The Winter sun

Few days ago when we had a bit of sun here I took this photo by the Zagreb main train station (which you can see in the back). I really love this part of town with the beautiful parks and the promenade that's part of the so called Zagreb green horseshoe (I mentioned it some time ago). It is nice to enjoy the winter sunny days in Zagreb!

Tell me dear readers, how do the winter days look like in your hometown?

The Father of the Country

This is the monument of Ante Starčević placed near the Zagreb main train station next to the King Tomislav square and Hotel Esplanade. Actually it is placed by the City Library building on a square that carries his name. Ante Starčević is a very important person in Croatian history - he was a very famous Croatian politician and writer who lived through the 19. century and was always fighting for the Croatian people and their rights! He is also considered to be the Father of the Country.

Decorating the Christmas tree!

This past few days were really very cold! True winter temperatures and weather. Still, we had a chance to enjoy sun yesterday so I took a walk down the Zagreb center and saw this interesting moment - decorating the Christmas tree! Every year on Christmas a very tall Christmas tree is brought to Zagreb main square and decorated with the lights and other stuff. And it always looks  so amazing! It was fun watching these guys doing the decoration.

Visiting the Tošo Dabac Archive

Ooh... how I love finding this kind of details in Zagreb! The key is always going to new places and discovering new things. This time I got a chance to visit the Tošo Dabac Archive in Ilica street not far away from Zagreb main square. Tošo Dabac is one of the most important Croatian photographers ever! He lived through the 20. century and made a huge impact on Croatian art scene. This Archive in Ilica used to be his atelier, and after his death the apartment/atelier and may of his photos and 200 thousand negatives were donated to the Museum of contemporary art in Zagreb. This photo I took while going to the Archive where I noticed for the first time this really cool doors!

First snow!

I took this photo today on my way home. It was snowing whole day and it was quite cold. It is this winter's first Zagreb snow! And it really was expected because we have an old saying here - ''Sveta Kata snijeg na vrata!'' that roughly can be translated as ''Saint Kate (Catharine) brings snow to the doorsteps!''. An really it was Saint Catherine's day yesterday! So, I must say that our ancestors really knew what they were saying!

I wish you all a nice weekend! Take care!

Beautiful entrance

 

This is a beautiful entrance to the Zagreb Cathedral which was designed in 1902. The main motive in the centre is Holy Trinity carved by the Croatian sculptor Robert Frangeš Mihanović in Secession style. It is specially nice in the evening when the lights are up and the decoration really stands out!

Count from the back!

I told you some details about ban Josip Jelačić some time ago. This sculpture is placed on the Zagreb main square that carries his name. It was made by famous sculptor Dominik Fernkorn and was placed at this square in 1866. but at that time it was facing the north towards Hungary and today it is turned to look at the south. In 1947. the sculpture was removed because it was not appropriate according the Yugoslavian regime because it glorified Croatian history. During the Croatian separation from Yugoslavia in 1990. the sculpture was returned to the square.  I took this shot while passing through the Harmica passage.

Museum of Broken Relationships

There is one thing you can find in Zagreb that you probably can't find anywhere else in the world - it is the Museum of Broken Relationships. Well actually, it is not a real museum but an art project lead by two Croatians, art manager Olinka Vištica and artist Dražen Grubišić, who came to an idea of making a collection of the donations of object that represent different love stories and other emotional relationships that ended broken. There were many different reasons why people decided to give something away for this collection that become a big success and has traveled the world. More about it you can read on their website!

Zagreb Taxi

I suppose that every bigger city in the world has it's Taxi service, or at least some kind of it. As you can see Zagreb has it's Taxi service also, but the prices are almost ridiculously high! The reason is that only one provider has a legal right to Taxi service (to be more precise, it is a certain association of Taxi drivers) and they have a monopoly of some sort for this service. But recently there has been lots of debates on this subject in Zagreb because city assembly has decided to cancel this monopoly by letting other companies having also Taxi service in the city. Lots of citizens were very pleased for this decision because it mainly means that we will have much cheaper Taxi service in the future!

