Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Camping Strobec Split

We were 5 nights at Camping Split, a really nice RV park/resort with all the amenities and then some.
Nice location, in Strobec, about 5k from centre ville Split; good public transt
Right on the bay















With its own beach, pools, etc., nice restaurant, bars 



















Its own grocery (several others nearby)



















Even a dog washing station



















All kinds of rentals; here I am affecting a Steve McQueen pose aboard a Croatian
50cc scooter (it's a long story; fortunately neither the scooter nor I got hurt)




















We have been in this part of the world long enough that it just doesn't feel right
to have a picture of our abode without the laundry aflutter alongside




















Strangely, Croatian escargot are attracted to electromagnetic
fields...

Split: The Out-Taken Bits

More Split bits...
Spare parts shoppe


















I forget what these folk singers are called--they are in one of the big rooms
in the palace--close harmony, sort of like the Andrews Sisters, only in lower
register, much slower beat, and in Croatian...





















In the choir of the cathedral; cellular reception is always better there; also
communication with the Almighty




















Even Vicki agreed
























A little scary
























People shoveling their money into the (dry) baptismal font




















Funny menu..."Dalmatian Bunny"



















Have you ever wondered what a Croatian sex shoppe looks
like? Sure you have...

























Bits of Game of Thrones were filmed here--we'll see more in Dubrovnik--but
Vicki is a fan and we had to stop in; I quit watching when they executed Sean
Bean; and refer to the show as "Tits 'n Dwarf"




















Still, Tyrion and I have things in common
























A common outlook in life



















The Iron Throne; you have to actually buy something to
sit in it; so I merely stole a vacant shot


























Something lost in translation?
























New warning sign



















Have I mentioned that Croatia is in the World Cup and actually doing pretty
well?



















To be continued



















Split: The Other Bits

Mostly non-Roman street scenes and buildings in the old quarter...
Very narrow alleys

And nice open squares

Almost art nuvo...


Former fish market

Old archepiscopal seminary, now Islamic place of worship

Everything in the old city is paved in these polished
limestone slabs


Croatia is big truffle country; don't you know?

"Newer" building fronting the harbor

A gorgeous old building and piazza, dating, I would guess, from the Venetian
regime; no, the guidebook says, early 1800s, Napoleonic regime

Beautiful little building stuck right onto the palace 

Harbor front

Back at the peristyle Roman bit, the Luxor cafe; there is inside seating but it's
more fashionable to order a drink and sit, using one of the cushion provided,
on Diocletian's steps

Definitely not Roman

Fascinating place, the new slapped right onto the old, the old slapped right onto
the older...this is much of Europe, although here it is far more obvious, and with
far better preservation of the oldest bits


Split: More Roman Bits

More of the Roman bits of Split, Croatia...
Back in the peristyle area of the palace; a nice sphinx, one of more than a
dozen originally



Oculus 


Certainly the coolest thing about the palace is the basement, which extended
over about half the complex (it was built on an incline), and which you can
visit; about 1/3 is the souvenir shoppes area, here (Diocletian's Bargain
Basement)

For a few kuna, you can go into the other 2/3s

Vicki points to...well, I think that's where our campground is

This is the large hall where Daenerys locked up the dragons; much more GoT
stuff coming up in the out-takes..

Abundant spare parts in the basement

Also abundant centuries of sludge and refuse the residents
dropped down through holes in the floor above;
archaeologists are drooling to get into it

Another of the sizable halls; barrel vaulting

Ever more Roman stuff


Bust, I would guess recent, of the Emperor (ret.)

Sphinx bit

And ever more spare parts


Outside, the only mosaic we saw in the place

Restaurant between the arches