Centrale Hotel Trieste

... is a feast of colour, light, perfumes, sweet specialities, and artistic displays that skilfully blend street decoration with expressions of faith. In the protected area of the lagoon - an atmospheric blend of land and sea - Grado wears her winter finery as she hosts a party for the whole family in a blend of tradition, spirituality, music and fun.
In the weekends in early December and each day from Saturday 19 December to ...

... 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......

... I wandered back along towards the main square on the route along the water, then headed up the hill to the bell tower and churches. This area does afford beautiful views in both directions – one of the harbor, main square and town and the other of the hilly coastline that extends across the bay. I wandered around for a little while and then decided it was time for me to be on my way – I did have quite a drive ahead of me, and a couple of more ...

... d'Italia, the largest and undoubtly the most beautiful square in Europe overlooking the seafront, and the Molo Audace...all within easy reach!

When your legs start to feel tired, stop for a coffee or a glass of spritz, perhaps in one of the famous places where Joyce, Saba or Svevo used to get inspiration for their masterpieces. Just to mention a couple, Caffè degli Specchi in Piazza Unità, and Caffè San Marco, in via Battisti 18.

The ...

... br>back to Piran. Piran is dominated by Tartini Square, named for a Euzro=world famous musician we never heard of, but were happz to take his picture. I continue to be impressed by the Slovenian statues to poets and musicians, not a single general on a horse yet. There.s a pink Venetian house on one sort of corner of Tartini Square built by a wealthy merchant for a very very young slip of a Piranese lass. He emblazoned it with the Venecian lion ...

... you know its cheaper for me to fly to Spain or France of Germany for a weekend than to catch a train within Italy!! Haha. Nevertheless I couldn't come all this way and not visit the distant relatives I have never met.

My first day (well afternoon/evening as I arrived at 4pm), Stelio picked me up from the station, and Robert (Dad's cousin, so my...2nd cousin??) and his girlfriend and (his) daughter were there. So we all said Ciao and ...

Sorry, too dark for any good pictures, but here are a few attempts. This place is HUGE, with awesome, massive caverns that blow your mind, very impressive and interesting. The remains of the original internal stairs are visible in many spots, built by the original explorers ...

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 ...

... place. It was housed in what I can only describe as a cross between the remnants of a war zone and a wreckage yard for cars. I was there quite early so there was nobody around to confirm to me that I was in the right place, as I sat on a kerb I was going to have to trust that this was the right place. After an hour a chance at human contact presented itself and thus an opportunity to make sure I was indeed waiting on a ferry to Albania and not some crazy, lawless country ;0 ...

... the way is really curious. Certainly there's enough outbound tourist traffic (not to mention freight and so forth) to Piran, Rovinj, Pula and so forth, so there would be no reason not to. Anyhow, tonight I'm taking an early evening in to relax and prepare for the trip into neighboring Slovenia. Then early tomorrow it's up and at 'em for a bus over the border to Piran. A short trip, but the beginning of a much longer one deep into the western Balkans.