Zalman on the Go!: Split Croatia!

Something about getting up in the morning to a rainbow is always pleasing.

We arrived in Split, Croatia a few days ago and am just getting to post now. Its Croatias 2nd largest city but the highest “transport” city with active port, airport train and truck traffic

A short walk took us to the old city but we all had to stop and admire the latest thing in solar powered park benches. This has spots you can plug in you phone to charge or use the mag-charge system. No no excuse to avoid taking a walk?

Today we toured the Dioclesean palace and stealing info from a Google Summary: it is an ancient Roman palace built between 295 and 305 AD for the Roman Emperor Diocletian as his retirement residence. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the historic center of Split has grown around it.

The palace is a well-preserved example of Roman architecture and functions as a living part of the city, with modern shops, homes, and businesses situated within its ancient walls. Of course there is a bit of Xmas decorating going on we entered through the iron gate (4 gates, 4 sides iron, brass, silver and gold)

This was built over a period of 10 years with the use of 90,000 slaves: quite the retirement home

Anyway the city was erected with the green market on one side and the fish market on the other side This other side was on top of a sulfer spring - apparently they figured it would help with the smell of the fish

This was purhaps the most special Moment of the day. Walked into this room

And found these guys hanging out. Take a listen. Wish all rooms with or without roofs could sound as good

The next shot shows an example of air conditioning from 1700 years ago. On the right side you can see a window in the top half of the wall and on either side of that you see stone brackets jutting out. A rod was run between them and a wet cloth hung over the rod covering the window. The evaporation from the cloth helped cool the room

By the 1st century the had a 9 kilometer aqueduct system. Apparently this guy thought of himself as the last pharaoh so you’ll see sphynxes and tombs ment represent a pyramid.

But…..

Here at what was the temple of medicine (can you see the carved snakes?) the Sphynx lost his head and the building was turned to a baptistery when the Christians took over.

I’m sorry the detail of the relief is lost so the snakes are hard to make out. Story has it thought that the guy that cut into the old tomb lost his head much like the curse in the Eygultian tomb raiders.

This area below ended up filled with garbage but apparently had been a ladies area (whatever that means)

Located behind a “Christmas is forever” we found what is alleged to be the 3rd oldest synagogue which unfortunately was not open

And as always there are random shots

to peruse.

This is the winter drink for the season.

And for unicorn lovers

And I’m not sure of what to make of this one. Melanie is sure this sign means if you wanna drive your car into the ocean here is where you can do it. The question is why would they encourage that?