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SPLIT 6th May 2015To us this is the final port of call on this cruise, we still have to call at Gibralter but it will be our fourth visit and does not hold much attraction for us.This is a Tender port so we have anchored in the bay on a beautiful warm sunny morning, breakfast on the balcony (again) before heading off for a walk around the citySplit is a very 'walkable' city, today it is the product of 17 centuries of building, renovation and remodelling so that the new of today merges with the old of yesterday. The sprawling cityscape has at its heart the Palace that the Emporer Diocletian built at the turn of the 4th century and it
is now surrounded by a warren of narrow cobblestone streets.It is a total contrast to Dubrovnik, as Croatia's second city (Zagreb being the first) it is one of the Adriatics most vibrant places full of shouting stall holders and travellers on the move. The locals are very proud of their city which has survived many conflicts and is reflected in the buildings in the suburbs, where high rise flats and factories were hastily erected to house many refugees and migrants. The decline of industry has led to high unemployment but it doesn't seem to damage the spirit of the Splicani. The city was briefly shelled during the civil war of 1991 but was largely untouched by the hostilities, although refugees have added to their problems.The Diocletian's Palace is one of the best preserved Roman palaces in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.It is an intriguing place having walked up the eastern
wall and looked at the Cathedral and museum through the Silver Gate, it is like city within a city. It is best seen when you enter the Palace through the Golden gate from the north, a system of a double entrance which enclosed a defensive area between the two doors. You enter a warren of streets with shops and eateries. You can get away from the crowds before coming back to central piazzas where people gather for coffee and a chat.The pedestrianised centre is easy to walk round with the seafront being the heart of the city. The Riva or Quay as it is known runs along the southern facade of the Palace. It is where a large part of the city's population meet friends to catch up in the many cafes. I think most of them were there when we stopped for our coffee, it must have been a holiday, it certainly felt like it!!!!<br style="color: font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26,
0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" />Now it's time for a chill over the next few days before coming back to reality and to home. Roll on New York in July.Sent from my iPad
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