Saying goodbye in Split
Despite our best efforts to slow down time, the day came when we needed to return the car, Mor-Mor and Far-Far were set to fly home and we were to move on to Hvar. This felt like another big milestone in our year. How is it possible that a month with them has already passed? How could we be a quarter of the way done with our year? We are just figuring out this travel. I still can't do 40 pushups, I have only read a few books. But there it is, time waits for no one and our time in Brac had come to an end.
Split has become this "home base" or transition point for us. This time of the year ferries do not connect the islands and every time you move, need a car, fly out, we go back to Split and so we headed back to Split with Mor-Mor and Far-Far for one last day together as they prepared to go to the airport and we took a ferry to our next island.
Split has also become symbolic for me, like an onion every time we return we take off one more layer, see some new dimension to this city and this culture. This time we spent more time in the fish markets seeing huge Yellowfin Tuna and swordfish being divided and sold, noticed the changing seasons at the green market and the fall harvest brings in more Pomegranates, Oranges, and nuts. We explored an underground museum where we learn about the thousands of years people have lived in the city.
One last new drink for Mor-Mor to try (this time for my Italy running buddies I introduced her to the Hugo spritz which has made its way to the nicer Split restaurants), one final hug and we boarded the catamaran to Hvar waving like a 1940's movie to our loved ones.
Just as the time of this trip is racing by, so is the time our of lives. This month reminded me how lucky we are to have the gift of time. Three generations were able to spend a month sharing stories, adventures and experiences, a gift we will always carry with us.