Flying from Rome's Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport to Zagreb's Pieso Airport is an experience. The Canadian made de Havilland Dash 8, a turboprop, noisy but comfortable, first landed in Split, where we deplaned and went through Immigration and then reboarded the plane for the short hop to Zagreb. In the airport, although we had cleared immigration and landed at the domestic terminal, we then had to walk to the international terminal to retrieve our luggage.
Once settled into our hotel, we walked the area around our hotel and found a sharp contrast to Rome - less crowded streets, more sidewalk cafes and smiling faces. Our spirits high, we now look forward to the adventures that await us.
A guided walking tour this morning of Zagreb's Upper and Lower town, provided us with a brief insight to Croatia's capitol. Riding Europe's shortest funicular to the Upper Town, we toured the Museum of Naive Art featuring impressive works of untrained artists of the 20th Century. We then stood in the midst of the Croatian Parliament Square where our guide shared insight into this quiet democratic nation. After going to the Cathedral of the Assumption and learning of it's history, we descended to the Lower Town and the colorful open-air market, called Dolac.
Once settled into our hotel, we walked the area around our hotel and found a sharp contrast to Rome - less crowded streets, more sidewalk cafes and smiling faces. Our spirits high, we now look forward to the adventures that await us.
A guided walking tour this morning of Zagreb's Upper and Lower town, provided us with a brief insight to Croatia's capitol. Riding Europe's shortest funicular to the Upper Town, we toured the Museum of Naive Art featuring impressive works of untrained artists of the 20th Century. We then stood in the midst of the Croatian Parliament Square where our guide shared insight into this quiet democratic nation. After going to the Cathedral of the Assumption and learning of it's history, we descended to the Lower Town and the colorful open-air market, called Dolac.
On our last full day in Zagreb, we again walked the streets around the center of the city, talking in the sights and sounds. In the market we found fresh fruit and vegetables for sale, sparkling in the bright sunlight, and enticing the milling throngs of shoppers to make their purchases. We noticed a large group assembled in ethnic costumes, and decided to follow them to the main square where we were treated to song and dance from other Balkan countries - Macedonia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia. It was truly an amazing experience. Also, the Square was lined with vendors displaying their handicrafts.
If Zagreb is any indication, the people of Croatia are kind, courteous, (and from a male eye - the women are attractive, very attractive), and the pace of city is life is much different than that of Italy from whence we had just come.
If Zagreb is any indication, the people of Croatia are kind, courteous, (and from a male eye - the women are attractive, very attractive), and the pace of city is life is much different than that of Italy from whence we had just come.