Thursday, February 7, 2013

Fun in Zagreb, Croatia





This entry covers our first trip to Zagreb right before we went to Lviv.  After the conference in Lviv, we returned to Zagreb for another 4 nights.  I will post more photos and info of that time in Zagreb in a few days.



Our family in Zagreb - Jadranka and Darko Stiperski. "Yada" is Annette's cousin.  Darko and Yada graciously hosted us while we were in Zagreb.  Yada's mother, Nada, is 92 years old and now living with Darko and Yada.  She graciously let us stay in her beautiful apartment while we were in Zagreb.  We were so comfortable that we told Yada that she better watch out - we might decide to relocate!   Every night Yada cooked a delicous meal for us.  I will post some photos of the food in my next entry.  Darko was our personal chauffeur to and from the airport and around town, and he took care of all of our needs at Nada's apartment.


Our favorite meeting place - the statue of Count Josip Jelacic in Ban Josip Jelacic Square, the Austro-Hungarian styled area that is the center of the city.


The neo-Gothic Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary founded in 1093; the initial Romanesque construction was finished in 1242. After sieges by the Tartars and fires, it was reconstructed; it was restored after an earthquake in 1880. 

Main entrance to the cathedral


Interior of cathedral


Interior of cathedral


The steeple of the Franciscan church (where Yada's daughter Eva was married) taken from the front of the cathedral


Darko and Yada in the Dolac market in lower town


Dolac market produce


Dolac market seller


More Dolac market produce


Yada purchasing some vegetables at Dolac market.  The cathedral is in the background.


Fresh vegetables sold as a unit  for soup broth.


Dolac market


Adjacent to the Dolac market is the indoor fresh fish market.  Being a Colorado girl and growing up hundred of miles from the ocean, I've never seen such an array of fresh fish!


Fish for sale


More fish!


Next to the fresh fish market is another indoor market down some stairs with meat, cheese, baked goods, and everything under the sun.  There are proabably around 200 sellers in individual booths in this market.


This is Yada's favorite cabbage provider. As you can see, the cabbage is ready for sale in a variety of forms.  There was a line of at least 15 people waiting to buy cabbage from this stand. The cabbage on the left is used for making sarma.


Fresh pasta for sale


Fresh sheets of dough for making strudel


I had to include a photo of the klobase for my Pueblo Bojohn friends!  I'm sure the klobase from Frank's Market would rival any found in Croatia or Slovenia!


Fresh butter


Smoked deli meats


A variety of mushrooms


Cheeses for sale


A bakery stand in the indoor market.


On the edge of Dolac market, adjacent to Count Jelacic Square, is the flower market.

Fresh flowers for sale



More flowers



Yada said these flowers were the first sign of the end of winter.  I don't know if we have them in Colorado.



Across from the flower market, on the other side of Dolac market, there are stands selling tourist products and items such as tableclothes made in Croatia.



Annette posing with some Croatian musicians who were singing in the square.  She bought a CD from them.



Annette and Yada posing in front of a poster that says "Plese."   This means "dance" in Croatian, but it is also my mother's (and Yada's grandmother's) maiden name. The poster was advertising some cultural event involving dancing.


The funicular (built in 1888) to the Lotrscak Tower (from the 13th century) that guards the entrance to the Upper Town.



At 12 noon each day, the cannon in Lotrscak Tower fires to celebrate the the fact that the Turks did not prevail over Zagreb or Croatia.


View from Gradec (upper town)


Frank and Yada walking in Gradec


Snowy Gradec.  Even though Zagreb looks cold and snowy, after spending a week in freezing Ukraine, looking back, Zagreb didn't feel so cold to Frank and me.  We also appreciated that fact that the sidewalks were navigable.


Darko and Yada treated us to an exhibition of the works of Julije Klovic, a renowned Renaissance minaturist from Croatia who illustrated bibles and holy books of that era.  His work was amazing!


St. Catherine's Church in Gradec (upper town)


Darko and Yada in Gradec


Approach to the Stone Gate


Young people lighting candles and praying in the shrine located in Stone Gate


A street in lower town


Statue of a famous Croatian woman journalist.  Will have to look up more information about her and post it later.


Walking towards a restaurant with cathedral in the background


Leonardo's is a great Italian restaurant near the cathedral.  Darko and Yada are entering a tent like structure provided so that even in the winter, patrons can enjoy outside terrace dining.


Darko and Yada at Leonardo's


The individual pizzas served were delicious!


Annette and Frank at Leonardo's

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