Split

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It has been raining quite a bit here in Croatia.  I thought the Mediterranean was all sunshine, but it would be strange going an entire month without rain.  Just why did it have to happen in our outdoor destination?  My spirit has been unabated.  Sure its raining, but its Croatian rain!  Doesn’t help much, but I’m still happy.  Breakfast in Europe is more like dessert (unlike pan fried pancakes covered in liquid sugar, obviously).  I started the day with chocolate mousse with olive oil and salt.  We walked around the beaches in Split and had cheese cured meat and bread for lunch on rocks in the sea, a great day.  (extra photos, more)

Diocletian’s Palace

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Croatia is wonderful.  The city is quite old, & was used as Diocletian’s palace in the late third century.  Some of the old walls are still standing as are the underground floors.  There are 5 bakeries and 2 pizzerias in a 4 minute walk from our hostel.  Perfect, I’ve had bread and nutella for about three meals now, interspersed with bread and cheese.  Good thing I’m walking everywhere.  I’m trying to branch out with new food, but it’s difficult to find.  In Barcelona we found a great sandwich place our last day.  In Florence we found a local sandwich place inside the market, serving marinated meats on white bread, soaked in gravy.  In Rome I ate prosciutto and cheese.  I hear Croatia is big on seafood (major plus), however I have yet to find it. (photos)

Ferry to Split

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This is a short video about the trip from Rome to Split.  I took a ferry which was much bigger than I thought.  It had a lounge, casino, nightclub, bar, restaurant, really a mini cruise ship.  I also got used to the rocking of the ship.  At first it didn’t seem like it would rock (and the ship is huge) but the rocking turned gentle after a while.  Split is really great.  It is a smaller city than I’ve been going to, so it will be more laid back and outdoor. The views across the water are amazing.  When I first arrived the sun was beaming through the clouds across the islands and bays. (photos)

Rome

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Today I ate my favorite meal since leaving England (perhaps since leaving America).  I found it on suggestion of the travel book I’m using, which I’m using on suggestion of my grandmother.  It was quite simple, a mixed cured meat plate and cheese with pistachio and grappa on bread.  The combination was purely sensational.  The creamy, lightly seasoned cheese, with the sharp, smoked, cured meat, on the  neutral, soft bread blended perfectly.  The atmosphere was also great, above the dimly lit floor were lofted wine bottles.   I cannot wait to go back.  This place was recommended in the travel book my grandmother gave me, and its information is really solid.  Its great. (photos)

Roman Ruins

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The second day in Rome pales in comparison to the first, but is still amazing by any other standard.  The thing about Italy is that the Monday after Easter is still part of the holiday, ergo many places are closed: restaurants, museums, stores.  We hit the outdoor sights, Roman ruins, piazzas, and fountains.  To sit by the ruins and imagine all the things that happened in this same spot is out there.  Granted, most places have had people, but the people in this small area controlled 30-40% of the world population.  There are untold number of great stories that happened here.  The other thing is that all the ruins are about 20 feet under ground level.  One sign described an early explorer’s experience here & all he saw were the tops of columns sticking out of the ground.  What an odd sight.

The arch (Arch of Constantine) is important.  It marks Constantine’s victory over Maxentius.  Constantine made Christianity the religion of Rome, thus elevating its status as a dominant world religion.  Thank you Constantine. (pics)