Last stop in CroatiaApr 20, 2009
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Festive wine tasting booth
Amphitheater outside our apartment window with Fran and Chris
UNESCO chapel in Porec
4/20/09
Pula, a town perched on the northern coast near the Italian border, was our last stop in Croatia. Our apartment overlooked a huge Roman amphitheater, whose well-preserved exterior gives the Colloseum a run for its money. Underneath, hundreds of ancient jugs of wine sport the first “labels” showing where they are from. Historians are able to track the origin and journey of these jugs over hundreds of miles from the information stamped on them. We also enjoyed some local fortified wines made from cherries, blackberries, and honey.
From Pula, we explored Tito’s Brijuni Island, where he met with many political figures from around the world to form his Non-alliance. He also kept an extensive collection of taxidermied creatures from all over the world, as well as a few live animals. Not quite as good as an overland safari, but it will do in a pinch. We also went to the UNESCO church in Porec, and fell in love with the harbor and medieval town of Rovinj. The Croatian coast has been a tremendous source of delight, in its medieval towns, excellent food and wine, stunning landscapes, and reasonable prices. The snorkeling looks fantastic. I hope to come back again some day when the weather is warmer and I can jump in that delicious-looking water without fear of hyperthermia.
