Hiking to Stari Grad Fort and Split Part 2

Cetina River Adventures

We rented a kayak a few days ago and took a trip up the river.  The natural scenery here is breathtaking and we definitely spent more time looking around than paddling....which is probably why it took us twice as long to reach our destination.  You can easily paddle upriver until you reach the point where the small rapids make it impossible to go any further.  Luckily, there is a great outdoor restaurant on the river bank!  An old mill was transformed into one of the most popular restaurants in Omis, Radmanove Mlinice (you can find more photos here: Radmanove Mlinice Restaurant) While we didn't have a full meal, we did enjoy a local beer and one of the local Dalmatian specialties: smoked prosciutto. Amazing!  Enjoy the photos!

The Best Views....Ever

A few days ago we took the short hike up to Mirabella Fortress.  We see the tower from our kitchen window every day and decided we needed a closer look.  We ended up with some of the most beautiful views of Omis!!

We Split for Split!

We took a short bus ride up the coast to the second largest town in Croatia, Split.  It started to rain in the afternoon, but luckily, we are only 30 minutes away so we will be back!  We enjoyed their walkway along the Adriatic and after exploring some of the narrow streets we had a wonderful lunch with a view of the water.  Diocletian's palace is here, but we only snapped a few photos before the rain came.  More on that on another day!

Morning Walks in Omis, Croatia

Derek and I walk or run every morning here in the gorgeous town of Omis. The old city, where our apartment is, is something out of a fairy tale. We wind through the old streets for a bit before walking along the river toward the Adriatic. Derek gives me a daily boat lesson as we pass the boats anchored near town.  The scenery is so dramatic with the rock cliffs hovering so close to the ocean. I think we are going to enjoy it here...

Dead Sea and Masada

After seeing the outrageous prices quoted for a tour to the Dead Sea and Masada, we decided to try and rent a car and get there ourselves .  After a little research, we found it would shave around $100 off the trip and, as it turns out, it was so easy!  Israel is a small country and there is only one main highway that leads you directly down the coast of the Dead Sea and straight to Masada- a bit over 1 hour.  So we packed a lunch, grabbed our swimsuits and set off....with Derek at the wheel, of course!  After a few wrong turns, we made it to Masada.  At Masada you can either take a tram to the top or hike for an hour.  We, in our money saving mindsets, figured we would make the hike.  It was an extremely hot that day and with Ashley not so used to the dryness/heat, we had to take it slowly.  But, we made it to the top and enjoyed the panoramic views of the Dead Sea and surrounding desert (only for a few minutes at a time, because then we needed shade!)  After hiking down, we made our way to the Dead Sea, had a picnic lunch, and then carefully waded into the water.  It was a pretty amazing experience...you won't sink even if you try!  But don't stay in too long....any tiny cuts or scrapes begin burning like crazy after a few minutes.  We drove back to Jerusalem just in time for rush hour, but returned the car with 5 minutes to spare!  All in all, a wonderful day. 

 We made it to the top...much to Ashley's relief!                  Derek seems to be fine......   

              Dead Sea in the distance and Roman sauna

                                                    Beautifully preserved mosaic floor

                                                                Wildlife! Notice the baby

                                                                         Dead Sea

                                                                     Just relaxing....

                                                                     And flying......

                                                           More relaxing......

                                                         And more flying....

The Holy Land

  Jerusalem is an amazing city full of history, history and more history.  While the surrounding area beyond the walls of the Old City are modern and full of restaurants and shops, the Old City itself takes you back in time.  The three quarters: Muslim, Christian and Jewish each have their own unique flair.  The most important sights of all three religions are located within steps of each other...The Dome of the Rock (Islamic)- where Mohammed heard the voice of God, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Christian)- venerated as the location of Jesus' crucifixion and burial place, and The Western Wall (Jewish)-the last remnant of the Temple; the most sacred site in Judaism.  The melting pot of people and religions is an amazing experience and personally, puts a lot of things into perspective. If you ever get the chance, Jerusalem is a must see.  But, be prepared for the heat from this time of the year until the fall....we were fooled on our first day.  When we arrived it was raining and around 50 degrees.  That soon changed and a few days later it was well into the 90's and 100's with not a cloud in sight!  We beat the heat at the Dead Sea (photos to come), but Ashley almost passed out on the hike to Masada (story to come). All in all, we've had a great time.  The hummus and olives are to die for, the people are great and the sights are amazing!!
    

                                                    Jaffa Street-just a train, no cars allowed!!

                                                               Outside the Tower of David

                                                    Dome in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

                     Church of the Holy Sepulchre

                 At the right time, the light shines directly on the shrine where it is said Jesus was crucified

                                                           FALAFEL!!  Best food ever
                

                                                          The Western (Wailing) Wall

              Top of Dome of the Rock and roman cisterns (right)                        

                 Roman Cistern at the Basilica of St. Annes

                                    Great find- We are assuming it says Clemson Tigers in Hebrew!