We started off in Starigrad today, where we had spent the night. Although it is not a part of our official route, we had two events planned in this beautiful little seaside town. First we paid a short visit to the office of the Paklenica National Park, one of Croatia's largest and most beautiful natural parks bordering the town. Several years ago the park was declared a Sri Chinmoy Harmony-Blossom as a tribute to the ideal of world-harmony, so we were happy to be received there. Afterwards we visited the elementary school of Starigrad. All the children were waiting for us on the schoolyard and seemed happy to see us, judging by the thunderous noise they made as we ran in. We held an elaborate presentation for them and made them all official members of the World Harmony Team.

Their wishes for global harmony, friendship and goodwill strengthened the flame of our torch, as they passed it around from hand to hand. As thoughts are a form of energy and positive thoughts therefore a form of positive energy, our torch must be charged to the brim with good vibrations! Perhaps that explains the small mystery why the one holding the torch is always the fastest runner, even though he is carrying more weight. Then we became famous as we had to sign autographs for nearly every kid in the school. We tried not to let it get to our heads. It was hard, but I think we succeeded. :-) The kids were really great and we waved goodbye to them, hoping we will meet again some day.

Since we had ended the previous day in Karlobag, we drove back to the same latitude, but just a little more westward, in the town of Pag on the island with the same name. Pag is a jewel of an island, very popular with tourists in the summer, and breathes an atmosphere of serenity and tranquillity. We were received by the Director of Tourism and treated to a medley of traditional song and dance, performed by both children and adults.

The children from Pag who were running with us were full of enthusiasm and beamed with joy. Children's joy is highly contagious, as we know from personal experience! We all posed for a nice picture.

Our World Harmony Run van usually draws a lot of attention from passers-by as well as from the higher authorities.

The city of Pag graciously provided us with a sumptuous lunch, for which we were most grateful. From Pag we ran to the direction of Nin, a small coastal town. Again children were the first to greet us and ran with us to the centre of the little town.

On the square a girls marching band performed a dance for us. These children were also extremely bright, enthusiastic and well-behaved.

We were almost sorry to leave them behind. Here in Nin also, we were presented with a light lunch. Fortunately we run quite a bit during the day, which seems to create a roomy space inside one's stomach. The lunch was served in a restaurant overlooking a little chapel, which is dubbed the smallest cathedral in the world, since Croatian kings were crowned here in the hoary past. The remaining thirty kilometres took us to Zadar, a university city also on the coast. The reception we got in Zadar was simply beyond our imagination.

Normally when children run with us it is usually a small group of some twenty or thirty kids, occasionally amounting to fifty if it is a bigger group. Along the streets of Zadar hundreds and hundreds of children were gathered, clapping and cheering as we ran by and joining us running from behind. After a while I glanced backwards and saw an unending stream of children running behind us, hundreds upon hundreds. It was a very moving experience. We ran into the city centre and up to the main square where the deputy-mayor received us. An elaborate and artistic program was held in our honour with singing groups, music groups, folkloristic dance and poetry readings.

It was an elevating evening and one we will not lightly forget. Afterwards the local organizer of the event gave us a short guided tour towards one of Zadar's most prized features: the sea organ. This is a real organ built under water which is played by the waves of the sea rolling to shore. It is an amazing phenomenon and the sound it produces is both haunting and otherwordly. The city was also kind enough to provide a hotel for us and we are deeply indebted to them for their overwhelming generosity and hospitality.

Drazen, our friend and country coordinator for Croatia poses next to a famous fellow countryman.

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Team Members:
Martin Leitner (Austria), Hidde Abhinabha Tangerman (The Netherlands), Jana Chochlikova (Slovakia), Tatyana Chochlikova (Slovakia), Frank Foerster (Germany), Predrag Trkulja (Serbia), Petr Machacek (Czech Republic)

Harmonemail:
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