Ahmed Bakr, First Secretary and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Five Stars Zagreb Issue 17 — June 01, 2006.

When you work in the field of diplomacy, with all the hard work, deep thinking, tensions and stress it involves, entertainment and relaxation becomes a must every while and then. It is therefore important to live in a place where it is possible to renew energy, practice hobbies and take some time off for leisure and rest. Zagreb, a small, and beautiful city in the very heart of Europe, offers it all.

From the woods of Maksimir and Sljeme, to the busy commercial environment in Ilica street, from the fresh breath of the Sava river, to the exquisite coffee shops and restaurants in Trg bana Jelačića, from fitness centers to shopping malls and cinema complexes, all this wrapped up in a clean, safe and tidy atmosphere. While matching the different tastes and preferences, it is quite unusual to get bored in Zagreb.

Saturday mornings could be considered as Zagreb's weekly fashion show. People dress up elegantly and head towards the city's center, where a long walk or a nice cappuccino could be enjoyed in the numerous coffee shops scattered around the pedestrian area. The perfect appearance of Zagreb's inhabitants on these mornings could only be equaled to the warmth of their spirits and the hospitality of their company.

I often spend Saturday mornings outdoors, the regular ritual would be to pop in one of the English bookshops in the main square, buy the newspaper, then sit in the closest coffee shop to read it while drinking my tea, on warm spring days, this habit is often quite inspiring, in the middle of a friendly atmosphere, ideas easily flow into one's head and could be translated into initiatives to be implemented during the week.

Zagreb's night life isn't in any way less interesting than its daytime activities. Summer evenings by the Jarun lake involves a wide variety of choices as pubs, discotheques and restaurants of different kinds are open till the very late hours of the night. Jarun comprises a perfect blend of people of all ages confirming the rule that fun and good time is ageless, those who'd prefer a quieter evening rhythm could enjoy eating in one of the restaurants boarding the lake, or even go for a walk around the 6 km long track.

Though similar to the Austrian style of construction, Zagreb's architecture is in a way unique. Mostly Austro-Hungarian in its' spirit with a Venetian touch in certain areas near the center.  The residential districts of Zagreb combine the double advantage of being close to nature and the center, providing peace, without too much isolation.

I cannot conclude without mentioning the tremendous efforts achieved in connecting Zagreb to the other regions in Croatia and the rest of Europe, a modern highway network enables you to easily get from Zagreb to Croatia's magnificent coast and to the major cities in Central and Southeastern Europe. The genius location of Zagreb can only add to its numerous qualities making it the charming capital of a charming country.