Day 23 - Rijeka, Croatia

Sunday 14th October 2018

Rijeka is Croatia's third largest city after Zagreb and Split with a population of 200,000 and it is the busiest port. It is known for its fully pedestrianised main street with numerous shops and cafés, the tree-lined promenade along the harbour and the imposing hilltop fortress of Trsat. The nearby peninsula of Istria, offers such gems as Opatija, Porec and Rovinj and the island of Krk, making Rijeka a very popular base for some rewarding day trips.

Berthed this morning in the container port in Rijeka, not the most inspiring location for berthing.

Today it's a Shuttle bus into town as we are out on the edge of the port. 

Maiden call for Queen Victoria , locals have laid on a welcome show with music and cheerleaders on the dock.

So, once the bus queue cleared off we went.

Not too far on the bus. Drop off just by a bridge at the end of the pedestrianised sheet.

Took a walk through town, mainly just shops, mostly shut, all except the  coffee shops. Walked back along the seafront, lots of very nice yachts and motor cruisers.

The town has many very fine ornate Austro-Hungarian style buildings and all seem well kept.  But there is not really much to see in town.

Local market on today mainly fresh fruit and vegetables, all very colourful.

Next it’s the climb up the Petar Kruzica Stairway to Trsat.  All 538 steps, I didn't actually count the steps myself but my phone said it was 39 flights of stairs.

Then once at the top entertained by the external broadcast of the church mass to those outside the church.  Then across to the Castle, and up another 50 or so steps, and all just to get good panoramic views.  Here at the castle there is the winged lion of Venice, seems the Venetians left their mark on everywhere up and down the Adriatic.

Walking back through the church grounds, something special on today, maybe, big crowds and lots of chairs outside the church and banners of Pope John Paul 2nd and Mother Teresa, unfortunately all the text in Croatian.

Back down the steps and back to the ship, easier going down.

Chose to have the pub lunch today, very good. Then some time on deck in the sun to rest the legs.

Weather all day pleasantly warm though rather hazy and a few afternoon clouds.

Sailaway as it got dark, possible dolphin sightings in the bay, nothing clear.

Dinner in the buffet, oriental theme tonight.