Zagreb, Croatia is a pleasant city, numerous parks with lots of flowers and fountains, great restaurants with large pedestrian malls serviced by modern trolleys.  The further we get from Bucharest, the better Eastern Europe appears.

Zagreb, Croatia

Our residence for the next nine days was a three bedroom, two bath apartment well over 100 years old.  With each step, the floors squeaked loudly.  I’m not sure what the resident below us heard when we walked, but there was no sneaking up on someone in this place.  Possibly the squeaky floor was drowned out by the very loud partying which went on right below our windows until 4:00AM every night.  Being a light sleeper, this would normally bother me a lot.  Maybe it is because I could not understand their language, somehow, it was just acceptible, loud background noise.

 

Here is an iPhone photo leaning out our window at maybe 2:00am.  It is clearly a local bar, no tourists here.  We never could figure out the draw for the customers.

 

Maybe you have heard the old bar joke at closing time, ‘You do not have to go home, but you cannot stay here.’  So the bar closed and the patrons continued to yell and carry on until at least 5:00am, sitting on the curb.  The street was full of litter, beer cups and cigarette butts.  But every morning the cleaning crew would come by and sweep it clean, ready for the new day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Modern Buildings, Modern Art

 

The photograph above shows the modern buildings juxtaposed with the older architecture.  It was pleasant photographing in this area near the opera house.  They were practicing and there was fine opera singing going on in the background.

 

 

Old Section of Zagreb

On such a rainy day, in a city trying to modernize, it seemed appropriate to try and take more abstract artsy photographs.

 

All towns in Europe seem to have and old church or cathedral.  Zagreb is no different.  St. Mark’s Church in Zagreb is known for the tiles configured to depict the coat of arms of both Croatia and Zagreb.  We have been into so many churches, we often do not go inside anymore.  After seeing Salisbury Cathedral, Notre Dame and St. Peter’s Basilica and many smaller churches, we feel we have seen our share.

Museum of Broken Relationships

For those of you without enough problems in your life, you can pay to go read the problems of others, of loves lost.  Or maybe you just want to have a window into broken relationships.

 

Because of my business background, I simply see a great business model here.  Thousands of people send in their sad-sack love stories and some memorabilia for viewing.  The stuff in this museum is not priceless, believe me.  The only expense the owners incur is rent.  People line up to see read the mournful tales.  This museum is such a success a second location will soon open.

One problem for this simple business model is no barrier to entry for competitors.  So, on that note, to help me get started, please e-mail me your sad tales and a photo of an item associated with your tale of woe.  Here are some examples to guide you in your selections.

The Dominatrix

Dance to Your Own Music

Lucky Escape

 

Croatian Television

I’m sorry for the vast majority of you who are not familiar with the long running Morris Taylor show from Northern California.  It was a very corny country-western weekend musical series.  While in Zagreb, we stumbled upon what appeared to be the Croatian version of the Morris Taylor program.  Maybe when you were growing up, you recall some goofy TV program playing in your local area.  Here is one still playing in Croatia.