Zagreb Day 1-The Museum of Broken Relationships

While waiting for my bus ride to Ljubljana, I spent some time visited the Museum of Broken Relationships.

Located in Zagreb's historic Upper Town, the museum houses a diverse collection of items—ranging from everyday objects to more unusual artifacts—each symbolizing a unique story of love and loss. These items are accompanied by anonymous narratives that provide context and emotional depth, offering visitors a profound insight into the complexities of human relationships.

I enclosed few photos here, so you have some ideas the items displayed in the museum.  It was one of kind but I would not want to visit in the future.  The museum rooms are dark and depressing.

Zagreb Day 1-A Day Trip to Ljubljana

Bus ride from Zagreb to Ljubljana

I woke up before sunrise, excited for my day trip from Zagreb to Ljubljana. It was just past 5 a.m. when I went online to purchase my FlixBus ticket. Everything was set. I took Tram #6 from the Old Town Square to the international bus terminal, eager to start my adventure.

I arrived right on time for the 7:15 a.m. bus. The driver asked to see my passport or ID. I handed him my driver's license, thinking that would be enough. He looked at it and firmly asked for a passport. That’s when I realized I’d made a mistake.

I had debated bringing my passport that morning while packing. But since I was already traveling within Europe, I figured it wouldn’t be necessary. I did bring a photocopy—just in case—but unfortunately, that wasn’t good enough. The driver refused to let me board. Defeated, I returned to my hotel. I checked the FlixBus schedule again and saw two options: a 7:55 a.m. departure (which I wouldn’t make in time), or a 12:15 p.m. bus. After a moment of reflection, I decided not to give up on the trip. I booked the 12:15 p.m. ticket.

With several hours to kill, I wandered the neighborhood. I stopped by a nearby market and bought some fresh blueberries, then made an visit to the Museum of Broken Relationships.

After a short rest at the hotel, I headed back to the bus station for the second time, this time with my passport.

I boarded the 12:15 p.m. bus without issue. Ironically, the driver didn’t even ask to see my passport! But just before we crossed the border into Slovenia, a border official boarded the bus. She carried a handheld device and photographed every passenger’s passport. One man was asked to get off—he may not have had his with him. In that moment, I was incredibly relieved I had gone back for mine.

Travel tip: always carry your passport when crossing borders in Europe, even within the Schengen Area. You never know when it will be checked.

We arrived in Ljubljana around 2:50 p.m., where my friend Metka was waiting for me.

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Ljubljana City Walk

Ljubljana is a charming and walkable city. We strolled from the bus station to Prešeren Square in about 15 minutes. From there, we visited the Triple Bridge, Dragon Bridge, and walked along the Ljubljanica River. We took the funicular up to Ljubljana Castle for a beautiful view of the city,  and later wandered through the Old Town. We visited City Hall and even had the chance to meet the mayor!

Around 5:30 p.m., Metka and I had dinner in a cozy restaurant in the Old Town. After dinner, she walked me back to the bus station. My return bus soon arrived, and we said our goodbyes.

On the way back, I chatted with a couple of young passengers—college-aged travelers from Belgrade. I complimented their excellent English, and they laughed, telling me they had learned it from watching kids’ cartoons. 

What began as a stressful morning turned into a memorable day filled with lessons, laughter, and meaningful connections. 

Statue of France Preseren

Preseren Square

Statue of Julija Primic

Me with Meteka in Front of Franciscan Church of the Annunciation

Inside the Pink Church

Triple Bridge

At the head of Dragon Bridge

At the Ljubljand Castle

View of Ljubljana from Ljubljana Castle

Dragons everywhere

Ljubljana Old Town

Ljubljana City Hall

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*The statues on Prešeren Square

 Prešeren Square (Prešernov trg) is the heart of Ljubljana and one of its most beloved public spaces. It's named after France Prešeren, Slovenia’s greatest poet. At the center of the square stands a large and striking statue of France Prešeren, created by sculptor Ivan Zajec and architect Max Fabiani. It shows France Prešeren was in a long coat, holding a book of poetry in his left hand. Above him, on a stone pedestal, is a nude female figure holding a laurel branch. She represents the poetic muse, often interpreted as Prešeren’s inspiration—particularly his unrequited love for a woman named Julija Primic. If you look across the square, you’ll see a building with a stone relief bust of a woman—that’s Julija Primic, the woman Prešeren loved. Their tragic, unfulfilled relationship inspired many of his most famous poems, including his epic Sonetni venec (A Wreath of Sonnets). If you stand in the right spot, you can line up Prešeren's gaze perfectly so that it looks like he’s forever looking at Julija’s image, across the square. It’s a subtle and poetic tribute to the story of lost love that defined much of his work.

