This past weekend I had a chance to see why Zagreb has been the talk by neighbours, friends and media. Last year was voted as number one in Europe beating out London, Budapest, and 50 other cities. The best way to see it is by actually being there as pictures and hearing about it is not the same. We traveled by bus as the city has many pedestrian areas and parking can be a nightmare. (Especially if you don’t know where everything is or the street names) The center of Zagreb and other parts of the city had this magical feeling with many Christmas lights and decorations in every corner. The attention to detail and the majestic buildings really made it feel like Christmas. There was no snow but they did a great job making fake snow covering the trees and buildings. The illusion was perfect as it looked like fresh snow had just fallen. Zagreb was full of life and you could hear many languages being spoken.
There were many places to try everything from traditional Croatian food of sausages, Prosciutto, and Cheese to some new international foods. With many different choices of food to choose from it was difficult to choose from at times. Wine was everywhere in christmas market to choose from and the specialty of the season was readily availble Kuhano vino(Cooked wine). For those that love chocolate they had everything imaginable even Choco Kebab. The food was incredible and the café bars were packed inside and out with the heated patios. I was able to find a touch of home (Toronto Canada) in Zagreb at a restaurant called “The Sri Lankan Curry Bowl”. This was the place to be if you want to try some great food that is not avaible in many parts of Croatia. One of the owners Clement Senaratne was on site and had a great conversation with him. The great icebreaker was when I asked him where is the famous Roti. I have found out he has only been in the business for just 1 year and is doing well. (opened December 4 2015) Clement was full of great spirits as this is second time being part of it. He said that this year Advent festival in Zagreb has been even bigger than last years. The food is great to have as it is a comfort food with many great familar spices I have grown used. He has two location as this one in the picture is a temporay setup just for the Advent. His main restaurant close by located in the heart of the city Tkalčićeva 44 Zagreb, Croatia (There is more about the story that is covered in another article.) Face Book Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheSriLankanCurryBowl Getting around Zagreb there were lots of maps placed throughout the city making easy to find places if your cellphone battery should fail. There are some great rates for city Transportation for the month of advent in Zagreb. The thing one would expect was the trams to be packed with no room to move. However at peak periods there were wait times and people were polite. The pedestrian centre had a tram moving every 5 minutes or less depending on the time. From the web site Zet.hr they have launched a special announcement “Public transport will be free in the Zagreb area, or the area of I. tariff zones, on weekends, ie, Friday from 12.00 pm until Sunday at midnight, and from today, 25 November, to Sunday, January 8 2016. Due to increased demand in Advent, Zagreb funicular (cliff cable car that carries up steep incline slope) will carry passengers until midnight, a funicular railway transportation will also be free. ’’(http://www.zet.hr/default.aspx?id=7963 ) It is always good to check on Public transit to avoid the worries of Parking and getting stuck trying to find the street. This year for the second time in a row they beat out most of the well know Christmas destinations for Advent and Christmas Markets. The competition they face was a lot and made the top of the list. This is what they said click here to find out. http://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/christmas-markets/ or http://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/ From Osijek to Zagreb’s Advent.