The Stairway of Kalasancij Schlosser

There are some things, little things about Zagreb I really love! One of them are city stairways all across the city center. As you could have already read on this blog, I told you how the city Zagreb was originally settled underneath the mountain Medvednica and on the two hills - Kaptol and Gradec. Because of the specific terrain it was important to construct along with the streets many stairways that helped people reach some higher places in the city. Here you can see one of those stairways called The Stairway of Kalasancij Schlosser - doctor Josip Kalasancij Schlosser-Klekovski was a well known doctor, botanist and mountaineer. So it is no wonder this particular stairway that leads to the one very important hospital on the quarter Šalata is named by doctor Schlosser.

Breakfast in the morning

Food on my blog - finally! I must say that there is nothing better then fresh tasteful bread or pastry on the table for breakfast in the morning. However, just till recently it was really hard to find a good bakery shop in the city center - and it was really hard to believe! But now I can name a few good bakery's - Mlinar, Klara, Pan-Pek and Dubravica. I myself prefer the first two mentioned here because they have the best croissants. But it would be unfair not to mention a perfect Polish bread from Pan-Pek.

Have a nice weekend everybody!

The Green House

I just had to take this photo and show it to you! It is a house on King Tomislav Square, part of so called Zagreb Green Horseshoe -  that is the name of an urban part of Zagreb (Lower town) that was specially designed in 19. century. I love the design and the colour of this house! It is really special and stands out!

In memory of Vukovar

You've been waiting for this post a bit longer because I was waiting for the night to take this photo. 

Today's date is a very important date for all the Croats - we remember the day that the Battle of Vukovar was lost during the Croatian War of Independence in 1991. Vukovar is a town on the eastern border of Croatia which was completely destroyed and where many people died. And it become a Croatian symbol for all the suffering and lost lives during the Croatian War of Independence. So, every year on this date people all across the country organize some kind of manifest to commemorate this sad event. This photo I took on the street that carries the name of Vukovar where people lighted hundreds of candles all along the sides.

The Hotel Esplanade

I took this photo yesterday afternoon while it was still nice weather. As you can see, people tried to catch few sun rays and enjoy warm weather. Sadly, today turned out to be rainy, cold and gray - but than again, we are in November already, no!? 

This building that you can partly see at the back is the historical Hotel Esplanade also know as The Regent Esplanade and it was and still is one of the most luxurious hotels in Zagreb. It was built in 1925. to provide accommodation for passengers of the famous Orient Express train that traveled between Paris and Istanbul. More photos and stories about it I will give you soon - but till then you can see a nice photo on Wiki.

Zagrepčanka

This building is one of the first sky scrapers in Zagreb. It was built in 1976. and was the tallest building in Zagreb at that time. For that reason the people of Zagreb started calling it Zagrepčanka (it is the name for Zagreb women) and it is still dear to many people today and it remained one of the symbols of Zagreb. This city doesn't have many tall buildings all in all, but I personally prefer it that way.

Gothic portal

This exquisite church portal is part of St. Marc church on Upper town. It was made around year 1400. in Gothic style by the famous Prague carver and sculptor family Parler that was living and working in Zagreb at that time. It is one of the most beautiful examples of Gothic sacral sculpture in Northern Croatia and definitely one of the best preserved. Here you can see Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, St. Marc with lion and twelve apostles.

Wish you all a nice start of a working week!

Don't know what to say!

Who thinks that making a hole in a 19. century building is a good idea?

Medieval vs. Neoclassical

We've had several sunny and quite warm days. It seems like it is spring already! That was perfect opportunity to spend a nice day outside on a warm sun walking around and having coffee. This photo I took very close to the Stone gates and St. George statue at the entrance to the Upper town. I like the contrast of the facades - medieval walls vs. Neoclassical decoration!

I wish you all a nice weekend!

Crazy about books?!

One of the most interesting fairs in Zagreb (at least to me!) is the Interliber - the International Book and Teaching Appliances Fair. It is held every year in November and on a so-called Zagreb Fair which is a name that considers the company that organizes several large fairs in Zagreb and also the complex of buildings and pavilions which are used for that purpose. This year the Interliber will last till next Sunday and I strongly recommend it. It is a perfect opportunity to buy great books by reduced prices!

Zagreb main train station

I've been posting more and more night scenes and photos of Zagreb recently and the reason is that I'm working all day and when I got a chance to take a walk at the end of a day it is already night. 

Never the less, I'm bringing you this special photo of Zagreb main train station. Interesting is that this building was built in 1892. according to the project of a Hungarian architect Ferenc Pfaff and was designed in neo-classical style. It is placed on a King Tomislav square facing the sculpture of a king Tomislav and The Art Pavilion in the background.

