June 27 - June 28

June 27 - Kobarid to Motovun

We started out the day by having a guided tour of the renown WWI museum in Kobarid. Our guide was very knowledgable and thorough in explaining all of the nuances of the fighting in the local area. There were lots of photos, displays of war equipment and topographical models of the countryside showing the positions of all of the armies.

We then got onto the bus a drove for a while until we stopped for lunch at winery where we had a tour, tasted several wines and ate lots of food. We started out with appetizers of cheese, prosciutto, olives, etc. Our main course was a thick soup made with beans and sourkraut along with grilled sausages. We were quite happy and full when we left.

Getting into the bus again, we drove the entire length of the coast of Slovenia before crossing over the border into Croatia. Our guide warned us to expect the unexpected at the border. It all went smoothly, though, and we successfully entered Croatia.

Our hotel in Motovun was at the top of the village. We had to exit our bus, get onto a local bus for a 2km ride up most of the hill and then walk the rest of the way on old cobblestone streets. Our luggage came behind us in the hotel's van. Our room was in a corner of the building with windows on two sides that gave us good ventilation. This was welcomed because of the high heat.

We had another wine tasting at Etnobutiga ča Motovun. While sitting on the terrace outside of the restaurant overlooking a beautiful panoramic view of the valley far below us, we tasted several wines while sampling little open faced sandwiches covered with various truffle spreads. This is truffle territory a you can see from the photo of this very large black truffle.

Dinner was on our own tonight, so Ann and I stayed at this restaurant and shared a table with Veronica. We all had pasta with truffles.

June 28 - Istrian Peninsula

We walked part way down the cobblestones of Motovun this morning, caught the local bus and then got on our bus for a tour of the Istrian Peninsula. Our first stop was in Pula where we had a local guide who lead us through the city's 1st century Roman amphitheater. She then took us on a city walk where we explored the old part of town. She said goodbye at the city's golden gate (this seems to be what the Romans called their VIP gate). Most of us walked over to the nearby market and bought fruit to snack on later in the tour. Ann and I stopped at a little cafe and ate a sandwich for lunch.

Back on our bus, we drove to Rovinj. This is a picturesque city that has been discovered by tourists in a big way. The merchants have discovered the tourists in a big way too. Every spare doorway and sidewalk is either a shop or a cafe. There is an interesting church, though, that is a good viewpoint on the top of the town's only hill. Rumor has it that St Euphemia was tortured on the wheel by the Romans. When she was then thrown to the lions, they refused to eat her. That makes her holy.

Ann brought her swimming gear. While she was keeping cool with her new friends in the Adriatic, I was doing laps around the town in scorching heat. We finally got out of there after spending most of the afternoon.

Dinner was at a roadside restaurant on the way back to he hotel. We sat in the garden and ate several courses while drinking lots of wine. We started with cold cuts and cheese along with toasted bread. The we had two types of pasta - one with mushrooms and one with ragu. Next we had a tossed salad. Then we were served grilled meat with potatoes. Finally we had cherry sptreudel and a shot of grappa.

We were happy when we got back to our hotel.