Invisible Bakar by blind Ivan

Excellent choice!

If you really want to experience Bakar, follow me. I like to listen to Ana Katarina and Andrija, too, but I’m the only one who has experience in guiding tourists around the town. My name is Ivan Čop, better known by the nickname Ivan Slijepi/Blind Ivan. Unfortunately, I lost my sight already as a child. I learned most of the languages listening to the people coming to our maritime town. I’m glad to show interesting spots to curious visitors. I’m familiar with every nook and cranny, with thickest shade. I’ll introduce you to the natural beauties in the heart of the town. Let me fetch some water from the cold spring before leaving for the upper part of the town. Let’s stop by Jaz first (drain from a larger water flow). Follow the roar of the water and take a walk along the pond.

Jaz

And yes, that’s the Charter of the Empress herself, by which she declared Bakar a free royal town on April 23,1779.

Help me to read:

Maria There Sia

A small pool with ducks and trout connected to the sea? The first thing you would think is that these ducks have lost their minds. If you had arrived here in my time, you would have seen an even stranger sight: women doing laundry on Perilo! Who is doing laundry in the sea?! Look! The sea is rough. Perilo is a source of fresh water, one of the many that flows into Bakar Bay. If you arrive here after a few rainy days, you’ll be greeted by the loud roar of water gushing from underground, so deafening that you’ll hardly hear your own thoughts.

Let’s go across the road to Upper Town up the hill (Breg)! The steeper, the sooner we get to the finish line, right?

Vrata Square

If you carry valuables such as salt into town, you can weigh them in this square. How many measuring cups are there?

Let’s have a short break from the steep climb. Which tree in this square do you like the most? The viewpoint doesn’t mean much to me because I like to rest in the shade of two trees above the ridge. Trees tell each other stories and I love listening! No wonder they never run out of topics – their ancestors had lived a hundred million years ago! These trees are living fossils with an unusual name – Judas tree. Probably because it came from Judea, not because of Judas Iscariot, as the famous legend says.

BONUS CHALLENGE: Taps

Where could I fill the water? Try to find a tap or well along the way and don’t forget to take a photo.

Just a little more uphill and here we are at my favorite square Plačica.

SUGGESTION: ILLUSTRATED BOOK

The QR code is going to take you to the picture book Pebbles of Tears. Flip through the book and learn more about me and my town. The book was illustrated and written by elementary school students from the area of the Town of Bakar.

BONUS CHALLENGE: THREE CROSSES

Challenges from these pages for hawk eyes only. Look around while being on Plačice Square and find the house with three crosses.

Turkish house

Plačica Square is a small square where I like to chat with people. Since I’ve been very tired from the climb, let’s sit on the bench because I need your help again.

2_2 = 200 + __ + 2

Turkish house (Turska kuća) is one of the oldest in the town and its unusual shape is explained through numerous stories. I love absorbing the buzz of the town right on this spot. I was even immortalized here. Don’t be surprised if you come across an old postcard from Bakar with your guide Ivan Čop standing in front of the Turkish House! This square meant a lot to me. Once again, the best place is in the shade. Now let’s hide under the old linden tree. You probably want to know how I recognize which tree it is? It’s easy; linden has heart-shaped leaves. Have you noticed?