Venturing into the Alpine-Carpathian Zone - Stop 4: Zagreb

Amongst all the places I went to during this journey, my absolute favourite is Zagreb!

You know the feeling of pure bliss that just pours from your heart when you think of something you genuinely love? Well, I have that feeling when I think of Jelly (my dog :D), some people, some memories, moments, experiences, and some places - Zagreb being one of them.

Zagreb tugged at my heart strings with its cobbled streets, its charming alleys and buildings, its calmness, its 'untouched-ness', its rareness. It is a capital city, but not the typical busy and crowded types, it is European but not quintessentially so. There is just something about Zagreb. To me, it is the epitome of charm.

Zagreb Cathedral on Kaptol

St. Mark's Church

Zagreb boasts some unique museums (art included) - one being the Museum of Broken Relationships.

About 2 hours (by road) from Zagreb, you will reach one of the oldest national parks in Southeast Europe and the largest national park in Croatia - Plitvice Lakes National Park (it was granted the UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979).

A stone's throw from the Bosnian border, the 295 square km exotic forest reserve is famous for its 16 crystalline lakes that tumble into each other via a series of waterfalls and cascades. 

You can take 4 - 6 hours to explore the lakes by foot. To shorten the time, you can hop on the trams/ buses and boats. It is best to make your way up to the upper lake section, then wander down, by foot. There are many paths you can take - whichever path you take, you will definitely see many picturesque sights.

Croatia is an expensive travel destination - this is the case with most countries which are highly reliant on tourism. Croatia's total tourism contribution to the GDP in 2014 was 28%. (Cyprus - 21%, Greece - 17%)*

*Note: Obtained from the World Travel & Tourism Council* 

Just to give you a sense of how costly it can be: a glass of fresh orange juice cost me ~ Euro 6!

Regardless, I unreservedly love Zagreb and I will surely revisit it. 

I recommend driving through Croatia whereby you can explore many of Croatia's beautiful towns - Hvar, Pula, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik, to name a few, and saunter around the lovely obscure villages in between. 

However, Khuns and I flew from Zagreb to Dubrovnik. 

From the two of us exploring, it became SIX! My whole jingbang family joined us in Dubrovnik. Sorry Khuns as you had to bear with my dysfunctional 'Modern Family' lol.... I am sure we entertained :-P

Idemo u Dubrovnik!

Portuguese Voyage - Day Trip: Braga (Day 5) - 2nd Day Trip from Porto & Marry Me José!

Just about an hour train ride away from Porto, is the home to Portugal's oldest cathedral, the Braga Sé, and the sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte - the city of Braga.

It is quite a spiritual city - the Braga Diocese is the oldest in Portugal and, in the Middle Ages, the city competed with Santiago de Compostela in power and importance.

On the way from the railway station to the Braga historical city centre

Entrance wall

The Sé  (Cathedral) is one of the most beautiful with diverse architecture: Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline (Portuguese late Gothic ~early 16th century), Baroque, a bit of Moorish elements and not forgetting the azulejos.

*An interesting fact: Manueline is Portuguese architecture which incorporates elements and representations of the discoveries brought from the voyages of Vasco da Gama and Pedro Álvares Cabral.*

So, architecture students, forget Barcelona or Vienna, Portugal is your paradise!

Entrance to the church

Twin baroque organs - beautiful

Outside the church

If there is one thing you must do in Braga - it is the Bom Jesus do Monte. AN ABSOLUTE MUST!

There are very few monuments that are a must-see, or talked about by many, that make me go "WOW!" The Bom Jesus do Monte is one of them. It's awe-inspiring! There is a city bus that goes up to the foot of the Bom Jesus do Monte - about a 20 min ride. On the way up, it looks like it is floating amongst the trees.

At the bus stop, you can either take the funicular up to the sanctuary or walk up. I seriously recommend walking up as you can see many statues (that signify different stories) on the way up and the view of the sanctuary is not to be missed. The walk up is approximately 20 mins.

The view from the top is simply breathtaking.

I honestly felt at peace here. I walked further up and came across a 'fairy-tale' lake and garden. Amazing!

Oldest funicular in the world moved by water balancing

You can go further up to the Sameiro Sanctuary, about a 30-min walk. Over there, you can catch a glimpse of beautiful Braga and go inside a beautiful church- has many paintings and gold decorations.

Convento dos Congregados

Praça da República 

After spending the day (& evening in Braga), I headed back to Porto to pack up and bid farewell before I shifted to my next stop the next day. My last night in Porto, I had dinner at
Cantinho do Avillez. The restaurant is by Chef José Avillez (who has a 2 star Michelin restaurant under his belt!!) which serves traditional Portuguese dishes with a modern twist to them.

Appetiser: Scallops and Avocado

Main: Bacalhau with egg and veg

Hazelnut dessert

OH MY DAYS... I was in heaven! The food is extremely delicious! (I don't know if I can find a word to describe how amazing the food is!!) I want to marry him!!

It was at this visit that I found out he has a 2 star Michelin restaurant, Belcanto, in Lisboa. Why isn't he famous like Gordon Ramsey or Joe Bastianich!?

I immediately called Belcanto up to make a reservation - but guess what - IT IS FULLY BOOKED UNTIL JULY!
Would  I go back to Lisboa just to dine at Belcanto? - 195%!

He has other restaurants and a bar in Lisboa as well:
1) Catinho Do Avillez - the same one as in Porto (the first restaurant was opened in Lisboa)
2) Cafe Lisboa
3) Pizzaria Lisboa
4) Mini Bar
(I went to both Cafe Lisboa and Pizzaria Lisboa - but, in my opinion, the best amongst the three is Cathinho Do Avillez).

Things I discovered about Portugal, after 5 days:
1) Produces good leather shoes (at a good price)
2) Has excellent coffee - especially the Buondi and Delta

3) Produces some fine wine (and cheap too!!)
4) Gave birth to an AMAZING CHEF!
5) The Portuguese language - although may have some similar words as in Spanish, is more difficult to grasp and speak (for foreigners like me). It has some French influence - many tongue-twisting words (unlike the Spanish language). For example Guimarães (requires some twisting which I fail miserably at!). Also, another difference compared to the Spanish language is the way 'José' is pronounced. In Portuguese, it is pronounced with a 'J' unlike Spanish, 'H'.
6) Oh yes, and females - please say 'obrigada' and not 'obrigado' :)

Anyways, that's a wrap of Porto. Tchau Porto! Vê-lo em Coimbra....