Summer in Croatia (Part 1)

Split, June 2023

By Francisco Morais

November 1^st, 2023

Balkan Journey: Between Stone, Sea, and Memory

Our road trip began with a morning flight from Lisbon to Split. We picked up a rental car at the airport, loaded our bags, and set out with three weeks on the clock to explore Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia by road.

Split, Croatia

Split unfolds around the remnants of Roman power, where imperial walls have been woven into the fabric of daily life. Stone corridors and vaulted arches serve as thresholds between past and present, guiding footsteps beneath sunlit ramparts.

The Riva promenade traces the edge of the Adriatic, its palm-lined walkway alive with ferry whistles and the murmur of market vendors. Cafés spill onto the quay, offering shaded respite and conversations carried by sea breeze.

Beyond the waterfront, narrow lanes reveal bakeries charged with the scent of freshly baked pastries and hidden courtyards shaded by grapevines. Here, time moves at its own pace—anchored by history, yet propelled by the hum of locals going about their day.