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Zagreb Photos

A 90 Minute Dash Around Zagreb

Trip Over to Croatia

After arriving in Zagreb and checking into the super luxe Esplanade Hotel on a cloudy, but warm, spring day, we immediately set off to explore. In keeping with my plan of slow travel, and knowing we had 3 days, on day one we had a look around the area of our hotel, up through Josipa Jura Strossmayera Park to the main square. The park forms the eastern side of what is known as the ‘Green Horseshoe’ a U-shaped section of parks all beautifully looked after by Zagreb City.

The next day, again under cloudy skies, we set off walking further afield, then the rain set in, it rained all night and most of the next day, but still we persevered, with me whingeing and whining about the dismal white/grey sky ruining my photos.

I woke up on our last day in Zagreb, and looked out the window, of course – beautiful blue skies, the building opposite that houses the offices for the Croatian Railway was bathed in sunlight – it was a cool crisp morning and we weren’t being picked up until 2.30pm for the drive to Ljubljana in Slovenia. After breakfast I set off, at speed, to re-take all the photos I had taken the previous few days, and get back to the hotel in time to check out at mid-day, and of course, have a delicious lunch in Le Bistro……….

I had a plan to do a huge lap of Zagreb taking in everything I could, while keeping an eye on the time. Starting at the Botanical Gardens just up the road from the hotel, the rather drab pond now sparkled in the sunlight. The little bridge was reflected in the pond, the grass was all green and long after so much rain and all the blossoms were out. I raced on through the Gardens, coming out on the far corner near the State Archives building, a very interesting looking building with huge owls on the corners of the roof. This set me up to walk up the left side of the U-Shape of the Green Horseshoe or parks and gardens. Sitting in a park outside the front of the Archives building is an enormous sculpture of Marko Marulić, a Croatian poet at Renaissance humanist who lived from 1450 to 1524. Behind Marko, you can look across to the Museum of Arts and Crafts, which is actually far more interesting than the name implies, a great place to visit on a rainy day. Then in even more beautifully manicured gardens is the Academy of Drama and the Croatian National Theatre.




At the top of the Green Horse Shoe, in the gardens opposite the front of the National Theatre is a lovely sculpture by Croatian artist and architect Ivan Meštrović. The Well of Life, a bronze sculpture created in 1905, depicting the various stages of human life.

Now it was time to head up into the upper city. From the Well of Life walk towards the city and turn left into Gunduliceva Ul, when you reach the end of this street, turn right into the main shopping street and cross of the road, just along here is the shortest funicular in the word. It might not cover a great distance but it is a life saver. Desperately hoping I hadn’t just missed one, they run every 10 minutes, but today I didn’t have 10 minutes to wait – I would have had to walk up the steps as we did the day before, it’s a killer! Fortunately I got there just as one was ready to leave and leapt on………..at the top of the funicular is a 13th century tower, Lotrščak Tower, built to protect the city. Everyday at noon a cannon is fired to allow all the clocks in the city to be synchronised.

I wanted to get a few more photos on Strossmartre, but it was break time at the high school there and all the students were out enjoying the sunshine. I will write more stories about Zagreb showing photos in this area. I went straight up to St Marks Square dominated by the much photographed Church of St Mark, built in the 13th and 14th centuries with the Coat of Arms of Zagreb and Croatia inlaid in the roof tiles.

From here I ran down to the Stone Gate, one of the original city gates dating back to the 1200s, destroyed many times by fire, still covered in soot from the last fire in 1731, it is now a very tiny church after a painting of the Virgin Mary survived the fire. You can walk through as it is the main pathway through to Radiciva Street, there will often be people lighting candles and praying.

Emerging from the Stone Gate you come to the statue of St George on his horse standing over the slayed dragon. After the slaying St George has his head bowed and helmet in hand, while his horse looks down at the dragon.

There are lots of small interesting shops on Radiciva St on the way down the hill back to the lower city, I passed a tour guide telling her group about an astronomically priced tie bought there by Barrack Obama, apparently everyone now wants one……!?!

At the end of this street you come to Jelačić Square, the main square in Zagreb, often full of market stalls. There is an impressive statue of General Josip Jelačić remembered for his military campaigns during the Revolutions of 1848. I turned to take a photo looking back into the square, in the background is the hideous modern building with an observation deck on the top, I did go to the top on a dismal day, on a clear day with more time that I had now, the view would be quite impressive. I think there must have been a special deal on hair dye worn by the two ladies in the foreground, I saw a lot of ladies sporting this coloured hair!!

