2022 is the year for adventures, I seriously cannot get enough of getting away and here we are, just about to jet off for two weeks of solo travelling Croatia! I’ve broken this trip into three locations, beginning in Zagreb, then onto Split, and finally ending in Dubrovnik. I am super excited for this trip. it has been a weird, wonderful, but also challenging few weeks and a getaway is very much needed right now. An early start to begin my trip, leaving from Stansted Airport at 08:30 in the morning meant a 04:00 wakeup call; all good though. Grabbed a coffee at the airport and I was on my way.

Zagreb Day 1 was more of an orienteering mission. Finding my way from the airport to the City Centre and onto my hostel wasn’t too challenging, but what was important was searching out where to get the best iced coffee from, some cool hangouts to meet people and just get my bearings. I found a nice little bar where I could get a cider whilst I waited for checkin time and then I headed back to drop my stuff before heading out again. I explored some more and then got chatting to some of the guys on the travel group I’m part of who were also in Zagreb so we met for some beers in the evening which was cool. It was also the final of the Women’s Football Euros tonight and I was dead set on watching it so we tried to find a sports bar in Zagreb to watch the game. With success. Well done Lionesses.

Day 2 we finally got stuck in. I ventured up to the Old Town and passed some of the most incredible street art I have ever seen (pics pending), and they also had some cool things up and around in the area, I think maybe following on from an exhibit of some sort.. Anyway, it was proper quirky and I loved it. I felt right in my element. I took a trip to one of Zagreb’s ‘Must Do’ places, the Museum of Broken Relationships. It certainly did not disappoint. On from here I went and had a look at St Mark’s Church and continued to find some more awesome street art. In the evening I wandered over the Museum of Hangovers and had a look around, again, was highlighted as a Must Do and it certainly kept me entertained. What amazed me most was when I was leaving, I was stopped and told that my entry included a free shot of local liquor, I have no idea what it was but it tasted strong. When I left I went into the main square and there were some international buskers playing so I grabbed some ice cream and sat and listened for a little while until I met up with some of the guys I met online again. Tonight there was three of us, I was joined by Ola from Norway and Jenn from the UK. After some conversation we discovered that we all liked karaoke and decided a little into the night to try and find a karaoke bar in Zagreb. We succeeded and made our way here to spend the rest of the evening.

Day 3. I may have been a little be tender headed this morning. I decided to take it slow and we for coffee and a wander around. I went and visited the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Hrvatsko Narodno Kazalište u Zagrebu (Theatre) and the Modern Gallery. This took up a chunk of the day along with some sunbathing and before I knew it, it was time to grab some dinner and have some downtime to chill. Being away for a little longer this time gave me opportunity to not rush things and to actually take my time. Normally I can’t sit still (at home or when away) and like to be doing something all the Tim,e so actually having a bit of time to reflect, read, and chill was super nice.

Day 4. My final day in Zagreb before beginning my journey down to the coast. Today I realised I may have treated myself to a little too much downtime yesterday and felt like I had loads to pack into my final day in the city. I had loads I wanted to explore today so I started off at the Botanical Gardens, these were stunning and not to be missed. From here I was told whilst in Zagreb I have to go on the Zagreb Funicular (Uspinjača). Fun fact: its 66-metre track makes it one of the shortest public-transport funiculars in the world. This took me back up to the Old Town which worked well and there were still some things I wanted to explore up there, so I did that and then journeyed back down and through the Grič Tunnel. I checked out some more street art, grabbed some dinner and headed back to my hostel to pack my stuff ready for my journey to Split in the morning. Peace out and see you there!