The bus ride stops for a long break in Split and then drives into and out of Bosnia Herzegovina, stopping at a border crossing each way. There is a tiny piece of Bosnia on the coast, which splits Croatia in two.
As we stepped off the bus in Dubrovnik, we were swarmed by people insisting we take a room at their homes, instead of a hotel. Even our taxi driver dropped us off near the old city, where his friend met us to show us the way to his house where we should stay. He was truly offended when we refused! We found a tourist office and had them call for a hotel in Dubrovnik, and then made arrangements for the following night in Split as well.
Dubrovnik is a very historic city, with the old town inside city walls and a quiet newer town outside. There is a port in the old town, where cruise ships bring tourists in and out all day.
The mountains dip right down into the sea, leaving Dubrovnik with beautiful surroundings.
We returned north to Split, a larger and more modern city, with an old town within walls as well. However these were the walls of Diocletian’s palace, an enormous space complete with an underground market and cathedral within.
It brings good luck to rub the big toe of Gregorius of Nin, a bishop who had church services said in the Croatian language instead of Latin, so his people could understand.
Our hotel, the Hotel Peristil, was built into the city walls, quaint and hospitable, and a nice surprise to find on this trip:
http://www.hotelperistil.com/eng/about%20hotel.htmLeaving Split the following evening, we took the overnight ferry back across the Adriatic to the east coast of Italy and caught the train north to Venice.
Venice was as expected… beautiful, with plenty to see and do. We found a B&B on a quiet side street a neighbourhood café for dinner, and several wine bars for sampling all the flavors.
On our last evening there, Elton John sang for us in Piazza San Marco. A fitting end to the celebratory birthday trip and a long vacation.
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