**Ljubljana’s relationship with dragons:

Ljubljana’s relationship with dragons is deeply rooted in its mythology, symbolism, and identity—it’s not just decoration; the dragon is the official symbol of the city. According to local legend, the roots of Ljubljana’s connection to dragons go all the way back to Greek mythology. It is said that: Jason, the famous hero who stole the Golden Fleece, and his band of Argonauts were sailing back to Greece when they traveled up the Danube, then the Sava, and finally the Ljubljanica River. Near the area of present-day Ljubljana, they encountered a massive dragon in a swamp. Jason fought and slayed the dragon, making him (in myth) the first true inhabitant and hero of the area.  This dragon became a lasting symbol of strength, courage, and resilience.

5 days in Zagreb-Impressions and Experiences

Zagreb is a small and charming city. When I visited in February, there weren’t many tourists, which made my stay very relaxed. The city has an efficient public transportation system, mainly consisting of trams and buses that can take you almost anywhere you want to go. There's also an international bus terminal with routes to neighboring countries like Slovenia and other parts of Croatia.

The tram and bus system uses paper tickets that are valid for different durations—30, 60, or 90 minutes—depending on the fare. When you board a tram, you need to validate your ticket by inserting it into a machine onboard. While ticket inspections don’t happen all the time, I did see staff checking tickets during my stay. I bought a few tickets of different durations from a tobacco booth located right in the center of the Old Town Square, next to the tram station.

Zagreb's city center is very walkable, with many attractions easily accessible on foot. It can be a bit hilly when walking between the Lower Town and Upper Town, but it's manageable. The Old Town Square is a lively meeting spot for locals, and the city offers a range of museums and interesting sites for visitors to explore.

I spent five days in Zagreb, including a day trip by bus to Ljubljana, which I found to be plenty of time to see the city at a comfortable pace.

I stayed right on the Old Town Square, which turned out to be a very convenient location with easy access to the tram system. The locals I met were friendly, and most spoke fluent English.

The taxi ride from the airport to the Old Town Square took about 25 minutes and was smooth. Since cars aren't allowed in the square itself, the taxi dropped me off nearby, and I walked a short distance to my hotel.

Traveling from city center to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport

In Paris, when using your Navigo card, you only need to tap it when entering the metro—there’s no need to tap out when exiting. This makes sense since all rides are a flat fee of €2.90. Many cities around the world now use contactless payment instead of traditional metro cards. I’m still waiting for Paris and Washington, D.C. to fully catch up with that trend.

To get to Charles de Gaulle Airport, there’s a train from Paris Gare du Nord via the RER B line. You’ll need to buy a paper ticket in advance for this train, which you can purchase at any metro station. This ticket is required both to enter the gate to the RER B platform (usually platform 32) and again to exit at the airport.

I initially thought the RER B was an express airport train, but it’s not. In the morning, it’s heavily used by commuters, so be prepared—it can be very crowded. I was there around 8:30 a.m., and although it was packed, trains arrived every couple of minutes. Note that there’s no dedicated luggage rack on the train.

While exiting at Charles de Gaulle, I noticed a few young girls quickly slipping through the gates behind passengers to avoid paying. I also saw two people using just one ticket to enter. Apparently, all you need is speed—LOL.

I got off at Terminal 2, the last stop. For my flight to Zagreb with Croatia Airlines, I needed to get to Terminal 2G. I followed the signs but after walking for about 10 minutes, I ended up at Terminal 2F without realizing it. From there, I exited the building and caught the N2 shuttle bus to Terminal 2G. Be aware that the airport has many terminals and it's easy to get turned around.

Each terminal has its own security checkpoint after you check in and drop off your luggage.

Paris Day 3-Basilique du Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre, Place du Trocadéro

Today, Katie suggested we visit the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre.

Before heading there, I asked Kathi if we could stop briefly at Place du Trocadéro—a perfect spot to snap a few photos with the Eiffel Tower in the background. We arrived just before the sun fully emerged, and managed to get a few nice shots before continuing on.

To reach the basilica, we took the metro and got off near the Moulin Rouge theatre. We had considered going to a dinner show there, but it was a bit too pricey—and time was running short. From that point, we simply followed the crowd and began the long, uphill walk toward Sacré-Cœur.

It was a sunny day, and like so many others, we settled on the wide staircase in front of the basilica, soaking up the warmth and the sweeping view of the city below. We rested, people-watched, and simply enjoyed the moment. We didn’t go inside the basilica, as Kathi had only limited time.

Afterward, we strolled downhill through the bustling tourist quarter, lined with cafés, souvenir shops, and artists. Kathi browsed for postcards along the way. At the bottom of the hill, we stopped for lunch at a cozy restaurant—Le Bruant, located at 59 rue des Abbesses. Of course, we made sure to order some escargots!

Following lunch, we did a bit of shopping. I picked up a new pair of sunglasses. We visited Galleries Lafayette, passed by the grand Opéra Garnier, Le Grand Hotel and eventually paused for coffee before Kathi left for the airport. I then walked alone along Avenue Lafayette all the way back to the hotel.

Three days in Paris flew by. I realized then—three days simply aren’t enough. To truly explore and appreciate the richness of Paris, you need at least five to seven days.

Place du Trocadero

Moulin Rouge Theatre

Basilique du Sacre

Galleries Lafyette

Grand Hotel Paris

Opera Garnier

Avenue Lafayette