There is something about getting off the bus in Split after a rather long journey and taking a deep breath. Every time I get back to Split after a few days spent travelling to the north, I know, the first breath in Split will be special. I am not noticing it normally, but when I get back like this, I can tell, how the air in Split smells so different – so warm and welcoming.
(photos: Tomi Zupan)
We got to Split early. At 5:30, to be specific. Having to wait for the first ferry to Stari Grad until 8:30 and with the only cafe, which was open at this hour to be the one at the bus station, where smoking is allowed, we decided to take a walk through the city. Not many people out there at 6 am, but not everyone is sleeping. Supplies are being unloaded and the city is being cleaned.
The city is beautiful, day or night. summer or winter. Empty streets are a bit strange, but then again, it is like having the city to ourselves this way. I was curious to see, if any of the cafes opens at 6 am on Riva and I was surprised to find only one serving a few customers at this hour.
– Let´s walk to the fish market. Maybe it is not too early for fresh fish, – I thought. Strolling through the empty Marmontova street, we found a few people gathering at the market, just opening the place, preparing for their first customers. They do get up very early.
We decided to head to the Palace. It was too dark to even take pictures at Peristil and after a few beautiful shoots at the “Ispod Ure” Squre, we decided to have our first coffee and a warm tea in a cafe sitting outside (again, that smoking thing). February, at 6:30, we were not the only ones to sit outside for a coffee in Split.
I left my husband and our daughter at the cafe and went to the only place in Split, where coming at 6:30 is not too early. The Split Green Market. Plenty of life there at this hour. From flowers to meat, everything was already waiting for me. I got what I needed for the quick lunch I wanted to make once, we are back home.
In the meantime, Split got even more beautiful as the sun was above to come out. We watched a ferry leaving the harbour and waited for ours to come. Split was fully awake by the time the first rays of light reached the Diocletian´s Palace. Another beautiful days in Split was above to start.
Thank you Split for showing us your early morning face,
