May 2016

Our last day in Slovenia and we hit the road running, so to speak.

Me – I couldn’t wait to leave Lasko far behind.

Back through Celje where we stopped for a quick look at Celje Castle.

The view from the Castle over the valley was gorgeous.

On to Ptuj for lunch.  It was raining but we still loved Ptuj with cobbled stoned streets.  Enjoyed a very strong Espresso and then lunch before getting back on the road.

Another border crossing and we were in Croatia again.  See ya Slovenia!

Zagreb

We arrived just after lunch and checked into the Hotel 9, a glitzy glam style boutique hotel, with decor that could have come from an Austen Powers movie set.  All jokes aside, it was a great hotel, centrally located and very comfortable.

Our first impression of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, was that of dark, dirty buildings reminiscent of the fall of the city in Yugoslvian times.

But then, walking around the city, our first impressions were replaced with that of a vibrancy, a combination of new and old, and a city still in the throws of reinvention.

A piano accordion sighting!

Our chosen restaurant the first night in Zagreb was OK.  We had been looking for traditional Croatian food, but could only find bigger touristy restaurants in the near vicinity.  The slow cooked veal with roast veggies was pretty good though, only to be spoiled by the surrounding smokers and subsequent smoke haze.

Come on Croatia!  Cigarette smoking in restaurants??  Get with the times.

Zagreb, a city of architecture, history and the fascinating story of the original two sections of Zagreb joined by a bridge which became known as The Bloody Bridge.  The bridge got its name because of the constant conflicts on its wooden beams between the citizens of the two parts of Zagreb – Gradec and present day Kaptol.

The bridge eventually became a street when the creek was covered in, but the name remained as a reminder of its history.

OK, I have a bit of an obsession with doors.

 

Fresh produce market!  I’m so easily excited by the little things…..

After our fantastic walking tour around the town (we were feeling so much more attuned to Croatia and their people/culture now) we came across the Heritage Croatian Food and Snack Bar.  It was such a good lunch, we actually went back for dinner!

Lunch

Ah, those anchovies 🙂

Dinner!

Another memory from this city was our chat with the bartender at the hotel.  Such an interesting life after fighting in the Croatian War of Independence (1991-1995).  He was quiet, humble but animated out Croatia’s political history.  To think, the war was only just a couple of decades ago.

You can still see bombing damage through Croatia which is a poignant reminder for all of us that war is never too far from our doorstep.

Jeff & Catherine xx