02. Aug 2023

Krško - Samobor

I like staying at hostels. It is sometimes very tight the sleeping area and the facilities very simple, but then it does not cost much to stay the night. Also there are quite often a number of young people and who are happy to talk with an "old man" pilgrim. At the hostel last night in Krško I actually had a room to myself. There were hardly any people there. Vanja was filling in at the reception for someone on vacation, a very helpful young lady. Since the nearby restaurant was closed, she was kind enough to order a pizza for me so I would not have to walk somewhere. Also this morning she made breakfast for me... I was the only one having breakfast. I told her I was a pilgrim walking through her country and praying for the people and nation of Croatia, and that I would pray for her if she would like. It was a brief encounter that ended with a prayer of blessing, but it touched the heart.

Shortly before the border to Croatia I went in a small market to buy something cold to drink. The lady at the cash register was apparently also the owner. She recognized the Camino logo on my hat and wanted to know if I was a pilgrim. She then motioned to her husband to give me a liter of cold mineral water in addition to what I purchased. She was so happy to so something for me, and I was so glad to have the cold water. Within the next hour, I drank everything. I was very grateful for the many acts of kindness that I experienced from people in Slovenia.

At the hostel in Samobor this evening I shared a small room with a young man from Serbia who is the same age as my son, Sorin, works as an electrician like my son and could pass as his twin brother, particularly when Sorin has a beard. The young man also had a very kind heart like my son. We connected. I shared some things about God and prayed with him... like I do as well with my son. Also at the hostel I met another young man from Nepal who was waiting for his working permit to do construction work in Croatia. We talked about hiking and the famed sherpas from his country who carry the backpacks for the tourist trekking to Mount Everest. I told him that when I have a hard time carrying a backpack, I think about the Sherpas. I also shared with him my story. It was the first time I ever spoke to a person from Nepal about Jesus. That would never had happened had I stayed at a hotel.

Photo 1: Path along the Sava River

Photo 2: One of the power stations along the river

Photo 3: Border crossing to Croatia

Photo 4-5: Samobor, Croatia... one fourth of the journey now complete