Leaving Hum behind, the landscape shifted once more as we descended from the hills into a softer rhythm and feel of villages and green fields. The road carried us east toward the coast, and our destination for the night, the elegant coastal city of Opatija, slowly came into view.

And then, tunnels!

We were constantly impressed by the engineering behind the tunnels and just how many there were. That said, by the end of our Croatian road trip, we had to admit they had become a little… routine.

Opatija was once a very popular chic seaside resort, and it still carries a distinct Austro-Hungarian elegance in its architecture and promenade. In 1947, it was handed to Yugoslavia as part of the peace treaty with Italy, and over time it reportedly lost some of its former shine before being gradually restored as a sought-after coastal destination.

I did raise an eyebrow reading that it’s popular with “mature travellers”. Surely that’s not us… although I suspect the definition may be broader than we’d both like to admit.

Opatija was one city where Jeff hadn’t actually booked accommodation in advance, though he did have a shortlist. Unfortunately, the first choice was fully booked, so we ended up at the Hotel Bristol by default. The room did have a “sea view” of sorts, provided you leaned out far enough and didn’t mind testing your balance.

The Hotel Bristol was clearly a popular choice for larger tour groups, so the atmosphere was a little lively and bustling at times.

After a full day criss-crossing Istria, we were too tired to go searching for dinner elsewhere and opted for the hotel dining room banquet instead. It was actually better than expected, with a very enjoyable seafood risotto.

After dinner, we headed out for a slow wander along the waterfront promenade, finishing the evening with an after-dinner drink at one of the small wharfside venues, watching the fishermen and the gentle rhythm of the harbour life unfold.

The weather did turn a little cool as the sun was going down, but not enough to deter this lonely fisherman.

As an end note, Opatija remained one of those places we never quite learned to pronounce properly, despite many attempts.

A much anticipated destination of Kobarid was on the itinerary for tomorrow.

Catherine & Jeff