Jure Clariċ house at Slavonski Brod

Jure Clariċ house at Slavonski Brod When we set off from Sofia we had no particular destination in mind. We knew there were service stations with motel facilities along the Yugoslav motorways, and our intention was to see how far we could get before stopping for the night. But of mice and men... The Yugoslav motorways west of Belgrade were bleak, with 100 km stages between service stations.

In Germany, service stations sold Dextrose tablets to keep you awake. But that was too poofy for the Yugoslavs. Their service stations sold beer - presumably so you didn't feel anything if you crashed.

It was dark when we arrived at the Slavonski Brod service station between Belgrade and Zagreb, and we found the motel was full of international truck drivers who knew the ropes far better than we. The choice was simple, push onto the next service station or sleep in the car.

Fortunately there was a Good Samaritan. The guy in the right of the photo, who we met propping up the bar at the service station, knew a place we could stay, and we soon found ourself following him on a drive which seemed to go on for ever through the Croatian countryside. We ended up at a house on the north of the motorway, Jure Clariċ. A large room with a settee which made into a double bed, and a cot for our youngest. Who could ask for more?

We were up early the next day, keen to get on our way, but our Good Samaritan had arrived even earlier wth a flask of Slivovitz to toast us on our way.