On September 26th and 27th we went on a field trip to Slavonia and Baranja.

On the first day after a long bus drive we arrived to Kutjevo, the most awarded Croatian wine region, where we visited the famous wine cellars and winery to see machine-operated wine-making process. After lunch we went to vineyards at the Villa Vinkomir. While admiring the beautiful landscape and accompanied by the tamburica band we were picking the grapes. I really enjoyed the grape picking and filling the baskets to the brim. Teacher Ivana demonstrated the traditional way of making must - crushing grapes with feet to extract the juices and making wine from foot-stomped grapes. The traditional Slavonian outdoor snack and award ceremony, where we all got gold medals for an experienced grape-picker, rounded off a lovely day.

On the second day, after a good sleep we got on the bus and headed for the town of Osijek. During the sightseeing tour we visited Tvrđa with City Walls, Holly Trinity Square, Croatian National Theatre and Osijek Cathedral. One of the favourite sights was the Skate Park, the best equipped skate park in South East Europe.

After sightseeing tour of the town of Osijek we visited the Karanac Ethno Village in Baranja where we participated in old crafts workshops such as pottery, making mud bricks, jam-making and making jam dumplings ('taške s pekmezom').

After a variety of workshops and traditional Baranja meal it was time to get back to Zagreb. On our way back to Zagreb we stopped in the town of Đakovo where we visited the breathtaking Đakovo Cathedral.

I really enjoyed this trip because we experienced Slavonia and Baranja through their cultural heritage, many traditions, gastronomy, music and because we got an opportunity to feel far gone, past times.

Mihael (MYP2)