This morning an early border crossing was on the program.

The Slovenian mayor passed over the torch to his friend the Croatian mayor. Children sang for us and ran with us over the border.

Thank you Slovenia for a wonderful run in your country! You received us with great warmth and have given us many good memories.

In Ribnik we had our first little reception, where we were asked to come inside a little restaurant. We were so grateful to get hot drinks and nice snacks on this foggy Sunday morning. A great second breakfast.

Our next meeting in Karlovac was very impressive. The whole village seemed to welcome us and there were lots of charming performances: A children’s choir sang for us and dancing and taekwando groups performed for us.

In the next school, in Draganici the choir sang our World Harmony Run Song much better then we could have done it. Also the folkdance group was outstanding. We were impressed by the hospitality of the Croatian communities and schools but what touched me most is that you could feel an intense and sincere hunger for peace and harmony! All preparations and performances were done with a lot of care and love and all speeches were very expressive and deep.

A group of six little girls were dancing for us when we arrived in Jastrebarsko and lunch was served on the market place, where we could enjoy the midday sun. Our schedule was tight so we had to leave soon for Klinca Sela where schoolchildren were waiting for us.

We had to split the team and do leap-frogging to be in time for the next reception in Sambor. Four very good runners accompanied us on the way and joined us until Sambor.

At 18.30 we had our last ceremony for this day in Zagreb at the banks of the river. A Croatian girl sang the national anthem and then her friends joined in for “Amazing Grace”. The mayor of Zagreb gave us a warm welcome together with an Olympic gold medallist in basketball who is part of the Olympic committee in Croatia. He is impressively tall.

Both of them ran with us down the lake side together with some of the spectators.

It was already dark and the torch shone like a flaming beacon in the night.

Distance: 110km

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