Split - Croatia

With strong thunderstorms building over the mountains to the east the plane banked a hard left to catch the short runway from the south. We dodged a couple of storms on the way from London but safely arrived in Split, Croatia.

It was a long trip with a 2 hour thunderstorm delay out of Houston. I actually witnessed lightning strike the runway. The flight across the Atlantic was ok but I give United Airlines 5 stars for lousy service. Instead of pushing straight on to Croatia I chose to layover a couple of nights in London. I booked a hotel which turned out to be more like a guest house. The room was very small. However, it was comfortable, quiet, and in a great location. Reasonably priced by London standards.

My accommodation was near Kensington Gardens. Just up from the Bayswater tube station which made it very easy to get to from Heathrow. I spent my time in London roaming around Kensington and Hyde Parks with beautiful weather. I actually caught a glimpse of Prince Harry and Meghan as they were leaving Kensington palace. It was dumb luck and I got a photo. Kind of cool considering all the press they have been getting with the recent wedding.

I arrived two hours late in Split from the London Gatwick airport. Apparently the plane had been delayed in Verona, Italy. Something about a strike. The thunderstorms started shortly after clearing immigration. I hopped a bus to get to the city and noticed the windshield wipers were not doing much but the driver was driving safely and a little slower.

I had already booked 4 nights via the internet before arriving. I figured by time I arrived I Split I’d be spent which was right. Fortunately my hotel turned out to be fantastic. It’s in a great location and a good value. Very nice and clean. Much nicer than my London accommodation at half the price. In general I consider Eastern Europe to cost 50% or less than Western Europe. Naturally the touristy places can command a premium.

Split is an interesting place. It’s quite touristy but still retains a nice appeal. There’s an old town with a portion built by the Romans around 300 A.D. It’s full of shops, restaurants and cafes with the Roman Diocletion palace being the main draw as well as a nice waterfront on the Adriatic Sea. To the north there are some beaches and a forested park that rises up to a small mountain like hill for great views. Outside of the old town it’s a bit rough with plenty of graffiti and garbage.

Yesterday I didn’t get going until noon. The trip over really took it out of me this time. However, I had a pleasant walk up and over the forested park. I then discovered a local place for good traditional food. Stuffed peppers, goulash, potatoes, and salad. That’s what I’ve been eating.

Today I walked 30 minutes for an evening swim at a pebbly gravel like beach. I had finished swimming and was sitting on a low ledge. There were lots of people at the beach but it was not crowded. I heard something to my right and saw a car go off the ledge, across a short bit of beach and into the water. It started to float away. The owner had been chasing after the car and grabbed it to pull it in. A group of guys tried to push it out but with no success whatsoever. Totaled I’m sure. What happened? No parking break? Misjudged backing? Too much sun and alcohol? Good thing no one was in the way.

Well, here I am on another trip. The last two and a half months were spent in Houston working, working and working. I wore myself out. I’m tired. Mostly mentally tired. I felt a bit better today but it will take a few more days to get back into a more regular feeling travel mode. My plans at this moment are very loose. Tomorrow I’ll visit Krka National park for the day. I expect it to be a zoo on a Saturday. Maybe I’ll meet some interesting people.