Having not been to Croatia before I thought it best to learn a bit about the history over breakfast.
From being part of the Roman Empire since 9AD, the majority of Croatia (aside Dubrovnik) being controlled by Venice in 1428 and then the Austrian-Hungarian movement up until the First World War. The country is full of history and I haven’t even spoken about the former Yugoslavia era present up until 1995.
So let’s begin.
A trip on the trusty open top bus allowed me to gain a further insight. Starting at the Colosseum, the 6th largest amphitheatre in the world made in the first century AD – more on that later. The bus took me along the port of Pula out along the coast – past the naval base of the Austrian-Hungarian period and around the Austrian Villas. One of which was owned by George Von Trapp the Austro-Hungarian naval officer – the family are the same as the one in which the famous musical – the sound of music was based.
An hour well spent and ready to explore further the history of Pula.
Next stop inside the colosseum as mentioned this was built in the first century AD during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. It was used for the gladiator games and for staging bloodthirsty beast hunts. At the beginning of the 5th Century AD Emperor Honorius forbade gladiatorial games and that was the end of that, left for ruins. Although in 1583 Venice wanted to take it down stone by stone and rebuild it in Venice – Venetian senator Gabriele Emo put two fingers up to that and it remained in Pula.
Next on my cultural adventure was the olive oil museum. Who knew you could learn so much about the delicacy that we use pretty much everyday. The Istrian Olive oil is famous for its quality and there was such an array to choose from. If only I didn’t have hand luggage on my return flight home I may have been tempted. But anyway basic concept of making the olive oil (I used to do it with the kids – until they changed the specification) get the olives, press to make a pulp, and press even more to drain the oil out, separate oil from water and bobs your uncle.. an olive oil to die for.
Back on foot, I saw some more sights of Pula, a church, a Roman gate and the Venetian fort built in the 17th century! At this point excuse the sweat. It was hot.
Next stop – the underground shelters and tunnels of Pula, built immediately prior to the First World War. These were a welcome breath of cold air, although it wasn’t ideal that they were doing electrical works and the lights kept flickering off. š¤¦š»āāļø
Next stop lunch. I had spotted previously a few nice restaurants – I think I chose the wrong one but non the less I had a good refuel with a Caesar salad and glass of wine before hopping onto the bus to my penultimate destination Fort Monsival. The bus stopped here earlier and looking on google maps it seemed a short distance from where I was staying – alas it is a closed fort and when it’s so hot the walk back doesn’t seem so short (it was only 1.3km).
Upon arrival at my hotel I definitely needed a cool down – to the sea I said. I didn’t have a snorkel, so I decided to take underwater photos – there’s a novelty. I think there’s only one fish to view šš
I then spotted the worlds most hairiest man so it was deffos time for a cocktail.
As I sit and write this I’m yet to have dinner, I’ve showered and I’m sat on my balcony drinking red wine, the yoga on a paddle board has started to set itself up in the bay, top effort I mean I wouldn’t even be able to balance on the board never mind do a downward dog or whatever it is. But anyway – would I have envisaged myself being here 4 months ago? Is it the best thing I’ve ever done? Only time will tell.
I will save the rest of today’s adventure for tomorrow’s blog, I’m hoping for a decent sunset, I think I’ve found the best place for the money shot šš»šš».
Ciao for now.
Flying Solo 