The famous "špica" in Zagreb. This slang word usually means a peak (e.g. traffic), but in this case it's used to describe an interval during a day where people go out and have coffee (drink)... it's a place to see and be seen. During off season, these coffee shops and terraces are completely full and you usually have to be quick to grab a seat. However, you can see the summer influence, where the whole continental Croatia practically moves to the coast during holidays, and free tables during špica are normal occurrence.
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Great shot full of life! Nice street!
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting! Part of your description could have been written by me speaking about downtown Lisbon! :-)
ReplyDelete@JM - :-)) My best friend's Portuguese, and so far we've noticed amazing similarities in mentality, family relationships, food, ......... the list is just incredible. It doesn't surprise me it could have been you writing about Lisbon :-). Actually, I think you should do a photo like that!
ReplyDelete@ m_m - I thought you'd like that, you already mentioned candid people/every day life photos are your favorite. The new building in the back is Hotel Dubrovnik, in the very center of Zagreb.
Some things are the same where ever you are. Clearly this is one of them. Cafes where one goes to be seen
ReplyDeleteWe used to have times like that in Chile, but not anymore in my big city (people complain that there isn't time for anything). I know in the rest of Chile, everything shuts down for about 2-3 hours and people go to their houses for lunch and "siesta". It's good for locals, but not if you're visiting and if you're hungry or wanting to do something around the town other than going to big shopping malls (in case there is one).
ReplyDelete@ Mo - there wasn't anything like that in the Netherlands or Seattle. People do go out to have coffee and there are plenty of terraces in Seattle, but it's never to be seen or to see, it's always just about enjoying yourself with a cup of coffee, friends or a book/laptop. Dutch would just go to get drunk and drink Grolsch :-). Here the 'to be seen' part is one of the most important things... personally, I preferred Seattle!
ReplyDelete@Cristobal - we don't have siesta (in Zagreb; the coastal part has something similar called marenda). Špica happens every weekend/holiday, 11am-1pm, always before lunch. Other weekdays 'coffee's are just coffees. It's too bad people stopped taking their time off in Chile despite the fast life. Zagreb has crazy fast pace too (to compare it, NYC rythm to me was just a little bit faster, but not shocking), but people won't give up their coffee ritual :).