Now it was time to race down through the other side of the Green Horseshoe and back in the direction of the Esplanade Hotel. At the top of Petrinjska St is a statue of a rather portly gentleman, in a very Churchill type stance, Stjepan Radic was an important Croatian politician in the early 1900s, founder of the Croatian People’s Peasant Party. Continue to walk down this street, then turn right and you will be at Zrinjevac Park.

Zrinjevac Park is yet another example of Zagreb’s beautiful flower beds, the park is set out with benches to sit and chat with friends, or read in the sun, a few statues, fountains and gazebos, the National Art Gallery is at the end of the park, and across the road is the main railway station. The Esplanade Hotel was built for guests travelling on the Orient Express though to Istanbul. We visited the Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul a few years earlier, and loved it. This is what gave us the idea to stay at the Esplanade in Zagreb – we were not disappointed, it is magnificent.

I arrived back to the Esplanade Hotel with 20 minutes to spare, so I could quickly pack up in time to check out. Then relax over a lovely lunch before being picked up for the drive to Ljubljana in Slovenia.

Book a tour on your Trip Over to Croatia

Itinerary for Trip Over to Croatia and Slovenia

Qantas flight (Emirates code share) to Zagreb from Sydney via Dubai

Stayed in Zagreb for 3 nights at the super luxe Hotel Esplanade

Private Driver from Zagreb to Ljubljana in Slovenia

Stayed in Ljubljana for 10 days in an Airbnb

Private Driver from Ljubljana to Split, via Plitvice Lakes National Park.

3 night boat cruise from Split to Dubrovnik.

