Rovinj Last Night

Rovinj is located in the region (state?) of Istria, a lush and hilly peninsula that wedges into the Adriatic. Croatia borders Slovenia and Italy and is close to Austria in this region so there are many influences and a steady stream of European tourists. I heard somewhere that Istria itself has a different Croatian feel but that it is an artist Mecca. If this is for real this is going to be great!

Dropped off at the last point where cars are allowed. We walk in to the old city to find our hotel, Casa Garrzotto, which is way cooler than its website! Another ancient home in a web of alleys converted into lodging. Graham’s bag might be heavy, too many pringles…?
Dropped bags, setting out for dinner and gelato and a stroll.

Look way up. See if you can see how far the steps go. In the foreground on the right hand wall is an old fishing net with a few scallop shells – I have to research where the Birth of Venus was painted cause we are seeing scallop shells everywhere.
Holy fountain. We blinked as we walked past this little courtyard opening and missed it. Something made me go back a few paces to see. It almost hummed with serenity.
This alley just stops at the Adriatic. Not the soccer-playing sort of alley but a sit-and-put-your-feet-in kind.
Here’s another alley that you have to crawl through a short door to reach the few shops hidden there. That fish bone thing is a wooden chair swing. I love this! People are starting to find spots to watch the sunset.

This is the outer wall of the city, turned in to a promenade.
The kids are checking out the people sitting down below having wine, still sunbathing (yes) or watching the sunset. We are facing Venice, a major influence. The Croatian dialect that is spoken here is apparently closer to the old Venetian language than what current venetians speak today.
There were people sitting here late into the night and then (mostly different people) early the next morning for swimming and sunbathing. Awesome sunset spot. You can barely make out a bouy line for the swim area that stretches around the entire peninsula of the old city.

Sunset in Rovinj in July
Looks a little like Venice from this angle.

Heading back home, it’s late now but not too late to recognize the old (Roman?) gate we have to go through to get there. About 40minute drive away in Pula is a coliseum so intact that it’s unbelievable, apparently. This city was a haven to many for various reasons (plague, quarantine, etc.) over the centuries so it grew and swelled in all sorts of nooks. Some houses fill in gaps and have the Adriatic as their basement. The houses grew, were built, to lean right up on this city gate. Good night, Rovinj, see you in the morning.

One thought on “Rovinj Last Night”

  1. What a beautiful town and coast! You make us feel as though we’re there with you. Taylor, sorry you were sick…but if that’s what it took to hear from you, it was worth it. Hilarious “observations”! Julie, glad you have your kid priorities straight. Hands where they should be and all that.

    And sorry to hear about the pony bite. The cute ones are sneaky, eh?

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