Jun 11, 2010 - Pula

Pula am suedlichsten Ende der istrischen Halbinsel wartet mit einem extrem gut erhaltenen Amphitheater aus der Zeit des roemischen Kaisers Augustus (ca. 60 - 40 v. Chr.) auf, welches wir frueh morgens fast gaenzlich alleine besuchten. So erfuhren wir in einer tollen Audioguidefuehrung wichtiges ueber die damalige Wichtigkeit dieser roem. Provinz bezueglich Wein- u. Olivenanbau u. Handel, aber eben auch betreffend der grausamen Gladiatorenkaempfe welche bis ins Jahr 500 stattfinden sollten. Der Status eines erfolgreichen Gladiatoren war...

Sep 7, 2009 - Pula/Pola!

It is approx 12ish on Monday, back in an internet cafe so typos a-plenty... We are in Pula, at the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula - this is the big shipping port for this area, and it has strong Italian influence. We have just spent the morning walking around the Roman Ampitheater - incredible beautiful colliseum right in the middle of town. They actually have concerts there in the summer. More on today later, still need to backtrack to catch up... Spent Sunday doing what I keep calling my dream day. We visited one hilltop town after...

Apr 20, 2009 - Last stop in Croatia

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....

Oct 14, 2008 - Those Romans sure got around

I remember studying the Roman empire in school. I also remember the saying all roads lead to Rome. However I really didn't understand the vastness of the empire until this trip. Today I am in Pula where there is an old Roman amphitheatre. When I was walking in Spain part of the path was an old Roman road, then there was the Roman wall in London and the baths in Bath.