Croatia is always somewhere that I have wanted to go but have never found prices that I am willing to pay. I had no intention of 2020 being the year that I went either.
As it turns out, the pandemic has had a beneficial impact for me because flight prices are really low.
I managed to get a return from Stansted to Pula for a base fare of £20. Yep, you read correctly dear reader. Twenty of the finest British Pounds I had in my possession and that got me a return to Pula – the return train fair was more than the flight!
I decided to do a bit of research on what there was to do in Pula and then I got the bright idea that I would get a train from Pula to Zagreb (this is a massive no-no in this part of the world – which will be explained later).
The only other thing I decided that was a must was the Zagreb 360 lookout.
The train and flight were pretty uneventful – much to my delight.
I managed a row to myself and, honestly, this is how I want to keep flying.
Coming in to land was pretty as we flew over the islands of Croatia and the Adriatic was glistening in the sun (little did I know how much I would burn).
As it has been a while, my memory may be somewhat hazy so you will have to forgive me if stuff is in the wrong order or missed out (of course, not that you would know otherwise).
-
When I had gotten in last night, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with the couple of days that I had here. I had to go back out to get some cash for the hostel as they didn’t take cards. Once I had done that, I had a wander around for an hour or so to see if I could get some ideas for today.
I found the amphitheatre and took a picture and sent it to a friend and told him I was in Rome. He said he thought I was in Croatia. It made me chuckle as I had done something similar a few years ago with the Eiffel Tower and Blackpool Tower.
I was glad to be outside with a slight breeze as the hostel was so hot. The AC didn’t work and someone had turned on the heater in the bathroom too (I don’t even know why).
I decided that I would walk along the main street in the city and head towards the Amphitheatre and go inside and visit. It was like £2 to get in so I didn’t mind at all.
I spent about an hour here just in awe of it. I did wonder if this is what it looked like at the Colosseum in Rome (probably, but way cheaper). I tried to be artsy-fartsy with the picture taking. I’ll let you decide if I was or not.
Once I was done here, I was sufficiently hungry enough that I wanted to fill my belly. I found the only McDonald’s in Pula and went there and sat for a couple of hours – you see, it had AC and it was lovely. It also gave me a chance to figure out what else I wanted to do.
I found a side street to have a wander along and I came across an old Roman Forum that was on the way to the castle. I decided that I would save the Roman Forum for tomorrow – I had ample time before I had to be at the train station.
I then headed towards the castle and paid a couple of quid to get in there. The views from there were amazing. I then also walked up the tower that they had there and the views were even better. I spent a couple of hours here just wandering around and sitting and people watching – a favourite of mine. It was nice and breezy too – and that was another reason for staying up there so long.
By the time I had seen all I wanted to here, I was sufficiently tired that I headed for dinner and back to the hostel to sleep – just in time for the rain to start too.
Total steps: 14,285
Total miles: 7.2
Below are some of the pics from today
So, about that train thing I mentioned earlier. Yeah, it was totally the wrong way to do it.
Valentina from the hostel in Pula said that in that part of Europe, the rail network is not as good as the road network. I did a quick look and saw that the bus does the journey in 4 hours instead of a train > bus > overnight > train. I guess it’s all part of the experience though… right!
The train from Pula to Lupoglav was a couple of hours and I was ready to be on it to feel the breeze coming in through the window as I was burning and hot all over from the blazing sun. Nothing of note happened, it was a nice steady journey. Once we arrived in Lupoglav, it was a minibus to Rijeka. I was worried about the connection as there was only about 8 minutes to make it – lucky for me the driver was waiting for the train to arrive before leaving.
Once in Rijeka, it was a nice short walk to the hostel (thank goodness as my feet were aching). I had trouble finding the door at first and then saw that it was next to a pub with blaring music. I knew I wasn’t going to get much sleep. I got there around 22:30 and the train to leave was at 05:30. I’m surprised I managed to get any sleep at all owing to how loud the music was.
