WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR: M. JAHOVIĆ GDNUS
A few days before the New Year, I went to Zagreb by car from Montenegro on business. In the capital of Croatia, I had a meeting with representatives of the Montenegrin minority. By the way, it's my first encounter with that wonderful city.
But let's start in order. As I have already written, the road from Montenegro to Zagreb was made by car. There was no particular crowd on Debela Brijeg and within a few minutes and the standard border control I entered Croatia. At the very start, it became clear to me that this country is extremely beautiful, a true pearl of Europe. However, I must admit that I was a little afraid, because the car I took from the rent-a-car company in Belgrade had Serbian license plates. Many people warned me that because of this I would have problems in Croatia and that I would probably experience numerous discomforts. But despite such warnings, I decided to leave for Zagreb, with a dose of fear. Shortly before Dubrovnik, in the town of Kupari, I encountered a traffic jam. A refrigerator with over 25 tons of meat overturned on the road. After about two hours, I somehow continued my journey to Zagreb. This time, however, I will bypass the scene from a store with an employee from Hercegovina.
And so I set off for Zagreb, I was enchanted by the beauty of Dubrovnik that I saw from the road. I also passed the new Pelješki bridge, which is unreal. The coast is divine, the sea and the islands are enchanting, incredibly beautiful. With short breaks, I also reached Split. I stopped at a gas station on the highway. I stayed there a little longer, talking with employees and people who, like me, took a break there. I told them that I am from Montenegro and that I live in the United States. And now many will think that I encountered a cold attitude and suspicious looks. However, everything was different. I have never experienced such cordiality, immediacy and kindness anywhere. He only spoke of Montenegro and Montenegrins in superlative terms. We talked so cordially that I completely forgot about the time. And I don't regret that I stayed longer than I planned to give those great people to the wonderful people of Split.
I set off for Zagreb and a few kilometers further I experienced bad luck. I got a flat tire on my car. I tried to replace it, but I had inadequate equipment in the car. And what to do, I call Croatian Auto Ceste. A not very friendly operator answers. He tells me that he will send someone to tow me off the highway. After a while I call again, this time the operator answers, who, unlike his colleague, was extremely kind and told me that help had already been sent from Split and would reach me in a few minutes, and that they would help me. And That's how it was. A tall guy came, the kind you can only see in Dalmatia and Montenegro. He looked at what was going on. He took his equipment, but even the spare tire in the car wasn't suitable. What to do? It was almost midnight!
However, that great man Kovčo is his last name, as if he were his closest relative or dearest friend. He starts looking for a solution. He calls the owners of auto parts stores, which have been closed for hours, in order to find an adequate tire. He finds both the tire and the owner who is willing to me from Montenegro with a car with Belgrade license plates, open a shop. He finds Kovčo and a tire repairman who will open his workshop and install a new tire on my wheel. He goes to Split, Kovčo finishes everything, quickly comes back and repairs my car so that I can continue on my way to Zagreb. There is no way I could thank those wonderful people, whom I don't even know.
As a strong wind was blowing at that moment, part of the highway from Split to Sveti Rok was closed to traffic, so I had to take an alternative route via Lika. Good trip there too, the suburbs are divine, the smaller towns, the settlements are beautiful. And so in the early dawn around 7 o'clock I finally arrived in Zagreb to the hotel, which should be completely reconstructed, but the staff is friendly.
Apart from the meeting with the Montenegrin minority, I spent the day getting to know Zagreb, where I am for the first time. The city is beautiful, decorated, decorated because it's Advent time. I don't know which is more beautiful: the center, Trg Bana Jelačića, Trg Kralja Tomislava, some of the beautiful parks like Zrinjevac or Gornji grad. Maybe the Upper Town, which is unreal from Mark's Square, the observation deck, the famous funicular, the Stone Gate...
I also took a break in a wonderful coffee bar, where I forgot my bag containing my passport and other documents, as well as money and credit cards. I noticed that I didn't have my bag with me until about 6 or 7 hours after being in that coffee bar. I set out to look for it, not expecting to find anything and with anxiety about how to return home without a passport, what to do with cards, documents. However, one great girl, who worked in that coffee bar, stayed in the same one all day and waited for me to return so that she could return my bag that I forgot there. I'm sure I couldn't expect something like that anywhere else, except in Zagreb.
What is certain is that Croatia, Zagreb, Split, and most of all the Croats deserve my enthusiasm and gratitude. Croatia enchanted me with everything, and it is definitely a country where I could live and it is a country where I will definitely return. And of course, don't believe the stories about how you will experience inconveniences, they are all lies and evil intentions, because the inconveniences are happening on the other side, not in Croatia. I recommend everyone to go and visit Croatia, you will enjoy it.
After Zagreb, I headed to Slovenia, stayed in Ljubljana. But about that another day.