Going by bus for an excursion to see Advent in Zagreb is great way to make it problem free. For a bus trip from Osijek to Zagreb for advent was a trip that requires one to wake up earlier than usual and be ready at the Bus pick-up zone by 7 am. The bus ride takes a little bit longer than a ride by car but it takes away all the hassles of driving and parking and the other incidents that may occur on a long road trip. The tour bus operator provide a tour guide for the trip from Osijek to Zagreb.. It’s great to have a tour guide as they know the area well. I found it easy if you look for landmarks that are familiar as a starting point when your in a city that your not familar with. The tallest tower has an observation deck and good for a check point of location. The tour guide has lots of ground to cover in the 1 ½ hour tour. You’re whizzed around through alleys and many short cuts and up stair cases. After the tour there is plenty of time to explore and find many exciting things. Getting lost is easy as it’s not the typical way one may thinking in a grid map. In North America which is used to thinking up 2 blocks and one to your left in grid format. This is the old city center of Zagreb so it’s a maze of pedestrian walk ways that are filled with open air markets, café, restaurants, Museums, Art Galleries, Parliament buildings, Churches, Statues and monuments. Zagreb is full of life and with many things to explore it takes more than one day to see it all. Tips of what to bring. The Tour of Zagreb for Advent you need good shoes, knapsack and layers of clothes as the weather changes when being outdoors for the day to see the sites. In the knapsack if needed pack lightly with a few things like bottled. Also don’t forget to charge your cell phone and a camera. Always remember where the bus drops the group off as that is the place to get picked-up for the long ride home. It’s always good to have a friend or family member come along as they know the Croatian language as it always helps. Have you ever wonder what a Christmas house made of pop bottles would look like or stand actually inside it. The glass structures are something to see as it brings out the imagination of Ice world created in the old city of Osijek. They have done an incredible job using Coca-Cola’s iconic small glass bottles to construct three massive structure: Christmas tree, Glass house and the famous pedestrian bridge (Croatian Pješački most). One thing that has grabbed a lot of attention is the glass-bottle Christmas tree beside the main stage. The structure stands almost stands two stories high, being one of the center pieces of the displays. When the lights are on the tree is at night the glass bottles become illuminated acting like a beacon. There is always someone waiting to snap a picture standing beside the iconic Coca-Colas glass bottle structures. This is one of the three sculpture that has really impressed the crowd this year. The Christmas glass house sits in the other corner of square beside the Farris wheel, Carousel, and the swing ride. It really captures children’s imagination going inside the house. The floor is covered with red carpet and a chair that feels like a thrown. There is that magic feeling that at any second Santa Clause would walk in to sit on the chair. The naturally light flows through the glass bottles during the day and is incredible to see at night. The most iconic pedestrian bridge in Osijek is “Most mladosti’’ there is many pictures each year taken of it by locals and tourists. It is one of the symbols of Osijek and crosses the river Drava. Tvrđa Advent has paid tribute by creating a miniature version. With numerous bottles made in creating it and preforming really suspension bridge is incredible. The amount of planning and making sure the bridge looks similar to the suspension bridge has taken many hours from concept to construction. They have used a little bit of re-enforcement with the framing made of wood for the structure to be sound (The bridge is not something to walk on of course with signs posted.)At night it looks like ice sparkling ice shining through the bridge. They went into lots of detail making it look as real as possible with lights carefully placed in and around the bridge. Advent in Tvrđa has gotten pretty creative this year with one of sponsors Coca-Cola going all out. It is great to see many enjoying themselves and having a great time in Osijek largest advent this year. The music line-up has been a hit with the talent ranging in different styles from Classical Jazz, Christmas carols and some well-known artist. The most noticeable is the glass pop bottle from Coca-Cola especially when they are illuminated at night. When walking around the square one gets the feeling that you get is you have just entered the North Pole Village.
The amount of people coming by to see Advent in the old city Tvrđa has been great. With this year being a record turn-out. If you have not been Osijek to see Advent in Tvrđa, than you’re missing out on some incredible displays and great atmosphere. Whether it be with friends of family or even a date-nite Osijek is the place to be. Saint Nicholas Day in Croatia (Sveti Nikola) The Tradition of Saint Nicholas Day is alive and well in Osijek. The churches play an important role through-out Croatia with the event celebrated slightly different depending on the region. There is many Traditions and different Saint Days through the month of December. In Osijek the one that Children enjoy the most is St Nicholas Day that falls this year on Tuesday December 6th. On the eve of St. Nicholas day December 5th was the day children used to traditionally polish their boots. They would be tidied up before placing them on the windowsill. Children were told that if they were good children they would wake up with gifts from St Nicholas. Today the Grandparents and Parents still keep tradition alive and place by having grandchildren place shoes or winter boots by the front entrance. The next morning youngsters raced to see if anything was left in the boots or shoes. If they were good expected to receive some treats such as candy, chocolate and small Gifts in their boots. However Children that were naughty were visited by Krampus and given silver leaves on a twig. The worse you were the larger the sticks. Some may not have heard of Krampus because of the nastiness of the very idea of being visited would give children nightmares. The popularity was spread throughout Europe and never caught on in North America.
