Not Another Love Story
If we would go back to old Zagreb, we would discover that people traded with marten skin. Prior to coins, it came as a perfect means of finance and exchange. Our national banknote today is called ''kuna'', when translated kuna means marten. This feisty little animal has been a symbol of our currency throughout centuries. So let’s give a big shout out to all the fallen martens, hopefully we spent them wisely. Our previously mentioned actress continues the song: ''That clinking, clanking, clunking sound is all that makes the world go round.'' Since we want to capture the motion, let's learn a thing or two about money, most importantly how to spend it. We start easy with our smallest banknote which is 10 kuna or approximately 1.3 euro. Sure, it seems like nothing of value but it enables you to purchase one of the key elements to harmony and happiness the city has to offer. Embrace the philosophy of lounging in the town center on the popular ''Špica''. Grab a cup of coffee and socialize with the locals that are perfectly capable to chit chat about life for the next 3 hours while sipping the same cup of coffee. Basically, you talk about nothing while collecting the energy for your upcoming battles of the day. You score extra points if you manage to squeeze a cup of coffee during working hours. Our most frequent expression is ‘let’s have a cup of coffee’, and this is not by chance. When we are talking about sipping that beverage from heaven we are talking about love.
Image credit: Filip Donadić
Bigger brother of the 10 would be 20 kuna or an estimate of 2.6 euro. The bill bears the face of our most famous historical viceroy. A little hint, the focal square of the city has the same name. Viceroy Josip Jelacic highly encourages you to feel the advent spirit of Zagreb. Before we continue, keep in mind that Zagreb is currently proclaimed as the best Advent market in Europe. To thank all the voters throughout Europe that brought us the title, we raise our glasses. A glass of mulled wine! And to encircle the experience, take a bite of one of the sausages from food stands. Wine-sausage combination is worth a Jelacic 20 kuna banknote. Soak up the atmosphere, mingle with the crowd and enjoy the lively spirit. Our viceroy wasn’t just a revolutionary, he was also a big women aficionado. Taking into consideration that he died from an STD, we could say this perpetual love literally buried him.
A good exchange office will change your 6.5 euro to 50 Croatian kuna. Since we are already full of beverages, we approach this spending spree a little differently. Ivan Gundulic, the guy on the 50 kuna note, was a famous 17th century writer. In accordance with this, shall we culturally expand our horizons? At this point, my dear reader, you are waving your head in an affirmative direction. One of the Upper town palace houses is one of the coolest museums in our capital. Go in the Museum of Broken Relationships and be surprised by the awkwardness of some of the stories when love went wrong. If you are freshly single, share your story as well. It will strengthen you! After this experience, you are a reborn person ready for new love whirlwinds. Your next step is to purchase a licitar heart. Back in the day, before social networks, people needed to speak to each other face to face. There was no texting, direct messaging or inboxing. There were only pure charm and charisma! The men of Zagreb would propose to women with a handmade licitar heart. This product of gingerbread craftsmanship was the best wingman. Every licitar heart had a mirror in the center of it. The guy would give the girl ''his'' heart and say: Who do you see in it? In the reflection she would see herself. A bulletproof tactic in winning someone’s heart. Can you read between the lines? Visit the museum, buy the licitar and go on a quest of finding someone suitable and worthy. All of this for merely 50 kuna.
Image credit: Filip Donadic
I do not know why, but 100 note is my favorite banknote. It's something you feel but you cannot express why. Just like when someone smiles at you and you lose the ability to speak. But in a good way. Never mind, let us focus on you. By this time, while roaming the streets, you have already found someone. As you will notice, people of Zagreb are extremely hospitable and approachable. This friendliness is in our bloodstreams and you can see it in our eyes. Probably one of the reasons why we are a new touristic star on the European sky. And what to do with a newly acquired friend? Go ice skating of course! Our gem among the ice rinks in Zagreb would be the one on King Tomislav Square. And our first king must have been an important fellow since he is on our biggest banknote of 1,000 kuna. Be brave, put on your ice skates, grab somebody by the hand and enjoy the moment. Fall on your ass, smile and let all the worries pass you by. Afterwards hit the food stands full of delightful treats. 100 kuna or roughly 13 euro will suffice for all the mentioned.
Image credit: Filip Donadic
Luckily, my dear reader, this is not a story about money. This is a story about love and how it should be manifested. There is no better scenery to do that than the one Zagreb offers you for free. Just stroll the streets and visit the squares. The pulsating energy in the air is overwhelming. The vibes of the city and the people are truly amazing. They form a colorful sensation that is impossible to describe with words but you feel it instantly with just one look. Furthermore, this is ‘Love actually, the movie’ time of the year. Capture its essence, take your loved ones on this romantic journey or meet someone new. It doesn’t matter if you’re the prime minister or a kid. Everybody has their own pair somewhere if you believe it. So conclude this year with a victory and the sentiment of happiness. Forget the highest banknotes of 200, 500 and 1,000 kuna and focus on finding the person that is above any price tag. I dedicate this column to all the people that stood by me during this year and to the one that is yet to be found in the year that awaits me. Love each other and most of all #loveZagreb, the city where dreams come true.
Header image credit: Filip Donadić
Author: Filip Donadić