The Dalmatian Coast

After leaving Corfu, we cruised past Albania and into the night... we awoke to the sights of Split, Croatia, a city which was founded by Greeks but ruled over time by the Venetians, the Austrians, the French, the Yugoslavians, again by the Italians and finally, today, governed by the first people's government of Croatia! So, as you can imagine, it's architecture and history is rich and varied.

Our excursion originated in Split but took us to several towns along the Dalmation Coast, which indeed is named after the spotted dog breed! My personal favorite was Trogir where I negotiated some euro for kuna at a little coffee shop and tried my first turkish espresso. That little drink kept me awake and snapping photos through the long bus ride to our next stop, the town of Sibenik (while many of my companions were lulled to sleep by the hills and turns along the coastal roads)!

In Trogir, we visited the 13th century Cathedral of St. Lawrence, considered to be one of the finest examples of sacral architecture in all of Croatia. You will see photos of it in our grand photo gallery. In Sibenik, we visited the Renaissance Cathedral of St. Jacob.

The final destination for lunch: a Priest's village in the hillside where we were met with stolling musicians and appetizers of walnuts, figs, and brandy and a hearty lunch of lamb chops, potatoes and red wine!