Blogs from Istria, Croatia, Europe

En route to Pula we drove through the Lika region, which is located on the Eastern side of the Velebit mountain ranges. Some weeks ago when we hiked in Plitvice the foliage season has just begun and we could not enjoy the full color festival yet. Now it was in full swing. The deciduous trees presented themselves in great splendor, with all the numerous shades of yellow, brown and red on their leaves. The other mountain range we crossed on this journey to Pula is called Gorski Kotar. The European route E65, which we had to take to cross it, connects Budapest and Zagreb with the Adriatic Port of Rijeka. Gorski Kotar is a scarcely populated mountainous region between Karlovac and Rijeka. Because two-thirds of its surface is forested, it is popularly called the green lungs ... read more

Nenad grew up in communist Yugoslavia and had his fair share of indoctrination especially about the shining, infallible leader of the Communist Party, the Military and the Nation, Marshal Josip Bros, nicknamed Tito. "Ti to" means "you this", making reference to his rather authoritarian style of commanding people. These Brijuni Islands with its largest island named Veliki Brijun Island are situated only 2 km off the coast of Fazana. Tito made the Brijuni Islands his personal State Summer Residence. He followed with this notion the tradition of Habsburg Royalty and nobles, who used Brioni (Italian name) as their fancy get together place. A very egalitarian, socialistic act indeed. Being so close to them, Nenad was curious to visit these previously for ordinary Yugoslav citizens off limit islands. Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik designed a pavilion for Tito. ... read more

Tuesday:plan. Get up, go to get a boat to Birjuni, have a nice day, go back to the house and maybe out for tea. The reality: up at the crack of dawn (ish) to go to the garage, chauffeured by lozz who really had no plans for this in his holiday. Told by the garage man that nope, not a chance of looking at the car (just looking at it, not even mending it) till Thursday. So we collected some stuff and sulked our way to the (very very hot) beach at Rovinj. Seth had a great time (loudly pointing out that a chubby preteen boy had boobies was perhaps the highlight though). We sulked our way through (having a few words with ourselves about being so grumpy in such a lovely place). Seth paddled, had ... read more

Monday..... Plan: get up, go to Pula, park near aquarium, see fish in a fort, have lunch, have a gentle drive to Rovinj, meet a friend for a cuppa, leave, go home via supermarket, brother would arrive, have tea, maybe have a dip in the pool, Seth to bed at 7 and a nice drink on the terrace. Actual...... Got up and left probably later than intended but hey ho Got to Pula for eleven or so and oh my god. Not only could we not park anywhere near the aquarium (despite there being lots of spaces the men wouldn't let us in) we couldn't park on anything resembling a car park. Eventually we parked slightly up a grassy hill in a wooded area (with all the rest of the world, no one was anywhere else ... read more

Friday 31stMay to Wednesday 5th June Cres-Losinj Islands The forecast has improved and we are in for some sunshine again. The ferry to Porozina on the north of Cres was straight forward. Cres is the second biggest Croatian island but is sparsely populated and seems only to have one road from the port along the island. The road is in the process of being improved and made for an interesting driving experience as traffic unloading from the ferry met traffic coming towards the port. We stopped off in Cres Town for provisions before crossing the narrow channel at Osor (a tiny walled town) that separates Cres from the island of Losinj. This was to be a two centre visit where we enjoyed exploring the islands both on foot and by bike. Our first campsite was about ... read more