Day 2---A day at the beach

The road of wine, the road of olive oil

Started off very early for a three and a half hour trip west and a little north to the Istria region, which is on the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea.  Multiple tunnels later on a very nice toll road we reached this grape and olive growing area.  Our first stop was to a local farm where both wine and olive oil are produced under the Suran label.  After a short tour of the cellar, we were treated to a "rustico" meal of bruschetta (with the farm olive oil ) fried white fish, which were a little larger than anchovies, potatoes, garbanzo beans, and a mixed vegetable dish with eggplant, squash, carrots and onion, all served with Suran wine.  A nice meal in the open air.

The oil going on the bruschetta

Add an "I" and it spells Surani

Hate to try walking up (or down) this when wet.

and from top of the hill.

A view in the town square...

After this we went to the city of Rovinj, pronounced "Robin."  A huge Italian influence here, and all town in the area, as well as many signs, announcements, etc., are also in Italian.  Our tour guide here, Sandor, was actually an Italian Croatian.  We toured the city, and climbed very slippery marble cobblestones to the church dedicated to St. Euphemia on the top of the hill...and a hot climb it was too, with the temperature in the 80's and high humidity.  The view was worth it.  Rovinj has the feel of a California beach town, think Santa Cruz.  Same sunburned tourists, beach towels for sale, and souvenir shops everywhere.  After a visit to two local, very high class hotels, we had free time until we met to a batana ride around the city.  A batana is a small wooden boat propelled by long oars.  Since the Adriatic was very calm, it was a pleasant ride.  We disembarked and had a regional dinner at a "taverna" with lots of music and singing.  We had an appetizer of pickled anchovies (not bad, and I don't like anchovies.) and pickled white fish, followed by a salad, fried calamari and white fish, mashed potatoes mixed with spinach, then a dessert of something like donut holes with powdered sugar.  All very tasty---oh, did I mention wine?
All this took the normal two hours, and then we were back on the bus for the three and a half hour trip home, none of which I remember as I slept most of the way.  Finally back at the hotel at about 0130, which is why this is a day late being posted.

Batanas