Millennium, Zrinjevac, i Baka Blanka

On Tuesday (6/8/2010), we rode off into town wanting to take full advantage of the gorgeous sunny, blue sky weather in Zagreb. I ran up to the Dolac open market to attempt to find a (HR) for Hrvatska bumper sticker. Everyone one was out, but promised to bring some the next day.

Not quite ready for lunch yet, we treated ourselves to Cafe Millennium’s kava and jagoda i stracciatella (Italian version of USA chocolate chip flavor) sladoled. We took our sweet time there soaking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the busy walkway. People watching, relaxing, staying out of the heat, and commenting on the large amount of young people lounging around. The rhythmic city cafe sounds were suddenly interrupted & attention diverted to a scruffy & gangly window washer who had made several loud claps. He then shouted with a smile & a booming Croatian voice, “It’s my birthday tomorrow! I want everyone to celebrate & drink with me!” He then concluded with several claps to which many of us in the crowd & cafe laughed and applauded his crazed, unorthodox, yet sincerely cheerful outburst.

We walked right around the corner into the Octagon which is a beautiful “L” shaped gallery lined with stores & connects two of the most busiest city squares, Trg Bana Josipa Jelacica and Cvjetni trg (Flower square). Here one can buy a kravata (tie), world wide famous Croatian product and souvenir of Croatia.

Apparently, my family was taken to City Club Grill, an amazing 24-hour cevapi restaurant, down the main street, Ilica, during some trip while I was stuck in school at UH. The succulent cevapi flared with little spices inside served by the “Cevapi Nazi” (like Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi) lived up to the hype.

While Mama took a detour most likely riddled with shops, Tata and I walked just south of Trg Ban. to enjoy the peace & lushness of Zrinjevac, a Zagreb city park!

We went to the graveyard to see my Baka i Dida’s (grandma and grandpa) grave and place new candles & flowers.

That evening, Baka Blanka invited us over for a light dinner of two different types of strudl, sir i trešne (cherry). Heavenly! We even squeezed in some Hrvatski košarka (basketball), Zagreb’s Cibona vs. Zadar, game 4 of the championship. Cibona won that night 78-71 & won the championship game on June 10th!!!