Yesterday was another scorcher so we headed for the hills outside Zagreb. But not before we stopped for a coffee on the way out of town. Then we set off for Medvednica National Park. It is the mountains/hills not far out of Zagreb. Chris had done her research (something she is very good at!!). The park is full of huts/ restaurants that cater for the numerous walkers in the summer and the skiers in the winter. So we got there in time for our first aperitif at 11.30 in a gorgeous forrest setting at the top of the mountain in a restaurant called “Puntijarka”. Then we set off for a “little” walk up the mountain in an attempt to get to the top but it was a 20min one way walk up a formidably steep slope in 38 deg heat so I gave up and Chris followed suit.
We’d had our little walk which was part of the Marian Pilgrim’s Path that goes for 800 km through Croatia, Slovenia and further through the Balkan states. Then we retreated back to “Puntjarka” Restaurant to indulge in been soup and sausages, apple and cheese strudels and wine and beer. We drove some more through the mountains and then returned to Zagreb. We came home for a bit of respite but Chris wanted to go to the Ethnographic Museum to see some exhibition about animals so off she went and an hour later I walked up into town and met her. We went on and had our aperitivo at the State Theatre and then walked on to a Fish Restaurant “Korcula Restrain” that had been recommended. We had a full Sea Bass between us and it was totally delicious…divine!! A great meal, some wine and then we got the tram back home for a nightcap and off to bed.
That brings us to today. We set off this morning a bit later than usual and went to this coffee shop we’d been to a couple of days before that had great coffee. I sat and had 2 coffees and Chris wanted to go off to buy some stuff at the market so I wandered on up to the upper city via the Funicular and waited for Chris at the top. At 12 md a cannon gets fired from the top of the tower and everyone was standing around waiting for it to go off but I was in my own little world when there was this HUGE bang. I nearly jumped out of my skin!! Chris and I met up and then there was this really quirky, extremely popular Museum that had been haunting me for days as we walked past it multiple time, so I decided to go into the “Museum of Broken Relationships”. Chris decided to have a beer in the bar instead so I was on my own. It was the fullest museum I’ve been into…full of young gorgeous tourists. It was a quirky, fascinating museum where people had contributed memorabilia and their stories. Most were intense short lived relationships with graphic descriptions of heartbreak!! I was sweating so much I was almost sliding along the floor…so was everyone else and it was packed. I eventually emerged to desperately grab a glass of wine when I found Chris relaxed and quoffing her beer in the bar….I mean FFS!!!
We then went back to a place we’d been the day before last and had a great soup for lunch with (of course) a glass of wine. Off again…..SO hot!! Chris fancied one Museum the Museum of Zagreb and I another The Croatian History Museum so we went to different Museums and then met back again. We came back, got the car and went off to find the river which is actually very strange because it is a river that flows a long way from the centre of town and along the river are massive apartment blocks of the communist era. It reminded me of areas of East Berlin with all the awful Communist era concrete.
Then back into the city and we found a lovely piazza to have our aperitvo. Then it was home to eat the produce Chris had bought this morning at the market. Delicious cheese, prosciutto and bread and of course wine.
Now we’ve packed up and are preparing ourselves to move on in the morning. We’ll head for the Croatian Coast and then back into Italy for our first night in Trieste. Its been great being in Slovenia and Croatia. Its been new territory and I’ve loved it but I have to say I always look forward to getting back into Italy just because it feels so comfortable.