MY 2018 - 📸 A tour around my town - ZAGREB, capital of Croatia

Hello my dear Steemians!

This post is my lastminute entry for the great contest organized by Eric @anomadsoul, who is currently in Southern Mexico. He decided to make this pretty cool contest in which every participant has a chance to show some specifities of their hometown and the prize is also very generaous... So, please take a look at a contest details!

I saw a very good entry from my Steemian friend @alexandraioana26 and she motivated me to present you my hometown - Zagreb!

Did you know that... My hometown, ZAGREB (I was born here, my parents and some of my grandparents too!), on the historic and political threshold between East and West, illustrates both the continental and Mediterranean spirit of the nation it spearheads. Zagreb is the cultural, scientific, economic, political and administrative centre of the Republic of Croatia...

The first written record of Zagreb dates back to 1094. when the Hungarian king Ladislav established the Kaptol diocese on his way to the Adriatic Sea.

Are you ready for a ride?

Ilica

In this photo you can see Ilica street, Zagreb's main and longest street which connects main Zagreb's square - Trg bana Jelačića and western part of town and has more then 600 house numbers and is long almost 7 kilometars. It is also one of most popular street for shopping and evening walks, for the tourists and Zagrebians, as well.

Bonus - you can enjoy ice-cream from great pastry shop Vincek located in this street. We did. ;)

Zagreb's Cathedral

The Zagreb Cathedral still dominates the skyline with its neo-Gothic style...

Advent

During the Advent season, Zagreb offers a variety of events that will satisfy even the most demanding visitors. Plenty of fun, excellent food, unique events, art, but also a genuine Christmas atmosphere, await you on the streets of Croatia's capital. Btw, did you know that Zagreb's Advent was declared as best Christmas market in Europe last three years in the row?

National Theatre

I dedicated one of my previous post to National theatre, one of the Zagreb's best known place. Please, check it out here

Beautiful Flower Square

One of my favorite places in my hometown. Most of the bars I love to sit in are located in this heart of the city. In Croatian language, we call it Cvjetni trg because there are several floral shops with fresh flowers at all seasons. Very beautiful! Place to be, definitely.

Zrinjevac Park

Lungs of town, located in the center. Spring oasis to sit, lay on the grass, have a coffee to go and just enjoy in the green and reconnect with nature. My favorite place in town.

Cool Bars, Restaurants and Cake Shops

So here are some og my personal fav's:

Restaurant Dubravkin put

Hugo Bar - a relatively new place, near my work place. Always good for a drink during the day and an energy booster place!

Knjiga i kava, or translated, Coffee and a Book, very cool place to have coffee by yourself and read some newspapers.

A Most Unusual Garden - perfect little place with a treehouse. Love it in the spring and summer time for day and night gatherings. Very cool drink list, as well!

Meet Mia - Cake Shop - best deserts in town, city centar, don't miss it

Garden Brewery, best place in town for crafted beers, I love to go there!!!

Botanical Garden

Also located in city centar, it is an oasis to relax between meetings or on a free weekends. Beautiful at any time of the year!

Museums Known Worldwide

Museum of The Broken Relationships

Museum of Broken Relationships is a physical and virtual public space created with the sole purpose of treasuring and sharing your heartbreak stories and symbolic possessions. It is a museum about you, about us, about the ways we love and lose. source

This museum, I realise that now, deserves (and will get a post of its own). An idea from the ex couple Olenka Vištica and Dražen Grubišić came to idea to open a museum in which ex partners and lovers could leave some of their personal belongings and relationships "leftovers" and every exhibit has it's own story about relationship that ended. In 2011. this museum got Kenneth Hudson award from European Museum Forum for most inovative museum in Europe. The museum has been on some sort of world tour around the globe. Very special place to see!

Museum of Illusions

I like the fact that owner and founder of this museum is my school colleague. Many fun for all ages!

Blue Trams

Like the red buses in London, blue trams are one of the first things you will notice in Zagreb. As we don't have a metro (subway), well not yet, you will probably use trams if you happen to be here. They are blue and they are kind of cool.

Beautiful Sunsets

Any time of year, I promise!

Statues of Famous Croatian Poets and Inventors

Miroslav Krleža, one of the best european authors of 20th century, located at the Park Tuškanac

August Šenoa, Croatian poet who's mission was to bring books to every home. He succeeded. 19th century.

Nikola Tesla, no caption needed about him, I7m sure you know well who he is and how BIG his inventions are.

Skyscrapers around neighbourhood

Beautiful Winter Landscapes

And Even More Beautiful Spring Landscapes

And Autumn Ones

I could continue to write and write and write this post, as it almost writes itself. Zagreb has really developed last couple of years and I am happy to see more and more tourists come and visit at any time of the year!

When is the best time to visit?

WINTER - Sometime in December because of the famous Advent Market (best time from 15.12. till 5.1.)

SPRING - We have beautiful weather, temeperature goes from 15 - 25 degrees and it is really comfy and cozy to sit on many terraces and enjoy your coffee or just wander around

SUMMER - It is not so crowded as Zagrebians tend to escape the city in July and August, but there are many really cool events, for instance, I woul warmly recommend , IN MUSIC FESTIVAL - it has really good line-up this season! It's on the schedule from 25.- 27. June. Put it in your planers :)

What is our soft spot?

We have this "THING" for Coffee - We drink it for hours!

Alone or with friends, boyfriends, moms, grandmas - doesn't really matter. No matter how BUSY we are, we always somhow find the time (read - an hour or two daily to socialise, but coffee is kind of our addiction. And we really, trully enjoy drinking it. Sip by sip, really slowly. :)

So...this is my Zagreb, in short. Maybe I could write a sequel, still so many things left unsaid. But I hope you got a picture...

If you decide to come and visit, feel free to contact me for some extra tips & tricks, I would be really hape to share them with you! If you enjoyed this little tour, please - feel free to UPVOTE, COMMENT AND RESTEEM

Thank you and hope to see you around!

xoxo,

Matejka

sources: http://www.infozagreb.hr
http://www.adventzagreb.com/?lang=en