Zagreb Series - First Impressions

Vienna International Airport

Today I left Vienna for Zagreb.  It was the first time that I flew with Croatia Airlines and the fleet, operated by Tyrolean Airways, was parked quite a distance from the terminal.  Whilst waiting on the bus for other passengers to board, I saw the front of the terminal for the first time and was able to take a picture of it.  


Perhaps the bigger surprise was the sight of the fleet of De Havilland Canada DHC-8 airplanes with the Croatia Airlines livery. A further surprise came when all hand luggage had to go into the hold before boarding the plane. 


The journey from the airport to city centre only took 20 minutes.  High rise apartment blocks line the way.  Even the hotel looks utilitarian.  Despite its five star status, everything looks tired and used.  The worst feature of all is that only the public areas have wi fi. The lobby is dark and dingy, with leather armchairs that have been sat on by too many heavy customers.  The price of a la carte dining is frightening - two pieces of sea bream fillet with a cup of tea came to over £29.  As I am posting this blog, the handyman in the hotel finally gave up trying to fix the curtains that had come tumbling down in the sitting area of my hotel room.


There are some very impressive buildings in the city centre. There simply was not enough time to explore to give this charming city her justice.  

The Croatian National Theatre

The Mimara Museum

St Mark's Church

A statue near the Stone Gate

Devout Christian praying before the Virgin and the Child at the Stone Gate

St George slaying the dragon, in front of the National Theatre

A sculpture surrounding a water feature

View from the hotel room, probably the best feature