Sports and music: Story of Šalata
Looking at numerous villas and modern houses while strolling past countless embassies, one has a hard time imagining that this upper-class residential neighborhood in Zagreb got its name from a salad that was once here cultivated. Although you can no longer get a high-quality salad here, this is probably the best place to start your adventure if you are seeking for the best view in Zagreb. I, personally, was always an avid proponent of this part of the city. There is something calming, something authentic, not too old, not too modern, hidden among these streets. Even if you are not a poetic soul, sitting on the bench overlooking Zagreb is certainly a nice way to spend 5 minutes or a couple of hours (the latter often applies to me).
If you are a scientist or a science enthusiast, you'll find your place under the stars while visiting Šalata. Here you can find Ruđer Bošković Institute, the largest natural sciences and technology research institute in Croatia, or you can drop by Faculties of Science for a chit-chat and a glass of beer with an aspiring student of mathematics, physics, chemistry or geology.
If you are not into science, and you just want to chill out (not that you can't relax while discussing thermodynamics), Šalata offers plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs. For starters, Šalata has a pretty big sports and recreational centre - ŠRC Šalata. Pools, basketball courts, football court (which transforms into an ice rink in the winter), tennis courts - you name it, you got it. If it's too hot (and it tends to be too hot in Zagreb during summer, trust me), feel free to hop in one of the pools to cool yourself, you won't regret it. The centre itself is particularly renowned for the tennis courts where both amateur and professional tennis players gather. So, grab that white polo shirt and tell the hostel receptionist not to be surprised if other guests find their clothes being painted orange.
Image credit: PJ Šalata
After the night falls down, and you decide to take a break from mathematics or basketball, Šalata will offer plenty of fun. This is where in 2006 Croatia's largest music festival, INmusic, started. Music giants Franz Ferdinand and Morrissey, along with a plethora of lesser known bands, were only a shy hint of what will 10 years later turn out to be one of the biggest rock festivals in the region. At that time, Croatia didn't have many music festivals, so Inmusic was, as expected, greeted with open arms. Even today, when Inmusic draws tens of thousands of visitors, there are many people who nostalgically recall the first one and the great concerts held by Franz Ferdinand, that were rapidly gaining popularity, and cult British singer Morrissey.
Although Šalata has always been one of the first music venues in Zagreb, it has been stagnant for quite some time. But after a couple of years of 'ear drought', this year Šalata returned with a bang by hosting 3 major concerts - Slash in June and then Billy Idol and Faithless in July, both of whom played as a part of "Zagreb Calling" event.
Legendary guitarist Slash, known for his mesmerizing guitar playing skills as a part of Guns N' Roses, held a concert together with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, bringing an enormous amount of quality rock and roll in the hot summer night. Listening to evergreens such as Sweet Child of Mine and Welcome to the Jungle, all visitors were once more reminded why Šalata is one of the best, if not the best open air concert venue in Zagreb.
Image credit: Samir Cerić Kovačević/Venia-Mag.net
Two weeks later, as the heat was getting more and more unbearable, the temperature reached the boiling point as on July 13th and 14th British rock legend Billy Idol, joined by regional stars, Psihomodo Pop and Partibrejkers and well known electronic act Faithless, together with Nipplepeople and Detour, made Zagrebians dance, filling the normally quiet summer nights with well-known hits such as Rebel Yell, White wedding and Insomnia. To whoever listens to his music, it will come as no surprise that Billy Idol, almost 60 years old, can still pack quite a punch and it will take years before live shows that Faithless are known for become too old. More than ten thousand music-hungry ears gathered to sing and dance, proving once more that both Šalata and Zagreb, in general, are more than welcoming when it comes to major musicians and concert events. The bar has been set and given Šalata's sports history, it's reasonable to expect that next year this bar will easily be jumped over in another summer night, full of music and good atmosphere. This, as it seems, is just a shape of things to come and we can't wait for the next installment.
Header image credit: Saša Zinaja/zagrebonline.hr
Author: Marko Pačar