06/08/2022 - Stage 3 from Ljubljana, Slovenia to Zagreb, Croatia (144 Kilometers)

Today, we slept in, had a relaxed breakfast, and packed up our things. We quickly had a good cup of coffee and then made our way to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. We moved into an apartment right in the city center for one night. We made ourselves a snack and rested because it was still too hot to go outside. At around 4:30 PM, we set out on foot to explore the city's sights. The first sight we came across was the Croatian National Theatre. It couldn't be missed as this magnificent building from 1840 stands out in bright yellow. Our walk continued through the Botanical Garden with its beautiful red greenhouse and about 10,000 different plants. We made a short coffee stop at Quahwa Coffee, where we had a cappuccino with a special decoration. After recharging, we continued to the main square and most popular meeting point in the city, Ban Jelacic Square, and then to the Zagreb Cathedral. The cathedral, with its two towering spires, is one of the tallest buildings in Croatia and a national cultural heritage site. Not far away, you can see an entrance to the 350-meter-long Gric Tunnel. It was built in 1943 to protect civilians from bombing attacks during World War II and the War of Independence. The next sight dates back to the 13th century. The Stone Gate is the only gate that has survived from the old city walls. It survived a fire in the 18th century and the bombing of the city during World War II. There is a chapel with a Marian image in the passage. Locals as well as tourists stop at this spiritual place to light a candle and pray. However, the landmark of the Upper Town, where we were now, is St. Mark's Church on the square of the same name. It is famous for its roof. The current coat of arms of Zagreb and the historical coat of arms of the Triune Kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia, and Dalmatia are located here. To get from the Upper to the Lower Town, the quickest way is to use the Uspinjaca funicular. It is the shortest public funicular in the world. However, we continued on foot because we received a dinner recommendation from our landlord. We treated ourselves to a culinary delight at the Stari Fijaker restaurant and had a nice end to the day.