Can you guess where I’ve been SLEEPING AROUND SAFELY now?

Istria as said by the Italians + Istra the Croatians. Croatia claims 90% of the peninsula so we’ll go with majority.

Our journey begins with our local host, Matija Vizintin from @visit_motovun – a hilltop fortressed city which in ancient times was also home to the Celts + Illyrians. He warned us to get our waistlines ready the culinary journey of a lifetime…

Outside of the fortress walls, we took electric bikes down a winding dirt path that was formerly a railroad where we found ourselves #SLEEPINGAROUNDSAFELY at the new @roxanich_winery + Design Hotel. This biodynamic winery is family owned and run by four talented sisters. In this episode, we harvest grapes and learn from one sister, @sararozanic how Istra should be on every wine connoisseur’s bucket list. Don’t miss tasting their delicious + drinkable wine at their gorgeous #hotelpool set above the vineyards

As they say, it’s all in the timing. Luckily for us, it’s #truffle season in @visitistria The region averages 10 tons of black + white truffles each year and is considered one the world’s largest collection of truffles! We went deep into the famous #motovun forest #trufflehunting with @karlictartufi and our charismatic #localhost @wibica + sniffing puppies found two #whitetruffles . Our local host, Ivana Karlic Ban, took us back to their restaurant to learn to make several dishes with fresh truffles. Too much of a good thing, does not apply when it comes to truffles!

I don’t know if there is a prettier coastal town than @lovelyrovinj a Croatian fishing port on the west coast of the Istrian peninsula. Our local host, Aneli Radovan, took us through old town which is a tangle of cobbled streets leading to the hilltop church of St. Euphemia, which dominates the skyline.

For a sunset that will steal your heart, with the best views of the islands, yachts in port and the town of #Rovinj – head to the rooftop pool of grand_park_hotel_rovinj_ @maistra_collection @leadinghotelsoftheworld @virtuosoltd

Pack a bag + journey on with us,
Michaela Guzy + the OTPYM Traveling Team