FLYING TO SPLIT

You know when you hurriedly plan a trip you don't always have the logistics right. I feel this the case now they we are taking a 40 minute flight from Zagreb to Split. The best thing would have been a private transfer via the Pilvice waterfalls in the National Park and then on to Split or alternatively to go on the Flix bus. We had the time to do it as flying is so slow by the time you get to the airport, check in, do the various baggage and personal checks. To add to this the Croatian plane A319 plane was almost an hour late in coming in. When suggesting we fly I thought it would be less effort and more comfortable for Phil but this was not the case. By the time we had walked to the bus station, caught the bus to the airport, done the check in formalities and waited for the plane it was 1.00pm. We would have seen a lot of inland Crostia. Then I hadn't calculated the small plane with 3 seats across and very little leg room. All a difficulty for Phil. A real lesson in thinking it through more clearly in future.

However we managed ok and the driver supplied by the cycling company, Mario, was there waiting for us with a sign with our names on it. You have to love that!! By the time we got to Split the sunny weather had appeared again. Mario said it had been raining for 2 days. He was a very friendly, talkative type of person and talked freely of living conditions for people in Split. The affect on the huge amount of tourism in the summer. Most people in the tourism trade means that they work every day for.8 months and then have 4 months off
Wages are not high, the average person earning around 700 euros a month but according to Mario the quality of life is good in Split.

He dropped us at what he called the main road leading inside the walls of the Diocletian Palace. Our apartment was inside the palace precinct. The atmosphere hit you immediately hot, casual and crowded
Mario had said that it would be easy to find our accommodation, just ask someone was his famous last words as we waved him goodbye. Well it was like entering a labyrinth. It was like everyone knew where they were going and were in casual mode. For us on the other hand the huge complex, the myriad of narrow streets and lack of obvious signs was difficult, like a maze. You just couldn't keep your head from spinning from the magnificent ancient walls of those ancient buildingsbin the town. I swear that every spare toom has become an apartment within this precinct judhing from the little bed symbols on a dark blue plaque.

Eventually after Phil asked several people and going round in a circle we found No 9 Ulica Kralja Petra off Kresimira Ulica. It was a tiny alley way off another narrow laneway. The owner Jure Mijac was waiting for us and helped csrrybour bags up 3 level of stairs in a building which he claimed to be 500 years old. The apartment was fairly basic but spotlessly clean and a wonderful location. It will be ok for 3 nights before we move to the Luxury Jupiter hotel with the bike people on Tuesday.

Travelling always has swings and roundabouts so when the accommodation is average the dining is superb. The night was balmy, no need for a cardigan we went to the Onyx restauarant with the bell tower of the Diocletian palace and the ruins and arches as a back You felt like it could be in a film set.

Dinner lasted until 10.00pm and then we joined the throngs and sat on the marble steps of the peristyle square where a sole guitarist had a large crowd enthralled by his singing til midnight when we left. The crowd was made up of all ages. Many enjoying a wine brought to them by the attentive waiters. Many couples danced. Everyone sang along with the songs and sometimes were left to themselves to finish the song without the help of the guitsrist. It was fabulous fun and atmosphere.

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Then before returning to the apartment we went to the port area just outside to the palm lined promenade of the Riva. It was so lively with its long row of restaurants, wide concrete promenade that it so reminded me of La Rambla in Barcelona.

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Oh what a night. Split is something else again.