Magical Istra & the Opatija Riviera

Istra was our first taste of Croatia and, truth be told, we added it on a bit of a whim not entirely knowing what to expect. When we think of Croatia in Canada I feel that often we think of Dubrovnik, Turquoise Beaches or perhaps World Cup Soccer (football). But we SHOULD be thinking about Istra! Not only is it the largest green oasis in the North Adriatic being the foot of the Alps, but it is also the beauty and solitude of the sea; where rays of sunlight from the east slowly lull towards the west, and plunge into picturesque rocky shore, coves and beaches!

The beautiful Colosseum in Pula

Our 'homebase' was the small town of Lovran. Of all the places that have developed on the steep eastern slopes of the Učka moutain range, Lovran is the oldest and ONLY town developed right on the shores of the sea. It's now part of what is called the 'Opatija Riviera' and has been a tourist destination going back hundreds of years for Austrian royalty. I really don't know why more North Americans don't enjoy this amazing area...I mean, I can completely understand that if you had to choose one spot in Europe to spend a couple of weeks...yeah, it would be a difficult decision for sure! But, this region of Croatia should totally be on your list!!

If the beauty of these sunrises don't convince you of the beauty and relaxation of this place, I don't know what will.

Bonus points go to the Lovraniski Pub too! (Thank you Barbara for the recommendation!!!) It's not only super cozy on a rainy day, it's totally dog friendly, their food is top notch!! Croatian traditional cuisine, Istrian region dishes, pizzas and pasta ...what more could you ask for??!

(Plus here is a super cool 360 interactive if you'd like to explore even more !)

We were lucky enough to share some of this heavenly slice of Croatia with two lovely friends from England. This was the kick-off to our 'autumn of hosting' I suppose. But, truth be told, traveling really is better when you can share the fun and memories with friends! And Croatia was the perfect location for this. We even had the good fortune of making some new friends in Croatia too!! Let's be honest, it really is the people you meet along the way that truly make the journey worthwhile!!

The Art Of Island Hopping

Now, as many of you know, Kelly and I currently call Vancouver Island home, so we are no strangers to island hopping. However, island hopping in Croatia is a totally different thing! And among the 1185 Croatian islands, only one of them is the golden one in our opinion - Krk!

Just 30 minutes from Rijeka, and crossing the 45th parallel, all routes seem to lead to the Island of Krk - The Golden Island: from the land – over the Krk bridge; from the sea – by boat into the ports or small marinas, and by ferry to the Valbiska harbour, and from the air – to the airport on Krk. It's a happening place!!

Krk is also the largest island in the Adriatic, as well as the most populous at 17,000 year-round residents. However, the population isn't large enough to take away the thrill of having a beach all to yourself. That's right, there are so many hidden coves and beaches almost anyone (with a little bit of effort) can have a turquoise bay or white beach to themselves! It's absolute bliss!! Besides, who wants to share the beach with other people??!!

Kelly and I loved this island so much we explored it twice!! Super friendly locals, delicious restaurants, and stunningly clear seas...it almost doesn't seem real.

One of our favourite spots was the City of Krk. The best way to describe it is to show you the 360 interactive...it's so cool. I wish more cities would promote themselves this way!

So, wherever Croatia takes you, I hope that you get to enjoy the warm sea and relaxed pace of this amazing country! The puppies give it two paws up.