Back to the River

“Year after year he wondered if he should go back and year after year felt it all recede from him past hope, past endeavour . . . He could not find his way back there.”

Iris Murdoch

A good night’s sleep.

We shower and take a slow walk to Boogie Lab. This has been our breakfast spot in Zagreb.

We order some coffee, a ham and cheese focaccia, and a prosciutto and barratta. Some more coffee and a croissant to share.

It is all about the baking. The bread and the croissants are delicious.

We stroll about the city for a while. Spring is closer here in Zagreb. Some of the bulbs are already in flower. It is still and quiet early in the morning. The city is asleep. Its beautiful in the city. Cool, not cold. silent and peaceful.

Back to the apartment before we get the car, pick up our friend and head to Otočac.

This is where the trout swim in the river Gack are caught fresh and cooked at Bistro Bibič. One of the best meals I have ever had.

No pressure today when we return.

Bistro Bibič is closed for renovation.

“Life is a long preparation for something that never happens.”

W.B Yeats

We take a drive to the bridge that lead us to Otačac. The river Gack is bursting its banks after all the rain.

Shell finds us a new spot to eat. A short drive to Bistro Virlo Gack.

It turns out the Bistro sits on the source of the Gack. A natural spring.

Lunch is delicious. Calamari to share and trout from the stream. A bottle of 2024 Kutjevo Graševina to wash it down.

We drive back to Croatia and spend the afternoon drinking wine on our apartment balcony.

Many meaningful problems were discussed. None were solved. It was a great afternoon.

We opened three bottles of wine. The Tomaz Celeste Sparkling Rosé is stunning drinking. The 2024 Matošević Alba Malvasia is one of the best early drinking wines we have had this trip. Finally, a cheap red from a local market, which was ok, but did the job.

Evening hit and we walked our friend back to her apartment.

I was working up an appetite, so we walked through the city. Beštija is booked out and we end up at a seafood place named Ribice tri točkice.

It served a decent seafood platter and a decent bijelo vino.

Home and bed.

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.”