Traveller’s Tales part XI

The last part can be found: HERE

After Venice our next destination was Split in Croatia. Most of the day was taken up with meetings and Lily spent the first part of the day visiting friends so whatever opportunity there was to take photographs, either had to be done first thing in the morning or between meetings.


I rose early hoping to catch what I could and began with a walk down by the little harbour. Few boats were in evidence apart from the odd ferry that plies between the mainland and numerous islands that can be found scattered along the Dalmatian coast.


Like markets the world over, business began early and the local market was already in full swing with local smallholders bringing their produce for sale.


Many of the women still wore the traditional black or dark clothes and their lined faces suggested that life for them had not been overly easy.


There was a hustle and bustle about the place and I missed Lily being with me to give a running commentary about what was being said. There’s something about market gossip that is the same the world over. Usually markets aren’t the kind of place that men hang about for too long.


Clearly the money made here is vital in ensuring the family eat well that day and checks were made from time to time to determine whether it would be mutton or steak to eat for tea that night.


Some women looked as old as the hills and I feel if the anti-aging cream pedalled by the make-up manufacturers really worked this would be a good place to start.


Split is also one of the oldest cities in the area and some consider it to be over 1,700 years old. Much of the city still centres around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian. Certainly there are many Roman ruins that can be found around the Cathedral of Saint Domnius which dates from the third century. A local café had scattered cushions in the cathedral courtyard so the early morning travelers could rest and take coffee.


The Papal cross keys of course remind us that this is a Catholic cathedral.


Inside there was the now almost universal rule about no photography designed to protect the fugitive colours of paintings etc from continuous exposure to flash. Having said that if you are sensible and inconspicuous and make sure your flash doesn’t go off the custodians of such places will often turn a blind eye. Here you can see the liberal application of gold-leaf that can be found inside the cathedral.


Anticipating a good influx of Japanese tourists that day, Roman soldiers began to gather for photo opportunities.

(to be continued)