While Americans are sleeping, I’m waiting at the gate in Zagreb, on my way back to Chicago via Zurich. As I write this it’s 1:30 a.m. Chicago time.)
Here are a few random pictures from my visit as preparation for the last two posts about my visit to this lovely city.
The local Serbian Orthodox Church, or the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord:
A typical Croatian (actually Balkan) dish, and a wonderful appetizer. Sweet red peppers pickled and served in olive oil.
An old Opel (I know nothing about this car):
And right before my talk on free will (photo by Igor Mikloušić):
Lookin’ sharp, Perfesser. Bet you had on some natty boots, too.
That Opel looks very like the British Vauxhall PA Cresta (very probably was the same, both companies were owned by GM).
Note the utterly pointless dog-leg screen pillar that cuts back into the door space. Twice as heavy and half as strong as a normal straight one. Specially designed so that, as you swing your legs out of the door opening your kneecap hits the sharp corner of the screen with agonising knee-crippling force.
(As I know only too well, my father had one).
cr
What’s a little pain in pursuit of looking good?
It needs fins.
Now I’ve Googled, the Cresta was actually a bit bigger, 4-door, and it did have vestigial fins. Doubtless to assist straight-line stability at high speed. (That’s a joke, in case it’s not obvious).
I actually autocrossed my father’s, once, on grass, for the hell of it, when my Healey was in bits. Left foot jammed hard against the transmission tunnel and right arm hooked over the windowsill to stop me skating across the bench seat, right foot hard on the gas (not that it did much) and left hand winding the wheel furiously from lock to lock as the tail wallowed and bounced insanely around. Second gear, no gear changes possible as I didn’t have any spare limbs. I came a predictable energetic last.
cr
Nice to see so many chose to attend.
I had an old Opel for the three years I was in law school (though not quite as old as the one pictured). It was a sporty little ride with four-on-the-floor. The gearshift bushings were shot by third-year, and the stick would rattle around something fierce, so I had to lash it down with a rubber band once I got it in fourth.
The day I graduated, I gave it away to a Puerto Rican guy in the neighborhood who used to wander over and give me a hand when I was working on it in the driveway.
Good times.
I had a wonderful little red 4-door Opel Kadett? through the early to mid 70s. 2nd gear eventually went out on the hills of SF, but it was easy enough to go directly from 1st to 3rd. When I moved to Canada in late ‘76, where the only Opel they had was the racy sports model, it became too much of a hassle to drive across the border to get any major repairs done. Loved that car! Hated the Dodge Omni I replaced it with.
My father bought an old, well-used Opel Kadett for my older brother and I to use to transport ourselves each day to our home town university.
The fenders were, literally, held together with duct tape. This was Minnesota in the 1970s and very early 1980s: All cars except Deloreans rusted out quickly.
One day, driving down the road, in winter, we hit a big bump and both front fenders departed the car. We didn’t bother to go after them.
I think rust got that car before engine or tranny wear did it in. We drove it for a while without front fenders. Hey! Open wheel! Indy car, baby! (Or not!) We were happy to have functional wheels.
Yeah fenders,schmenders 😬
Oh, you’re looky with havin’ no fenders, mate. Lap of luxury. In Yorkshire the drove Opels on a bare chassis, and steered by leaning into the turns.
Doncha mean looxury?
Right you are, lass.
😬
My parents had an Opel in the 1940s, probably when they were living in Munich when my dad was stationed there during the U.S. occupation after WW II. Oddly enough, I don’t remember seeing any photos of it (they seemed to have photos of every car they ever owned).
Beautiful Photographs! — My Mom had a Nash Metropolitan looked just like that? Although her’s may have been smaller!? 🙂 <3
Definitely smaller. The Nash Metropolitan (aka Austin Metropolitan) always reminded me of a bathtub, for no obvious reason.
cr
The Serbian Orthodox fellow (prematurely grey) seems to be saying – “Come to papa”.
I’m guessing it is St. Sava, though I could be wrong.
I think you’re right – as near as I can read the old Cyrillic, it says ‘Stiy Savva’.
you are correct. the high front semi-vowel and high mid vowel have various and confusing latin renderings..
The car is a German made 1958 Opel Rekord, nice car
Peppers- growing up in Montreal, my parents used to buy some Bulgarian red pepper spread, which I wonder if it is a cognate food.