Did not have to get up to do ANYTHING today. I think I am actually starting to relax and not worry about work. I might actually lower my blood pressure with this trip (one of my goals). I am not used to this and I hope I can handle this relaxation. My travel buddy is very proficient at this -- he is so laid back, I wonder if anything worries him? It is a healthy attitude to have... Maybe.
My favorite thing to do on lazy Saturday mornings is to lay around and read my book, so what did I do here -- read my book while Savage slept. It was great.
The A/C was great (and not loud - someone has issues with noise too --- noise, heights, lycra, personalized plates, etc.) and the shower had amazing pressure (and wasn’t a Croatian torture device).
Savage woke up and was still under the weather. Goal today is to try and get him well. (And for me to find the tools to fix my camera.) I think adding to this is that he is a little sick and tired of traveling and being in Croatia. He’s been traveling for almost a month already.
Hustled him out the door and we hit the Konzum grocery store. It was a mini parking lot area. He went in and I sat in the car and waited. Everyone must be in this grocery store. Thankfully he found me because otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to meet up. I had found a pharmacy -- cha-ching and a parking space.
I guess in Kiwiland they take these probiotic things. I had never heard of them before, but he assured me that they were good for you. Emailed my brother’s best friend (a doctor) and he said I should probably be on them too. Not going to try something that new on a long trip like this. But hopefully it will make him well.
He walked back to our room and I took the car. He beat me there. Traffic was bad. Left the car near our hotel (I kind of parked on/ near a speed hump -- hope he doesn’t see my awful parking job or I will never hear the end of it. Thankfully we have full coverage insurance in case there is damage). Ditched him to sleep and rest and I went to town. (Retail therapy is my favorite sport... and I had a mission - to get my camera fixed.)
I found the market. It was lovely -- lots of fresh food and interesting souvenirs. Different signs along the way too. These Croatian’s have an odd sense of advertising. As I like to send postcards home, I ended up in the post office. They had DVD’s for kids teaching them English. So many people over here speak English. I was pleasantly surprised, because my attempts at Croatian were futile and probably amusing to them with my thick Southern accent.
I like to find “special” souvenirs. This market had quite a few. I also stumbled upon an artist who was hocking his wares. There was a wonderful watercolor that will great on my living room wall.
Returning to the town center, I treated myself - Cafe Trogir - I’ve been here for a few days and had no dessert --- vanilla, strawberry and lemon ice cream with strawberries on top. While at the cafe there was great people watching. There was a glasses shop in the square and the very nice clerk used glass tools too open and then reclose my camera. Thankfully it fixed my camera perfectly. She was so nice and wouldn’t even accept any kuna -- so I gave her a few US dollars.
It was getting late in the afternoon so on my way back to the room, I ended up in a jewelry store - Bad Idea. It was right across the street from a Museum that had a Kairos in it (Kairos here was a stone image showing the fleeting moment -- very carpe diem - loved it). In the store they had beautiful silver Kairos pendants and gold Trogir medallions. I think those would look great on a necklace for me. Somehow I found beautiful coral earrings too. It was a great idea for me to hurry back to the room so I didn’t find anymore jewelry.
Savage was sleeping, hopefully sleeping off this sinus infection. Had a great “blonde” moment and almost locked him in. Whoops, thankfully I realized it and left the door unlocked. In the gazebo, the daybeds were very comfortable and the perfect place to listen to the water and read your book. I people watched and relaxed. A nice man brought me apricots (I think that is what they were, I had never had them before).
Travel buddy finally joined me and he fell asleep on the daybed. Empathized for him, as my English road trip was disrupted when they were cutting hay at Stonehenge and I got sick (I tell people I was allergic to Stonehenge).
Begged and pleaded with him to go with me to Split (it’s their largest city in the area and had Diocletian’s Palace). He wasn’t having any of it, but I guess he was tired of listening to me. When we got to the car and he saw my parking job, I got a very stern look as I got him to drive off of the parking barrier. He will just have to get over it.
I am glad he came with me as it was much larger of a city than I expected and I would have been totally overwhelmed alone. Our parking space was a few blocks from the downtown. We wound our way around to the main town area.
On the outskirts of the palace/gates, there was a massive statue of a very Russian looking bishop fellow. Juvenile delinquents were skateboarding and terrorizing the locals and tourists.
The Palace was massive and a maze of narrow alleys -- so interesting -- they were inventive in their restoration/conservation -- built the city into the palace. Wonderful bar area called the Luxor, no chairs or tables but outdoor seating on chair cushions. They even had hunky guys dressed up like Centurions (like Caesar’s Palace in Vegas) taking pics with people. Saw a beautiful Dalmatian (this is the Dalmatian Coast).
Went under the wall and ended up in shops (love it, but no “faffing about” allowed) and found the ancient wells and thick walls. It was fascinating to be in a living active ruin. On the other side we found great seats on the Riva (a promenade by the water). Was allowed to go in an “international” book shop -- but no books - only English magazines. The Palace from this side had apartments built into it and modern restaurants. Beautiful palm trees here too lining the Riva.
Great people watching -- Savage, of course, was ogling the ladies. Something is just not right about men in capri pants. Lot of ladies in 80‘s blue jean skirts. We even saw a woman in all white with silver flashy shoes/jewelry and handbag. Under her dress, you could see she didn’t have on a bra but very prominent pasties. I mentioned this to him and he had never heard of them. What? Was I corrupted by New Orleans? Probably. I have never been in a female strip joint, but even I know what pasties are. Cultural differences will abound on this trip I can see.
We got the guidebook out and found a restaurant close by. It was inside the walls. Outside there was a local drunk that had planted himself by a table. Inside it was very small -- only about 6 tables and a quaint little bar. I think our table was an old sewing machine with a table top on it. I ordered deep fried prawns -- not exactly what I expected, but they were delicious. There was a vegetable on the plate I had never heard of nor eaten before and it was good. The prawns reminded me of New Orleans BBQ shrimp. My grandmother would be so proud of me, I dug in and peeled them all myself :). I am being more adventurous with my food choices this trip --- No McDonald’s yet.
Savage was feeling better, guess that nap did wonders. He was the “old” Savage -- entertaining and taking the piss out of me and paying me out. It’s always fun to just sit and laugh with someone. He has a ruthless/wicked sense of humor. Guess that is the Kiwi in him.
We made our way out of the labyrinth of alleyways and luckily found our car. Some yahoo keyed the back of our car, glad that insurance is there. Got a little turned around in Split (again glad I had him with me, driving anxiety is one of my stressors), but I found our way out. He was driving and I was navigating.
Back in Trogir, Savage hit the wall and had to sleep again. I cleaned out the car and tried to compress my luggage a little. We are leaving Croatia for Italy tomorrow. Broke my toothbrush and knew my luggage was going to be an issue (he has too many of those -- glad he is easy going and laid back too). C’est la vie.. Italy tomorrow and another old friend to visit. Life is good.
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