Sunday, November 13, 2011 – Split, Croatia – Sunny – High 50s

Distance from Dubrovnik to Split: 130 Nautical Miles

A nice day in Split…

Split – not “Spleet” or “Shpleet” – but split.

Split is the second largest city in Croatia with a metro population of 410,000 people.

We are both on tour today - “Highlights of Split Riviera” and my guide is Levanka.  We depart the pier and head for the picturesque town of Trogir.

 

Leaving Split – Headed for Trogir

I took this picture

Trogir is situation on an island and is reached by a short bridge on foot from the bus stop.

Trogir shore

The gate to Trogir – looking back

Trogir has a very nice main square, with coffee shops and its main attraction, the Cathedral of St. Lawrence.  The Cathedral dates from the 13th Century.

Main-Square - Trogir

Cathedral of St. Lawrence

At the entrance of the Cathedral, among a host of ornate columns, and reliefs, are statues of Adam and Eve.  The sculptor had a sense of humor because he gave the first humans navels.  Can you spot the bellybutton on Adam below.

 

The town hall has a relief of a man on a horse.  The sculpture also did the two sculptures that sit at the entrance of Grant Park in Chicago – small world.

His work is also in Chicago

The UNESCO World Heritage Site Plaque

The gate to Trogir also has a UNESCO logo but it is in neon (below)

Ellen at the Trogir Bridge

Main Gate of Trogir

We had a little free time in Trogir for people to try the coffee shops and shop.  I was able to get free WiFi and check on e-mail.

From Trogir we travel to the “Pantan” Old Mill for a snack of local goodies.

The Pantan Mill

The Entertainment

The snack included either ham sandwiches or cheese sandwiches and either white or red wine.  I really liked the cheese (tasted like Mozzarella) but I really really liked the bread.  Both types of wine were good.

Chowing down at Pantan Mill

Waterfall and Greenhouses

Our final stop was back in Split for a walking tour of the Diocletian Palace.  The Emperor Diocletian built this palace back in the 4th century – he also abdicated his throne at the age of 82 (according to the guide).  His mausoleum is now a cathedral.

The Palace of Diocletian

The main street – The Rika

The Rika in Split really reminded me of Southern California – palm trees, water, and blue skies (see picture below).

We entered the Palace and found a number of shops in the lower level.

Palace Shops

Mosaics

The Cathedral of St. Duje is built inside the remains of the mausoleum of Diocletian (below)

 

 

The Peristyle

The Cardo (Pedestrian Walkway)

After leaving the Palace, we walked through the narrow streets of Old Split.  The guide pointed out the Jewish area including the locked up Synagogue.

Synagogue (above) and Jewish Street (below)

Square with Shops

Statue of Marko Marulic

The tour ended at the entrance to the Palace.  I met up with Ellen and we checked out the flea market.  After some “walk away” negotiating, I bought a nice cap for 6 Euros.  The walk to the ship took about 10 minutes. 

We spent a little time on the deck, where we caught a great sunset.

The Sail Away was very nice…

My final talk: “Forensic Detectives: The Life and Death of King Tutankhamen” is at 7:30 PM.  I finished up with 26 enthusiastic attendees.  I think that a lot of people are still watching the shows on television.

We caught Tony’s Concert Show again.

Tomorrow, we are back in Italy – Ravenna.

Pedometer: 5662 steps; 2.68 miles; 277 Calories

Saturday, November 12, 2011 – Dubrovnik, Croatia – Sunny – 60s

Distance from Kotor to Dubrovnik: 66 Nautical Miles

A very nice day in Dubrovnik, Croatia…

We are having lunch when the ship sails into Dubrovnik.  We will be docked in the old harbor behind the Star Princess.

 

The Old Harbor and the Star Princess

The Franjo Tudjman Bridge 

Only one escort option today so we will spring for a ticket.  We are on the “Taste of Dalmatia and City Highlights” and our guide is Daniela, who speaks perfect English and cracks jokes as well.

Our first stop is village of Orasac, where we will get a demonstration of olive oil production the old fashioned way.

River Ombla from the Bridge

It is a short and nice bus ride to the village of Orasac, where we will visit the Dubelj farm.  It’s an official tourist site (complete with sign) but it is also a working farm.

Olive trees and the view at Dubelj Farm

We are all seated in a stone walled room where Mr. Dubelj (I presume) and his horse will show us how olives are crushed and pressed to produce olive oil.  It all looks a bit grungy to me and it turns out that he stopped producing oil this way in the mid 1990s (really?) and this is just a demo.

Making your father’s olive oil

 

Ellen and the farm – Adriatic in the distance

There a fields behind the farm building and they are being worked by two women (who really don’t look or dress like farm workers).

 

Working the fields

After the olive oil demo, we are served a lunch-snack of olive oil, bread, salad, and cheese.  I am not that hungry but I do try the items. I did like the wine.

Ellen snacking on local foods

The view can’t be beat

The bus ride back to Dubrovnik is pretty fast and we are set for our walking tour of the old city.  Before we got there, I did get a good picture of the marina and some of the city wall.

Nearing Dubrovnik

We entered the city through the Polce Gate.

The Polce Gate

Not far from the gate you can see the Old Harbor – the Odyssey and a Costa Ship are anchored out there beyond the marina (below).

 

The main street in Old Dubrovnik is the Placa, which stretches from the Polce gate to the Pile gate. The Placa is full of people – I imagine that during peak season, the street is solid humanity.

The Placa

Our guide and the statue of Orlando

Our main stop in the city in the Rector’s Palace.  The palace, now a museum, dates back to the 15th century. 

The Rector’s Palace

The Courtyard of the Palace

Pretty neat handrails

Photography was not allowed in the Palace but when I tried to take a picture of a statue of Cleopatra (from Cyprus), two women – old and young – gave me a whack on the back and a no.  I shot back with “it’s outside of the Palace”.  The Croatians will not back down.

Dubrovnik Cathedral

The Clock Tower with its bell-boys

You have to climb some pretty steep stairs to get to the other parts of Dubrovnik – imagine living at the top and having to do this all the time.

 

Stairs of Dubrovnik

The guide told to meet at the Pile Gate in about 40 minutes.  We went through these gates to find the washrooms across the street and then continued to shop in the city.

Pile Gate – Interior and Exterior

Pile Gate – Drawbridge Mechanism

Sunset in Dubrovnik

Earlier in the tour, we were told that the Synagogue was located at the other end of the Placa near the Rector’s Palace.  We did locate it but it was closed.  The adjacent Judaica store was open but there was no one there – some of their goods were displayed outside.

 

Ellen at the Dubrovnik Synagogue

Judaica on Display in front of Store

We did wind up buying some items at one of the stores and were even able to negotiate a bit on price – rare in Croatia.

Back to the Pile Gate (I was helping a passenger get back so the two of us were the last on the bus) and then back to the pier.

A quick dinner in the Buffet (Indian Food today – spicy but not bad and lots of vegetarian items) and off to my fourth presentation.

“Forensics and History:  Mysteries of the Mediterranean” is at 7:15 PM in the Cabaret Lounge.  About 20 people attended and it went a bit smoother than last time.  Colors on the slides still were difficult to see so the King Tut talk will need to be modified to deal with this issue.

We caught Gary Brown following my presentation.

Should have worn my pedometer today – there was a lot of walking.