Three through Split...

Okay, okay...I admit, we've had better headlines. But even for us, the creative vein sometimes runs dry. Today, we proudly walked 9 km and explored the beautiful old town of Split.

But let's start from the beginning...

After another entertaining breakfast with six of us, we headed towards the ferry port on the north side of the island in our little car.

As someone who always feels like they're running late and afraid of missing trains, buses, and ferries, I demanded everything from our little red car. Out of breath and with frantic spots on our faces, we finally sat in our seats 10 minutes before departure (taking into account a 5-minute delay).

In those moments, I worry and panic slightly about the future, when not only my wife, who possesses a certain angelic patience, but also Ida, would stand in front of me after unnecessary rushing, slightly sweaty and with angry, annoyed looks: 'We told you so!'

(A little interjection from my patient wife: Thankfully, the fox stepped on the gas pedal. We left with a 30-minute buffer. The only construction site on the island cost us 5 minutes, Ida's futile attempt to use the bathroom cost another 10. Searching for parking took 5 more minutes; we only had 10 minutes left to get to the ferry. And walking 300 meters with a toddler can be quite challenging!).

After a relaxed yet somewhat turbulent ride due to the wind, we set out to conquer Split. However, since we didn't really prepare anything for this vacation, we found ourselves at the ferry port not knowing where to go.

A quick look at the iPhone and off he goes, Peter towards the old town. Always follow the crowd! It was founded in 300 AD by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The palace named after him forms the center of the ancient old town and can already be seen from afar thanks to the monastery tower. Over the centuries, the city's rule passed from Roman to Byzantine, then to Venetian hands, until it permanently came under Croatian administration in the mid-16th century.

Why the little history excursion?

The constant changes and cultural influences of the city led to a fascinating mix of architecture and overall appearance. Many winding alleyways with countless archways (maneuvering two buggies past each other requires real skill here). Marble, reflective floors throughout the old town, tunnels, and underground market halls. In short - Split is definitely worth a visit and rightly part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

'I want to run with Papa!'

So, actually a city that should be carefully observed, one might think. Not with the red whirlwind. After all, a 3-year-old doesn't really care about urban development and ancient palaces. While Lena diligently and enthusiastically took photo after photo and occasionally complained about dull German-speaking tourists, Ida and I strolled hand in hand through the old town, as if there were no tomorrow...

So, 2/3 of the travel group were consistently satisfied! I will look at Split in the pictures. It's supposed to be very beautiful. No, it wasn't that bad. Because not a day goes by when our sweet Ida doesn't turn into our little diva Liza Minelli. And since she, albeit somewhat unintentionally, can 'rest' in the buggy, I was also able to take a look at the city.

However, even the most energetic troublemaker needs a refreshment from time to time. We treated ourselves to some snacks from the bakery, which we enjoyed in peace on one of the countless walls. Despite additional servings and ice cream, we only spent 29€ for the whole day. So, it is actually possible to have a budget-friendly visit to Split without having to hold back. Another plus point for this great city.

'It's getting dark, we have to go to bed soon!'

We took the afternoon ferry back home. Compared to Sunday, it was packed and accordingly noisy. So, we were quite happy to escape the city hustle and bustle. Walking on pavement is equally exhausting for both adults and children, so the ride back with the little car was a welcome break before we had to face the evening battle at the buffet (Mexico was the theme: everything, I mean REALLY EVERYTHING, was seasoned with cayenne pepper. Perhaps it was meant to counteract the cooler temperatures). This was our last evening with the people from Basel. Of course, we hope to see each other again.

Tomorrow is the last day of our vacation too. We have no plans, we'll just see what comes our way and pack in peace. Let's see how many times we have to sing 'Happy Birthday' together, Ida is so excited. We'll let you know.