sofa beds. The next room was the living/dining room. Suzy slept in here and I kept all of my clothes here. We spent most of our time in this room. We were ever so lucky in that the bus stop was nearly right outside our house, so we got to see who came and went all day long. In a village of this size, this was the most exciting thing to happen each day! Opposite the bathroom was the kitchen. We ate in here and there was another convertible sofa where Mama & Tata slept. So that was our house! The outside was brick with stucco added later.

Back to Yugoslavia

When last we left you, I was 17 years old, living in Yugoslavia (now Croatia) as an exchange student for the summer of 1981. I was loving living with my host family: Tata (dad), Mama, Z. (my 15-year old host sister) and Suzy, (13-year old host sister). I was getting attention from the men/boys in the area and that was rather exciting.

Sometimes I read some of these next entries and cringe a little. But I remind myself that I was 17 and that's the way I was waaaay back then. So, here's more:

Travel Diary
Date: July 12, 1981

"Last night, we (Z. rather) talked to Celo for about 2 hours. Details on what he said later - when I find out. He said that he liked me - yesterday. Celo asked Z what if he fell in love with me. "What?" Z asked.
"I'd need a translator. Will you do it?"
Z: "No, you just need a dictionary."
Nada: "No, you just need to know three words. Do you know what they are?"
C: "No.... Oh, 'I love you.'"
Sounds promising. Went to church this morning. Long & hot! Went to soccer tournament today. Celo stayed by us. He asked if I liked him. "Yes." No answer [from him] - blush.*
"Tonight ALL of us walked to the disco but before we got there we were told that it was nothing, so we went back home. Celo asked Z if I wanted to watch TV w/ him. She said, "No." That isn't done here. Details later."

* Celo blushed, that is. Not me.

Hoover Dam

Well, my exercise in posting photos has me frustrated for right now, so I'll continue with the tale of my trip.

We drove out to Hoover Dam, getting caught up with tons of traffic which crawled along. The new by-pass will be for the regular folk who don't need to drive across the dam and that should help out with the congestion. There's a security checkpoint just before the dam, so that slows things up too.

At the Dam, we purchased tickets to see the power plant ($11). We first saw a movie about how the Dam came to be. Then we took an elevator down under the dam and then to the power plant area. Pretty interesting stuff. And then we ended up in the history center. Contrary to popular belief, no one is buried in the cement of the dam!

Of course we had to visit the Dam gift shop! Then it was back towards Las Vegas. We were in search of:

Yes, there's actually a Dunkin Donuts (Caleb is originally from Boston). We finally found it at 5:45. And the doors were locked! But, the sign said they were open until 6 PM. A muffled voice from inside told us to go through the drive-thru. So, Caleb ordered his iced coffee and we asked what kind of donuts they had left. "No donuts." Huh? Is not your name Dunkin DONUTS?! I suggested we go dumpster diving. No took me up on it. Caleb got his scorched iced coffee and off we went back to Primm.

Once back, we visited with some of MSM's family and then had dinner together. Afterwards, this Broad Abroad plunked herself down at a Blackjack table for her very first play. And within the first 5-6 hands, had gotten 3 Blackjacks! Beginner's Luck!

We ended up playing until 1:30 where we cashed in and realized we had won some. Not enough to purchase a small country, but enough to make us chortle.

On Monday, it was back to reality. We left in plenty of time to return our rental car and get through the lines in the airport. TSA was monitoring how the lines through security were moving and opening up more lines as needed. Hey, what a concept!

And then we arrived back at home. Safe and sound.

Dare I try yet again?

Bare with me....

OK!!!!! It worked. It's small, but it worked.