Day 14 - September 1, 2026

Rovinj – A Day That Felt Like Life

If yesterday was about slowing down and embracing the beach, today felt like something different: living in Rovinj rather than simply vacationing in it.

The day began exactly where I wanted to be—back by the Adriatic. Instead of rushing off to another attraction, I let the sea dictate the schedule. I swam, relaxed, and simply enjoyed the rhythm of the coastline. At one point I laughed that I wished I had a clone because there were too many wonderful things to do at once. There was biking through Zlatni Rt, wandering the Old Town, shopping, another swim… and somehow all of them sounded equally appealing.

That realization turned into one of the quiet lessons of the day. Instead of trying to fit everything in, I chose to stop optimizing and simply enjoy where I already was.

The afternoon was dedicated to wellness. I had a 50-minute classic massage at Hotel Eden with medium-to-deep pressure. At €60, it felt like exceptional value and exactly what my body needed after weeks of hiking, walking, and exploring. Sometimes the best sightseeing is giving your muscles permission to relax.

A practical errand also turned out to be reassuring. I stopped by the Croatian post office to ask about shipping my purchases home before continuing through Europe. The quote was around €45 for a 2 kg parcel, making the idea much more affordable than I expected. With several weeks of travel still ahead, shipping everything on Thursday now feels like the smartest option.

The biggest surprise of the day, however, was shopping.

I stumbled upon a local Croatian fashion designer whose work immediately caught my eye. Instead of buying just one souvenir, I ended up leaving with three unique pieces—a striking hooded dress, a skirt, and a shirt. Each has a distinctive style that feels much more personal than buying something from an international brand, and each will forever remind me of Rovinj.

The discoveries continued. I found beautiful Tierra Cocida ceramic grater plates from Málaga—ingenious pieces that let you grate garlic, ginger, tomatoes, Parmesan, or spices directly onto the serving plate before mixing in olive oil or other ingredients. Functional, artistic, and exactly the kind of object I love bringing home from my travels.

I also couldn’t resist a handcrafted silver ring created by a local artist, another piece with a story behind it rather than simply a label.

Dinner was at Matori, another excellent recommendation. The grilled octopus was beautifully cooked—tender with just the right amount of char—and I finally gave in to dessert. It turned out to be wonderfully light: silky vanilla cream with pistachios and fresh peaches, the perfect ending to the meal.

One of the most thought-provoking conversations today wasn’t about Rovinj at all.

Looking at my Oura Ring, I noticed the same pattern I’ve seen after several trips: while traveling, my resting heart rate consistently runs higher than at home, which lowers my HRV and Readiness score. Yet I actually sleep remarkably well while traveling—often better than I do at home. I don’t even miss my sleep mask or Ozlo earbuds when I’m traveling solo.

That observation led to a much bigger discussion about our long-term dream of spending roughly six months each year traveling after Boris retires. We realized that the kind of life we’re imagining isn’t endless vacation—it’s slow travel. Living in one place for weeks or even a month at a time. Having routines. Cooking occasionally. Exercising. Finding favorite cafés. Then mixing those slower periods with more adventurous hiking trips, skiing holidays for Boris, and active mountain vacations.

Rather than conflicting with my longevity goals, that lifestyle may actually complement them beautifully.

Looking back, today wasn’t about famous landmarks or major attractions.

It was about discovering beautiful objects I’ll enjoy for years, taking care of my body, thinking about the future, and slowly realizing that the best days of travel don’t always happen because you see the most—they happen because you feelthe most at home.

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Highlights

• 🌊 Another relaxing morning by the Adriatic.
• 💆 Excellent 50-minute massage at Hotel Eden (€60).
• 📦 Shipping home is practical: approximately €45 for a 2 kg parcel.
• 👗 Discovered a wonderful local Croatian designer and bought three unique pieces.
• 🏺 Found beautiful Tierra Cocida ceramic grater plates from Málaga.
• 💍 Purchased a handcrafted silver ring by a local artist.
• 🐙 Outstanding grilled octopus and a delicious vanilla cream, pistachio, and peach dessert at Matori.
• ❤️ Meaningful conversation about Oura, longevity, and what slow travel with Boris could look like.

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Favorite Quote of the Day

“So many wonderful things to do here! Wish I could do everything at the same time, need my clone lol.”

It perfectly captures today’s abundance—not of obligations, but of opportunities.