2 nights in Dubrovnik staying at the Pucic Palace Hotel

Fast ferry from Dubrovnik back to Split for a couple more nights in our Airbnb

Private Driver from Split to Zagreb, via Zadar

Qantas flight (Emirates code share) to Sydney via Dubai

The Alfresco Emporium at the QVB, all Christmas ready 🎄!! . . . . #alfrescoemporium #alfrescoemporiumqvb #alfrescoemporiumchristmas #queenvictoriabuilding #christmastrees #christmasinsydney #christmasdecorations #shoppinginsydney #windowshopping #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal #sydney #sydneylife #seetheworldthroughmylens
David Jones Spring Flower Show, at the Elizabeth St store in Sydney CBD. . . #davidjonesflowershow #davidjones #elizabethstreet #orchids #yellowflowers #pinkflowers #celine #dior #pinkdress #sydneylife #sydneyshopping #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd #seekandyoushallfind #sydneylocal #sydneyinspring #neverstopexploring #explorethecityyoulivein #lunchtimewalks #seetheworldthroughmylens
Another of my favourites at this year's Sculpture by the Sea, nice and calming on a day of torrential rain, followed by wild winds, but as it was the last weekend of the exhibition I had to brave it! . . #sculpturebythesea #sculptureart #sculptureinthepark #artinpublicplaces #arttherapy #artinstallation #artinsydney #sydneybeaches #sydneyweekend #sydneybythesea #sydneylife #sydney #sydneylocal #sydneywalks #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmylens #travellerau #traveladdict #traveltheworldwithme
The Archibald Fountain in Sydney's Hyde Park, sparkling in the winter sun after a recent renovation and a good scrub! . . . #archibaldfountain #archibaldfountainsydney #hydepark #hydeparksydney #hydeparksydneynotlondon #wintersun #sydneyinwinter #sydneylunchtime #walkinthepark #seetheworldthroughmylens #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #explorethecityyoulivein #myhometown
A big red floral something at the David Jones Spring Flower Show. I really have no idea what it is🤣 . . #davidjonesflowershow #davidjones #elizabethstreetstore #redflowers #pinkflowers #diorbags #shoppinginsydney #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydney #sydneyshopping #sydneylocal #sydneyinspring #sydneycbd #floralthing #explorethecityyoulivein
Half way up the stairs from Cumberland St to the Sydney Harbour Bridge on the walk home, the views start to take over. . . . #sydney #therocks #sydneyoperahouse #walkinghomefromwork #sydneyharbour #sydneycbd #cumberlandstreet #sydneyatdusk #see the worldthroughmylens #pinkskyatnight
Sydney on weekdays - beautiful blue sky, blue water, I'm settling back into Sydney after returning from London, walked home from work across Sydney Harbour Bridge, I then cheat and catch the bus up the hill from here!!🤣🌞 . . #sydneyharbour #sydneyferries #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd #sydneylocal #sydney #sydneyinspring #sydneywalks #walkinghomefromwork #bluewater #bluesky #waitingforthebus #perfectday #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #myhometown #travellerau
Super clean water in the bay at Tunks Park, looks inviting.....apart from the temperature of it, and the shells that would rip your feet to shreds....but apart from that..... . . . #tunkspark #tunksparksydney #sydneywaterways #loveyourwaterwayssydney #sydneyharbourwalks #springday #sydneyinspring #sydneylife #explorethecityyoulivein #seetheworldthroughmylens
How many boats do you really need? Love this boat house on the banks of the River Thames up past Richmond on the way from Westminster to Hampton Court. See more pictures and read about this relaxing day trip from London by clicking the link to my website in the bio. . . . #riverthames #riverthamescruise #riverthamesview #dreamhome #boathouse #boatseverywhere #westminstertohamptoncourt #mysecretlondon #daytripfromlondon #london #upriver #travelbyboat #londonlife #londonpics #londontrip #londontimes #londontravel #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme
All Christmas ready in the Strand Arcade in Sydney!! . . . #strandarcade #strandarcadesydney #christmasinsydney #christmasdecorationseverywhere #christmasdecorations #christmasiscoming #startingtolookalotlikechristmas #shoppinginsydney #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #sydneylocal #myhometown #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd #sydneyshopping #sydney #sydney_insta #seekandyoushallfind
I love this building in Sydney's CBD. Before Ralph Lauren moved in, it was the Chanel shop, but they have moved up the road one block with Dior, Valentino and Hermes. . . . #ralphlaurem #kingstreet #pittstreet #sydneycbd #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #streetsofsydney #sydneylocal #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneyarchitecture #sydneylunchtime #sydney #sydneyshopping #shoppinginsydney #explorethecityyoulivein #myhometown
More on the Walsh Bay Sculpture Walk, the one in the middle seems to have moved on...! . . . #sculptureart #sculptureintherocks #sculpture #walshbaysydney #walshbaysculpturewalk #walshbay #artinpublicplaces #artinpublicspaces #explorethecityyoulivein #seetheworldthroughmylens #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia
Christmas has come to Sydney!! The Strand Arcade always beautiful anyway, now dressed up in it's finest festive kit. . . . #strandarcade #strandarcadesydney #christmasinsydney #christmasiscoming #christmasdecorations #christmasdecorationseverywhere #christmasdecoratingideas #festiveseason #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #historicalbuildingsenrichourlives #shoppinginsydney #sydneylunchtime #sydneylocal #myhometown #traveladdict #seetheworldthroughmylens
Approaching Richmond Lock on the way up the River Thames to Hampton Court. Ready to raise us up to the river level for the next part of our trip. Click on thevlink in the bio to see more pics and read about the cruise up river from Westminster to Hampton Court. . . . . #richmondlock #richmondlockandfootbridge #richmondlockandweir #riverthames #thamesrivercruise #thamesriverboats #outontheriver #travelbyboat #daytripfromlondon #londonlife #londonlandmarks #mysecretlondon #londontrip #londontravel #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmylens #seekandyoushallfind
