After a wonderful luncheon experience in Sveti Petar our coach dropped us off near the arena in Pula. The Pula Arena is the name of the amphitheater located in Pula. The Arena is the only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have four side towers and with all three Roman architectural orders entirely preserved. It was constructed between 27 BC and 68 AD and is among the six largest of the 200 surviving Roman arenas in the World. The Arena, was designed to host gladiatorial contests, with seating for up to 23,000 spectators. You can also tour the chambers below the arena where the gladiators and animals were held. It now houses an exhibition of olive oil and wine production in ancient times. Pula is also home to a number of other Roman ruins, including the Temple of ... read more

After a wonderful morning touring and exploring Rovinj, our coach took us through the hilly countryside of Istria to the small village of Sveti Petar u Sumi. I did not expect such a warm welcome and all the entertainment. The staff was outfitted in traditional costumes, played traditional instruments and danced traditional dances. They even encouraged a few brave souls to join in. The food and wine were excellent and the chef received enthusiastic applause at the conclusion. We also had a very nice send off with more music and dancing. We then proceeded by coach back to Pula to see the Roman arena. Sveti Petar u Šumi got its name after the Benedictine monastery which was established in the 12th century. There were no houses around either the church or the monastery. The inhabitants lived ... read more

We docked in Pula, Croatia on a very hazy morning. I had opted for an all-day tour visiting Rovinj and Sveti Petar where we were entertained, wined and dined. This was followed by a walking tour of the ancient Roman arena in Pula. Our coach let us off at the harbor of Rovinj. As we approached the town I could see a large bell tower on top of the hill dominating the town. We passed an open air market displaying local delicacies including the famous Istrian Truffles or Tartufi. We then wandered through the cobblestone streets heading steadily uphill toward the bell tower. The tower and the Church of St. Euphemia appeared as we neared the crest. The church was rebuilt in the early 1700's. The bell-tower was built 70 years earlier and designed like the ... read more

The Seabourn Spirit docked a the New Port in Zadar, Croatia. I had opted for an all-day tour, visiting Krka Park, Gulini where we ate lunch, and a walking tour of the old city of Zadar. Krka Park is about a 70 minute drive southeast from Zadar. The top attraction of the Park are its magnificent waterfalls, including the famous Skradinski Buk falls which are one of Croatia’s most famous sights. The spectacular Skradinski Buk waterfalls are a collection of 17 waterfalls with a drop of 52 feet and length of about half a mile. Overall the park falls drop 1,247 feet in 3 tiers. The park is home to over 200 different bird species and18 different species of bat. Unlike the Plitvice Lakes National Park, it is possible to swim in places in the Krka ... read more

Capitol Reef is one of the lesser known and least visited parks in Utah. There are so many hikes, Capitol Reef's webpage features 10 hiking guides, each for different sections of the park. We opted to take the Hickman Bridge hike. It is the most-popular hike in Capitol Reef, and for good reason. At just 2-miles round-trip, the hike is easy enough for kids. But the view of a 133-foot natural bridge offers a fine reward for every hiker. The trail itself is fun, too, and includes a walk along the Fremont River. This was all we had time for as we still planned to visit Canyonlands National Park and then drive to Moab where we would overnight and visit Arches National Park. Utah, so many parks and so little time. We must return.... read more