Last night, we took a vaporetta to the Rialto to have dinner. It was a very beautiful sailing down the canal with the lights of the buildings reflected in the water.
At the Rialto, we chose a trattoria. Beside us was a young Italian couple - not locals as they were perusing a tourist map.
During their meal the man suddenly stood up, took his girlfriend by the hand and with a plate of gnocchi in the other, he proceeded towards the kitchen, shouting. Five minutes later the couple emerged, and stormed down the street. John had eaten gnocchi also!! Probably best we did not understand the young man's complaint.
We went back to our Casa c 11pm It was very quiet on the streets and most restaurants were closing.
This morning we had breakfast on our casa balcony overlooking the canal. It was a bright siunny morning but there was a nip in the air.
We departed for the station - a 5 minute walk with only one ponte to traverse!!
We took a train to Mestre on the mainland from Venice S. Lucia island station to connect with our train to Trieste.
On the train the landscape was similar to the landscape we had seen since we left Cuneo but there were less vineyards. However, each farm appeared to grow a small number of vines, perhaps for personal use?
On arrival in Trieste, we found our hotel in minutes, much to our relief. In contrast to last night's hotel, which was on a grand, ornate style, this is a real funky hotel that plays Beatles and other 'easy listening' music.
We walked to the famous Cafe Torinese -the oldest cafe in Trieste and very beautifully maintained. We lunched there.
En route, we encountered James Joyce on the Canale Ponterosso. He was creating quite a stir among some young, Eastern European tourists.
We then took a walk back to the hotel along the seafront. The city was once the 4th most important city in the Austro - Humgarian Empire but though it has wonderful architecture, emanating from that period, many buildings are in need of repair. It is a shadow of its former glory.
On to the number 2 tram that brought up in excess of 1,000 metres above Trieste, where there was a spectacular view of the Adriatic city.
It is obviously a place where the city's residents come at week-ends. Today being Sunday, the car park was full as there is also road access to the area.
The tourists here are few and far between and what tourists there are appear to be from Eastern Europe.
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