Split Sundae

Croatia Bike Tour Day 10 (Sun 24 May 2015)

Another “rest” day in Split

Photos:

View photos of Diocletian’s Palace Cellars
View photos of Split markets and streetscapes

Sunday morning and it is my last day in Split. Grabbing my opportunity between showers of rain, I started the day by going for a spin around town on my bike, exploring the suburbs around the perimeter of the city centre. I soon came to the conclusion that Diocletian’s Palace, the Riva Promenade and the harbour are by far the most attractive areas in Split. Once you venture outside these areas the rest of Split tends to be industrial and drab, with some areas even slum-like.

With the rain beginning again, I tied my bike up and headed underground to the cellars of Diocletian’s Palace. Up until the last century the basements were used as a dumping ground for waste and sewerage, which ironically protected it from the ravage of time. More recently the cellars have gained recognition due to episodes of Game of Thrones being filmed there. I didn’t see any dragons, but I did enjoy wandering through the restored basements and marvelling at the 2,000 year old stone masonry. I couldn’t help thinking what an impressive wine collection the emperor must have had to warrant such cellars!

The street markets in Split are really something, with lots of quality merchandise at a reasonable price and beautiful fresh fruit, vegetables and meat produce. But bearing in mind that my pannier bags are already full to the brim I resisted the temptation to buy anything other than another bag of dried figs.

Like Dubrovnik the alleyways of Split are paved with lovely polished marble-like stone, but beware they are very slippery when wet. Watching tourists slipping and sliding is a spectator sport for the local youths, with me being the subject of their mirth yesterday when I did my impression of Torvill and Dean, somehow just managing to stay on my feet.

This morning as I walked through the palace gates I was greeted by the dulcet tones of the most magnificent Klapa singing by the quintet Klape Žrnovnica. This is what I have been waiting for, so I stayed listening to them for over an hour until their songs began to repeat and my camera card filled up with video. So Klapa singers are not nocturnal creatures after all!

Now it is time to have a last look around Split then find somewhere interesting to eat before getting my panniers organised for the short ride to Trogir tomorrow. The rain seems to have cleared and the forecast is better tomorrow, so looking forward to hitting the road again.