These days, most of us are stuck inside due to the Coronavirus pandemic that is happening all over the world right now. The good thing is that we can all do our part just by staying inside and socially distancing ourselves from other people. By doing so, even though you're healthy, we're slowing down the spread of the virus and making a real difference.

As Croatia has entered the new stage of quarantine, where all public gatherings are banned, and cafes are closed, some people find being at home 24/7 really hard. Also, if you're a foreigner stuck in Zagreb because of the travel ban, this is a perfect opportunity to find something more about the traditions and culture of our city.

So, let's get started.

Image credit: M. Vrdoljak, TZGZ

The most famous card game in Croatia

If you're a lover of card games, I have a real treat for you. Bella is an extremely popular card game played in all parts of Croatia and also in Bosnia and Bulgaria. It is also quite similar to French card game Belote and Jewish card game Clobyosh. Even though there are some important differences in the rules of a game.

Bella is usually played in two, three, or four. Although most often, it is in four, while games in two or three are played only in case there aren't enough players. Every Bella game (regardless of the number of players) consists of handing out the cards, determining the trump, calling, playing, and adding up the points. The game is played with a card deck of 32 cards, in Croatia popularly called mađarice which is a slang derivated from the word Mađarska (Hungary in English).

Bella is the most popular in the Northern Croatia regions and especially Zagreb. Take a walk through Zagreb neighborhood parks during the warmer weather, and you'll for sure find, usually an older group of men playing it. For many Zagrebians, Bella means relaxation, hanging out with friends, and enjoying the good game of cards. For example, there is a tradition in my boyfriend's family where they play Bella every single Sunday for a few hours after lunch. Every Sunday afternoon is reserved for this family time, and the game partners change every time. It helps that they are a four-member family, so it's an ideal situation for a Bella game. This just shows how this game is a part of the lives of Zagrebians.

If you're interested in finding more about it, read the rules in English over here. My advice is to be persistent while learning the rules of the game. It can all be too much at the start, but once you master it, you'll for sure get hooked on it. It is my favorite passing-time game, and you can easily play it for hours on end.  

Croatian books, movies, and TV Shows

This period of staying at home may be an excellent opportunity for exploring books, TV Shows, and movies that were placed in Zagreb. Through them, you can sense the real Zagreb spirit. I'm bringing you a list of classics that are a must for anyone wanting to find out more about Zagrebian cinematography or literature.

When talking about movies and TV shows, there are a few classics which everyone interested should see. One of them is Smogavci, a beloved TV show about a Zagrebian family that comes from a small neighborhood called Naselak in Pešćenica. The show was filmed between 1981 and mid-90s and has become a cult cinematography piece from that era. If you want to find out more about it, read a whole article dedicated to it on our blog here. You can also watch the entire episodes on YouTube.

Video credit: YouTube

Another Zagrebian classic is an animated cartoon named Professor Balthazar. It is a famous Croatian cartoon from the 60s and the 70s and one of the most successful projects of the Zagreb School of Animated Film. It is also a cultural phenomenon because it became a real social brand that promotes science. I still remember the feeling of excitement when waiting for a daily episode of this cartoon every day before the main evening news.

In each episode, the story takes place in Balthazartown, whose residents are sympathetic people of various professions and humanized animals living in the city. Titles of the episodes are always very imaginative (for example, The Nightwatchman Must Fall, Bim Bam Bum, For Heaven's Cake, Doctor Do not Little, Somewhat Over The Rainbow, etc.) and they represent a specific problem which must be resolved in an episode. With a dialogue between the professor and the citizens of his town, every issue is solved at the end of the episode. If you want to learn more about this fun cartoon which is a truly Zagrebian product read the whole blog post dedicated to it, over here. 

Image credit: Zagreb city museum - M. Vrdoljak,  TZGZ

The movie Tko pjeva, zlo ne misli, is another classic of our cinematography. If you want to take a virtual stroll through all the Zagrebian famous locations, this is the movie to watch. It was filmed in 1970, and the action is mostly set in an apartment and an old courtyard located in the Zagreb Upper Town - Gradec.

The movie is centered around the Zagrebian family Šafranek and their everyday life which happen to have some exciting and funny twists and turns. The rest of the movie plot you'll have to discover on your own, but I seriously recommend watching this gem. You'll get to see Zagreb in the 70s and many beautiful city locations like park Maksimir or the famous Sava bank, which was then used as a beach during Zagreb summers. 

image credit: Maksimir Park - D. Rostuhar, TZGZ

For some more inspiration, I also recommend a cult mini TV series Gruntovčani aired in 1975. It follows the main character, Dudek, through many fun anecdotes that happen to him. This TV show is so popular even today because it describes so well the everyday life in rural areas of Northern Croatia, like Podravina and Međimurje which are placed in close proximity to Zagreb and it's tied to it quite strongly. You can watch the whole series on Youtube, on the link below.

Image credit: Youtube

If you're more of a book person, we recommend you three classics from Croatian literature, which will take you around old Zagreb. These are The Goldsmith's Treasure by August Šenoa, Whistle from Bukovac by Zvonimir Milčec and Daughter of Lotrščak by Marija Jurić Zagorka. These authors have shaped Croatian history in so many ways, and if you're interested in finding out more about these books, we have a whole blog post dedicated to them. Read it here.

Take a virtual walk through museums and theaters

Unfortunately, museums and theaters all over the world had to shut their doors for visitors for the greater cause in recent months. But, in these hard times, the Internet is showing how much it can offer when it comes to online socializing. Many museums and theaters have organized online shows and virtual tours of the museums.

In Croatia, you can take a virtual walkthrough of many beautiful museums. Some of them are the Mimara museum (via their website), Museum of Arts and Crafts (via Google Cultural Institute),  and Ethnographic Museum. Museum of Contemporary Art has started #MSUNonStop program where they will be extra active on their social media during the closed time– Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Image credit: Mimara museum - M. Vrdoljak, TZGZ

Croatian theaters have also used all the benefits that the Internet has to offer. The Croatian National Theater in Zagreb, in collaboration with the 24 Sata newspapers and digital platform, has launched a project that will feature performances of opera, drama, and ballet on a daily basis, which will then be available for viewing during the COVID-19 period.

Performances in an online format are also offered by the Zagreb Youth Theater (ZKM), chosen by the audience who voted on social networks for their favorite ZKM title that they want to see. The links to the voted online shows are then shared on their official Facebook page. What an amazing idea, isn't it? Lastly, I want to mention dear theater Mala scena which also successfully went online in the light of recent events.

Image credit: Croatian National Theater - M. Vrdoljak, TZGZ

It's important to mention that there really is a lot more of online content available during these days of self-isolation, so take some time to explore what your favorite theaters, cinemas, museums, and other businesses are doing. It is really important to support them during these difficult times.

In the end, I hope you have found some inspiration in this blogpost and wish everyone a safe and quick return to a normal life. :)

Header image credit: M. Vrdoljak, TZGZ

Author: Darija Ilić