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| Split, Roman walled core |
Original Diocletian Roman times palace
Split - harbor downtown
Narrow passageways within walled old city
Split - big open air fish market
Split, waterfront on harbor downtown
Portion of old Roman walls -old city core
one of 4 entrances into old walled city core
Fruit and vegetable open air market near harbor
Magnificent Dalmatian Coast hwy views Split to Dubrovnik
Dalmatian Coast from hwy Split to Dubrovnik
Main entrance into Dubrovnik's old walled city
famous fountain within Dubrovnik walled city
portion of perimeter walkway on top of fort walls
View of ocean from top of wall walkway
sea side cliffs from top of walls walkway
Another view of walled seaside in Dubrovnik
view to south from walls walkway above cliffs
kids sunning on rocks, diving in and swimming
view to south from wall walkway on seaside
Dubrovnik outside walled portion to south
Dubrovnik and inner harbor
old city from portion of walkway atop walls
back or shoreside entrance of walled old city
walkway on wall top to Castle tower
view to north and portion of Dubrovnik outside walled core
Northwest corner of fortress walls and sea view
passageways and narrow sidewalk cafes within walls
Magical color of clear Adriatic ocean
walking up to cable car terminal just above old walled city core
cable car view of old walled Dubrovnik and Adriatic
higher cable car view of old Dubrovnik walled city
mountaintop memorial to Balkan war victims and cruise ship to south
war damaged mountain top old fort
Balkan war memorial on mountaintop
cable car descending above Dubrovnik
cable car and ancient walled Dubrovnik below
narrow walkways and steps within walled city
my sidewalk cafe choice that day within walled city
famous Dubrovnik church within old forts walls
central plaza within old Dubrovnik's walls
view from my hotel room in Hvar island
Hvar outer harbor and departing hi speed ferry to Split
walk way arch on climb to mountain top fortress above Hvar
Diagram of ancient Hvar mountain top castle
view of Hvar & harbor from mtn top castle
Mtn top fort canons overlooking Hvar and sea
Hvar and famous harbor from mtn top castle
view to northwest of Hvar with cruise ship in Adriatic
Palmizana harbor on day trip to largest of Pakleni islands
colorful cactus in bloom on island
An hours flight across the Adriatic from Rome and I was in Split Croatia. There a 20 min bus ride to downtown and a short taxi ride to my little hotel. I then spent the afternoon wandering the downtown inside the old walled city and along the wonderful, sunny harbor front park like open space. The huge old ruins of the Diocletians Palace and its walls surrounded the shops, markets, and vibrant core of Split inside the old Roman walls. Croatia's 2nd largest city at about 200,000 is a busy port and transit center and very attractive. I then took a 5 hour bus ride right along the beautiful emerald Adriatic to Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik has to be seen to be believed. The walled city on the water is amazing. I had half the lst day there and then a full day to climb and circle the tops of the old walls walkways and prowl the inner city. What a delight. I also took the new cable car to the top of the mountain above the city and hiked there in the sunshine. The view is a MUST SEE in Europe.
Then it was another bus ride back to Split and a night in my same hotel . The Adriatic coast is too lovely for words, with the clear waters and amazing color or the sea. The next morning I had a wonderful ferry ride out to the elite resort island of Hvar for a couple nights there. I have never seen so many huge, luxurious yachts. The island and town are delightful. I hiked lots, enjoyed the Croatian meals, and spent half a day out on one of the Pakleni Islands at Palmizana. I had a wonderful time swimming in the crystal clear water, sunning and eating a Croatian lunch on the beach. Then it was back from Hvar to Split on a high speed ferry, a bus ride to the airport and and an hours Croatia Airlines flight back to the airport in Rome. I spent the night again at the Same Marriot Courtyard at the airport and next day flew up to London. There, I had to overnight near Heathrow. Finally, the long British Air flight back to Seattle, a couple hours layover, and the ride back up the coast on Alaska Air and back home to Anchorage once again.
