Zagreb – my city
Kazimierz Kopyra, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Republic of Croatia
Five Stars Zagreb Issue 18 — September 01, 2006.
I became an inhabitant of Zagreb three years ago. I had known the city from my earlier tourist trips, as well as from the business trips that followed. Still, before now, I had never had the chance to live in Zagreb for a longer period.
Zagreb is an impressive town and completely different from the spacious capital of Poland with two million citizens, Warsaw, in which I have always lived.
The Croatian metropolis is of an intimate size, picturesquely situated both on a plane cut in two by the Sava River, and on hilly terrain at the foot of the Medvednica mountain range. Its position provides wonderful corners in the city where people simply love to spend their time. For instance, if I wish to lose myself in the city bustle, I walk around Ban Jelačię Square or along Ilica Street, while I take romantic walks around St. Catherine's Church or St. Mark's Square. I walk my dog along the Sava. As a passionate fisherman, if the weather allows, I go outside Zagreb, as far as Trako¹čan or Crna Mlaka.
I am very fond of Zagreb's old architecture, the classicist National Theatre, perfect in its proportions (reminding me of our Juliusz S³owacki Theatre in Cracow), the monumental building of the Museum of Arts and Crafts and the Mimara Museum, the railway station and other buildings which are surrounded by beautiful green areas, making Zagreb a place with a unique nostalgic climate and charm.
The city is not just houses and streets, but is primarily composed of people, warm-hearted and open, people who wish to help any traveller passing through. The citizens of Zagreb are full of energy, and positive emotions, and they gladly participate in the cultural events which are numerous in the city.
I am not the only Ambassador who feels good in Zagreb. This is primarily the result of direct contacts with people. That is why I am fluent in Croatian (but also owing to my Slavic studies at the University of Warsaw). As a result, I became a member of the exclusive club of ambassadors who speak Croatian. There are not many of us, but we have the advantage of not needing to use interpreters, and, believe me, this is a great relief in diplomatic work.
Throughout these three years I have noticed how quickly the city is changing, how it is being renovated, and made more beautiful. I have also noticed how the citizens of Zagreb would like to see a greater number of tourists visiting the capital and how they would like those tourists to take away with them the best impressions of the city.
My wish for the citizens of Zagreb is that the metropolis fulfils all their aspirations, so they can always be proud of it, looking forward to all the changes, and remaining convinced that the recent tragic history is a thing of the past and that accession to the European Union is just around the corner. Finally, I wish that the citizens of Zagreb may keep their cheerful spirit, their openness and kindness to foreigners, and I wish the city authorities lots of success in the further embellishment of the city.
