This morning I strapped Beli on her stroller and off we went to find the bookstore. The directions as told by my friend, "Walk past the Tonik Juice bar and continue walking until you see on your left a music shop and across the street is a courtyard, you can't miss it." I thought, how hard can it be to find it right? Wrong!
Let's just say that I don't have a good sense of direction. After a few minutes of walking I realized that maybe, just maybe I was lost because the street I was walking on began going uphill and Beli and I were heading towards Marjan Hill, away from the downtown area.
Beli surprisingly didn't complain about her bumpy ride as I went down the cobblestone steps. I asked a few people for directions only to be told to go to the Diocletian Palace where all the bookstores where located. But I was looking for the used bookstore, I tried to explain in Croatian, except I only knew the words for book and shop. We finally turned around and stopped at the juice bar and the girl said, "oh yes, I know that shop, it's only a few minutes away!"
The shop Antiquariat, is tucked away at the end of the courtyard with an orange tree near the entrance. I stepped inside and literally, my mouth dropped. I couldn't believe the size of this shop. Books decorated the front wall! A beautiful staircase on the left corner of the room. I felt like a kid inside a candy shop, didn't know where to start! I asked the owner if she had Engleski knige and she replied with a grin on her face, "yes we have English books."
I scanned the shelves while Beli patiently waited.
I walked away with three books for 90 kunas!($18 dollars) and the owner said that when I finish reading the books I can return them for a partial store credit.
I have a feeling I will be spending many hours inside this lovely shop!
