Croatia – Geeky Girl Engineer

Bale, Croatia

Posted on February 16, 2020 by geek

This afternoon we visited Bale, Croatia, which our tour guide described as a sort of ghost town. The town is old, but it was bombed during World War II and was deserted after that. The government gave good deals to people to come and live in Bale and rebuild the city, but many of the buildings are still just shells with only the exterior walls somewhat existing. Currently it is is being rebuilt and renovated, and utility work was everywhere. It was fascinating to me to see the utility work done on the historic buildings and how some of it is hidden once finished.

Mansion near center of town and the arch is the original entrance to the town

Lots of utility work being done across the town

Artwork painted on old stucco on an exterior wall

One of the bombed buildings that is still a shell

More utility work, the building in the center of the photo is just a shell

Poreč, Croatia

Posted on February 16, 2020 by geek

This morning we visited Poreč, Croatia, a town on the Istrian peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. Some of the architecture is Venetian, and some architecture is Austrian. It was founded by the Romans, although it has been inhabited since pre-historic times, and in the very old section of town, the street names are still the Roman names.

Historic buildings in the old section of Poreč

Venetian architecture at the corner of Cardo Maximus and Decumanus

Rovinj, Croatia

Posted on February 15, 2020 by geek

Today my cruise arrived in Rovinj, Croatia. It is a small town on the Istrian peninsula. The town was originally an island, but eventually the spit between the island and the peninsula was filled to allow the town to grow larger. The original part of town is very old and still feels authentic. Everyone’s laundry hangs in the narrow alleys between the buildings. Parts of the original wall that surrounded the island and the arches that allowed entry are still visible. A top the island’s hill is a church and bell tower, which makes the former island look even more dramatic from afar.

Rovinj, the original section that was originally an island

Buildings in the original part of Rovinj

Passageway with laundry hanging in alley

All alleys are sloped as the former island is a hill

View from the top of the hill looking to the Adriatic

Clear beautiful water of the Adriatic off the former island

A view of the new section of town with many boats in harbor

Pula, Croatia

Posted on February 14, 2020 by geek

My cruise arrived in Pula, Croatia today. After visiting the Roman amphitheater, we walked around a bit, and in the afternoon, some of walked to the highest point in Pula to visit the Venetian fortress. (It is called the Venetian fortress, as it was built when the area was part of the Venetian Republic.

Roman wall in front of more modern buildings

Venetian fortress situated on highest part of Pula

View of the city and Roman amphitheater from the Venetian fortress

View of the shipyards from the Venetian fortress

Pula Croatia Roman Amphitheater

Posted on February 14, 2020 by geek

My cruise, which started in Venice, arrived in Pula, Croatia today. We started the day visiting an amazingly intact Roman amphitheater. It was gorgeous, and we could just wander around looking at all the details. It is still used as a concert venue. Parts of it have been reconstructed.