Today was a travelling day - even though the distance from the Plitvice Lakes to Split is about 150 km, we took most of the day to complete the journey. Once we left the mountains and crossed the range that separates the inland from the Dalmatian Coast, we could see a remarkable change in the vegetation and landscape - from alpine forests to low level vegetation known as karst. As we moved closer to the coast, the weather improved - from cold and showery grey clouds to bright sunny blue skies.
Our first stop was at a roadside service centre where we had various refreshments - some with coffee, others with tea or hot chocolate - of course I had an ice cream (what’s new? I hear you ask). After more driving, we came to the town of Trogir. At first, it looked to be nothing special, but once we entered the old, once fortified mediaeval part, things became a little more interesting. Part Roman Forum, part Venice, this little place had a charm of its own. Again, the obligatory cathedral awaited us, but this time, even I could see that this one was a little different - first built in the more simplistic Roman style, this building had several additions over the years and the finished product became an amalgam of at least four achitectural period styles.
Trogir provided us with a place for lunch. The old town is built on an island only metres from the mainland. Two bridges have been built to link the island to the mainland and sitting by the channel that separates the two parts of the town while munching on a pizza with Liz and Ron, is not a bad way to enjoy lunch. Several Kodak moments presented themselves during this time. As well, several boats, similar to the one we will be boarding for our cruise along the Dalmatian coast from Dubrovnik, were moored nearby. The conversation as to which type of vessel we might be getting was a hot topic during lunch.
Back on the coach, we continued to Split - the 2nd largest city in Croatia and a mecca for tourists, with its international airport and shipping terminals. The highlight of the city tour was the time spent inside the original core of the city - a fortified castle/fortress built by a 3rd century Roman Emperor. The walk through the foundations and the stories of the uncovering of these relics by archaeologists was fascinating. Speaking of relics, we fell about laughing when our local guide, Deanna, while referring to an ancient sarcophagus as a precious relic, inadvertently pointed at Ron. Liz came to Ron’s rescue by saying that even though he may not be a real relic, he’s still precious. Over the years, the castle/fortress has been recycled into the core of the old town and it is odd to see modern coffee bars and boutique shops where the ancient Roman Forum columns still stand. As we entered one of the rooms, there was a quartet performing traditional Croatian songs. We stopped and listened for a while and, yes, you guessed it, we bought their CD!
When we finally arrived at out hotel, a most pleasant surprise greeted us. The rooms rival the famous Regent Hotel we had visited in Zagreb several days ago. Only 6 months old, this hotel is indeed luxurious and, by far, the best one we have stayed in yet. What a pity it’s only for one night!
A swim and spa before tea in the wellness centre was the order of the day and tea itself was a buffet. I can’t believe the amount of food everyone is putting away. We might as well leave most of our clothes behind when we head for home - I don’t think much of our wardrobe will fit us by then!
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