Black Forest to the Black Sea - on to Croatia.

 As I set off this morning the first sighting of the river was at the  bridge crossing just outside Baja ... and seeing the sign I realised  that I'm an exonymist  ... yes I had to look it up as well ... in referring to the river by the name I know it as but of course it's called differently by the locals of the countries it flows through.

So we started in Germany following the Donau , then the Dunaj  through Slovakia , the Duna in Hungary today and later, I hope, the Dunav through Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria and finally the Dunărea in Romania. 

By the way it's called the Dunai in Ukraine just the other side if the delta to Tulcea in Romania where I'm hoping to end up but keeping well away from there.

Can I return to the subject of how the apparent culture in Slovakia and Hungary has made the people seem to me, well putting it bluntly, rude.  I accept that's probably not their intention  .. no different to me saying "hey up" to southerners in the street I guess, but you get nothing back (Actually I don't say "Hey up " to anyone!)

Anyway, suddenly and markedly it changed during the course of the evening and people where exceptionally friendly and helpful. Pathetic linguist that I am it also took me a while to realise there was a lot of German mixed in with responses to my poor attempts at communication. Further research ... well I can only eat so much pork and drink so much beer ... say that this part of Hungary has a large population  “Danube Swabians” descendants of the settlers from Germany who  were encouraged to repopulate the area after the collapse of the Otterman Empire  

Even the signs are friendly. When I stopped to look at waht I though was a Toll Booth but turned out to be a shrine I noted this one....
 ... and others ....

                                                                                                            

   Talking of signs, having so many                                                                         boundary changes over time, even in                                                                    our own lifetimes can be a pain for the  sign writers, and expensive for  the local  authority!

Climbing up higher on the western bank the crops changed from root veg and  corn and vineyards began, I don't know when picking time actually is but it cant be far away because the Black grapes were delicious and opportunity to sample the wares of the many wineries increased. Obviously couldn't stop and sample but I may seek out some Hungarian and Croatian wine when home just to see.

As in a lot of European countries there are so many shrines along the roads and I admit I don't really understand their significance.

Some times you will see 2 or 3 within a mile or so. They even put them up in the air!

The villages I passed through were as we all imagine I guess with some                                                      really run down but others in the same street could be exceptionally                                                          ornate.

It was interesting to see this sign at the now 

defunct Hungarian/Croatian border. Why just the locals and us and the Germans. Obviously this part of the world hasn't seen enough Hen and Stag does!!!

Just after entering Croatia I wanted to visit a WWII memorial at Batina. It commemorated the success of the Red Army and Yugoslavian Partisans over the Axis Powers, including Hungary, in 1944.  You can see why there may still be old sores around an area like this. But a beautiful and peaceful palace now with a view that takes in Hungary, Croatia and Serbia. 

And of of course the Dunav, sshe's still there.

  

 Well, the day didn't go as planned from this point on so a late evening ....I'll leave it there and talk tomorrow,