Hammersmith Bridge as seen from the Thames Riverboat on the way from Westminster to Hampton Court. To see more photos and read info on this day trip from London, click on the link in the bio. . . . #hammersmithbridge #hammersmithbridgelondon #cruisingupriver #londonbridges #thamesrivercruise #thamesriverboat #thamesatlowtide #londondaytrip #daytripfromlondon #londontrip #londontravel #lifeontheriver #westminstertohamptoncourt #seetheworldthroughmylens #travelawesome #traveladdict
The Martin Place Christmas tree is set up, but I am so over seeing it every year with the red and green beach ball look, surely we can have something different occasionally. Looks great for visitors, but if you live here........same old, same old...... . . . #martinplace #martinplacechristmastree #sydneycbd #sydneylife #sydney #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #sydneylocal #christmasinsydney #christmasiscoming #sydneylunchtime #fullertonhotelsydney #seetheworldthroughmylens
Further up Flat Rock Creek from the area the Flat Rock Monster lives in! All very green and mossy, this rock dam seems to be there to slow the creek from flowing down under Tunks Park and out into Sydney Harbour. Below the dam, in the area the Monster lives in, it fills up as the tide comes in and the water from Sydney Harbour flows up under the park. . . . #flatrockcreek #flatrockgully #tunkspark #tunksparksydney #fallentree #damwall #walkinthepark #sydneywaterways #mossyrocks #upthecreek #sydneyparks #sydneylocal #myhometown #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmylens #gumtrees
Along the sculpture walk at Walsh Bay, worth a look before going to the Sydney Theatre. . . . . #walshbaysydney #walshbay #walshbaysculpturewalk #artinthestreets #artinpublicplaces #sculptureintherocks #sculptureintherocks #sculptureart #shoesasart #silvershoes #explorethecityyoulivein #sydneyharbourwalks #sydney #sydneyaustralia #seekandyoushallfind
Waratah in full bloom along the waters edge at Tunks Park in Sydney. Another magnificent winters day, started off cool and crisp, then beautiful in the sun 🌞 . . . #tunkspark #tunksparksydney #waratahflower #waratah #sydneynativeplants #nativeplants #nativeflowersofaustralia #walkinthepark #sailingboats #mooredboats #boatsonthebay #bluewater #bluesky #sydneyinwinter #explorethecityyoulivein #seetheworldthroughmylens
Deep blue hydrangeas at the David Jones Spring Flower Show at the Elizabeth Street store. . . #davidjonesflowershow #davidjones #bluehydrangeas #goldscreen #flowershow #blueflowers #pinkflowers #whiteflowers #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydney_insta #sydneycbd #sydneyshopping #sydneylocal #sydneyinspring #explorethecityyoulivein
This what you do with your reinforced concrete columns left from your building site, plant a climbing plant in them and put them in the building foyer. . . #concretedesign #concretedecor #concretepots #climbingplant #darlingparksydney #darlingpark #interestingdecor #sydneycbd #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #lunchtimewalks #explorethecityyoulivein #myhometown #seetheworldthroughmylens
One of the lovely riverside places near Richmond on the way to Hampton Court. Not sure what the thing in water is on the right, it looks like a partially sunken boat carcass!! . . . . #riverthames #thamesrivercruise #westminstertohamptoncourt #outonthewater #seekandyoushallfind #boathouse #lookslikeparadise #mysecretlondon #mysecretlondonphoto #travellerau #londontimes #londonsights #londontrip #daytripfromlondon #londonlife #londontravel
David Jones Spring Flower Show in the Elizabeth Street store in the Sydney CBD. . . . #davidjones #davidjonesflowershow @davidjonesstore #chanelbag #orchids #pinkflowers #yellowflowers #notchelseaflowershow #sydneyinspring #shoppinginsydney #explorethecityyoulivein #seekandyoushallfind #sydneylife #sydneycbd #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal
The jetty down near the boat ramp at Tunks Park, looks so good on a clear, sunny winters day, especially at high tide. . . #tunkspark #tunksparksydney #sydneywaterways #boatseverywhere #boatsboatsboats #boatsonthebay #jetty_photos #clearbluewater #walkinthepark #sydneylife #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal #sydneyinwinter #sydneysuburbs #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring
Circular Quay, Sydney's ferry terminal, don't know how that big brown box of a building got there, I'm sure it wasn't there last time I looked!! Good to see the Overseas Shipping Terminal, on the right of the photo, without a gigantic ship in it blocking out the view of ..... everything really! . . . #circularquay #sydneyharbour #sydneyferries #overseasshippingterminal #sydneycbd #cahillexpressway #viewfromthebridge #walkingonsydneyharbourbridge #walkinghomefromwork #sydneyatdusk #sydneyinwinter #travellerau #myhometown #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd #sydneylocal
All blue water, blue sky and sunshine at Tunks Park in Sydney, so many boats and no one using them..... . . . #tunkspark #tunksparksydney #sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourwalks #sailingboats #powerboats #mooredboats #bluewater #bluesky #sunshine #sydneyinwinter #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneysuburbs #myhometown #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #travellerau
Kookaburra sits on the old park bench.....that's not really how the song goes, but he wasn't laughing in an old gum tree at the time!! Just taking in the views on a sunny winters day at Tunks Park in Sydney's northern suburbs. . . . #kookaburra #kookaburrainthepark #outinthewintersun #tunkspark #tunksparksydney #walkinthepark #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seetheworldthroughmylens #sydney #sydneyaustralia #myhometown #travellerau #sydneysuburbs
On the Thames River Boat from Westminster to Hampton Court, after pasing through Richmond Lock we went past the pictuesque Richmond Upon Thames. To see more pictures from this day trip from London, click on the link to my website, in the bio. . . . #richmonduponthamesuk #riverthames #westminstertohamptoncourt #cruisingupriver #outonthewater #travelbyboat #daytripfromlondon #londontrip #exploringlondon #greaterlondon #seetheworldthroughmylens #traveltheworldwithme #travelinspiration #traveltherapy #londonlife

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