The Postjna Caves



Today we drove to Slovenia’s Postojna Caves and took a 1 1/2 hour tour.
The Postojna Caves, consist of a 17 mile system of underground caves, tunnels, and halls carved by the Pivka river for the past 3 million years. The caves are chilly at 50 degrees and have a humidity level of 95-97 percent. 



A small cave train took us on a tour around the caves, which are also known for providing habitat for Proteus anguinus, an endemic amphibian salamander (first thought be a dragon!). These animals have adapted to cave living and have no eyes. They can live for 10-12 years without eating!


After visiting the caves we drove about two hours, crossed back across the border from Slovenia into Croatia, and drove to Rovinj on the Adriatic Coast.  We settled in and had a wonderful meal in the Old Town area at Restaurant Monte.

 Restaurant Monte in Rovinj, Istria was the first Croatian restaurant to receive a Michelin Star. This happened in 2017. This year, Croatia has seen two additional restaurants receive Michelin Stars, one of which we will go to our last night in Dubrovnik - Restaurant 360. Getting to Monte was a hike up pedestrian alleyways paved in the slickest stone we have ever walked on!


At Monte, we shared a tasting menu consisting of:

    - ceviche, sashimi, and tartar - all from Adriatic Tuna
    - black grattini (tiny pasta), shrimps, scampi, mousse of carrots and crustaceans
    - dentex (fish), cod, mussels, potato and Savoy cabbage
    - grilled Istria beef, celery cream and onions
    - suckling pig, lentils, yellow cabbage, kulen sausage and pork rind
    - pre-dessert
    - meringue, yogurt honey ice cream, apple confit, cinnamon almonds


What a delicious meal and experience!

One observation: when we were in Slovenia, there were no Croatian wines offered in the restaurants.  Now that we are back in Croatia, we have not seen any Slovenian wines offered in restaurants!




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