Collio, Italy

 The area of Collio is known for its exceptional white wines. We met the owners of a family-run vineyard. And they provided us with an exceptional wine tasting experience!! One of the three sons walked us through the wine making process. Another son takes care of the publicity. And the third son handles the business side. Mama handles the wine tasting. She had made a big bowl of pasta!! And the table she set for us - olives, cheeses, crusty Italian bread, olive oils, salami, ham. It was called a "light lunch". While we were eating, Mama brought out the wines for us to taste, two whites, then two reds. She told us the family history, how for centuries the vineyard has been in the family. Talk about keeping track of the family genealogy.

Villages in Croatia; Grožnjan

 On our way back, we stopped at the village of Groznjan. After WWII, everyone fled this city because of all the uncertainty about borders. 

Once all of that was resolved and it became part of Croatia (although everyone here speaks Italian), the government turned it into an artist colony, encouraging artists to resettle the village. We walked the narrow streets, stopped for coffee, then headed home (home is where your clothes are).

Villages in Croatia; Motovun 2

 Another interesting fact is that this is the village where Mario Andretti was born. He is one of only two drivers to have won races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR!

It is also located in the middle of a forest that produces truffles. We saw signs about this in the village.

When we left the village, we traveled a few miles to the house of a couple who are making their living by selling and exporting truffles all over the world. Truffles can be strong flavored by themselves that's why truffles are always mixed with something. Then we had dessert - cream cake with truffles!!!! AMAZING!!!

And we met the truffle dogs; pigs don't hunt for truffles anymore, they eat too much.

Villages in Croatia; Motovun

 We will visit two small villages and have lunch at a truffle house.

This part of Croatia is the peninsula off the northern border of that country called the Istria Province.

Motovun is a village in central Istria. It's population is 531 and they all speak Italian. This is, of course, due to WWI, WWII, the end of Yugoslavia, and the conflicts between the borders of the new countries that were formed out of Yugoslavia.

It is a medieval town that grew up on the site of an ancient city. It is situated on a hill 886 feet above sea level with houses scattered all over the hill.