We leave the hotel at 09:00 and take the coast road south of Opatija towards Pula.
Once again we have a glorious day with the most beautiful blue sky which makes this journey stunning. The coast line is rugged and dramatic and it is a pure pleasure driving on roads like this in weather like this. Passing through pretty towns and villages you could almost be in Italy driving along the shores of Lake Maggiore.
All of a sudden we come across some roadworks, and these are real roadworks! The road has gone and you are left driving on stone, rock and dust. If this was at home you wouldn't be allowed to drive as the road would be closed. This goes on for 12km and is a nuisance but also a little exciting! And the scenery is still stunning at every turn.
We have a stop at a small cafe high above the sea before continuing to Pula, arriving there at 10:45.
Pula is famed for its Roman atifacts and monuments and you drop the passengers off in the shadow of the mighty Amphitheatre.
As soon as the people are alighting the coach "Mr Jackov" appears trying to flog books of postcards, which he isn't very successful at!
After the group have gone I park not far away by the sea and then go for a walk.
The town is lovely with old winding streets full of shops, cafes and restaurants as well as the Roman monuments. The main square, the Forum, is beautiful with a Roman Temple on one side and beautiful high buildings around the other sides. Also there are not too many people about so you can appreciate everything at leisure without being jostled about.
Passing through one of the old gates into the town you come across a more modern shopping area before reaching a superb market set in a park as well as an old glass roofed market building that now houses many restaurants. I am not really a market person but I was struck by the great atmosphere of this market.
I walk back and have lunch sat outside in the main square.
I drive back to the Amphitheatre at 15:30 to find the group waiting for me, all eager to sit down in an air-conditioned coach to cool down!
Mr Jackov is back with guide books and more postcards to sell but he doesn't sell any. I think he should change his approach!
He then makes a call and hands me his mobile phone - "This Joanna you talk she English guide"
Bearing in mind I have never been here before and do not know when I will return, and am just about to leave, I take his phone
"Hello" What else do you say?
"Hi, I'm Joanna can I help you?"
"Not really, I have been given this phone and I don't know why!"
We have a little chat and then she is gone, I hand the phone back and wonder what all that was about!
We go back to Opatija by motorway which takes about an hour and a half.
Once again we have a glorious day with the most beautiful blue sky which makes this journey stunning. The coast line is rugged and dramatic and it is a pure pleasure driving on roads like this in weather like this. Passing through pretty towns and villages you could almost be in Italy driving along the shores of Lake Maggiore.
All of a sudden we come across some roadworks, and these are real roadworks! The road has gone and you are left driving on stone, rock and dust. If this was at home you wouldn't be allowed to drive as the road would be closed. This goes on for 12km and is a nuisance but also a little exciting! And the scenery is still stunning at every turn.
We have a stop at a small cafe high above the sea before continuing to Pula, arriving there at 10:45.
Pula is famed for its Roman atifacts and monuments and you drop the passengers off in the shadow of the mighty Amphitheatre.
As soon as the people are alighting the coach "Mr Jackov" appears trying to flog books of postcards, which he isn't very successful at!
After the group have gone I park not far away by the sea and then go for a walk.
The town is lovely with old winding streets full of shops, cafes and restaurants as well as the Roman monuments. The main square, the Forum, is beautiful with a Roman Temple on one side and beautiful high buildings around the other sides. Also there are not too many people about so you can appreciate everything at leisure without being jostled about.
Passing through one of the old gates into the town you come across a more modern shopping area before reaching a superb market set in a park as well as an old glass roofed market building that now houses many restaurants. I am not really a market person but I was struck by the great atmosphere of this market.
I walk back and have lunch sat outside in the main square.
I drive back to the Amphitheatre at 15:30 to find the group waiting for me, all eager to sit down in an air-conditioned coach to cool down!
Mr Jackov is back with guide books and more postcards to sell but he doesn't sell any. I think he should change his approach!
He then makes a call and hands me his mobile phone - "This Joanna you talk she English guide"
Bearing in mind I have never been here before and do not know when I will return, and am just about to leave, I take his phone
"Hello" What else do you say?
"Hi, I'm Joanna can I help you?"
"Not really, I have been given this phone and I don't know why!"
We have a little chat and then she is gone, I hand the phone back and wonder what all that was about!
We go back to Opatija by motorway which takes about an hour and a half.
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