Split, Croatia - A Gem on the Adriatic

Did not really know what to expect from Split Croatia, though researched some of the high points online. First we visited Diocletian’s Palace, we opted for the walking tour and I would highly recommend spending the 100 Kuna ($15 USD) per person. It was a very good history tour or the Palace and city itself. Being there in October, the crowds were small and the weather was very comfortable but the drawback is that the Adriatic and KRKA falls water was borderline too cold for swimming. I suppose you sort of have to “pick your poison” and decide which is best for you. The bargain is the currency conversion, things here are reasonable and we found a few great restaurants we note in Restaurants worth mentioning.

A few words of advice, as I at first learned the hard way. There are several ATM machines in Croatia, they are not created equally, so treat them with caution. If the ATM asks if you would like them to do the conversion for up to a 10% fee, the answer is “no”. If you find an ATM that doesn’t ask, then use it. Your bank will do just fine with the conversion and save you a substantial amount of money. Also, if you plan to do the 5 island excursion with a visit to Blue Cave, be prepared for a long boat ride, several of them actually. Also ensure that the tour company will return a portion of the fee if the Blue Cave is not accessible due to winds or tide. Our tour was turned away and it made the trip just that much longer, sure the islands were beautiful but if given the choice again, in my opinion, the excursion was a waste of a day (and then some).

Overall, a great place to visit, amazing food and beautiful scenery. It seems to me that you see the little nuances such as how kindly people treat animals in a particular country (Croatian’s are so kind to animals) or how countries treat their elderly by just walking and watching. I am assuming they are learned behaviors, and when people are just kind, it is heartwarming to see.

Headed to Italy, Caio