Zagreb Series - Fleeting moments

Passing over the Alps - 4th March 2013

The economy cabin was nearly full on the British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Zagreb on 4th March. But the business class was nearly empty. So it was easy to grab a temporary seat at the front to snap a few photos of the magnificent Alps. It was a beautiful morning, sky a glorious blue, and the clouds dancing above the mountains. 

A nearly empty airfield at Pleso International Airport, Zagreb

Pleso International Airport almost always seems to be deserted. At times of my arrival and departure, I would see at most 6 aircraft. British Airways on most days operate one flight into and one flight out of Zagreb. I last counted 13 airlines flying into Zagreb, including the national carrier Croatian Airlines. According to Zagreb Airport's own website, on Friday 26th October 2012, the airport checked in their two millionth passenger in 2012, which was a day earlier than in 2011! Compared to London Heathrow which handles an average of 190,000 arriving and departing passengers a day, Pleso Airport is a quiet backwater. At the international departure gates, there is a combined bar / cafe, staffed by one or two bartenders, who would accept either HRK or Euros as payment. There is also a duty free shop at the international departure gates, also accepting HRK or Euros. The range of stock is limited. Noticeably there is a Mont Blanc dealer within the duty free shop.

View from Sheraton Four Points, Zagreb

This time I stayed at another hotel, a slightly cheaper establishment that last decorated its rooms probably 20 years ago. The furniture in the room looked battered by use over the years, carpets were fraying at the edges, the curtains could not be fully drawn, and wi fi was absent in the bedrooms. Since I spent 11 to 12 hours a day at the office, the decor of the hotel hardly mattered. There was little time to ponder over the pros and cons but I could easily list the Tops 10 least favourable features in this hotel.

From the bedroom window, looking southwards, I could see the residential area of Zagreb. The high rise buildings are located in the commercial district near the Old Town. The hotel is called Panorama for this reason.

View from Sheraton Four Points, Zagreb