Absolutely no scheduled events are on the agenda. We have a totally free day to enjoy the Istrian Coast of Croatia, the picturesque town of Rovinj and our island resort hotel. The Adriatic Coast is “littered” with small islands, many hosting resort hotels. The Hotel Katarina (I like to think of it as MY hotel, as my first name IS Katherine) is one such resort. Three salt water swimming pools, a beach, several restaurants, an activities program that features things like archery, salsa dancing and yoga, and beautifully landscaped gardens impart a sense of relaxation and escape from the rigors of everyday life (and of organized tours).
The morning started a bit later than usual with an unrushed lavish breakfast buffet. Made to order egg dishes, prosciutto, selection of cheeses, cured fishes, three different kinds of yogurt, pastries, and some local specialties like plum balls (slightly sweet dough containing plum jam), polenta, and cheese streudel, and a selection of different breads. We dined outside, overlooking one of the pools.
Boarding the island ferry at 9 a.m., we were in Rovinj within 10 minutes. We strolled the daily outdoor market (truffles, olive oil, and lavender products are local specialties) and peeked into the fresh fish store. All the seafood was super fresh from the fishermen’s daily catch. The town looks like a seaside village in Italy, with narrow cobblestone streets and laundry hanging between the windows. 
The streets were lined by cafés, souvenir shops, jewelers, clothing boutiques ( Moda Italiana), and small art galleries. There was an Andy Warhol exhibit at the small art museum. I bought a summer dress and Tony got a linen shirt to add to our summer wardrobe.
We hiked up the steep hill to the Baroque Church of Sant’Euphemia. 
She was martyred in the fourth century and her sarcophagus, which had been interred in Constantinople, mysteriously was found “floating” in the seas near Rovinj in the 9th century. A young man dragged it out of the water and supposedly is in the side altar. 
She is the patron saint of the town and Euphemia is the most commonly encountered girl’s name.
This legend is quite similar to that of Saint James (and Santiago de Compostela) with his body sailing in a stone boat to the coast of Spain, the remains buried for centuries and his remains unearthed by a peasant farmer around the same time (8th century) in northwestern Spain.
After a refreshment break 
we wandered a bit more around town and took the 12:30 ferry back to the island. The refreshing waters of the pool beckoned. We spent about an hour snoozing and cooling off in the pool (the deep one where I couldn’t touch bottom). Because of an impending “salsa event” the pool was closed to guests after 3:30. We walked over to the pebbly beach to dip our toes in the Adriatic.
Tonight was a buffet dinner at the hotel and an evening cruise/happy hour. We sailed around the islands, sampled locally produced alcoholic beverages and looked for dolphins! 
Then tomorrow morning, we have an early start (again) to our next (and last on the Rick Steves tour) destination, Lake Bled in Slovenia. Finally we will get to use those Euros I’ve been carrying since we left Pittsburgh.
Camino Musings 