SIMPLY CROATIA! HVAR & SPLIT

After driving on the roads, I needed this at 10am.

Last time we checked in, I was discussing my winding, narrow road, 6,000 feet high drive from Dubrovnik to Hvar town.  The only thing worse than waking up at 6am and leaving Dubrovnik is driving on winding roads and seeing my imminent free fall down the hills of Croatia.  But after a two hour drive from Dubrovnik to the ferry boat and then an hour trip to Hvar on the car ferry, and finally a two hour trek up the treacherous steep hills of HVAR island, we arrived at HVAR town.  My apologies, I couldn't get any pictures of the drive because my hands were shaking, sweating and clasped around the overhead holder on thing. 

Here comes the ferry

Tight fit, but we all made it.

According to our book on Croatia, our stay would begin a week and a few days before the busy season started, which means that the wife and I would have the run of all the nice restaurants and watering holes.  What it also meant was that we were going to get the "B" team service staff at our hotel.  But when you're laying around the pool, drinking frozen drinks (not quite frozen, more just drinks with tons of ice in them) and looking out on the Adriatic sea, the "B" team wouldn't really matter too much.  Hvar town isn't the largest city, but it was absolutely beautiful, and according to our sources, the nightlife is one of the best in Europe.  Many of the restaurants and nightlife open up to the harbor.  Oh and the harbor is boat and yacht filled.  Not a bad life, Not a bad life at all to be able to stumble off your yacht, walk up to a restaurant/bar and then stumble back to your yacht.  During our stay in Hvar, we kept noticing a ginormous yacht floating in the Adriatic and then one day on our way to Carpe Diem, the Yacht was docked and the staff of Kijo, the name of the 145 foot yacht, were heading in our direction.  After a few drinks, I asked one of the gentlemen the cost of Kijo and who the guest were on the yacht.

His reply:
It's a family from Eastern Europe, mostly oil and steel business, cruising around the Mediterranean for a few months.  20M euro!!!
My reply:
I didn't know that Russia was considered eastern europe but ok, you all take care.

I immediately walked away very quickly.  Upon returning to Zurich, my military intel in fact confirmed that all the trendy nightspots and restaurants were owned by the Russians.

Such a horrible view

The wife enjoying the good life

Although Hvar Town is tiny, it still has the Mediterranean/Medieval feel to it, just without the fort or city wall. We literally walked around the entire central area in 45 minutes and usually dined at a traditional Dalmatian restaurant.  I know what you're thinking and the answer is yes.  Dalmatians are in fact given their name due to this region of the world.  The earliest traces of the Dalmatian dog can be found in this region.  Unfortunately, there was no trace of Dalmatians roaming the streets of Croatia during our visit.

One night, we ate atop this building. 

Church and Belltower

Farah taking a spill in the pool and scaring the other "kids"

When we got tired of just laying around our pool for 7 hours, we walked along the sea and found Hulu Hulu and just lounged around there.  I'm serious, this was definitely the hardest I worked on the entire trip.

Omelete wrapped in spinach, wrapped in bacon, wrapped in Veal.  

Grandma's special chocolate cake.  Yummy!

Big Smiles, Big Times.

I'm a bronzed champion and the wife is all tanned. 

Nice shirt right, B-day gift with perfect timing

Those glasses are all on FIRE!

And now so is the bar.

There were quite a few yachters that wore sweaters. So I took my wife's to fit in

Dalmatia has the coolest doors in Europe

Hvar was just a very relaxing four days.  Nothing too extreme and no crazy touristy crowds.  We were fortunate enough to be able to walk into any restaurant we wanted and the only thing we really missed, with it not being high season, was the huge Tuesday night full moon party that Carpe Diem hosts.  The bar basically closes at 2am and then they shuttle everyone to an island for a party that lasts until 6am.  For the record, we never lasted past 1130pm, so even in high season we probably would not have made it to the secret island on the Adriatic.

But we were off on the speed boat to Split, where Diocletian, Roman Emperor from way back in the day, built a palace.  Split essentially has grown out of this palace which sits off a pedestrian promenade and the Adriatic.

Speed boat to Split.

Inside the palace walls...

I shall thrust my vengeance upon thee!

Random street performers and people singing old Croatian songs.

I saw here nearly fall three times in 10 minutes

Diocletian's basement well 

Up the hill, through Marjan Forest to overlook Split

We made it!

During the day in Split, we kept seeing folks dressed in Red and White jerseys, singing songs.  We later asked someone what the heck was going on and they said.  "What do you mean, CROATIA is playing Georgia in soccer, and we haven't beaten them in over 40 years, this is a very important match"

Later that evening, we saw the magnitude of how serious Split took this match.  We were told for each and every match, Split shuts down it's promenade and erects two large screens so the entire city can watch the game.  They also stood in silent protest for the first 14 minutes not cheering for the Croatian national team, 14 minutes for every year that Croatia has refused to play a match in Split.  Loyal but disgruntled, absolutely love it.

For the record, Georgia took a 1-0 lead...but Croatia stormed back to win the match 2-1.  We like to think that our presence in Split was the difference maker.

Next up, Portugal and being reunited with a Pink Baby, Pink Lady, and Her Husband.