It was a Sunday morning on our first full day in the lovely country of Croatia. We were walking around the city of Zagreb, getting to know the place. As we approached the main square called Trg bana Jelačića or Ban Jelačić Square, we came upon a large group of people gathering to celebrate and commemorate a historical event (I didn’t quite get what it was).
The participants made their way to their designated spots, held hands and got ready. We weren’t sure what was going on but we could tell that whatever it was it was going to be interesting.
We marveled at the beautiful and colorful local costumes that the men, women, youth and children were wearing.
There were also some very serious looking military type men standing in attention.
Soon, a young girl on stage started to speak. After a few minutes, the music began and people started dancing. With their intertwined arms, the people started a bouncy sidestepping routine.
As I walked around taking photos and enjoying the scene, a few ladies invited me to join in. So I did! While the steps may look deceptively simple, I had a hard time keeping up with the beat. Gloria Estefan had said that rhythm was going to get you, but unfortunately it missed me completely. Still, I wasn’t going to let my inability to execute the correct dance steps from enjoying this moment. So I staggered along, skipping and stepping with my new Croatian friends.
I don’t know why I thought it was a good idea to keep my mouth hanging every time I looked at the camera – mental note: not a good look, hahaha!
It was exhilarating to be in the midst of such a festive atmosphere. The people were very friendly. They patiently taught me the steps. Even they realized that I clearly wasn’t getting it, they cheerfully encouraged to keep hopping right along. When I joined in, I didn’t realize that the goal was to dance around the ENTIRE square. I think they were going for some sort of record.
I almost wanted to bail but my dancing buddies were so sweet and nice that I decided to stick it out until we made it all the way back to the point where we started. When they told me that it could last for up to hours, I thanked them for their hospitality and broke off.
The dancing went on for just a few more minutes then the music came to a stop and everyone applauded their efforts.
It was like one of those scenes in a Travel Channel show, where the hosts stumbles upon a gathering and is immediately a part of it. I didn’t think it would happen to me, but when the opportunity came up to interact with some lovely Croatian people in an event that clearly meant a lot to them, I went for it. It is this sort of experience that can make one’s travel experience rich, memorable and interesting.
Have you ever been a a part of a local festivity, wedding or celebration? Share your experience below.
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