And then there was the Seaside...

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Oh Rovinj, now this is what I was waiting for.  After being told I was a month too early to bus here from Ljubljana I figured that maybe the weather was going to be just as rainy and chilly and that it could end up being a short stop. Boy was I wrong, it is HOT here already, and my skin is already getting primed for the impending bbq it is going to get as I continue down the coast. After arriving by early morning bus in Pula I was welcomed to the coast with a completely chaotic scene. Cruise ships dock at the port and throngs of tourists flock to see the remains of the old Roman colliseum and Old Town. Add to this some brief panic as my bank card didn´t work and me in desperate need of new currency and some lunch, I was no happy camper. After a quick cash in of my remaining Euros, I stuck it out long enough for a walk through of the Colliseum, then hightailed it to bus station. And am I ever glad I did.

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The degree to which Pula stressed me out (think IKEA on a Saturday) is the degree to which Rovinj completely rocks. I got a little apartment right on the main marina and upon walking out the door heard George Michael blaring across the square. And, lo and behold, my bank card worked here, it must be a sign.

Of course, being the nerd that I am, one of the first orders of business was getting myself to the aquarium. A very tiny institution (read: 10-15 tanks)  but I´m impressed with some of the cool sea critters they have in these waters that I´ve never seen, such as my favourite, the sea orange!

Another spectacular highlight of Rovinj other than just wandering the great cobblestone streets of the town, are the rocky cliffs. Not one to let them go to waste, the town has built in stairwells down the rocks and even a few platforms so you can access the water for a quick dip, or just laze about enjoying the sun (which I have been doing a lot of). Further down the cliff you will find a couple of barcaffes so you can enjoy a nice beverage with your sunset. And no safety railings either, you´d never find that in North America! 

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Needless to say, I´ve been very much enjoying being back on the coast and its laid back way. A quick trip to the market provided me with some delicious fresh fruit, meat, and buns, so I can now focus my energy spending money on the important things: coffee, ice cream, and cigarettes. Ok, so maybe not the cigarettes, but I´m already convinced that these three things are the essence of Croatian life. And who am I to argue with that?