Slovenia

Well, that's funny...I had no response from a place I tried to book in Italy so I just found another one in Slovenia got my google maps to find me a route without tolls (as usual) and I started riding thinking like (shit...I should check out the scenic routes first...). What I came up with accidentally was probably the MOST scenic route I could get. I could keep on filming and taking pictures ALL the way with no end.

Check it out:



View Larger Map


I already praised Istria of Croatia enough but yes it was such a nice ride through it leaving it behind. However, while approaching the Slovenian border things changed to the classic full green Slovenian forest offering amazing riding moments. The ultimate part though was the last part on my way to the village of Grahovo taking the 103 that follows the river (amazing moments riding by the green water) and especially the last kms that for some reason google made the mistake to lead me through some extremely narrow roads wide as a medium van and yes I met with a garbage lorry and a van and both were funny times. The landscape though crossing the villages Ljubinj and Podmelec is unbelievable. Thanks Google for the stupid mistake that offered me great pics 'n vids :))

Enough talk, here's some pics:

Grahovo:

Poor bird:

Funny local band:

Check out John's BnB @ Grahovo - top guy:

Η συνταγή της ημέρας - Tortellini Oresti ala Kroata

Μια σύντομη βολτίτσα στο γειτονικό Vodnjan μου προσέφερε αυτή την ωραία εικόνα:

Μια επίσκεψη στο τοπικό supermarket μου προσέφερε αυτό το πιάτο:

Έμπνευση του δευτερολέπτου ήταν και πρώτη φορά το έφτιαξα αλλά έγινε λουκούμι. Είχα κάτι σαλατικά σπίτι (καρότα, μαιντανό, τζίντζερ (τι σέξυ εφεύρεση της φύσης αυτό το πράγμα)) καθώς και ντόπιες πατατούλες από την φάρμα της οικογένοιας εδώ, τσίμπησα από το μαγαζί φρέσκα τορτελίνια 4 τυριά, τα έβρασα ΜΑΖΙ στην κατσαρόλα με τα καρότα και τις πατάτες για κανα τέταρτο (στα 10 λεπτά έβγαλα τα τορτελίνια με σουρωτή κουτάλα) και τους έκοψα από πάνω το μαϊντανό και το τζίντζερ. Ελαιόλαδο (δυστυχώς Ισπανικό) για να γλιστράνε και λίγο και έτοιμο. Πήρανε όλα μυρωδιά το ένα από το άλλο και έγινε Τζιτζί! 

Pula...

...a nice little word with various meanings in various languages. An Indonesian uses it to say "also", a Greek in order to say "sell", a Romanian to call his boss (means "dick").

Here at Istria it is a town that offered a chance for my Suzi to pose for a picture to show off she was in Rome (but she never did yet) :)

Pula Arena:

Nice to end a day with some wine:

Rovinj

This town of Istria peninsula is such a sweet one! I'll let the pictures do the talking again:

Istria

Last afternoon I arrived at Marcana Istria. The whole ride was so pretty that feels like my trip is just getting better and better. From the great coastline of the area around Karlobag I reached Istria peninsula were (as expected) the road by the sea was fantastic as well but in a different way compared to the southern seaside (and much more traffic unfortunately). However, even heading to the inland of Istria the route remained impressive. What a nice place on earth...Unfortunately I was rushing to arrive before rain so I had no stops for photos (betcha there are too many spots you wanna picture) but managed to take a lot of videos on board (a mix of them will be made when I finish the whole thing which I don't know when yet :) ). Here at Marcana the place I booked is probably the best value for money I EVER had. Great people, nice apartment, fully equipped perfectly cleaned - feels like it was built just yesterday. I was welcomed with a fantastic BBQ dish (god I was so hungry and it was Sunday so no stores open). They also provided me a shelter place for my iron horse too:

View from the house:

And now there's a big problem...the weather is much more fantastic than the forecast said so...I don't know where to go first :)))