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Opatija, Pula, Rovinj (Day 3, May 19)

 An early start for us today since the Gate 1 bus was taking us out at 8 today for the Istrian peninsula tour.  We left Opatija (o-pah-TEE-ya) for the first stop, Pula (POO-lah).

Our hotel in the morning

Opatija Waterfront

Fried Julius Schüler, the man who made Opatija a tourist destination by building a rail line to the town.

I took the photos above early in the morning while Fe was getting ready.  When I got back we headed down to the buffet breakfast and then to the bus.  First stop was Pula, about 100 km (62 mi) away.  I was really looking forward to seeing the Pula Arena ever since we saw videos of it on YouTube.

Approaching the Arena.  Not Coliseum, since there's only one of those.

Sailor's Monument

Inside the Arena

Another interior view.  Our guide said those stone seats were put in during the 1930s and that the original Roman ones went all the way up to the top level.

Amphorae in the basement of the Arena.  These were actually found in the area and brought here as part of an exhibit.

Another view of the Arena

Did you hear the story a few months ago that men think about the Roman Empire at least once a day?  I'm guilty of that, but seeing these types of things make me think that's OK.  Now if you ever get to Pula, you should also see what we did not have time for, the Temple of Augustus and the Punishment of Dirce floor mosaic.  I hope to come back to visit these, but until then it should give me something to think about.

Pula is at the southern tip of the peninsula and the next town--Rovinj (roh-VEEN)--is 36 km (22 mi) to the northwest.  This is the first town--of many along the coast--that show Venetian influence.  We spent about four hours here.

Fe and I with the the Old Town as a backdrop.

Partisan Memorial (in a style I think is called Brutalism)

A small square in town

Rovinj Harbor

My lunch for today--pasta with shaves truffles--Fe had grilled calamari, but I do not have a photo of it.

Balbi's Arch, the main entrance to Old Town.  See the winged lion at the top?  Venetians.

Cozy apartments in Old Town

Saint Euphemia is the patron saint of Rovinj and the Church of St. Euphemia sits at the top of the hill in Old Town. The plaza in front of the church has striking views of the Adriatic.

Church of St. Euphemia

View from the top of the hill

Another view

Lighthouse that I think is an accommodation now.

Small mosaic on a home's exterior

After all this, we got back to Opatija at about 4 pm.  That gave us time to unload our stuff at the hotel and have some time on our own to explore the town some more.

Fe made a new friend....

...and then so did I.

Fe and a view of Opatija at sunset.

Grand Hotel Palace

Maiden with the Seagull statue

The only Croatian I recognized on Opatija's Walk of Fame

After all this we walked along the waterfront a while and then had a light dinner at Mlinar, then walked back to the hotel.  According to my iDevice, I walked 6.22 miles today.  That should help burn off what I've been eating so far.

Tomorrow is Zadar and Split further south on the Dalmatian coast.










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