I hope you can find something to do in Opatija in October/November, as the town is a summer resort! The nearest town is Rijeka, not exactly a tourist town, while Pula, on the tip of Histria, is an old town with many Roman monuments. I guess you can go there on a day trip by public buses, but you need to check the timetables. The coast is very impressive too. A favorite destination from Rijeka is the island of Krk or Cres but, again, that works mostly on summer months. Plitvice lakes are definitely too far for a day trip, considering also the daylight hours.

Dubrovnik and surroundings are also worth the visit, especially the beautiful inlet of Kotor (which is in Montenegro, not in Croatia, anyway). Again, being off season, I suggest you contact a local tourist agency and see if they can help you with the tours.

I hope the weather will cooperate, because when the harsh northeastern wind blows it raises hell!

If you happen to go through Trieste, give me a shout and maybe we can meet.

Bye, Paolo Trieste, Italy