Sunday, May 12: Day 1 in Split, Croatia

We started our day in Split early, out the door by 6:45. The city was quiet, and we had the whole palace to ourselves. We found a small coffee shop called D16 that Todd had heard about. The coffee was delicious, and we met some lovely people, including a Dutch traveling nomad with her labradoodle, Luna.

After coffee, we wandered around a bit more before having breakfast at a boardwalk restaurant, where we were entertained by two gentlemen who had clearly been partying all night. The waiter from India was lovely, and the food was fabulous.

We toured the underground parts of the huge palace built by Roman Emperor Diocletian in 286 AD. Then we hiked to the top of Marjan Hill, which offered a great shady walk despite setting off Todd’s allergies.

Next, we took a 30-minute cab ride to the town of Trogir for 40 euros. Trogir was charming, with narrow walkways and a lovely lunch of fish and pasta. Our cab driver picked us up at 3:30, and we headed back to Split.

Todd and James climbed the bell tower while I enjoyed a rosé in the bustling square. The same square that was empty in the morning was now full of tourists and Roman characters posing for photos.

We returned to our room to relax before having a nice meal at a nearby restaurant. We met an interesting Aussie cardiologist named Frank.

Todd and I ended the night exploring the zigzagging alleys, each filled with small bars and eateries, soaking in the unique character of Split.