Home -> Europe -> Croatia -> Travelogue 2003 -> Thursday 3 July

A day off and a rehearsal concert

It is S-day today: sun, sea, swimming, sweating and salt on our skin. Now and then we swim in the sea or lie at the beach, then we visit the bar where our new friend Joško works. But why are we so tired all the time? Maybe it is the work on this website, we still have to catch up with translating three days into English. Making the account for one day, including the choosing of pictures, adjusting them, translating the Dutch story into English and putting it on the web costs us one to two hours a day. We don't think we will do it the same way on our next holiday, since sometimes it feels like an obligation, the last thing we need in a holiday!

We are invited to see the tryout of the old band of Joško in Diklo, a suburb of Zadar. For the first time we see clouds here, but it is still warm (27 degrees at 10 o'clock).

Nightfall doesn't take long here and driving to Diklo we see the sun giving a spectacular show, setting into the sea. According to the inhabitants of Zadar it's sunsets belong to the most beautiful in the world. And who are we to question that?

Joško didn't know the exact time of their show and he says it is not really a gig. 11 years ago he and three other boys (all teenagers then) had a band during the war. They haven't played together since that time and even now they haven't practised together. We arrive much too early, at half past eight and their act is only at eleven. We don't feel like sitting there all that time since we feel so tired and leave about 10. But we listened to their soundcheck and a few songs they tried out. It is on a very small stage at a small bar between narrow alleys, away from the touristic and modern places. And it is very crowded with local people.

Joško isn't very pleased with the soundcheck, but we are amazed how well they play together after a break of 11 years. After half an hour one can't hear that they haven't played together for such a long time. They play a number of U2 and some songs of themselves. To our surprise Joško is not only a guitarplayer but also the leadsinger. He is the one in the middle of the picture with the big smile.

It has been another beatiful day and although we haven't seen the real tryout of the band, we really enjoyed the rockmusic we have heard at their soundcheck. It is a pity we felt so tired and didn't see the whole show. We are getting too old...

Travel through Europe and Africa

with Elisabeth and Teije