Location: Split, Croatia

S: Today was exactly what we needed after a 15 hour train trip. We got into Split at 7:30 am and stumbled off the train exhausted and turned around but excited all at the same. Already at 8 am the sun was shining, the shops were open and the place was bustling. White buildings with copper coloured roofs, white stone pathways and an expansive view of a steely blue ocean were among the immediate notable features of Split. The first thing Meaghan said was “GUYS GUYS. THERE ARE PALM TREES!”

We gawked for a little while on our way to the hostel, kind of unsure about what we were seeing. None of us expected it to be what it was. After a quick nap at the hostel we set out on an unknown adventure. We made our way over to a fresh veggie and fruit market where we bought grapes, bananas and oranges (which we ate all of today).

Turning the next corner though was the real surprise. We suddenly realized everywhere that there are these ruinous remnants of what seems to be parts of a castle. A wall here or an arch there. Tunnels led to streets and in the middle of a pedestrianized intersection there might all of a sudden be a dome shaped roofless room. At one point we turned a corner around a white stone cathedral and there was a crumbling courtyard with ivy and fragrant purple flowers growing in thick mats. Underneath this there was broken down brick walls and a large stone bench that seemed to be thrown into the yard rather than placed there purposefully. It all seemed very dream-like.

M: I am so glad we made it to Croatia! It is absolutely beautiful here, and it feels so good to have warm sun on my skin again. The air is so fresh and full of lovely smells. At the market there was a whole row dedicated to flower arrangements, and every other stall sells lavender products. So far, Split is the best smelling city we’ve visited.

We climbed our way up to the top of a bell tower and had an amazing 360 degree view of Split and the surrounding area. I had seen a few pictures of the town before, but I had no idea about the rocky and mountainous landscape. We spent quite a bit of time up there, taking in the sights and the warmth of the sun.

Our next priority, after fruits and a walk, was the beach. The city centre is all very walkable, so we were at the sandy beach in no time. The water was absolutely perfect – a beautiful blue and a little chilly when you’re wading in, but so comfortable after you make that first dive. It’s been so long since I’ve swam in nice-temperature water that I forgot how much I like just swimming around. I could spend our entire time in Croatia in the water.

S: We sat in the sun for something like 4 hours, listening to music, falling asleep and intermittently mumbling relaxed conversation. Thoroughly rested we made our way up Marjan Hill, the tallest point in the city. Something like 600 steps later we arrived at a viewpoint that overlooked all of Split on either side, and was home to a 10 metre tall stark white cross. We sat at this for the next hour or so before sunset, which proved to be worth the wait.

M: The sky turned orange and the sun set slowly behind the hills. As we were walking back down, the sky turned a lovely lilac colour before going dark. Without the sun, it got chilly quickly so we hurried down for dinner at a Croatian food restaurant.

A nice, slow, warm day was just what the doctor ordered.

S&M