Pula

Ćao drugari!

From Rijeka I had booked a bus to Pula on the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula. It was super cheap, only €5 I think. But maybe it was a little too cheap. I went down to the bus station and waited... and waited... and bought an ice-cream... and waited. The bus finally showed up 45 minutes after it was supposed to leave. By the time we got on our way towards Pula it was an hour late and so full that some people had to sit in the aisle. Next time I think I'll just sneak onto one of the more expensive buses.

Like Verona—which I visited this summer—Pula is famous for its Roman amphitheatre; Pula Arena. While it's not as well-preserved as the one in Verona it's certainly impressive, especially considering that it's two thousand years old.

By the way, the hill where I took this selfie is also where I took the very first picture I ever posted on this blog. But in that picture my head covers most of the amphitheatre so you can't really see that it's there. Here's a picture of me imagining I'm a gladiator about to enter the arena. You can almost hear the crowds cheering.

Of course, the arena is no longer used for gladiator fights, which is a shame really. I think I would have made a great gladiator. As you can see in the picture below it's now used for movie screenings.

Pula is popular holiday destination. And no wonder, it seems to have everything: a lovely climate, beautiful nature (including a national park), ancient Roman temples and villas, beaches and so on. On the downside, there are way too many tourists. Germans and Scandinavians everywhere. shudders. The city does have its quiet places, though, some of them with an abundance of beautiful flowers.

Alright, people, that was the end this journey, but I have more travel tales coming up.
Doviđenja and don't let the rainy autumn weather get to you.