Our Croatian ports of call – Split and Dubrovnik – are in the books. It’s always magical when perfect weather marries up with wonderful scenery and interesting places.
Split April 28th
Split is a medium-sized modern city wrapped around the ancient palace of the Emperor Diocletian, who was born in this area and ruled the Roman empire in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries. We loved how the ancient walls have been repurposed as storefronts, restaurants, offices, and apartments. Internally, many spaces have been excavated to reveal how life must have been like back then. The widely varying architectural styles reflect the different leading powers of the region who dominated the city.
Diocletian was an interesting fellow. By abdicating his throne, he became one of the very few emperors to expire of natural causes. Most others were ushered to eternity by poison or by the sword. He also despised the fledgling Christian religion and did his level best to restore the old Roman gods. His methods often included torturing and executing Christian clergy. What a nice guy!
Dubrovnik (April 29th)
Much smaller and less modern than Split was Dubrovnik, a medieval city with massive stone walls and a small inner harbor that was once a trading hub in Venice’s vast network. It was fun to walk the old stone streets but because it has become a very popular tourist destination, the crowds were considerable, and this isn’t yet the high season. Parts of Game of Thrones were filmed here, which attracts fans of the show. We even got to see the old Jesuit staircase, which were ascended by a nude actress in the show. Sadly, she was nowhere to be found.
In 1991 Croatia fought and won its independence from Serbia. It was a brutal war that left Dubrovnik heavily damaged. This is a city that values freedom above all else. It’s famous saying in Latin is “Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro,” which means, “Freedom is not sold for all the gold in the world.” We would do well to take note of that as we approach our 250th birthday on the 4th of July!
And now it’s on to Kotor, Montenegro. Stay tuned!