6 Gelato on the Promenade

Among the most enjoyable activities in Opatija were strolls down the long promenade, a wide cement-stamped or bricked walkway that mirrors the coastline. The promenade area near the Grand Belleview Hotel staged a kiddie play center complete with small electric hummers, mid-size trampolines enclosed by netting, bungee jumping on a trampoline platform where kids bounced up and down, and a cage with four Nerf ball cannons that kids fired at each other. The area was usually full of kids with parents within supervision range. Up and down the walkway toward the water side there was plenty of skin, both genders. Against common decency, older men are not bashful to don a Speedo nor are older women to lose their top.

The promenade is also lined with makeshift souvenir stands selling everything from silk-screened shirts and hats, to beach shoes, to postcards, to jumbo beach towels. I priced such a towel with a Croatian theme. A vendor in Pula started at 180KN then as I turned he quickly went to 150KN. In Opatija we were offered the same towel for 130KN. A gelato (ice cream) stand is plugged in every 50 meters or so it seems. Petey and I were frequent customers. My favorite flavors were Kokos (coconut), Rafella or Raffy (coconut with toasted almonds), Limon (lemon), and Menta (Mint Chip). The ice cream is soft, a little fluffier than in the states, but it’s all good. Prices vary between 5 and 8KN per scoop (about $1-1.30 US) and usually one scope was enough to end a perfect day … though there were many days where extra walking “earned” a second scoop.