We enjoyed another beautifully sunny start to our day in Split. Since our visit here two years ago, an impressive new pier had been built, and it can easily handle at least two ships far bigger than the Pacific Princess. Seeing that made us feel lucky that, this late in the season, we were pretty much the only tourists in town. We were also happy that, in a return to normalcy, we did have cellular data today. It’s funny how much we had missed it yesterday. We’ve gotten very spoiled.
Lighthouse at the end of the new pier
Rainbow over Split
We walked off the ship about 10am and started walking toward the 3rd century AD (honestly, these dates are mind boggling) Diocletian’s Palace. We had visited it before, but it is the main attraction in town. On the way, we encountered Mario driving a bicycle rickshaw, and, remembering how much we had enjoyed our short tour in Genoa, stopped to listen to his spiel. He was a nice guy who spoke great English, and sold us on a couple hour tour around the city but also to some area west of the city, including the beautiful Park šuma Marjan.
The Riva, the latge pedestrian mall along the waterfront
The Riva
Marmontova Street, designed by Marmont, a marshall of Napoleon in the 18th century
Croatian National Theater
Split Waterfront
Ježinac Beach
The Marjan waterfront area, west of the Riva, where Croatian Olympic medal winners names are inscribed on bronze plaques in the sidewalk
We enjoyed going further afield than what we had seen during our last visit, and especially enjoyed the views we had from the back of the rickshaw. The mountains overlooking the city were just as beautiful as those looking over the Bay of Kotor yesterday. We were also impressed by all the new construction we saw underway. I wondered, as I always do when I visit these countries that were part of the former Yugoslavia, how their people had adapted to the conflicts and changes of the past 30 years.
Mountains above Parc šuma Marjan
Medieval lookout
Bene, in Parc šuma Marjan
Statue of Bishop Gregory of Nin just outside the north wall of Diocletian’s Palace
G rubbing the statue’s toe to have a wish granted
Gate in the East Wall of Diocletian’s Palace
Mario would have returned us to the port, but we needed to get some exercise today, and instead asked him to leave us at the East Gate of Diocletian’s Palace. Along the eastern wall are several market stalls, and, after we wandered through the Palace we made our way through the market (but didn’t buy anything). Eventually we walked past the large ferry terminal with ferries going between several of the Croatian islands in the Adriatic but also overnight to Italy and returned to the Pacific Princess.
We ate a late light lunch in the Panorama Buffet and then, with a couple of hours until dinner, G went to a hot tub and I started sorting through things in preparation for the packing we’ll be doing over the next couple of days. The day which had started out so beautifully turned a bit stormy by sail away, with an impressive lightning storm and high wind, and we needed the help of two tugs to get away from the pier.
We ate a light dinner, and then went directly to the Most Traveled Guest cocktail party. It is held in the beautiful library on this ship, and there is no prettier setting. The buffet spread was jaw dropping. The chef really went all out for this party (I’ll eventually post photos), and we enjoyed good food and good company (and, for some, good drinks). We have really enjoyed getting to know Captain Paul Slight from Wales, with whom we’ve never sailed before.
After I finish preparing this blog post, we’ll be heading back out for the 9:45pm performance by vocalist Paul Baker. He has put together a second, different show for tonight, only one performance, and I have a feeling that, unlike most other shows on the Pacific Princess, we might need arrive more than five minutes ahead of time to get a seat (we love this ship!).
Captain Slight said our weather is looking better for the final two days of our cruise. Though we’re not sure of what tomorrow will bring (Ravenna is sounding like a tough port for sightseeing), we’re happy to have some decent weather for Venice, especially considering what was happening there three weeks ago. But however nice it is, we’re in for a dramatic change when we arrive in Dubai. Our hotel sent me a welcome email today, along with the forecast for the first days of our stay…90F and sun.
Going from Venice to Dubai, I think we’re in for a shock in more ways than one. Just like McGee when he went to Iceland this summer, I have no idea what to expect. But I can’t wait to find out. :-)