Split Warnings and Dangers

3 more images

The locals worshiping their town which is, according to them, the center of the world and the most beautiful town that exist.
When in precence of locals Split, bunder no circumstance, you shouldn't do this:
- talking against St. Doimus, the patron saint of the city,
- talking against "Hajduk", the local football club,
- talking about politics, that might be neverending story,
- teaching them about cooking, especially seafood,
- discussing about the sport games, according to them you are ignorant in that subject,
remember well, it is "mad" mediterranean town!

Split felt like an extremely safe city, especially in the tourist areas in and around the old town. I stayed just outside the centre in an apartment populated mostly by locals. They were all friendly and relaxed, and so were the neighbours. I didn't feel unsafe at any time of the day or night. Even the bus and train station, often a haven for miscreants, didn't feel the slightest bit unsafe. It might be different when there are less tourists, but Croatia is generally a very safe place, so probably not a big deal at any time of the year.

2 more images

There are two ways to get to the top of Marjan hill, both require a bit of excercise. You can take 300 steps from Trunbiciva Obala (the end of the Riva Blvd but need to look hard to find out where the steps are located. The graffiti may help direct you. Or you can walk up Veli VAros through old town streets for the hill suburb and end up at the entry. From there, which is about 1/2 to 3/4 mile, you climb the road to the top, and get to Lasko restaurant which is about 3/4 mile, before you turn around, or stake those steps back down for a round trip.
Either way, on a hot day, it could be grueling for the out of shape type. The alternative is to drive up there from Veli VAros, if you can find the way, which is not that easy.

1 more image

This is a place that looks like there would be drinking and drugs in the evening, and some remains were around the water area. A VT person; acemj, got attacked here. No doubt the lower end socio economic housing project contributes to the threat of trouble around there.

4 more images

Narrow streets in the old town at night may be something to think about before you simply stroll around. There is a diminished crowd and some "hidden" areas around corners and alcoves that may have a lesson waiting for you. We went through the catacombs after dark, and I felt like if someone wanted to, they could be in waiting for you in many places down there.
So I say this, because where we stayed; on Petrova St, just off Kraljka Zvonimira which is the main road to the old town area, there were 3 gunshots one night, and I was waiting to here someone moan from a wound. Do not know if it was just letting off steam, or a serious matter, but it kept me awake for a while to find out if more was to come. This is a quiet street, but one that could have people walking down there all night long.

AND one VTer got attacked/mugged by Bavice area. See acemj comment. He got hurt in an area where there is a lower end housing project. See my pics for the area on next page

I should have known better but the sun umbrella I sat under had no protection from the blasing sun at the beach. I had the worst burn I suffered for a long time. Where lots of lotion , even in the shade!!

Split is an ideal starting point for visiting a variety of countries in the Balkan region.

During a trip to the region in May 2007, my friend and I flew into Split before moving on to Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia.

Having visited the northern Croatian town of Umag by taxi from Piran in Slovenia a few years ago, and not having received a stamp in my passport, I was surprised to get my passport stamped when landing at Split airport from the UK. This will stop when Croatia enters the EU shortly.

Leaving Croatia for Bosnia, I felt sure that my passport would need to be stamped. We caught a bus from Split to Mostar, and at the border crossing the bus driver collected passports from each passenger and disappeared for 10 minutes or so. When he returned and dished out the passports to their owners, I immediately flicked through mine to admire the shiny new stamp - but there wasn't one!

Would this cause problems when we came to leave Bosnia and fly to Serbia a few days later? Would the lack of a stamp in our passports lead immigration officials to believe we had entered the country illegally? We didn't know.....and neither did the British Embassy in Sarajevo when we turned up on their doorstep a few days later to ask!

The British Embassy in Sarajevo was staffed by a lone, elderly Bosnian man - and he was none the wiser than we were. He suspected that we'd be ok when we came to leave the country (we hadn't done anything wrong after all, and this must be a fairly common situation given the number of buses crossing the border each day), but he couldn't give us a definitive answer. Instead, he gave us his number in case we did have any difficulties at immigration.

In the event, we needn't have worried. Nobody checked to see our entry stamps - they just stamped us out of the country as we boarded our flight to Belgrade.

So, if you don't get stamped into Bosnia - don't worry!

Otherwise Split is an extremely safe town and you can go anywhere without too much of worries of getting mugged and robbed. BUT, the traffic is absolutely horrifying! The condition of the streets is quite bad, speeding is common and some of the drivers don't use signals at all. Be especially aware of the crazy motorcyclists!

Streets in old town cente are paved with stone and in many years this stone became very smooth. And, when the rain stars to fall, this streets turn into ''sliding field''. So, watch your step. Good footwear is advisable.

Diocletian's Palace is a rare sight. Do not miss any of it.This is an unique example of civization developing (the ingenuity of man).and at the same time accidentally preserving so many artefacts of history by just living in them. But what if you have one day (or less)? Can you avoid this mistake? Know how to get to and from your lodging. Split is a large industrial (unsafe?) city.And the time of year may bring very inclement weather. (See my other accounts). As in our case you may be disappointed because that is what your tour gives you. C'est domage!