Zagreb is located on the river Sava. A lot of capital cities respect their rivers and live with them. Well, Zagreb is not one of them.
Sava is in the dark at night, and during the day it is pretty abandoned.
It was not always like that, Zagreb used to live on the river. There was a time when you could bathe in it, but it was also a fun meeting place where many people spend most of their free time.
In 1964. a big flood hit Zagreb and one third of the city was flooded. It was a natural disaster that had a catasrophic consequences, 17 people died and 40 thousand flats and houses was destroyed.
Still, sometimes Sava is pouring out of the well, but now is much safer, ever since the dam was built.
Today we have some political promises that Sava will be alive again and program Zagreb on Sava will make it happen. Thay promise urban revival of space along this river, various activities and attractions, cycling trails, sports grounds, beaches... Will see, but till then as I walk my dog every day I picture old Zagrebians enjoying the benefits of the river and hoping some day my children will too.
