Updated from May 17 2016: Game of Thrones: When Dragons Attack!



We are continuing our dawdle along the Adriatic coast. Our mileage for the day is less than 100 kms. If we moved any slower, we'd be heading towards Istria!

When we packed our bags onto the bikes, Neda noticed the neighbourhood cats in Sibenik had left her a little present. Apparently they didn't like the cat pee smell on Neda's seat from Medulin and decided to add their spray in a territorial one-upmanship (one-catmanship?) Neda was not impressed.

They didn't pee on my bike. Everytime I approach Neda on her bike, I sniff really loudly and scrunch my nose. Neda gives me the evil eye in return.


Glad to be leaving the cats of Sibenik behind

It's a short coastal ride to Trogir, a beautiful port town. We're now in the heart of Dalmatia and Neda tells me that the people here speak very differently from Istrians. She tells me that whenever Dalmatian people talk, they sound very happy. In Croatian, the word for "beautiful" is "lijepa" (lee-YEA-pah). In Dalmatian, they pronounce it LEE-pah, so it always sounds like they are smiling when they talk.


The weather in Dalmatia is LEE-pah!

Neda knows her country so well. She's timed our ride down the Adriatic coast perfectly with regards to the weather. Our sunny streak remains unbroken. This is soo unusual. I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop - like a freak hurricane will touch down on us tomorrow or something...

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Gene - http://www.RideDOT.com

The name of this castle is Kamerlengo Castle

I love that word. Kamerlengo. I love the way it feels on my tongue when I say it. I've loved it ever since I read it in that Dan Brown novel: Angels and Demons. I love the fact that Ewan McGregor plays the camerlengo in the movie. Kamerlengo.


Inside Kamerlengo Castle. Kamerlengo.


The view of Trogir from the top of Kamerlengo Castle.

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Gene - http://www.RideDOT.com

Are you reading Angels and Demons? Spoiler: The camerlengo has a bomb!


They should rename Trogir Harbour to Kamerlengo Harbour


We walk around town and everytime I see "Kamerlengo" on a sign, we laugh like little kids. By "we", I mean "me"... Kamerlengo.

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Gene - http://www.RideDOT.com

Central Square in Trogir, Cathedral of St. Lawrence (Katedrala Sv. Lovre) in the background.


The Clock Tower is a famous feature in Trogir


The old city is on an island, this the bridge that connects it to the mainland

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Gene - http://www.RideDOT.com

Just outside of Split, is a very special fortress

We're both huge Game of Thrones fans and the Fortress of Klis is where they filmed the exterior shots of Meereen, where Danaerys freed the slaves and kept her dragons in the dungeon. Very cool!


From the outside, the fortress is not very imposing. It doesn't look like Meereen at all!


You can almost imagine dragons flying over the valley below and the Adriatic shoreline.

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Gene - http://www.RideDOT.com

It's obvious Neda is not a Targaryen, unlike Dani, Jon and Tyrion...


In one of the buildings, there are stills of the Fortress of Klis from the Game of Thrones

You can see in the picture that Neda is holding how they've CGed more buildings to make up the city of Meereen. I think they mainly used the fortress for the ramparts, as they played a big role in the Crucifixion of the Great Masters as well as the long line of people waiting to see Daenerys.


Peering over the edge, looking for dragons

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Gene - http://www.RideDOT.com

We walked all over the fortress whistling the Game of Thrones theme song




If you don't watch the Game of Thrones, the best part of the fortress are the views from the top

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Gene - http://www.RideDOT.com

Village just below the fortress


More breathtaking views


Inside, these slots were used by archers to defend the fortress


We want more Game of Thrones!

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Gene - http://www.RideDOT.com

Stunning guys
I LOL reading about Neda taking the piss outta cats everywhere

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My memory is becoming that good, I should be able to organise my own surprise party soon

Updated from http://www.RideDOT.com/rtw/316.html



Split is Croatia's second-largest city and is located right in the heart of Dalmatia. We're staying here for a few days so we can take our bikes in for regular maintenance. There have been a a couple of niggling issues ever since unwrapping them from our winter break that we need checked out. My motorcycle has not been starting up very well in the mornings and has been running very rough lately.