In one Book called “The Christmas Encyclopedia, 3rd ed., by William D. Crump,” he describes it in this passage from the book. “In the Mid-nineteenth century, St. Nicholas’s Day (December6) was observed along with St.Lucia’s Day (December 13) in such northern cities as Osijek, Where the saint brought apples and walnuts (denoting plenty and blessing) to deserving Children. His accomplices varied among regions, from Luca the Hag (deriving from “Lucia”), to the fur clad, chain-rattling Krampus, to a devil with an angle. Today, St. Nicholas brings gifts to northern and central Croatia, while it is St. Lucia in Southern and Northeastern region.” St Nicholas Church in Komiza Croatia with a unique tradition.
The real St. Nicholas was a patron saint for Children and sailors, passengers and fisherman. In one place particular in Croatia the village of Komiza there is the church of St. Nikola and was the First Church-Fortress in Dalmatia. On the day of December 6th the really interesting part is a small wooden boat is carried to the church by a group of fisherman to be burnt in front of the church. It is ritual that is done in the presence of the Church and Patron statue. The Statue of St. Nicolas is carried out and a small procession around the church. The closing of cermonies theremaining ashes are gathered from the burnt boat and are used for the blessing of newly built Ships. Through-out the month of December is Croatia is full of activities. Osijek from now until the end of December have Muisic, Museum activities and other great traditons for the month of Advent. Children and families of all ages are able to take part in the many days of fun happening in Osijek. It has become a paradise for them, who now usually get presents on St. Nicholas’ day, and on Christmas day. References: http://www.tz-komiza.hr/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas The morning was a cold one compared to last year. As many Children Young and old came out to see the Motor cycles roar into town. Believe it or not in center of Osijek this weekend on December 3rd Santa rides into town. On the eve of St. Nicholas a parade of motor cycles and dozens of Santa’s in the annual event called “Motomrazovi!” It happens this Saturday the 3rd of December 2016 in the morning at the main square. (“Ante Starcevic”) The Moto Club Osijek “Motomrazovi” is bringing excitement to children putting a smile on their faces.
The Motor Club makes a special stop before going to the square. The riders make a traditional stop at “Dječji dom Klasje.” Here they offer children some small gifts and treats. After the brief visit the parade of Motorcycles continued their journey on this cold frosty day to the square. The sound was impressive as the bikes roared into town rumbling into Downtown Osijek. Fans young and old gathered to see the annual event of seeing the parade Santa’s ride. Children loved the frill as they gathered around in amazement as the bikes were decorated. Riders handed out candy and let the children take a good look at some of the bikes. It was all for a good cause and putting the fun back into the Christmas spirit in Osijek.
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Mato Ćurić - Osijek GYNECOLOGIST: Zoran Popović, Siniša Matković, Sabina Galić, Renata Bečarević, Mirjana Rubin, Mirjana Jakobović, Mirjana Glavaš, Mandica Galović, Dimitrije Milojković, Andrijana Muller-Vranješ - Osijek FAMILY MEDICINE: Zrinjka Dananić, Vesna Samardžić- Ilić , Valentina Hečimović, Ljiljana Ismić, Albina Dumić – Osijek PEDIATRICIAN: Livija Ceher-Ebner, Jadranka Petrović-Schneider, Jadranka Arambašić, Bojana Petrov-Križanović –Osijek RADIOLOGIST: Otmar Rubin - Osijek DENTIST: Vladimir Haring, Sanja Mihaljčić, Mirela Veselinović, Josip Prpić, Josip Čes, Ivona Bambir-Lesko, Dijana Tomičić, Anastazija Aščić – Osijek SPEC. NUCLEAR MEDICINE Ivan Mihaljević – Osijek To see the full list of doctors from municipalities and cities in Croatia. It also explains how they were selected and the necessary criteria for making the list. It is worth checking out. From the Portal: najdoktor.com http://najdoktor.com/najdoktori-2016/a420&usg=ALkJrhhFWp156A_W6rq0yH2fZAj_ak_N5Q |
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