It took us about 45 minutes to drive from Rovinj to Pula - not much to look at scenery wise en route, but an easy drive and well signposted.

Pula is the largest city in Istria, aside from the tourist business it is an important shipbuilding centre.

The most famous sight is the Roman amphitheatre - it's really worth visiting. It's the 6th largest in the world, is 3 storeys tall and was built in the first century AD. It is so well preserved. When we went there were a lot of tour groups visiting, but there is plenty of space for everyone. Concerts are still held here and the Pula Opera Festival takes place here every summer. Lots of well know artists have performed at the amphitheatre - Pavrotti played his farewell concert here. It can hold 23,000 spectators and must be a great place to see a concert.

Pula also has a really beautiful and interesting old town. The Triumphal Arch of Sergius has been standing since 27BC and two of the original Roman town gates are also still standing. The Roman Forum has the remains of the Temple of Augustus which took a decade to build in the first century AD and still has its mighty columns. We just loved wandering around the old narrow streets along the cobbles.

James Joyce lived in Pula in 1904 for 5 months while he taught English at the Berlitz language school. We didn't find the house where he lived, but there is a plaque on what used to be the language school (now a clothes shop) and a statue of the man himself nearby.

Croatia were playing their second match in the World Cup while we were there. Everyone in Pula seemed to be wearing a Croatian shirt and had their faces painted. We found a bar in the old town with a television outside, all decorated with flags and a shrine to the team. We drank beer, watched the football in the midst of about 20 noisy but good natured Croatians and had a great afternoon - unfortunately thought it was a scoreless draw.

Just outside the centre of Pula is the Verundella area - it has a beautiful marina, lots of yachts, pine forests and an aquarium. The aquarium is at the bottom of a 120 year old Austrian Hungarian fortress and takes up five large rooms. There are big seawater tanks with Adriatic flora and fauna and some big open tanks with dogfish, sea urchins, crabs and starfish. It costs £2.50 to get in. The aquarium is ok, but being inside the old fortress is great - dark, gloomy, cold with really thick impenetrable walls. Go down the long tunnel which seems like you are going underground but it leads to a charming cafe and outdoor seating area where we had some delicious ice cream. The aquarium opens daily 9:00 - 10:00 and the website is www.aquariumpula.istra.hr.