Day 5 - Zadar to Opatija

The day began in Zadar.  Our first stop was Brkic' Auto Repair.  Maybe one of Tom's relatives owns this place.

We then made our way to Novigrad, birth place of Tom's grandmother.  We were overwhelmed with its beauty and everyone wondered how Grandma was ever convinced to leave this place!!!  We enjoyed a drink at Cafe Noskic and then happened upon the church that Grandma had certainly attended and where she was most probably married.

We then drove to the top of the hill that overlooked the town.  There was a 14th century fortification constructed to defend against the Turkish invaders.  We spoke with a workman at the site, and Tom learned he knew the Brcic name and that Tom probably had several cousins living near the church.
Lisa took lots of pictures with the hope of capturing that perfect landscape to be painted on their dining room wall.

From there we drove north along the coast towards the Istrian Peninsula.  There were many hairpin curves but lots of beautiful coastal views.  We were in awe!!

We stopped for lunch in Karlobag at the Restaurant Rebar.  Tom had the best calamari kabob ever.  Lisa, Debbie and Bill had beef capraccio (rare beef slices) which was a surprise!
 

After a long, challenging but scenic drive along the coast,  we arrived at our resort hotel in Opatija.  We looked out our balcony at the Adriatic Sea filled with yachts and sailboats and it made the whole day worthwhile.

 Rather than eat at the hotel, we took a short walk and came across a friendly clerk at a coffee house.  She recommended we eat at the Restorian Slatina.  The dinner was fantastic, the view of the Adriatic was spectacular and Tom had the best Kruskovac (pear brandy).  All in all a heavenly day.