Another scorcher, Croatian food, Split and time to split: Split Day 12

We got up early so that we could make our way to Split - another small city, much larger than Trogir but certainly not anything these size of Rome.  Our attempts were thwarted by some cereal and then some lazy getting ready but we didn't do too bad in getting out on time.  If I remember correctly, since this is the first time I am writing at night and not mid day - I think we saw the bus taking off as we were getting up the street.  That means another 20 minute wait.  So we sat at the stop and Isla was in good form, bothering all the boys - all of whom have had enough.  

The ride was uneventful except for the guy checking the tickets - but we had them.  Just like yesterday, we hoped to beat the crowds in to the city and Diocletian's Palace.  

The Gate - I think the Golden Gate.

If I have it correct, the palace became the eventual walled city here.  So when you are inside, the whole thing was Diocletian's Palace in the late 200's early 300's.  I believe that his plan was to retire here.  Regardless, there are lots of cool things, including 12 or 16 sphinx that he took from Egypt and had brought here.  Throughout the city there is also evidence of Venetian rule as well.

So, we headed down to the underground portion of the palace - and the spaces that were used for Danerys to keep her dragons locked up.  I also believe that part of the city was used for filming for Mereen - but I could be making that up.  There was so much more to see and the most amazing part about it is that these were built to keep the city above structurally sound.  So this underground area - at least what they have excavated thus far is huge.  The floor plans match the palace above and when Diocletian was gone and rich people moved in to the walled city, they used to dig down into the underground so that they could use the cellars for their own purposes.

Fucking cats...

One of the Sphinx...

We walked around the city and the water.  Walked up to a viewpoint that did disappoint - maybe we missed it.  

Grabbed lunch at one of the top 50 restaurants in Split - hard to imagine that there were 50 but here we are.  I was hoping to get some good Croatian food since I wasn't able to eat/taste too much with this cold/sinus thing that I had going on.  As a matter of fact, I was looking forward to Croatia and beer the most on the trip - so not being able to join in on the festival the night before really sucked.  We got a grilled seabass, a plate of mixed meat, calamari and fries and Jess had a risotto.  I thought it was pretty tasty.  Can't say everyone else did - people were nervous about eating the fish directly from the fish.

I liked this guy's face - it was on the placemat.

Another movie reference - IYKYK.

Then walked around a bit more and headed to the bus station with a stop at Hadjuk Split's store - Neil and Malcolm both got jerseys.  

The old men were having a good time watching her try to shoot the water into her mouth - then Neil shooting her with the water.

Olives - I was tempted but didn't take any.

Took the bus home and everyone slept - except me - which was probably a good thing, except if you're Malcolm, because once he was up I started ripping them because his head was in my lap.  

We got back to the apartment and I napped, they played on their iPads and Jess did some other stuff, but then took a second nap.  She says Malcolm woke her up just when she fell asleep...I'm calling BS on that one.  

When I got up we got ready and headed down to the beach - all 8 feet of it between the wall and the water.  It's still nice.  Jess got them a ball to have a catch with.  

Duncan was collecting lot's of sea glass...and regular glass.  

When we were done we grabbed our one and only Geocache in Croatia and went inside to have dinner - sandwiches and then headed back out for ice cream.  We have to be up at like 5 tomorrow for our 8 am flight to Athens and meeting Grappa and Grandma.  That's going to be a lot of fun I'm sure.

Until next time, Croatia.