Dobar dan, dear wanderers! Greetings from the heart of Croatia, the vibrant city of Zagreb. I can assure you, the journey of 21.1km from the charming town of Samobor was nothing short of spectacular.

As I made my way through, I was fascinated by the seamless blend of tradition and modernity that is Croatia. But the one thing that truly caught my eye was the unique architecture. It seemed as if every brick and stone had a story to tell. I noticed this especially as I crossed over from Samobor to Zagreb. The language of the walls changed, speaking volumes about the history of these two places.

In Samobor, I saw quaint, colourful houses that whispered tales of a time long past. But as I crossed into the dynamic cityscape of Zagreb, the walls began to hum a different tune. There were still whispers of the past, but they were interlaced with the rhythm of the present and the future, creating a melody that was distinctly Croatian.

As the famous Croatian saying goes, “Sto ljudi, sto ćudi” – which translates to “Hundred people, hundred tastes”. Truly, in this short journey, I’ve tasted a hundred different flavours of Croatia.

And for those of you keeping score, this little gnome has now been on the road for 144 days and covered a distance of 4359.3 kilometers. I’ve treaded the paths of Ljubljana, Trebnje, Samobor, and now Zagreb. Next stop: the charming town of Krapina!

To commemorate my journey, here’s a verse from a popular local song, “Moja domovina“:

“Moja domovina, tamo gdje je nekad bila,
Sve je manje tuga, a sreće bi još bilo“.

Translated, it means: “My homeland, where it used to be, there is less sorrow, but there would still be happiness.”

This resonates with my journey. Despite the long days and countless kilometers, the joy of exploration keeps me going. Remember, dear readers, every journey, no matter how small, is an adventure. Until next time, zbogom (goodbye) and keep wandering!

Ah, Zagreb, the heart of Croatia! The city that never stops beating to the rhythm of its rich history and culture. First off, the emblematic Museum of Broken Relationships. A place where discarded love finds a home. As they say, “Svaka ljubav ima svoj kraj” which translates to “Every love has its end“. A poetic reminder of the universality of heartbreak.

Secondly, the city’s homage to its renowned poet, Antun Gustav Matoš. In the bustling Strossmayer Promenade, you’ll find a statue of Matoš, pensively looking over the city. A timeless symbol of Zagreb’s vibrant literary scene. The locals say, “Stari, ali uvijek mladi Zagreb“, meaning “Old, but always young Zagreb“.

Oh, and let’s not forget the countless cafés dotting the city, each one a reminder of Zagreb’s insatiable love for coffee. A city forever caught between the old and new, Zagreb is a gem worth exploring.