Nick starts the engine at 10:00 to leave, but almost before the brake is off a man in a staff tee shirt appears for another semaphore lesson. A few nods to let him think he's helping and we're out.

We park in the motorhome parking and trundle down to the port. Outside the old gates is a market selling everything from phone covers to fruit and veg and the generic 'genuine Rovinj' souvenir straight out of a container from China.

Inside it is quiet, with narrow streets paved with shiny, uneven cobbles. As we scramble our way up there are tiny alleyways, either up steep stairways, or down to the sea. Balconies are strung with washing and geraniums and it all feels a bit like the backstreets of Naples only without the filth and mangy dogs.

A few little shops sell pearl jewellery and paintings, but again many of the galleries are mass produced souvenirs.

At the top is the church and 60m bell tower. Based on the one in St Mark's in Venice it was completed in 1651 and restored in 1736. Ali and Grete climb the 170 narrow, steep wooden stairs to the top. The views across Istria and the blue Adrdiatic are dramatic but the descent is difficult and a bit scary.

We slither down the polished paths to a small square with an inviting restaurant for a light lunch then go out into the port. The harbour-side is a row of colourful buildings of yellow, green, ochre and maroon forming a backdrop to the fishing boats.

We return to the market to get some truffle oil then walk back to the van past oleander and what we think are immortal trees with their orange flowers.

It is a short run up the autoroute, 17K for 15 miles, back to Jadruhi, where we get a big welcome-back from Soffia. We loaf around for the afternoon then have another excellent meal in the restaurant. Nick has sole, delivered alive only 40 minutes before, Nick W has mussels and Ali and Grete share the Porterhouse platter, a huge slice of cow on the bone. Everything is cooked on a log grill, the heat of which the chef controls by raking out or piling up ember as required.

After eating we use the wifi to Skype friends who are house-sitting at our place for a few days. Good to know all is well as we settle in for our last night in this beautiful country of Croatia which has enchanted us and captured our hearts with its friendliness.