We take the bikes into service one by one so we have transportation while in Split. So while my bike is in the shop, we ride Neda's bike into the old city to look around.


This is what Split is known for. Bacvice Beach.

Split is one of Croatia's most popular tourist destinations. Mainly because of it's amazing weather and beautiful turquoise waters.


Sun-seekers enjoy the sandy beaches at Bacvice

Neda used to tell me of all the times she used to walk the beaches in Pula and just pick seafood up out of the waters and eat them raw. I find this hilarious, so I make fun of her all the time when we're just walking around normally and I point at something random on the ground, "Are you going to eat that?"


But as we walk on this beach, Neda picks something up off the sands and shows me nature's buffet: an aquatic snail called a limpet


...and she eats it! I'm equal parts grossed out and fascinated. But I decline nature's buffet...

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Gene - http://www.RideDOT.com

We park the bike at the center of town. As we walk away this cat walks purposefully towards Neda's motorcycle

"You know what she's on her way to do, right?" I tell Neda.

"NOOOO!!!! DAMMIT!!!"

We watch as the cat walks up to Neda's bike and then turns around to look back at us. It's a staring game, and cats always win staring games. She's not going to pee on Neda's seat while we're watching and we can't just wait there forever. So we shrug our shoulders and continue on. Actually, just me. I had to drag Neda anyway backwards while she continued to stare down the cat.


Originally, Split was an important trading port. Nowadays the port is mainly used by gigantic cruise ships


Train station is right at the harbour

There's also an international airport at Split, so there are half a dozen ways to come directly here, which makes it so easy and popular for tourists.

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Gene - http://www.RideDOT.com

Statue of Franjo Tuđman, first president of independent Croatia


The old city is splendorous!

Neda has only visited Split once - on a school trip before the war. She left for Canada shortly and she really wanted to re-visit Dalmatia and also to re-discover and share this with me. It reminded me of when we were in Malaysia just a month ago. Although I didn't have a lot of strong memories of it, it still felt good to share a piece of my childhood with her.


Lots of tourists out enjoying the beautiful weather!


Until these Romans decided to spoil the day: "Seize Her!"

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Gene - http://www.RideDOT.com

Dalmatia was part of the Roman Empire 2000 years ago, this is Diocletian's Palace, built in the 4th century

These two guys in suits walked out onto the platform like they were getting ready to sing or give a speech (lend them your ears!) But they took forever, so I just walked behind them, took a picture and we continued our tour.


Underground complex of Diocletian's Palace

Diocletian's Palace is a UNESCO site, but that's nowhere as cool as the fact that they filmed the fourth season of Game of Thrones here! The underground complex was the set of the dungeon where Daenerys kept her dragons in Meereen. They had to clear out all the shops and stalls for filming, because the dragons would have destroyed everything. You just can't have nice stuff when you have dragons.


Steps leading out of the underground complex. This lady really wanted to be in my picture. She didn't move the entire time.


The Vestibule at Diocletian's Palace, the entrance to Diocletian's living quarters

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Gene - http://www.RideDOT.com

Cathedral of St Domnius (Katedrala Svetog Duje), built in the 7th century, it's the oldest Catholic cathedral still in use


The streets outside Diocletian's Palace are filled with touristy shops and stores, where you can Rome around and browse


Historic old city of Split


Pausing for a refreshing break at the fountain

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Gene - http://www.RideDOT.com

Contemplating Laundry Day at the Republic Square


Cafes and restaurants line the Riva Boardwalk, diners have a great view of the Adriatic Sea


They say walking is supposed to be good for you. It's a habit I'm trying to adopt. Any success so far for me? None.

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Gene - http://www.RideDOT.com