To boldly go: Split infinitive

It's high summer and time for another European break with Russell and Alan. We're in Eastern Europe again but a very different place to Romania where we were last year. Coastal Croatia is very much on the beaten track, with a beautiful coastline, sparkling cities and a Mediterranean climate. Once a part of Yugoslavia, before that it was colonised by the Venetians and it shows in the architecture.

Finding suitable accommodation for three people is a challenge and on this trip all the available places are apartments rather than hotels. Hence there aren't usually people to greet us---just instructions on getting the key. But in Split our flat has some nice plants on the staircase as a welcome. The city has a long history, having been founded by the Greeks in the 2nd century B.C., settled by the Romans before the Venetians took it over---hence the architecture. But we also like a fine Art Nouveau building in the city centre.

The outdoor market sells both tourist souvenirs and products for locals, human and feline alike. Further afield on a day trip we visit the island of Hvar, also buzzing but nearly free of traffic. Not hard to guess what refreshes us in the blistering heat, although one of the local vendors is camera shy!

Not so at this craft beer bar in Zadar, our next destination about 2 hours up the coast. Zadar is another ancient city with an Italianate past and the only sad thing about it is having to leave.Read more