You could still climb the tower, and somehow I felt like doing so. However, I had imagined the climb to be a little different. Considering the condition of the steps, you need a certain amount of faith in God. But it has lasted for hundreds of years, so why not for a few more.





Upstairs, however, it was very nice.

The hotel also has a wellness area, and the lift looked quite wild, but still had a hand sanitiser.

Entrance area.



The pool looked great in the pictures, but I didn't really feel comfortable there. Everything was fine, but somehow it wasn't a happy place.



From the indoor pool, you could swim outside into the heated outdoor pool, but there were no areas for relaxing.


There were two more pools. One had a bar area, which was closed. The pool was unused because it was unheated. Not very appealing in October.


The other pool with a beautiful view was also only marginally heated at best, but someone even swam in it (briefly).





I visited the pool area exactly once, then that was enough for me.

On the first evening, we went to Laurel & Berry, the hotel's casual restaurant. It also serves as a breakfast restaurant and is located in the lower part of the lobby (as can be seen in one of the photos). I don't find the room particularly atmospheric, but it's OK for a casual meal.
I only pictured one page of the menu.

Bread

Homemade lobster ravioli, simmered peas, truffles, bisque and preserved lemon.


Good, but at �38, not particularly cheap.
Seared scallops, artichokes, bagna cauda, trout pearls

Clear for �32, but solid.
A pot of bouillabaisse, lobster, scampi, catch of the day, polenta with soft garlic and parsley.



It tasted good, and I thought �42 was OK compared to the other dishes, especially since it was offered as a dish to share. It's always a bit messy to pick at, so I don't want to order anything like that again in future (at least that's my intention).
Rice pudding, amaranth popcorn, mango and maracuja sorbet


That was tasty too.

A non-alcoholic wine cost �55. Our wine has a retail price of at least �14. They also had a Dr. Zenzen on the menu, which cost �53, whereas it costs �5.99 at my local supermarket. �5.99 is OK (Dr. Zenzen isn't particularly great), but �53 certainly isn't.
The bill

The food was reasonable, but we didn't need to be rolled out. Considering what we got for our �196, it was very expensive.

Let's move on to breakfast, where I was really surprised. There was a very extensive menu with lots of choices, and everything was included (sad that this even needs to be mentioned).






The food we ordered was good.








There was also a decent-sized buffet with good food.








There was also something �special� every morning, such as a prawn stir-fry or oysters.



The breakfast was good, so we were satisfied.

We went to Pula and started at the amphitheatre. You could park right next to the arena. Some people warn against using the car park because it is �expensive�. I paid a few euros there, which I can just about survive.

The arena itself is in very good condition and well worth seeing.



















There is also a small museum in the basement.

There are many archaeological remains in Pula, and St. Theodore's Quarter is one of the smaller ones.

Tis the reason I don't like eating seafood... cooking can be a chore, eating shouldn't.

Fortunately, this only affects individual dishes.

Pula Cathedral was on the way. I would have liked to go inside, but it was closed the whole time. No opening hours were displayed, but according to the internet it was open.

Forum Square is the old centre of Pula, commemorated by the Temple of Augustus.

St. Francis is somewhat hidden away, and the fa�ade is currently being renovated.




The monastery has a beautiful cloister.




The golden altar is particularly striking in the church.








There is still a little exhibition space left.

The fortress (Kastell) is located on a hill in the centre of the town.



The visit is particularly worthwhile because of the view.






There is also a pharmacy and an exhibition about the Austro-Hungarian Empire era.

Admission to the fortress also includes a visit to the tunnels, known as Zerostra�e. These were built as air-raid shelters and allow visitors to move safely beneath the city.

Here are a few more impressions from the old town of Pula.

Vodnjan is a small town with a rather large church (St. Blaise�the largest sacred building in the region), which houses one of the largest collections of relics in Europe, including the famous mummies. To my surprise, however, the church was closed; it seems that it is no longer open in October. So I had to content myself with viewing it from the outside.