Ljubljana to Zagreb - Day 6 - Tuesday 2nd September 2025 - Balkan-Georgia Trip - Day 6/34 - City 6/20 - country 6/11
- eusts6
- Oct 21, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 10, 2025
The day started with a quick breakfast at a café close by and writing the diary from which I transcribe this blog. I usually check my expenses over coffee. I realised that I spent 120 euros in bar Mačkon, but I did say "I will pay for everything," and they took it literally. There was nothing I could do, but a previous version of me would have been very upset with himself and everyone. At least we all had a good night. I even turned down the offer of drugs from my new friends; I will look at this as a term of endearment.
After breakfast, I went for a quick walk, but as the weather was awful, I stopped for a coffee and returned to the hotel and waited until it was almost time to leave for the train to Zagreb. Not really much to say as I just doom scrolled my time while it rained outside.
My now very damaged black suitcase was acting like a stubborn toddler in a supermarket and was refusing to move at all. I coaxed it along, cursing, so that I was sweating by the time I arrived at platform 8 ("Tir 8"). I was drenched because there were no lifts and I still had too much stuff. The sweat began to cool down and cling to my back while I waited for the train. The train was full, and I found my reserved seat next to a Slovenian man who spoke Dutch and a bunch of girls from Antwerpen.
I continued the journey, switching from Dutch to Croatian seamlessly the whole time. The scenery up to the border was fantastic, with sharp bends and spectacular green peaks on either side, sometimes draped with wispy clouds. I was walking about with my camera, making videos and snapping scenery, and this didn't go unnoticed, so that when we reached Zagreb, an Australian couple wanted to know if I was Seat61! Excited to be in Zagreb, the first thing I did was go to Mlinar, the baker, and ask for a krompiruša (potato pie), but I had to settle for a spinach and cheese pita. Still nice, but I really wanted the potato version.
My rental apartment was literally opposite the railway station, yet I still used Google to navigate to the front of an unremarkable communist-style building. I entered the building and took the lift to the 2nd floor, but it brought me to the 5th floor, so I had to walk back down three flights of stairs again. I had received instructions on how to enter my rental apartment but had no instructions on which room number, so I contacted the lady, and she said "number 1," but the key didn't work. I then tried door number 2, which did work, and it looked very occupied. The bed was unmade, dirty dishes were scattered about, and dirty laundry was half hanging out of the washing machine, so I promptly shut the door and called her again.
I called the lady again and waited outside. I am pretty sure she was Iranian from her name and accent. She neither spoke good English nor Croatian and told me she was Croatian. I spoke some Farsi, and she didn't respond, but her eyes told me something else. Anyways, she was embarrassed and quickly gave me the correct keys and even showed me where the local supermarket was. I settled for cheese, wine, and bread for my evening meal along with some other naughty snacks like smoky peanut-flavored fried snacks.
I got showered and changed and headed for bar Kolaž, which was listed as being "gay friendly." It was quiet but nicely decorated with bright Christmas lights and kitchen decorations; it had vibes of The George in Dublin. It was gay, not gay friendly. I spoke to two guys from Brixton, one of whom was a native of Belfast. I started on beer but then switched to wine. As I texted my friend Zvonimir, he disapproved of my choice of beer and pleaded that I try some local brews the next day. The guys from Brixton left, so I struck up a conversation with the guys at the bar. In particular, I spoke to a guy called Ivan from Mostar, who has the same taste in films as I do. Later, I spoke to Nino, who was partnered with Glenn, the barman. The conversation flowed in Croatian!
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