I headed to the station for the 4 hour journey to Zagreb. I enjoyed the train. I had a cabin and air con all to myself. The views as we climbed the mountain were amazing. We got to travel through the mountain fog too and that was pretty cool. I could see why it was 4 hours for the journey given the climb through the mountains we had. The distance itself is only 100 miles.
The journey on the way back was pretty much the same – though we were running a couple of hours late and I didn’t get to see the views coming down the mountain all that well. I was supposed to be in Rijeka for around 20:00 and it was around 22:00 when I got in and it was another early one for the bus to Lupoglav. The only saving grace for the delayed train was a McDonald’s at the hostel and an orchestra doing its practice in the yard of the Radio Rijeka building right next door. I sat in the kitchen and just listened for about 40 minutes and it was bliss.
I had an hour wait in Lupoglav before the train to Pula. It was nice to sit in the fresh morning air (though the wasps out at that hour were not my favourite thing).
I decided once I was in Pula I would go find some breakfast and then head to the bus station to head straight to the airport. I had seen and done all I wanted to in Pula. I just needed to rest my feet and chill, so I did just that.
Some pictures and videos below from the journey between Pula and Zagreb and Pula.
-
I got in to Zagreb sufficiently tired from the lack of sleep owing to a late arrival and loud music. I was really hoping that the hostel would allow me to check in early so I could get a couple of hours sleep. Sadly this wasn’t to be so I left my case and then went for a wander around the city for the next 6-7 hours.
I bought some tickets for the tram to last me the time I was here and set off. I decided I would get the first one that turned up and see where it would take me. I was lucky – at the very last stop there was a McDonald’s. I decided to get some breakfast and a drink as I was super thirsty. Once I was sufficiently fed and watered, I headed back out on the trams just to scout out some places to visit over the next couple of days.
I got on the tram and it took my by the river and Savski Most. I had a wander around here but there wasn’t really anything around. Either side of the river in this area was houses.
I then got some more drinks (I was thirsty OK) and got back on the tram and sat on it until I found somewhere that piqued my interest. It was by the main station. Plenty to see round here. Once done here, it was finally time to head to the hostel for an hour or so for a nap.
I felt fully refreshed and then headed towards the tower. I walked up as the funicular didn’t look open (it was, I guess I was still tired). It was good though as it gave me a chance to admire the views out over the city. I spent the remainder of the day up here just getting some good pictures. I also climbed the tower – all about getting the perfect shot like.
One of the views was of St Mark’s Church. I was in awe of the roof of the church – you’ll know it when you see it in the pictures. After I was done in the tower, I headed towards the church and the roof is just stunning up close. I had a wander in this area for about 45 minutes and then went and found some benches to sit on and watch out over the city whilst sipping on my nice, lukewarm water and Sprite.
I decided I had walked enough and my feet were at the right level of hurt to justify the funicular. Thankfully my public transport ticket covered the cost of it.
I headed back to the hostel to have some junk food and sleep in the nice 16 degree air con.
Total steps: 13,847
Total miles: 6.7
Below are some of the pics and vids from today
I decided that I would just head towards the station and chill there for the next few hours before the train back to Rijeka and then Pula.
I found some nice pastries and then just sat on the platform people and train watching. It was really quiet enjoyable. I then headed to the platform for the train I needed and sat there waiting. It then disappeared off screen and found someone to ask if they knew what happened (at this point it was already 15 minutes late). They said no and to ask at the info window.
There was nobody at the info window and the departure board there showed I was on the right platform and that it was running about 65 minutes late. I went back to the platform. I was getting more agitated and it being late (mostly because it would be dark by the time we came down the mountain and I would miss the chance for pictures – plus I was tired).
I got really annoyed when my ticket was checked because it was the worker I had asked on the platform in Zagreb about the train that fobbed me off!
The flight home was really uneventful – a row to myself again though. Result!
I got back home and I just chilled and was so glad to be back in my own bed.
Total steps: 88,176
Total miles: 43.9