Longest ever taxi ride

So it was back to the apartment one last time to collect our bags and then on to the street to meet the can driver who arrived on time. He was a very quiet guy who looked battle-hardened and didn't speak with single word of English. For the first hour we said nothing. His first word was "pas" as we approached the Croatian border and then on to a new motorway that would cut out quite a bit of time. But th whole idea of a 160km taxi ride seemed to little crazy not just for us but also for the driver. However he was a very safe driver and so I felt quite comfortable with his driving, even if the occasional drawing of the cross on his chest with his fingers was a little odd. But maybe it was a premonition because halfway through our journey and at an altitude of 650m we hit an almighty thunder storm, and we were literally in the clouds. The driver had to take a break with many other motorists under the cover of the petrol station as together with the thunder, lightning, rain an hail was a wind so strong you think it could lifted car. Eventually the driver felt safe to drive but back on the motorway the rain and hail returned. We couldn't stop so had to persevere with almost zero visibility. It was just fortunate this new motorway was almost empty. It was very shame we were delayed by the storm because his time was otherwise so good and we were in Split after about 2.5 hours.  It was very little more difficult in the city itself so I called the apartment and had him speak to work out the route. Using my phone we helped guide him to the address where we paid up and shook hands. He had a long journey back. And we were very grateful. All for only £20 more than bus tickets and a cab from the bus station. Crazy.