Rovinj, Croatia

The city of Rovinj, Croatia

The city of Rovinj (Rovigno, in Italian) use to be an island that sat right off the coast, as you can tell in the above picture, the space has since been filled in and it is now connected to the mainland. The city is a winding labyrinth of narrow streets leading up the hill to a large church. We enjoyed wandering around and finding the hidden treasures of the city.

St. Euphemia Parish

like these small alleyways that led straight into the sea
a restaurant without a ceiling
lounging cats

and beautiful, narrow homes

We were very lucky and ended up renting an apartment in the middle of the historical city center. I loved living among the locals and being able to go inside one of the very narrow apartment buildings.

This was our apartment building. Can you see the stairway in the back leading to the front door? Our apartment was on the top floor!
P.S. I was thrilled to see that this was the entryway to our apartment. Andrea, maybe not so much.

Our downstairs neighbor
the view from our apartment

We also had many excellent meals, including local cheeses and lots of delicious seafood (my favorite was the grilled squid which we had several times), in beautiful spots.

A yummy lunch of melon, cured meats, cheese, and olives on the beautiful, back patio of a small restaurant right on the water. At the end of the meal I fed the rest of our bread to the hundreds of small fish in the water and the eagerly awaiting seagulls - not environmentally correct, I know, but really fun.

our table on the rocks
you cannot beat that view

One night we had dinner on the rocks next to the sea. When we sat down there were still people jumping off the rocks into the water.

we had front row seats for the stunning sunset

Rovinj is a perfect place for a long weekend getaway from Bologna. I look forward to going back and enjoying the crystal clear water, the yummy food, and the quaint, historical old center.

The biggest compliment

On Friday night, I strode up to the restaurant (where earlier that day I had phoned in and made reservations - in Italian!! on the phone!! - needless to say I was very proud of myself) where I was meeting friends for dinner and I told the waitress in my very, best Italian that I had reservations, for three people, and the name was Smookler (side note - from now on whenever I need to give anyone in Italy my last name I am using my boyfriend's last name, which is Italian, because nobody understands mine, which is not at all, anywhere close to Italian). After she showed me to the table she asked if I would like water and to look at the menu while I waited. I replied "si" to both. Here comes the best part, before she left to get me the menu she casually asked, "il menu in Italiano, si?". Yes! Yes! Yes! Is what I thought in my head. To the waitress, I answered a confident and smooth, "si".

This moment was such a break through in my whole languge learning experience. Since returning to Italy in August, I have been building up my languge abbilites and more importantly my confidence. When I am out and about in the city, I have been pushing myself to speak more; however, often people either do not understand me or they, in an effor to be kind, begin to speak to me in English. Either situation serves as a big blow to my self-confidence. Friday was different. Friday was the opposite! The waitress understood everything I said and deemed me to be good enough in Italian to, without question, have the Italian menu! I am still beeming!

This whole experience, and the confirmation of my improvements in the language, could not have come at a better time because tomorrow I am beginning Italian classes. I will be going to school two nights a week from 6pm to 9pm. I am really excited and to be honest a little nervous. I cannot wait to see how my Italian improves over these next two months. I will keep you posted.

Thanks for letting me brag a little. I hope you all take time to be proud of your accomplishments as well.

Chocolate is back!

Yummy hazelnut chocolates at one of our favorite bars

One afternoon this last August, after finishing lunch with Andrea, I felt like a bite or two of chocolate would be the perfect way to end my lunch hour before heading back to the office. Andrea and I headed into the nearest bar and he asked the bar men if they had any chocolate. This seemingly innocent question was first met with confusion, then a look to me at which point they quickly realized I was (a crazy) American, then looks of clarity came over their faces as all the pieces fell into place. They began to crack up and explain that of course they did not have any chocolate because it was the height of summer. "Well yes", I thought, "I know it is summertime but I did not realize that summer and chocolates are mutually exclusive". We went to three other bars and tabaccherie and were met with similar reactions. That day, in August, I learned that when the weather gets warm the chocolates go away because how would they ever keep chocolates with the heat of summer.

As we are enjoying the very last days of summer here in Bologna and the temperatures have plummeted from the high 30s down to the low 20s, I have been slowly watching chocolates pop up around town. A small sign of the changing seasons.