Daily Archives: November 12, 2022

Split Croatia 2022

Aside

This Veteran’s Day weekend my wife and I took a couple of extra days to explore a part of the world we had never been, and what a beautiful part of the world it is!

In the Peristil.

The main attraction is Diocletian’s Palace, a Roman era retirement home built 1,700 years ago for the only Emperor who willingly stepped down from the throne.

An artist’s rendering of Diocletian’s Palace

This is the south wall of the palace and the arches are where the Emperor’s quarters were. The palace has been transformed over the last 1700 years and the walkway goes along stores and coffee shops. The sea used to be right next to the south wall. Look at the artist’s image to see the water and a boat passing by.

These are a few pictures of the palace. There are many houses built inside the palace and few open spaces, so these pics capture bits and pieces of the palace.

A couple of arches with an interesting circular structure at the top.
This is the Golden Gate. It is the north gate and the Emperor entered this gate and walked directly to his apartment at the other end of the palace.
Another arch. This one is part of the Golden Gate entrance.
This building is just outside the western wall of the palace.
This arch is part of the western wall structure.
A 1700 year old column worn down by weather.
Archeological activity outside the eastern gate.
A wall just outside the eastern gate.
A street with a visible part of the palace wall carved out to make a passageway.
A wall with visible repurposing scars.

Some pictures of an open space known as the Peristil.

This is called the Peristil. This open space led to the Emperor’s apartment and the structure at the end of this picture is the entrance.
These arches are just outside Diocletian’s mausoleum. There is now a church inside the mausoleum.
Shadows of the arches.
This Sphinx was one of many brought from Egypt 1700 years ago. The Sphinx is 3500 years old.
This tower was built in front of the Diocletian’s mausoleum.
This hole in the roof used to be covered by a dome and was a part of the main entrance to the Emperor’s apartment.
A temple dedicated to Jupiter near the mausoleum. It was made into a baptistry.
A visitor sign next to the temple.
Another Sphinx. This one is located at the Jupiter Temple entrance.

An enjoyable meal.

Enjoying the moment.
Beautiful and tasty risotto.
Bambolini. Something tasty coated and deep fried. Cheese and bits of pork I think.
Croatian wine is very good.
This placemat has a great truth!
A Croatian favorite street food named burek. It is a flaky crust filled with various types of food; spinach, chicken, potatoes, cheese, or apple

A few more buildings, but they aren’t 1700 years old.

This clock has 24 hours. Quite a feat since the markings are in Roman numerals.
A hotel just outside the Diocletian Palace.
A piece of art just outside the Golden Gate.
A plaza styled after St. Mark’s Square in Venice.
A Venetian wall from the 1400’s that has been repurposed.

This video starts with a Christmas shop and ends with the entrance to a synagogue dating from the 1500’s. Not shown is the Islamic center just just around the corner.

Split Jews killed during World War II.
Synagogue’s interior.
Jewish cemetery.
Jewish burial stones.

21 Years and Counting

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Today is my anniversary and I am so happy! Of course everyone might say that, but not everyone can say it with enthusiasm. The road has been long and we got started late and we still have many more miles to go, but this anniversary is an important milepost along the way.

Steve and Jessica
21st Anniversary

There is always a danger when you become romantic with a friend because you might lose that friend if things don’t continue romantically. But there is another aspect to dating someone who is your friend, you have seen that person in a different context and you already know whether there is a basis for continuing once the butterflies in your stomach settle down.

The butterflies have not settled down yet. Each day is a gift and I am so happy to share the day with Jessica. Each day is full of wonder and often contains a bit of mystery. By the time I close my eyes at night I realize that my day has been full and my heart is content.

In this, the year of COVID-19, we are simply celebrating our journey with a meal prepared by a guest chef and served in our house in the country. The guest chef is our son Michael and we are happy to spend some extra time with him, and enjoy his cooking creations.

Next year we will have a different backdrop to celebrate our love. We will be in Italy soon and we will be there when we celebrate year number 22.

All my love, Steve.