Zagreb

So, as already mentioned in my earlier posts … I’ve started spending more time in the nature lately and less in the crowded smoky areas. I’ve started observing the life, everyday life mostly with its miniature elements, from a different angle.

I’ve always had an eye for small things, but I feel I’ve started noticing them even more lately, probably due to the lack of hangovers during the weekends. My mind is clearer. 🙂

I took a walk around the block the other day. We live very near to the lake and the forest. We are lucky to be surrounded by a beautiful nature and amazing, rich market that’s just a few metres away from where we live.

This is my little ode to the autumn expressed in pictures. Hope you’ll like it! I love to look at the tree tops when I walk, but when the earth below me is covered with leaves that rustle under my feet, and when I have Converse on, I just enjoy pointing my eyes down, towards the ground.

Pigeon gathering

With kids at school, swings are empty

Walking towards the lake

Hi World,

Very often we stay in our comfort zone. We don’t change things because we are afraid or just lazy, especially when it comes to day to day activities. When I travel, I always want to try out different things, go places, meet people, and discover something new.

When I’m at home, these new moments, and the urge to discover something new somehow disappear and hide. And it shouldn’t be like this.

I think I have to try more at home. Keep my eyes more wide open, focus more, practice being here, now, in the present. When travelling, this is easy. There is always a new challenge ahead of you, new situation that helps you keep the focus, especially if you are a solo traveller.

But this weekend was pretty exciting, I left the comfort zone for a while, went to a new place, tried new food.

Most of you have already tried snails and frogs. For me it was the first time, and I can say that I always somehow postponed eating these little creatures. Not because I was afraid, I just didn’t want to try snails when I knew that there is something on the menu that is more familiar to me and that I’m sure that I’ll like! So, this was the snail weekend. I really liked them, so I might even eat them again.

But the weekend wasn’t least bit spent in snails speed though. It was very active one. We took the car and headed towards one of the nearby hills. The hill is called Petrova Gora and it’s famous for its stunning nature. It’s a place where mushroom connoisseurs go to pick mushrooms, but this place has historical importance as well. There is a monument built on top of the hill that is a memorial to the victims of the Second World War.

Sadly, the monument has been neglected for years and it’s in a very poor state. Supposedly, the view from the top is stunning and you can see Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina from top of it. The doors of the monument are shut for visitors now.

Apart from the stunning nature, this memorial, this place is very important in the older history of Croatia. Before modern governments and politicians, Croatia was ruled by the kings and queens, and last Croatian king (Petar Svacic) was buried here. It was exciting to see a part of that history when kings and queens ruled these areas.

Last Croatian king Petar Svačić

But just sometimes, I recall lazy Saturdays, when all I wanted to do is visit the market nearby, prepare something to eat from the fresh products I got from the market, and do nothing but relax and lie on the couch because the night before was so crazy. Good times! 🙂

Lately, I’ve exchanged crazy weekends and night life with more active weekends, spent hiking, running, cycling or just walking and exploring.

The other day I heard myself saying ‘…I just can’t believe that I grew old this early’. (I’m thirty). But I didn’t (maybe I’ comforting myself!), I just enjoy nature more, and smokey areas are not as appealing as they used to be, to be completely honest. I prefer to wake up early in the morning, and to start the day fresh, have coffee, write diary, and put my thoughts in the order.