Zagreb

its an 8 1/2 hour train ride to get here from Munich.  We pass through the pretty bavarian style homes in the mountains of Austria and then through Slovenia.

A couple of photos through the train window:

We arrive after dark but find our little apartment easily as there is tourist info at the Glavni Kolodvor train station.

After check-in, we still need to find dinner as there was none on the train...and some kuna, as our place won't take Euro.  With these brief walkabouts, we immediately get a sense of safety here.  After that, we relax in the sidewalk cafe in our place.  It's a 4 apt complex above a little cafe/bar.

Once again we are in a very walkable city.  With the many spacious squares, fountains and green spaces for relaxing, it doesn't feel like there are a million people here ...plus tourists from all over the world.  There are two old towns: an upper and a lower.

Croatians love their arts and culture.  There are over 30 museums, 30 theatres and numerous galleries and festivals.

The first one we take in is the Museum of Illusion ... interesting and fun:

Oh, no...there are an infinite number of us.

Paul's face a few times, then many times

The Vortex

The shrinking me:

And of course the fabulous buildings, new and old.

The Opera House

The Museum of Art and Crafts

We like the owls that top this building

St Mark's Cathedral built in the 13th. century.  Note the beautifully glazed tiled roof.

We find the people here very friendly and many speak a good deal of English.  They all want to know what we think about their city.

An International Folk Festival is going on at the moment.  Folk musicians and dancers from all over the globe are here.  There are indoor pay concerts, but every morning there are several free outdoor performances on the main stage downtown.  It's far too hot here to be jumping around on a stage outside in the afternoon.

The first morning is a troupe from Sicily:

The next troupe we see is from South America.  

Imagine dancing with 3 wine bottles stacked on your head!

Then Flamenco dancers from Spain, what music those heels make!

I can see I need a selfie stick to get photos over the heads of crowds

We quickly get into the routine of shopping daily at the market for our meals...so nice to have a kitchen again.  After shopping, a sidewalk cafe to linger over a drink and people watch.

Random photos from the market ... which sold lots besides fruit and veggies:

Beautiful lace and fabric 'brollies:

Prettiest of bouquets

Someone has the patience to put miniature scenes inside pop cans:

We find 2 bars with evening live shows that look interesting, one a blues bar, the other a jazz club ... but smoking is allowed inside here and so many people smoke.  We don't think we can do it.

From the menus downtown, we get a sense of the Mediterranean influence.  I see that there are a few clothing stores with imports from Italy.

Today we also amble through the botanical garden and see one of the most remarkable plants ever...the Santa Cruize Giant Waterlily from South America.  At first, we thought they were plastic tubs of some sort floating on the water.  Big ones were more than 3' in diameter:

You can see roots and stems underwater.  It will have a flower that blooms for only 2 days changing colour from white to pink to red.  It opens near nightfall, blooms all night then closes later the following morning.

This first photo has an immature lily pad that is not fully open.

 The outside edge of the lily pad is very prickly.

Many flowers are done now...too hot.  

Random photos from the garden:

Lotus Flowers:

This is the twisting branches of a Japonica tree and the next photo shows its lovely canopy.

There were lots of turtles in this one pond.

Next, we visit the Museum of Broken Relationships.  So many stories of love...found...often lost...of new courage & beginnings.  So many mementos.  Their travelling show has been to Whitehorse.

We find a Spanish place with the tastiest and prettiest sangria ever.

 

 And the decor inside this place is full of surprises

A variety of sunglasses:

A ceiling full of high heels:

Our last museum is that of Art and Crafts.  It really is about fine craftsmanship.

There are many boxes, little chests and dressers that have inlaid work.

There are many Art Deco pieces including this furniture and the piece below.

The clock and watch collection was a pleasure to see.

This is a hand-crafted lock and key.  Many on display were much more intricate than this one.

Random photos from Zagreb

A stove in the art and crafts museum

We think this may have been some kind of changing of the guard at Zagreb Cathedral...see next photo down too.

The gothic twin spires of the Zagreb Cathedral help keep us orientated.

Beautiful papier-mache masks for sale.

Musicians playing in a square in the old upper town.

Another love story

We will miss this vibrant place, with its spacious squares, friendly people,  green spaces, outdoor lounges and love of the arts.  It's hard to believe that this well organized and welcoming city has only been independent since 1991.

We are off next to Plitvice Lakes National Park ... some time in the country.