May 4th: Historic Split (& Bosnia)

We departed our wonderful Dubrovnik hotel this morning for the drive north along the Dalmatian Coast to Split.  Along the way we passed through the geographical & historical anomaly of Neum, a thin neck of Bosnia-Herzegovina stretching through Croatia to the Adriatic.  Border checks to exit Croatia & enter B&H, & then depart B&H & reenter Croatia, slowed us down, but we stopped for a coffee break in Neum so we can truly say we've visited!
There was plenty of beautiful scenery along the way, until we approached the light industrial sprawl of Split.  No doubt everyone was wondering why we were visiting - until we dropped our bags at the hotel & walked barely a hundred yards to enter the former Palace of Diocletian - wow!
The Old Town of Split is an incredible maze of tiny alleys & streets, grandiose squares, hidden corners, & everywhere evidence of 2000 years of history in the myriad architectural styles.
After free time for lunch on the Mediterranean-style 'Riva' waterfront we met our guide Maja (Maya) for an afternoon tour of the Old Town.  Along the way we saw the substructure of the palace, the cathedral (formerly Diocletian's mausoleum), the Temple of Jupiter, etc - & even saw Maja accosted by an ardent Rick Steves fan (she featured in his TV show when he visited Split)!
This evening we enjoyed a great night at a simple local restaurant, with a family-style dinner of meats & cheeses, fish stew with polenta, a fish platter, & gnocchi.  All washed down with plenty of local wine or beer, singing, & even bubbly to celebrate an anniversary!