Zagreb

Along the Autobahn, just south of Zagreb, there were two large gas stations, a motel, one or two large restaurants, and the Zagreb Auto Camp. During our first visit, at six in the morning the police woke us to investigate the “Canceled” passports we had left at the office. We showed them our valid passports, and that satisfied their curiosity. No problem.

A friend of ours, has a collection of gambling chips. He asked us to get chips from the casino in Zagreb. We got dressed with tie and all, went to town and to the casino on the top floor of the Intercontinental Hotel. We bought $50 in chips. I bet $1, lost $1, and knew better than to gamble more than that.

At Zabreb’s outdoor market Emmy tried to find a wooden box with detailed carving, like the one she saw, but didn’t buy, in Split. The lady at one booth said she would try and find one for her by the next day, but no luck. The next morning we shopped in the outdoor food market in downtown Zagreb, then stopped in a bakery and got a half loaf of bread for about a dime.

As we drove into Zagreb a few years later, for our second visit, the streets and buildings seemed so familiar to me. We really liked this city, it looked very livable. One of the skyscraper-bank-buildings near the Intercontinental Hotel is one of the nicest office buildings we have seen in Europe.

We managed to find a parking place, not too far from the main square. We walked and enjoyed, then bought copies of “Herald Tribune” and “USA Today” at a kiosk in the main square. At the Nama Department Store I bought a very nice cane for my collection, it cost only $2.50. I should have bought a dozen, they would have made nice gifts. This store is remarkable, and the Center Court with a stained glass domed ceiling, reminds us of the Galleries Lafayette on the Boulevard Haussmann in Paris, and the City of Paris Department Store next to Union Square, in San Francisco.

Just across the street is an impressive chapel seating maybe 100 people. The whole front of the sanctuary is a stained glass picture of Jesus on the Cross. This shrine looks like it has been used a lot over the years.

Across the square a wide staircase leads up to the marketplace, and just beyond, the dual spires of the Cathedral are tall and slim, with open-work in the upper section.