Tale of Two Cities

Zagreb and Boise are both Capital cities. Zagreb, Croatia is the capital of--Croatia. Boise,Idaho is the capital of a state in the United States. Boise has a Capital building that looks much like the national Capital in Washington, D.C. where America conducts its legislative business. Zagreb has what is called the Sabor and is actually a really tiny building compared to the one in Idaho. The political and legislative business of Croatia is conducted at the Sabor.

Zagreb boasts of 800,000 or more people. Boise boasts of 200,000 or more. Croatia has about 4.5 million people. Idaho has about 1.5 million people. Croatia is the size of West Virginia and Idaho is the size of, well, Idaho. Suffice to say it's a rather large land mass and I was too lazy to google a proper statistical comparison.

Zagreb is at 45 degrees North latitude and Boise is at 43 degrees North latitude. It's hot and humid in Zagreb and reminds me of living in the Midwestern US, like Illinois or Indiana at this time of year. Zagreb has afternoon thunder showers just like Boise because of adjacent mountains. Boise was 80 degrees F today (July 6)and Zagreb was just a bit warmer) Zagreb is at about 400 meters (1200 or so feet). Boise is at about 2800 feet (900 meters).

Zagreb has Sljeme Ski Area that hosts the Women's World Cup Slalom Race (called the Snow Queen--there's even a cool snow globe goblet looking thing they get). Boise has Bogus Basin Ski Resort which has hosted in the past World Cup Moguls events. Boise has Jaret "Speedy" Peterson, a Silver medalist in Freestyle Aerials. And also Kristin Armstrong, an Olympic medalist in bicycle racing. Zagreb has Janica Kostelic, the best female ski racer ever in the world to date; and also her brother Ivica Kostelic who took two medals this year in Slalmon and Super Combined. Like Boise, these athletes are the pride and joy of their country.