Trogir – another of Croatia’s little towns. Medieval, precious, and tourists galore. Even so, don’t miss it!
Anyone who goes on a road trip sooner or later sadly will have to end it and head home. For the return flight from ours, after we had toured Istria and Dalmatia, Katja decides on SWISS International Airlines from Split (after we had flown Edelweiss to Pula).
It’s called an open-jaw ticket with rental car transfer in between. No problem, we can manage that.
Since it was Katja who booked our trip, I’m just going with the flow – as the official photographer, that is! Still, I’m mostly in the dark when it comes to connecting the geographic dots.
When I announce to Sandra, an acquaintance in Croatia, that we are driving to Trogir the following day, she asks me in turn, if we’re already flying back?
“Flying” back? Already?
And, she advises…watch out for the traffic jam at the Trogir bridge! What bridge? What jam? To where?
One puzzle after another…
But, how she came to think of the return flight finally dawns on me on the way from Hvar Island to Trogir: The car ferry from Hvar/Stari Grad docks in Split. From there, you drive past the airport to Trogir. The airport is almost closer to the latter than to Split.
Well, that clears up puzzle 1: Split Airport could just as easily be Trogir Airport. But which it isn’t.
Picturesque Trogir
Anyway, Trogir’s old town forms a small island off the Adriatic coast.
It connects via two bridges (bring something to mind?) to the Croatian mainland and the island of Čiovo.
The medieval town’s mix of Renaissance, Baroque and Romanesque architecture is hardly recognizable at first look, so densely packed are the restaurants, bars, and shops. (Romanesque is the one before the Gothic style, i.e., it’s the one with fewer curlicues)
In between them are the narrowest of streets packed with tourists. And hawkers. And waiters. One of the restaurant touts addresses Katja.
You must be from Canada?
With a resigned roll of the eyes, she waves off. Or, maybe she’s just not hungry at the moment.
But, it’s not a bad hook. We were almost lured into a conversation. But then, I wasn’t hungry either.
Hotel Ola in Trogir
We are lodged just outside Trogir in a new designer hotel. Still, it’s well within walking distance. But one time we also take the water taxi to the little town. It runs there and back roughly every 20 minutes; the ride takes about 15 minutes. Recommended!
Hotel Ola is the name of our lodging. Why it goes by that moniker we unfortunately were unable to find out.
Fans of ubiquitous chipboard will get their money’s worth here though.
But, if you insist on having a rooftop infinity pool, you’ll be well pleased that you put up here. It comes complete with chaise lounges and hotel bar.
And if you need to gaze on the ocean when arising in the morning or at breakfast, you will love this hotel.
The Ola team throws a barbecue twice a week. Don’t miss making a reservation!
And, here is the answer to Sandra’s bridge puzzle: Depending on the time of day, cars heading to Trogir in both directions jam up endlessly! Anyone living on the wrong side of the bridge and urgently needing to catch a plane at the neighboring airport has a problem.
It’s small comfort, but a new bridge may be under construction. But, why does it look like no one’s working on it?
From this perspective, the Ola Hotel sits on the “right” side of the bridge. Or of the airport :-)
Hotel adress:
Hotel Ola
Ul. Hrvatskih žrtava 296
21218 Seget Donji
Trogir
Croatia
Split – beauty or tourist beast?
Split is attractively situated on a peninsula on the Adriatic Sea. If you luck out and manage to grab a parking space, even if it is a bit far from the old town, don’t be choosy and go for it. We learned this the hard way…
But, once you get parked, Split with its harbor promenade, the cafés and restaurants, and especially its crooked alleys, offers an outstanding experience!
On all corners, they hawk self-guided walking tours to the streams of tourists. The damsel tour guides dressed medieval style we ignore and, self-guided, throw ourselves into the fray.
Our thanks this time go to…
… the helpful Hotel Ola! Karolina, thank you for the invitations and organizing our stay ;-)
