Matlilda on Tour - Three days in Split - Time to Move On

Tuesday 31 March — Split

Day 31 — From wild and rugged to polished and social
Dalmatia, Croatia 🇭🇷

After another wild night with the winds rocking the van, we were on the move.

Feeling a little rough around the edges this morning, but that usually passes once we get going. The journey should have been a bit easier too — we weren’t far from the autoroute, so fingers crossed. The scenic routes have done us proud, but they do take a lot more energy and concentration to follow.

The winds followed us down the autoroute, buffeting the van, but Richard kept things steady and we arrived without any major hiccups.

We were heading down towards Split — a big coastal city with a real mix of old and new, built around an ancient Roman palace and a busy waterfront. It already felt like the sort of place we were going to enjoy. The forecast was looking favourable too… maybe the shorts might make an outing.

From wild and rugged to something altogether more polished. The site here feels very different — regimented rows, good spacing, and a slightly more luxurious feel. Just 150 metres from the sea, with a gentle cove, sandy beach, and umbrellas — the full works. Chalk and cheese compared to our last stop.

After settling in, we headed off to explore and didn’t get much further than the on-site restaurant, where we ended up having a really social evening with Steve and Fiona.

After four weeks on the road, it was really good to sit, chat and enjoy some company.

What a difference a day makes.

Wednesday 1 April — Split

Day 32 — Wind, steps and views worth earning

Dalmatia, Croatia 🇭🇷

Another night of strong winds, but being tucked into the tree-lined pitches made it feel better — less rocking, even if the noise was still loud.

It feels a little hemmed in, with no real view, but cosy too — just a short bus ride into Split, where we wandered through the old town and stopped for a coffee, watching the world go by.

Then it was time for the walk up Marjan Hill, Split’s green hill above the city.

Up…

up…

up we went.

Past the small Church of St. Nicholas, tucked into the hillside, and on we climbed. The steps kept coming, and the bora wind made it harder than it should have been.

Even a small zoo on the way — more of a petting zoo — offered a brief break from the relentless climb.

Eventually we reached the top. Spectacular views at the top… but we definitely earned them. After the obligatory photos, it was a relief to find a much easier route back down.

An Irish pub spotted earlier seemed too good to miss — a well-earned Guinness.

We found a bus stop for the journey back — still not entirely convinced by Google’s directions.

Thankfully it was the right bus, just as the rain came in.

Thursday 2 April — Split

Day 33 — Wind, wanderings and a day cut short
Dalmatia, Croatia 🇭🇷

Another day with the bora blowing — we are definitely missing the bikes now.

Visited Diocletian’s Palace today — our plan had been to get a ferry over to one of the islands, the wind had other ideas.

We both enjoyed the Palace. Built around Roman ruins, with buildings layered into and on top of them, it really is something to see. The scale and feel of it is quite magnificent in places, and the narrow streets wind through it with a different view around every corner — another little piece of history as you go.

Little cafés and restaurants dotted amongst it all, a great spot for people watching when the weather is kinder. We also wandered through the market, which added to the atmosphere.

After a good look around we found ourselves a bit stuck for what to do next. I think we were both a bit done with sightseeing by then.

We wandered for a while before hopping on a bus back.

We can’t complain — we’ve been so lucky with the weather until we met the bora.

Three days in Split done, and it feels like the right time to move on. The wind may have shaped more of our plans than we’d have liked, but we’ve still had some really good moments here. Tomorrow, a new country and something different again.