I’m back traveling on my own again and catching the early bus to Šibenik. While waiting at the terminal, Ann runs over from the boat to give me a hug and say goodbye.
I arrive in Šibenik and I’m immediately happy with my decision to leave Split for the day. It’s a small town which is more my “thing”, with cobblestoned streets, narrow alleys and tons of churches. Hand painted banners are strung throughout the alleys and a local tells me they’ve been made by children for the children’s festival happening right now. In the shade, the temperature is still cool and I take advantage of the bearable temperature to climb a set of steep stairs to St Michael’s Fortress. There isn’t much to the fort other than the view, so not sure if that and the use of a washroom was worth the €10. Probably could’ve given it a miss.
I continue to wander and hear music up ahead. I meet a German guy strumming his guitar and his dog, Josie. He’s lived in Croatia for the past 8 years and busks in the streets of Šibenik in summers and then winters in Zagreb. He’s also a sword maker and assists at a forge that creates armor for Kliss Fortress located outside of Split. I give him a couple euro in thanks for the music and wish him well.
The temperature is starting to soar with the heat emanating from the stone buildings and cobblestones in the narrow alleys, so I find a shady park bench beside a cathedral and have a picnic breakfast. A group of elderly men are loudly conversing on a bench beside me, gesticulating violently when they’re trying to get their point across to the others. I’d love to know what’s got them so riled up.
I wander a bit longer but need to get out of the intense sun rays and find Restaurant No 4 in a narrow alley leading to a church. A delicious burrata salad and local white wine are just what I need to revive my energy before catching the bus back to Split. Once back in Split, I head back to the market to purchase fruit from “my guy” and he gives me a high five. In thanks for the photo I sent him, he gifts me some peaches and cherries. With my breakfast provisions taken care of I head back to my Airbnb and crash early. The heat and long days have caught up with me.