French Kiss Tour #2

I've had a chance to see a wonderful concert yesterday evening. They were three very nice girls from France on so called French Kiss Tour #2. The music was really good and I had a great time! Here you can partly see the promo material with a pictures of these ladies. And a good wine also - that was a must! The concert was held at Shamballa - a night club in the Cibona complex. In my opinion it wasn't the best place for this kind of concert but a good music saved the day.

House facade decoration

Just another nice detail of a Zagreb architecture in a center of a town. Although today's morning started sunny and nice, afternoon is quite dark and rainy. Still it has been a very good November so far - I wish it will continue to be warm and sunny. That's the side of autumn I really like!

Library at night

First of all, I apologize that you have waited for this post so long. I spent last three days in Italy (more precisely Venice) and had a little time to make a Monday post for you. Cute thing is that my last post connects to my lovely trip this weekend. 

But today I have one arty night photo for you. It is the National and University Library -  and maybe you remember, I posted few photos of the old University Library that's a Croatian National Archive today some time ago - but this is a ''new'' library building. It was finished in 1995. according to the project of Croatian architects Velimir Neidhardt, Davor Mance, Marijan Hržić and Zvonimir Krznarić. It is the largest and most important library in a whole county. I often used it while I was a student and even now I still use it a lot for work.

Italians in Zagreb

I saw this wonderful and colourful building few days ago and I had to make a shot. Although, it doesn't do it justice, because it is even more beautiful in reality. As you can probably tell - it is the Italian Embassy. Somehow it's design connects to my idea of an Italian people and country - joyful and colourful!

Upcoming St. Martin's Day

I really like this one! I took it at the Zagreb main square just the other day. The city government has organized a fair for the upcoming St. Martin's Day (November 11th) and it will be a perfect opportunity to promote Croatian wines. This photo is showing the wine pavilion and it caught my eye immediately. The colours are wonderful!

The Brethren of the Croatian Dragon

I have one interesting detail for you today. It is a detail of wrought iron door at the Stone gates (Croatian: Kamenita vrata) at the Zagreb Upper town. The sign is indicating that The Brethren of the Croatian Dragon (Croatian: Braća hrvatskoga zmaja) have their premises there. The Brethren of the Croatian Dragon is a Croatian historical and cultural society established in 1905. The worked on promoting Croatian language and culture. They are the ones that organized the project of new square by the Stone gates and they also put up  the monument of St. George.

Christmas coming soon...

Do you know what this means?! It means that Christmas is coming soon! And I have a feeling it's coming every year sooner and sooner! This photo I took at the Trg (Zagreb main square) at cloudy dusk making it so gray and desperate. This Christmas ornaments look even kind of evil. But it is quite nice when it's lighten up on a cold winters night!

Scary mannequin!

You are probably wondering what this is... Well, obviously it is a shop window with a mannequin. But that's not the strange thing - the strange thing is what's on the mannequin's head! And it looks very scary! I took this photo at the Diesel store not far away from Trg (Zagreb main square) and immediately thought it could make a good ZDP blog photo. Diesel always has such a weird advertisement and brand design - I suppose the goal is to provoke and shock. But, ehm..., I'm a bit tired of all the shock served every day - not shocking any more really!

November Theme Day - Public Transportation

Yesterday was a theme day and I had to miss it! But I thought to make up for it today. I have a night photo that I took at the Zagreb main square showing (partly) the usual public transport vehicle of Zagreb - tramvaj (tram or tramcar). The Zagreb transport system is operated by ZET (Zagreb Municipal Transit System) and you can currently see on the streets 6 different tram types of which the new ones (seen on the photo) are produced by the ZET itself. All other Theme day photos you will find on this link!

Holiday ease...

It is a long weekend this time because it is All Saints' Day today. People usually plan to got to the cemeteries to visit the graves of their loved ones, as the next day is All Souls' Day (2nd of November, but it is not off work day!). I'm also having some family engagements and relaxing as well - so I have prepared for you an relaxing-and-no-special-story-behind-it photo. Here you can see mountain Medvednica at sunset with the TV tower on top (we had to move the clocks one hour back for the winter time - which I do not like much!). I have posted similar photo some time before!