We docked in Split in the evening, and walked a couple of kilometers to our Airbnb place for the night. After a serious mooch around every corner of the apartment (it was MASSIVE!) we walked into the touristy part of the city. I bought some lavender 'essential oil' that was actually just watered down. I have been had, my friends. We got some seafood and saw the sights. Split is a pleasant old trading town with a colourful history. A large Roman palace was built which was home to various Roman emperors. The streets are all paved with this very soft smooth rock that seemed very popular in the entire coastal region.
There are a surprising number of 'Leo' signs in the world. We take pictures of them all, naturally.
The tower reminds me of the temple in Salt Lake City. Absolutely terrifying.
We made the most inspired choice in the morning. Weeks and weeks ago we booked bus tickets, for a lengthy journey all the way up Croatia from Split to Zagreb. And, at the last possible moment, we changed our mind, and took the train. I paid, and thought nothing of it, because there's nothing more preferable than a train journey over sitting on a sweaty, cramped bus with your luggage at your feet for 6 hours.
We had an entire compartment to ourselves (Harry Potter style!) and happily passed the 5 or so hours. At each station house along the way there were finely dressed station masters with their red flags, standing to attention. In a heavily automated and efficient world (the UK, Denmark), you miss the human element. Of course, it's very cost effective to have a machine with a light do the job of a human, but it's good for the soul, for the sense of togetherness culture is supposed to foster, to see honest decent human beings wearing their uniforms with pride and doing a job that pays a decent salary. It just makes sense.
We had an entire compartment to ourselves (Harry Potter style!) and happily passed the 5 or so hours. At each station house along the way there were finely dressed station masters with their red flags, standing to attention. In a heavily automated and efficient world (the UK, Denmark), you miss the human element. Of course, it's very cost effective to have a machine with a light do the job of a human, but it's good for the soul, for the sense of togetherness culture is supposed to foster, to see honest decent human beings wearing their uniforms with pride and doing a job that pays a decent salary. It just makes sense.
Zagreb is an absolutely charming city. Beautiful old buildings with a modern touch, well dressed and good looking people everywhere, a million different cafes to try, I would definitely recommend a visit. We arrived just as Autumn was arriving, the most perfect time of year to do anything in my opinion.
Our trip was coloured by trains (I love train journeys), mushrooms (a trip to the fungi museum proved very informative), and a lovely afternoon spent in the Ethnography museum (I am an ethnography enthusiast, after all). We got fancy barista-made coffee, had excellent organic burgers in a little joint that could have been in Hoxton, and even went to the cheapest cinema in the world (€3 per person!) on an ill-fated trip to see Lucy (we left early). A perfectly relaxing urban end to a perfectly delightful visit to Croatia.
And before you know it, we're back in Copenhagen, and it's raining.
All good things must come to an end.
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