Split Decision

The stray cat problem in Split, Croatia, is out of control.
Now the cats are manning (or "catting") the sales booths, selling boat tours to the tourists in town.

On the road again.

And the road was the 8, then the E65, from Dubrovnik to Split, just up Croatia's Dalmatian Coast

But there was time to stop by a roadside stand to buy some fresh fruit. And jam. And homemade booze. Apricot jam and mandarin orange flavored grappa. Because this was in the local mandarin orange growing region and I wanted to buy the local produce in a form that would last through the winter.

The drive was not long and soon we were within Splittin' distance of the Adriatic.

The old city in Split is pedestrian only. And the walk from the hotel, the Azur Palace, to the Riva -- the pedestrian promenade along the Adriatic -- was only a few blocks.  Fortunately, there was time to see a guy soaking his head in the stream coming from the fountain above his head.

Soon were reached the sea.

At the sea, there were birds.

And boats.

And people watching boats.

There was a Spanish galleon / pirate ship in the Split harbor, too. Just like Dubrovnik. Apparently this is now a thing. You probably already knew. I'm kind of slow on picking up trends.

And apparently another new thing that is a fashion trend among those cognizant of fashion trends would be young gentlemen is dressing as Roman Praetorian Guards. For we saw this in Old Town Split.

Actually, they dress that way, in front of the humongous palace of former Roman Emperor Diocletian (I use the word "former" just in case you think that he is the incumbent Roman Emperor), here in Old Town Split, to earn tips from the tourists who want their pictures taken with them. It's a living in a tourist town.

Next stop was the Saint Domnius Cathedral, or Katedrala Sv. Duje in the local tongue, right next door to Diocletian's Palace.

The Cathedral dates from the 4th Century A.D., the very early part of the 300s A.D., as the Cathedral was constructed on the site of the Mausoleum of Diocletian. Diocletian died in 312.

The interior most certainly does not date from the early 300s. But it is quite impressive.

It brings in the tourist hordes.

Of which I was one.

So not to sound all superior and all.

The admission ticket also bought admission to the Temple of Jupiter, which was re-purposed after the decline of paganism to being the Baptistry.

Dinner at the restaurant Lučac was beyond incredible. I had, actually everybody at the table had except for the one person eating the wild boar stew, the beef ‘pasticada’ with gnocchi, described on the menu in English as "beef fricandeau, dried plums, wine, home-made marmalade, gnocchi, vinegar, decoration creams, spices." It was the pot roast that they serve in heaven. But you'll have to take my word for it. No pictures. I left the camera back at the hotel.