Pula

Road to Pula
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It look us about 3 and a half hours to drive the roughly 300kms from Zagreb to Pula.  The just completed motorway that connects Zagreb to Rijeka and further down to Split is very modern and impressive.  It does seem like they put much effort and care in building it.  The tunnels that run right through the heart of these huge mountains are a sight to see.  Moreover, the Croatian countryside is beautiful with miles and miles of rolling green hills with high mountain peaks that seem to surround it all and everywhere you look there are tall green trees.  The cost of toll is 56 Kunas (about $10) to get from Zagreb to Rijeka and from there you take a regular road down to Pula.

Outside our Hotel
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Pula, Croatia, Istrian Peninsula. Now here is the answer to all those who asked, "why Croatia?"  We woke up every day with the glow of the sun glistening over the northern Adriatic Sea, now what more can you ask for?  Even the locals said the weather was unusually nice during our stay.  Just before we arrived it had been raining and overcast for a week straight.  With the exception of one day where it rained briefly during the morning, we had bright sunshine around 23-27C (we still have no idea what this means in Fahrenheit, but it was warm).  So basically we went to the beach every day.

Why Croatia?

Me at the Beach
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Pula is not the destination of choice in the Istrian peninsula.  Most of the visitors stay further north on the western coast of the peninsula in either Rovinj or Porec, the latter winning annual tourism awards for their hospitality and cleanliness.  We picked Pula precisely for this reason.  We did not want to be in a crowded touristy town and since Pula is located right at the southern tip of the peninsula, it easily serves as a central location for day trips along both coastlines as well as the interior regions.  You can do Pula Town and vicinity in one day, one day to visit the western coastal towns like Rovinj and Porec, another day to visit the eastern coastal towns like Opatija and Rijeka and another day to visit the interior regions highlighted by fortified mountain villages (we decided not to do this interior route because the beach was just way too beautiful for us to leave it).

Roman Amphitheatre in Pula
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If this is what you are into, Pula would be a perfect place to attack the Istrian peninsula.  You should note this is for travel before  the high season of June through August, where prices dramatically increase and there are more visitors (go in May!).  Oh and one more note, you must try the Istrian wines, especially the Cabernet Sauvignon.  Try to buy them from local small markets that are usually located at the base or next to large residential apartment complexes.  You can get a great bottle for about $6.00.

First Century BC Arch of the Sergii
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Zadar and the Northern Dalmatian Coast is next!  Enjoy the pics!