Autumn Days in Zagreb

Zagreb and I seem to have a bit of an awkward relationship. It is the home of B's kids so I have found myself growing to love this city. However on first impression, it had that post war, grey, solemn vibe. I didn't understand why people loved this city. I couldn't find the attraction on its face value. That was until we starting exploring a bit further - the hidden restaurants, small boutiques and my favourite - the beautiful parks.

Zagreb has an abundance of green spaces. Although a little off the tourist trail, my favourite is a park called Bundek. Located in Novi Zagreb, it has something for everyone. From public BBQ's to swimming in the lake, you can enjoying plenty of activities here but also just have blissful peace and quiet away from the city life. There is a large lake in the middle that is full of swimmers during the summer months and people feeding the hungry geese during the autumn months. A couple of adventure playgrounds for children dominate the west side and a dedicated cycle path around the whole park for anyone who is serious about their fitness.

Autumn Leaves

Last Sunday, we took the kids for the afternoon. The park was full of beautiful autumn colours along with the smell of grilled pljeskavica (home- made burgers) and little blue carts selling ice cream. It reminded me of being back in England. Maybe this is why I loved it so much - I think on some level we are all looking for that little slice of home when we are away. You don't need to speak Croatian to enjoy the parks, you don't need to understand the culture and best of all, you can just be you.