Wedding season - Part 1: Mirela & Tom's wedding in Rovinj, Croatia

Thursday, September 10th. After Venice, we moored in Rovinj, Croatia. A picturesque port on the Adriatic, if there are any! Charming, and authentic. But wait a minute, we were not there to do sightseeing, we had to attend a wedding: Mirela and Tom's wedding -remember, he is German, she is Croat, they met in India and live in Beijing...Ok, let's get going!

Friday, 1 PM: Miguel (left) and Marco (right), on their way to the town hall. Believe me, they didn't go unnoticed by the locals, who rubbed their eyes - were they seeing double?...

Friday, September 11th, 2PM: That's it - Mirela and Tom are married, gorgeous couple!

Friday, lunch at a restaurant, a beautiful place that took us quite a while to reach as it was lost, or well-hidden, in the middle of Rovinj countryside. The scenery on our way was stunning, very similar to the landscapes of Provence (cypresses, olive trees, vineyards and arid soil) but with oak trees everywhere, for a change! Both Strangely familiar and truly exotic. Let's raise our glass: Vive les Mariés!!!
After the civil wedding, we enjoyed an afternoon of total rest at the Villa Meneghetti, paradise on Earth. Our pre-wedding therapy was therefore working... Don't we look happy and rested?

The same for the newly weds, who seem to savour that moment of comfort and let-go with a good glass of the Villa's Bordeaux Coupage red wine. Prost and Bravo to Tom & Mirela! Just for you to know, they were truly incredibly chilled out, although they had organized their wedding in Croatia from Beijing...A wedding planner was fortunately hired to help them finalize the last preparations and details on the spot, at the gorgeous Villa Meneghetti. What a wonderful job they did together!

Saturday, September 12th: One hour before the religious service. An armada of Reservoir Dogs presents for general review: 5 on the dandy Richter scale, as our excellent friend Rob Sidhu would say...These men in black are ready to charge the final assault and wedge a war of seduction on you ladies, beware!
Outside the Cathedral of Rovinj. Before Tom makes his big statement...

After Tom and Mirela said YES. Well said!

Then, everyone was invited to go back to the Villa Meneghetti to revel in and celebrate in the traditional Croatian fashion -this local folklore band was incredible! Very festive music- it made me feel like in a Kusturica film with Goran Bregovic's music. Not to mention, the various sorts of Schnapps that we gulped down in between the Sirtaki-like steps...

The newly weds, experiencing the Jacob sandwich! From left to right: Miguel, Tom, Mirela, & Marco

Croatian delights, miam-miam! Raw fish and prosciutto, I loved you so much.

The oil pit! The Villa's olive oil won the award of best olive oil in the world in 2006. Delicioso! We bought 2 bottles...

Dinner at night by candlelight, under the oak trees in the park of the Villa Meneghetti. Magical!
Marco and I, dancing in the dark; totally in love!

Oh man, what's going on here? Getting loose on Tina Turner...

Hrvala (thank you, in Croatian), Mirela and Tom, for such a beautiful celebration of your love! You helped us complete our 'Tactique de l'Adriatique' with high flying colours, mission accomplished. Our stay in Rovinj triumphantly ended our pre-wedding honeymoon trip on a higher note, the very one that creates the contrapuntal harmony in the wedding march; the very same one that, soon, was going to play for Marco and I too...