After all the churches, monuments, and museums we'd seen in Venice, Bologna, and Ravenna, we wanted a day in the out-of-doors. For our port stay in Split, Croatia, we chose a shore excursion to Krka National Park. We were refreshed by its lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, with the trees just starting to turn color. We also visited the seaside town of Skradin, and then finished the day exploring Diocletian's Palace in Split.
The Split harbor was too shallow for the boat, so we rode to shore on "tenders." The tenders were also the ship's lifeboats. I had never before ridden around in a lifeboat, especially on rough seas like we had this morning at Split. Dave and I rode on top, amidst the spray.
As Split came into view from the tender, it was picturesque, with palm trees and Diocletian's Palace across the street from the pier. Diocletian, a Roman emperor, built the 300 A.D. palace for his retirement. Its arches, pillars, and towers were incorporated, during the centuries after Roman times, into homes and shops, with a church steeple poking out of the center.
We drove an hour inland to Krka National Park. Other lovely national parks in the Balkans, to which we will have to return someday, include Lake Bled in Slovenia and Plitvice Lakes in Croatia. The Balkans have not only gorgeous coastlines, but gorgeous lakes and waterfalls. Our first view of Krka, as we drove down a mountainside, was of a large lake.
We spent an hour following a wooden boardwalk past springs, waterfalls, running brooks, and a placid lake. The area reminded us of Cascade Springs, in Provo Canyon, Utah.
We took a boat ride down the river to the quaint seaside town, Skradin.
We ate lunch at Zlatne Skoljke, entered through an alleyway. Croatia was ruled by the Italians for centuries, and so we ate lots of pasta on our Croatian shore excursions.
During our free time in Skradin, we checked out the village church and the villagers going about their lives. Bicycles and scooters were the typical transportation.
We had enough time, upon returning to Split, to visit Diocletian's Palace, with its walls and pillars incorporated into homes, hotels, and shops.
One highlight of Diocletian's Palace was hearing an acapella men's choir singing inside a rock tower, with excellent acoustics.
Another highlight was to watch a young couple take wedding photos among the ruins.
We joined the crowd waiting on the wharf at twilight for a ride back to the ship.
No comments:
Post a Comment