Zagreb & Ogulin & finding relatives
 

Hello all! I have 3 specific questions:

1. What is the best way to get from the Zagreb airport to the Westin in Zagreb?

2. I gathered basic facts about my grandparents who immigrated to the US from the Ogulin, Croatia area in 1910 and emailed those facts to several email addresses in Ogulin. I feat that those who received them do not read/speak English - it has been about a month since I sent them. Does anyone know someone in that area who DOES read/speak English or have a suggestion about how to proceed?

3. I would like to get from Zagreb to Ogulin (& back again) when I travel to Croatia later this month. Does anyone have any suggestions about how/where to hire a reasonably-priced driver since the train takes 2 hours due to local stops?

Thanks for any information anyone can and is willing to provide!

Hi!
Regarding transport to the Westin, you have two options. You can either take the airport bus-line which will take you to the main Bus station (Autobusni kolodvor), The ride takes about 25-30 minutes. From there, the easiest way to the Westin is by a cab. You can check the bus schedule at the www.plesoprijevoz.hr/schedulezg.htm. The Zagreb Airport is small and convenient and you will not have problems finding the bus station at all! The other possibiliy is to take a cab from the Airport directly to the hotel. In that case, it is the best to arrange the fixed fare with the driver before the ride. Take a look at the www.zagreb-airport.hr/en/putnicke_1_3/index.aspx.
Regarding your research about your grandparents, maybe you should contact Croatian Heritage Organization. Here is the web site which you may find useful: http://www.matis.hr/eng/pravni_s.php
It is also possible to travel to Ogulin by bus, you can check about that at the Bus station or check at the www.akz.hr/voznired/voznired.aspx I have not found that page in english but in "odrediste" you should put "Ogulin", then set the specific date, that s it! The other way, you can rent a car, I believe also with a driver if you do not want to drive yourself. I believe you can see about that at the hotel.
I hope this helps!

Thank you, Nikica - I appreciate the information!

Hi Bmadar! About finding relatives. There's a web site that's trying to connect people to resources and advice for their ancestral searches. Go to: http://www.croatia-in-english.com/

Also, going to the local church where you know or suspect your relatives live(d) can sometimes lead you to church baptismal records and lists of siblings and grandparents, etc. It's a worthwhile endeavor! Good luck!

Dear bmadar,
I read your post with interest, as I am going to the same two cities next August as part of a vacation/search to find my grandparents' villages. How was your experience? Any words of wisdom you can share with me?
Best,
Diane