What is the best way to spend a couple days in Istria? We like to get the feel of the people, food, and customs of the area.
Where will you be before Istria? Are you traveling by car or using public transportation? Where will you head next?
Two days is a very shoert time to try to see Istria, in my view. Simply getting there is not necessarily a piece of cake.
If you want to explore, it's best to have a car. I stayed in Rovinj for a few days, exploring north one day and south another day. Pula had a lot to see and was lively while the smaller towns were more laid back. Had a great lunch in Grožnjan, a small town I doubt you could reach by public transportation.