Zagreb Boxen - Part 1

Now that you've seen the entryways I think you might be interested in this little known phenomenon we like to call "boxen".  Think of the boxen as those little birds that basically live on the backs of larger mammals.  They get to ride and eat for free and in return they keep their hosts well groomed and well attended.  

Yes I know this metaphor is a stretch, but think of the entryways as the hippos and the boxen their tiny bird attendants.  Ok, let's just skip the metaphor entirely.

As I mentioned in the previous post, these openings offer entry into all manner of enclosed spaces.   The courtyards might have a beauty shop, a jewelry store, handmade shoes, even a photography club.  However, the casual pedestrian would never guess what shops might be hidden within these enclosed areas.  Hence the boxen.  

Boxen are always situated at the large open entry to the courtyard, at either or both sides of the passageway on the main street.  They beckon the pedestrian by literally showcasing a shop's wares.  They are built right into the walls or attached afterwards.  Some have legs, some are metal, others wooden.  Some are ornate while many are very plain.  They can be lit up or very obscure.  I love how each one is a little tableau.

This afternoon A and I did a little exploring of the passageways and their associated boxen.  We walked down some of the passage ways to see the stores that were being advertised in the little boxen  This is Part 1 of today's reconnaissance.

In the photo below, note boxen to the right of passageway.  It's built right into the exterior wall and is very well kept.

A and I decided to see what it was advertising.  Turned out to be an antique shop specializing in Austrian kitsch that was really charming...it's the store lit up on the left. This whole space was really really nice in a funky way.  The pics don't do it an ounce of justice.

This little shoe or "cipele" boxen, pronounced tseepellay, is well maintained, lit up and in contrasting colors of orange and blue so very eye catching.  Those are $400 handmade shoes you are looking at btw.

This one is right on the side street we stayed on two years ago.  They're doing construction there right now.  Anyway, this boxen is advertising a place that will buy your old gold.

This closed establishment is what we found at the back of the passage.  They buy used gold and silver.

This is my favorite boxen, now mostly abandoned because the chicken restaurant it's associated with went out of business.  

Across the alleyway from it is this boxen advertising a suit manufacturing spot. It's difficult to tell where this boxen's store is, but close by is a passageway, so we went down it.  

Here is a view of the entrance from the street.  

Going further inside, If you look closely on either side of the far doorway down the hall, you can barely make out darker indentations.  Those are doorways, one on each side.

This tiled stairwell is in the doorway on the right. It leads up to apartments and some offices.  We remembered having been fascinated by it two years ago and it has retained its charms since.

I'm now officially exhausted.  Tomorrow: Zagreb Boxen Part 2