Page 3 Venice Trip & Cruise 2011

Split (with excursion to Omiš) & Athens

Split, Croatia

	SPLIT Split is a scenic, tidy city on the Dalmatian Coast of the Adriatic Sea, 400 kms southeast of Venice. It is Croatia's second largest urban center, but it only has a population of 220,000 people. It is ancient, but does not appear that way. City website

		Split Waterfront The Tower seen in this other waterfront shot is a 14C bell tower built in the middle of the Palace of Diocletian. Diocletian's Palace ruins - the Peristyle and Couttyard Roman emperor Diocletian (remember the mention of him on Page 1?) was probably born near Split and it is thought that is why he built his luxurious retirement palace and mausoleum here (293 to 305 CE). When the surrounding Roman colony was destroyed in the 7th century, the survivors moved into the remains of Diocletian’s palace where their heirs still live today. There are few photos of the palace here because there is just a small area where it resembles what it once was. Still, it is said to be the world's most complete remains of a Roman palace. The palace was huge. This is a rendering of the way it appeared around year 300. It housed over 9,000 people. Now, the palace is a group of small buildings with even smaller apartments. This is a street scene inside the palace with a view of the tower. Also outside the palace, we saw this tower and monumental statue of Grgur of Nin. (Who? Dunno, but he was big in Croatia.) Compare the size of the statue with the people at right. Split - Town Square Close-up of the ornate building on the square Split National Theatre Coast Road between Split and Omiš - the Croatian Riviera

		Omiš Omiš (pronounced O-mish) is the jewel of the Croatian riviera, set, as it is, in a deep crack in the coastal mountains occupied by a quiet, pretty river. The steep, sometimes vertical cliffs are spectacular. We had a coach ride from Split to Omiš, through the gorge, and along the river for about 20 kms to a restaurant along the river where we had lunch. Omis canyon Omiš - the restful little river with kayaks near lunch restaurant We returned to Split and this is a parting shot of the waterfront from where we boarded the tender to the ship

Athens, Greece

	My first view of Greece - full moon over the coast as we approached Piraeus, the port for Athens

		I was on a full day shore excursion which Boden decided not to do, and the first thing we did was motor to the end of the peninsula south of Athens to Cape Sounion. This is some of the scenery along the route. The treat at the end of the peninsula.... the beautiful Temple of Poseidon, my first Greek temple in Greece! Woo hoo! I really loved the atmosphere surrounding this temple, quiet and so very scenic. The temple is on a promontory of the peninsula called Cape Sounion, a strategic defense point back in the day. Looking out from the temple to some of the islands near Athens. From the bus, my first view of the Acropolis, something I have always wanted to see. A VERY exciting moment! In fact, my camera died of excitement. It froze as I took this picture. I panicked, thinking I wouldn't get any photos for the rest of the day! Luckily, a camera store was nearby, and after climbing up the Acropolis to get my ticket, I climbed back down, got the camera going again, and climbed back up to the top of the Acropolis. I should mention the temp was at least 30C. The main buildings at the top of the Acropolis... left to right: The Parthenon, Propylaea, and Erechtheum (Erechtheion). The Parthenon The huge size of the Parthenon is hard to comprehend, even when there because you cannot walk right up to it. I took this shot of a construction worker to get some scale. The columns are 1.9 meters (6.2 ft) in diameter and are 10.4 meters (34.1 ft) high. The total area covered is 69.5 by 30.9 m (228 by 101 ft). The Erechtheum (420-406 BCE) with the wonderful Porch of the Caryatids Close up of the Porch of the Caryatids Just below the Acropolis is the Odeon of Herodes Atticus (161 AD) There was no opportunity for my tour group to see any other parts of Athens, but at least I got a great view over the city from the Acropolis on this crystal clear day. Boden's was on his own and his route took him to the foot of the Acropolis looking up to where I took the previous shot Boden's lunch restaurant in the Plata District

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