Beach Bums

A scheduled rest day today, all the Grand Tours need them, so we reverted to 'backpackery', 'surfy', bumming around Potoroz.  We weren't the only bums today, there were plenty on display, beach wear seems minimalistic for most, all ages, all genders, all nationalities.

wake up boo

Very relaxed start to the day, threw open the bedroom doors to let the sun and view in, caught up on all the bloggy stuff, and persuaded Carys to bring Chrissi and I breakfast in bed, orange juice and a croissant bought on the way home last night from the 24 hour garage.

room service

Eventually we walked down to Portoroz, where there was some debate about how much we should fork out for a sun lounger.  Chrissi found a bargain 2 loungers and brolly for 18 Euros for the day so that was our beachside base.

sunbathe ... tick

I went out for a run, that was supposed to be a few miles but quickly became 5k and that was job done in the midday sun.

https://www.relive.cc/view/r10007129489

I did do a few quick laps of the cordoned off marina/sea whilst the kids had some time on a sea borne inflatable water park.

did anyone say shark

I quickly got bored in the sun so went and sat in a nearby beach bar, cappuccinos, a beer and some book and internet time.  Rest of the family much more happy to sun lounge than me, but I did have one more quick swim to try and get into the beach side routine a bit.

away from those meddling kids

Ate a bit of street food aka turkish durum kebab, well we are getting a bit nearer to that part of the world now.  Stopped in the shops on the way back to our appartment, and bought some more tradtional Slovenian food, namely burek pastries as we moved our street dining from the street onto our comfortable balcony.

slovenian grub

slovenian rose

Suitably rested, looking for a bit more action tomorrow.  James Bond only ever passed through Slovenia on a train in From Russia with Love apparently so struggling with that kind of action, but 3 casinos down in Portoroz looking suitably 70's and worth a martini tomorrow night I feel.

https://open.spotify.com/track/5Kv6uauw7rFFcqHjdkYjgG


-Carys-

We all had a nice lie in - the beds were comfy, the rooms not too hot. Breakfast was simple, some mini croissants that we bought yesterday some filled with chocolate, others with cream. The sun was shining when we came outside, and it felt really lovely to be able to see the waterfront so close to our house.

After breakfast, we were swiftly ready to 'get our beach on', with our swimming costumes and hats. I put lots of suncream on - I burn easily - and wore my hat, but I still have managed to obtain a distinctive red patch on both my legs.

Just next to the restaurant we had dinner in yesterday, there was a beach bar with deckchairs overlooking the water. Dad went off for his run, so mum, Bryn and I sat here with a drink, deliberating whether it was worth it to rent some sun loungers. Mum and I had seen the price to rent 1 sun lounger yesterday, at a place further up the beach - 35 euros...

We got off more lightly than that, by hiring two loungers and a parasol for about half of that price. Well chuffed with that. 2 was plenty, because more often than not 2 of us were doing something, so the other 2 could have the loungers. It all worked out fine.

chill your beans

I had noticed an exciting inflatable course situated in the water nearby where we had settled, yesterday. We paid for Bryn and I to have an hour on it, and it was tons of fun. There was a trampoline, ropes to climb, a swing, an inflated air bag, and lots more. We got to run around trying not to fall in the water or slip. We had a great time, and it tired us out a lot too. Who knew pulling yourself out of water onto an inflated base was so  much hard work?

olly the octopus, penyrheol leisure centre circa 1986

still don't say shark

It had been well over an hour by the time I got out, and Bryn stayed on the course for even longer than I did. I don't know why they didn't tell us to get off the inflatable. We weren't bothered though, obviously. Even though it was great fun, the salty water makes your eyes hurt a bit and your throat starts to feel rough, so I went to sit back on the loungers for a while.

brother and sister

mixing it up with the italians and slovenians

I had a few more swims in the water, a few jumps of the wooden pier/jetty that led out into the water, and spent a lot of time lying in the sun (I imagine this is where I got my burn from). We spent the afternoon chilling, enjoying ourselves. Mum and Dad went to buy us all some food, an inbetween lunch and dinner meal that I'll call 'linner'. Of course, pizza.

head size portion please

On the walk back to the apartment, we found an open supermarket so we bought some more food from there. We were surprised to see it open since the supermarket we'd seen when walking to the beach had said it would be closing at 3pm. The walk back was lovely. We just chatted and strolled calmly. Until I had an accident.

Being me, I was talking constantly, absentmindedly looking in front of me...and BANG. I got taken out by a metal pole. It jutted out into the road. I would have missed it completely if I'd actually used my eyes. I now have a bulging bump on my forehead.

(Note: I am exaggerating - my head is fine.)

I enjoyed the donut we got in the shop. It had an apply jam in it and was coated with lots of sugar. I love a good donut.

in the words of frank butcher, you great big donut

Slovenia is absolutely beautiful - one of my favourite places we've been on this holiday, though to be fair, I could say that about anywhere. It is such a chilled a chilled environment, and reminds me of a classic beach holiday.