Zagreb - what can Croatia offer except the coastal cities
Everyone goes to the coastal cities, but Croatia has more to offer
Well, I haven't been to the coast so far myself, so can't really say much about how that part of the city is, but Zagreb should be on the list for everyone who is backpacking through Europe. Safe, easy to navigate, warm, cheap, packed with nice resturants on the sidewalks and the city is close to so many other exciting places to visit.
My first day was a bit of a hassle, got up early and got to the plane in good time. Had an Underberg of course, got to Amsterdam, had another Underberg there, and got to Zagreb where the airport pick-up didn't show up. After looking for him/waiting for about 25mins I called the hotel who said he had left as the plane was delayed - something it wasn't, but they should send another taxi which should be there in 2 minutes. 2 minutes never mean 2 minutes of course, but after 35mins and still nothing I called back to the hotel and met a guy who barely spoke english. Found another cab and got to the hotel where they had now changed their story to the first taxi having waited for me, but someone else had claimed to be me and taken it - and being driven somewhere else. Annoying, but in the whole story of my trip here it didn't set me back much more than an hour, and I didn't really have anything or anyone waiting for me.
Took a stoll up the mountainside which is exagerating it massively, but a least it was a small hill where the old city had been before they moved it down to the plains. Small narrow streets with resturants all over. Found "museum of broken relationships" which was a hugely positive surprise. The museum was built on things ordinary people have to remind them of some relationship they've once had, and a short - or relative short - story behind it. One being an old love letter which was never sent, a guitar return when the x moved out, an axe used to destroy all the furniture of the x who just left or the pc game football manager who remineded the girl who had donated it of the x boyfriend who had kept her awake numerous nights playing the game. I know the game all too well myself, and know how many hours one could get lost in it. Thankfully I've not played it in many years, and hopefully it'll stay like that.By far one of the most inovative and original museums I have visited so far, and apparently it has more visitors than the larger museums in Zagreb
Finding the cathedral on my way also gave me the oppurtunity to get a nice shot of a saint on a pole.For day 2 I had booked bicycle guiding which I'd tried in Buenos Aires back in january, and was extremely happy with. The tour I'd found here offered two different paths, old and new Zagreb. Or both combined in a longer tour, which became the obvious choice for me. There were two others along for the ride, Gordon and Carol from New Zealand, so quite the opposite side of the world than me.
The trip offered a nice overview of the city, as it was supposed to, both of historical places, information of what could be found where and some hidden gems. The national theather in the picture to the left is not among the hidden gems, but still beautiful. Tonight I'm meeting the group for the main trip around the Balkans. So far I know we are six travellers and one guide. Looking forward to meeting them.
