Ai Pini Grado

... of Santa Cecilia, sixty performers in the choir and orchestra which have belonged to Grado for well over a century. They keep alive not only the authentic tradition of popular songs but also the church music which accompanies the main religious festivities including the traditional St Stephen’s Day concert on 26 December at 6pm in the Basilica.

Music and exhibitions throughout Grado also accompany New Year’s ...

... ran over my foot!!! Anyway, we got Sam and did a couple of things, shopping etc. Then headed back to Merate as we had dinner with Alda and Alessandro again, but without the kids, and we were going into Milano. And what a hectic drive was around the city!! Even at the odd time of 8.30pm! We ate at a really cute little German restaurant which seemed a little bit like Oktoberfest. So that was cool.

The next day we left Merate, said our goodbyes and left for Trieste to see ...

... exploration today. Figured that since most of Italy is churches, we should go see the synagogue here as its one of the biggest in Europe. Not that either of us are religous, but sometimes we just get the urge to pray (NOT!, this is not some bible belt after school special). Jason is ready now, so we're off for the day, ttyl......

... of alleyways behind the town hall, in the hopes of losing myself in them for a little while as I headed out to the lighthouse, on the tip of the town that extends into the Adriatic. Fortunately or unfortunately, the town is small enough that, while one can wander through these alleyways, it is really difficult to truly lose one's self in them. I was out at the lighthouse a short time later, which, as promised by my guidebook, was quite unimpressive ...

... tram in the city will take you uphill to the Trieste plateau ("Altipiano triestino"). Be sure not to miss a walk through the Napoleonica, a panoramic pedestrian route loved by locals of all ages; the Grotta Gigante (Giant Cave), the world's largest tourist cave in the world, and, last but not least, an easy lunch in an osmiza, each one open only several days per year. Be sure to keep your eyes wide open and look for a branch of ivy and a wooden ...

... the Latin motto ˝Let them talk.˝ We liked that, but Bill did point out that wealthy Italian men never ever take young lovers and lavish money on them, so of course people talked. o what one does in Piran, if youre us, is wander the harbor and alleys and churchyard and ask the campanile why its not open for you and talk to the omnipresent cats. Theres quite a system of walkwazs from town to town and even a 3 countrz walkway, we found a ...

So I took about 5 days off work (yeh cos I am working so incredibly hard, haha) and jumped on the train destined for Trieste. The town I have heard about ever since growing up as this was the place my Nonni (grandparents) had lived before moving to Australia 50 odd years ago. So a train ride from Milan to Trieste takes around 5 hours, but because of how great the train system is here, it took me about 6-7 hours there and on the way back!! Stupid train ...

... caves, which is unusual. Our tour group is fairly large and again we’re broken up by language; this time English or Slovenian. As we begin the tour Gabe laughs at me for always wanting to be first in the group.



We’ve been through our share of caves, seen stalagmites and stalactites, but this was the coolest. Huge antechambers and crazy columns, but ...

Italian is not a common 2nd language in the countries we've visited, but Koper Slovenia had clearly been conquered by the Italians and left with evidence of their rule. The city was settled in Roman times, then influenced by the Byzantine Empire around 600-800 AD, and ruled by Venice from 1300-1800.

Street signs were in Italian and Slovenian, and the lion emblem of Venice was posted on several important buildings. The familiar locking window ...

This is a great small town, where they actually choose to not speak english. We went from the restaurant to bar to wedding to bar to restaurant to bar (the Black Stuff) etc. Eat, Drink, Sleep repeat for a few days. It was a beautiful wedding and a great town.