It really is a small world after all

Monday saw us making a terribly long day of it with an 8am bus from Budapest to Zagreb, then a train from Zagreb to Split.  We thought we'd have hours and hours between the two connections but thanks to a 90 minute wait at the Hungarian/Croatian border while waiting for passports to be stamped it was a fairly close thing.  No matter that we'd had no lunch, Croatian Rail advertised there would be hot and cold drinks available, as well as hot meals, sandwiches, and snacks.  It turns out there was wine and beer available as well as bags of chips.  As we arrived in Split at around 9:30pm you can imagine we were starving!  Not that this was necessarily a bad thing after two weeks of four course meals three times a day... (I'm not counting the morning and afternoon tea, or the early morning tea, or the late night suppers.  They're just snacks really).
 

Views from the train.

The scenery coming across the mountains in Croatia was really beautiful but it was terribly sad to see how many villages and houses were abandoned and still bearing the scars of the war.  As we hungrily arrived on the coast it was too dark to see much, but our host provided excellent directions to our apartment from the station.  As locations go, this one is nearly perfect (the diesel engines revving for hours before the trains leave prevent perfection).  We're only two stories up, with a balcony and kitchenette.  Just five minutes walk to the world heritage area and the amazing buildings in one direction - and less than that in the other direction to the beach.  Or what passes for a beach.  No surf, the sand looks more like mud, and tepid water.  Really, I'm just grateful my bikini still fits after all that overeating and drinking of the last few weeks!

Watching the sunset from our balcony in Split.  Train tracks carefully edited out of shot.

Split really is a cat's paradise.  Everywhere are moggies, some collared, some wild.  A cat really is a cheap pet when you can send it down to beg for treats from tourists in return for a few head scratches!  :-)  We have enjoyed exploring the town without the benefit of a guide (because really, after two weeks of being like a school excursion it was nice to just wander on our own).  It was good to know we hit most of the "best" spots though when I checked our Lonely Planet!

It's good luck to rub the big toe of the big statue of Gregorius, a bishop who wanted the mass to be said in the local language.

Old town of Split

Selecting our fish for lunch.

Yesterday we thought we hadn't had enough boat rides and took a ferry to Trogir.  It was a lovely journey along the coast and the small town offered a pleasant diversion with new fortifications to discover.  Our walk around the island didn't take long but the maze-like streets within could have entertained us for days!  We were diverted by lunch menus however, and it was at lunch we recognised what a small world we live in.  A former work colleague of Matt's walked by just as we were sitting down!  Naturally we dined together and laughed over the coincidence!  There are Aussies everywhere, but you really don't expect to break bread with a neighbour half way around the world.  One step different in that labyrinth and such a meeting simply wouldn't have happened.

You know the beautiful game is really important when you have a tower guarding the goal.

Today we were up and about early again (GROAN) as we caught the ferry to Hvar in our epic island hop en route to Dubrovnik.  So far we love Croatia and are really sorry we're only here for a week.

We were thrilled to be able to check in early and even more pleased when we saw our view.  Although the PLAN is to visit the fortifications we may not stir from our private terrace.

View left

And straight ahead