Old Town in Split, Croatia
We ventured up the coast to Split yesterday afternoon. The bus route follows the coastline road, dotted with small villages that steadfastly focus on the sea, small, pebbly beaches, jetties built for boats, and docks. Without a map, we guessed at the bus stop we wanted, after we jumped up at the last second, we were followed closely by Germans who also suddenly decided the sight of waterfront and large boats heralded the interesting part of town.
Side street in the old town of Split, Croatia
After a brief stop orienting ourselves to the return bus stop and a quick look at the schedule, we wandered toward the water. A large area of street vendor booths went unexplored, as we made our way toward the old part of town. Walking through, or rather under, the old city walls, we found ourselves in front of the Palace of Diocletian. He was a roman Empower who spent his final years here in a huge palace he had built near his birthplace, then called Aspalthos.
Coming from a place where a building is considered very old when it was build over 100 years ago, wandering past walls of stone stacked 2000 years ago and across stones that have been worn smooth through centuries of footsteps fills me with wonder. To physically touch the same column so many generations of people have leaned on gives me a sense reaching through time and into the past.
Cathedral tower, Split, Croatia
People gather with sketchbooks and sit, pencil in hand, reveling in the history of the place. Street vendors sit on ancient carved stones, miniature models of the medieval cathedral, metal sculptures, and paintings of fish perched on the rocks. We sit in a café, which, like most here, does not serve food in the afternoon. We are all hungry, but the family goes along with my desire to sit and look at the aged stone and columns and sips their drinks.
Clock in old town Split, Croatia
We spend some time chatting with a British couple about travel, cheap airlines and favorite places. A few minutes after we wander off, Marlie declares she needs to use a restroom and Hannah reminds us she is hungry. We find a restaurant facing the water where we can watch people stroll along the promenade, eat marginal food, and pay far too much for it. But, it’s a beautiful day.
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