Rijeka

Our last stop in the Balkans was the city of Rijeka.  Rijeka is the main seaport and third largest city in Croatia.  The Italian and Hapsburg influences shine through in its architecture and the city reminded us of Budapest.  Rijeka is much more low key and less touristy than Zadar and was a nice respite from the crowds.

View of Rijeka harbour

The main shopping street - the Korzo

One of the beautiful buildings

The day before we were due to arrive, Booking.com notified us that the hotel we booked was having plumbing problems and there was no water.  They offered us alternative accommodation but it was quite far out of town.  So we quickly cancelled that booking and looked for another place which seemed okay.  When we arrived we saw a block of flats that was one step from the wrecking ball – graffiti on the outside and filth and peeling paint on the inside.  We went up a rickety lift to the 5^th floor to find Granny’s flat.  It looked and smelled like Granny had just been wheeled out.  It was obviously a deceased estate that the agency was renting out.  The walls were covered with Granny’s needlepoint and her nice china was in the cupboards.  There was even Granny’s rocking chair. It was so bad it was hilarious.

Granny's rocking chair

The view from Granny's flat

Once settled we took a walk around the town.  The town had a good feel to it – a bit rough around the edges but a grand old lady.

The Maritime and Cultural Museum

St Vitus Cathedral

WWII Tunnel dug by the Italians

We visited the Maritime Museum which was quite an eclectic mix of nautical and cultural/historical exhibits of Rijeka - old furniture, costumes, ship models, sculptures, paintings and even an enigma machine.  There was a fun interactive exhibit where Bob and I could be knights and princesses.

Nice model of a Brig

Some Medieval statues

Bob being a fierce knight

Amazing sculpture - elves, pixies?

An enigma machine

 We took a bus to the suburb on the hill, Trsat, to visit the castle.  This was a refitted castle.  It was a few real ruins but the space was totally commercialised as a café/coffee shop.  We had a disappointing look around and then drowned our sorrows with a very nice Spritz.

Trsat Castle wall

Dragon at Trsat Castle

The castle taken over by a cafe/bar playing loud music

Rijeka was a pleasant stopover.  There is lots of history, beautiful buildings and good restaurants.  It is a not a peak tourist town but I imagine a very nice town to live in.