Después de haber apreciado la voz muy bonita de la cantante, nos dirigimos hacia una confitería muy famosa de París es decir la confitería “Blé Sucré” donde realizan los mejores croissant de toda Francia. Llegados aquí vemos que el propietario tiene una cara muy enfadada porque su equipo favorito de fútbol acaba de perder un partido muy importante. Sin embargo, no hay tiempo para hablar con él porque tenemos que ir a la estación para coger el tren que va a salir dentro de media hora. Afortunadamente hemos reservado los asientos de primera clase donde hay también servicio de bar y puedes incluso pedir un vaso de champagne de alta calidad.

We’re in Paris, the French capital city, it’s autumn time. It’s the international day of cheese and near the Eiffel Tower there are many shops selling different kind of cheese. Everybody has the possibility to taste special dishes and cheese coming from the mountains areas. A singer performing Edith Piaf’s songs is holding in her hand the French flag in which you can see images of different types of cheese.After having appreciated the very beautiful voice of the singer, we head towards a very famous bakery in Paris, that is, the “Blé Sucré” bakery where they are said to make the best croissants in all France. Once we are arrived here, we see that the owner has a very angry face because his favorite football team has just lost a very important match. However, there is no time to talk to him because we have to go to the station to catch the train that will leave in half an hour. Luckily we have reserved the first class seats where there is also a bar service and you can even order a glass of high quality champagne.

It’s spring and we are in Smiljan. We are looking for the birthplace of Nikola Tesla where we can visit The Nikola Tesla Memorial Center! Wow, he was one of the most famous world's electrical researchers and inventors. We are hungry and one nice man tells us to try sarma in a local restaurant. It is pickled cabbage leaves stuffed with a mixture of mince, rice and spices. It’s delicious!

Then we drive to Korkula, a beautiful place. We want to find an answer to the question “Marco Polo: Italian or Croatian?” but everyone has his opinion! Anyway, he was born here! 

Our dream is becoming true…. Our next destination is the Plitvice Lakes National Park. It’s amazing! Over time water has created natural dams which in turn have created a series of connecting lakes, waterfalls, and caves. They say that in the forests you can see bears, wolves, and many rare bird species, well, no animals for us, but we have wonderful photos of the landscape! 

Ok, time to get back home… we buy a souvenir… what is it? A tie with red and white squares (the colours of Croatia). A tie? Yes, they say that the tie was invented in Croatia!!!!

Finally, we take off and watch the beautiful and still water of the Mediterranean sea through the window of the plane. We land in Istanbul, the biggest city of Turkey. The airport, « Istanbul Havalimani » is brand new ! There are red flags with a moon and a star everywhere, famous symbols of Turkey ! Our taxi tells us it is called « Al Sanca » in Turkish. He drives us through this amazing  transcontinental city : we discover the Bosporus strait which separates Europe and Asia, and the huge dome of Hagia Sophia. 

We are warmly welcomed by our host families. They have organized a great and typical Turkish night for us. We are starving and enjoy the good food they have prepared : Kebab, Köfte, Pide, Baklava and of course, the famous Turkish coffee to finish ! Then, some of our hosts start singing traditional Folk songs, accompanied by instruments such as a saz, a darbuka and a bendir. 

Later that night, as the moon shows, like on the Turkish flag, we think of one of Mevlana’s poems :

“At night, I open the window
 and ask the moon to come
 and press its face against mine.
 Breathe into me.
 Close the language-door
 and open the love-window.
 The moon won't use the door,
 only the window.”

After a good sleep, it is time to leave this fantastic place and head for our next stop : Croatia !

Our teacher’s phone is ringing. It is a call from Italy ! Monica has found our phone ! How great ! She sent it to Zagreb, we will find it there !