It rained all night last night and again there was thunder and lightning all around us. A very noisy night but good for finally being able to get under a sheet and so be better protected from the mozzies.
When I got up this morning It was quite cool but nonetheless I decided I was going to go down and have a quick swim before my shower. It’s a good way to wake up and what a treat to be able to do it. It was just lovely, the water is always warm.
We then got going and went to Castle Miramare which sits out on a promontory as a Triestian landmark. It was built by / for Maximilian the Hapsberg Arch Duke of Trieste. Not long after it was finished as his love nest for his wife Charlotte he accepted a request to become the King of Mexico and when he went to Mexico he was assassinated. Charlotte never went back to Miramare. But it is an amazing Castle with a wonderful interior decked out like a ship, opulent and classy. It was great to see. We both loved it.
When we came out of Miramare it was raining again so we went into Trieste to the best restaurant yet … called Nero Di Seppia. All seafood and so yummy. That was great. We are generally eating one meal a day and having a little snack back here at night.
After the restaurant we went to the Museo Revoltella. It was also fascinating. The old villa of Pasquale Revolttella who played a major role in Trieste in the 19th century. He was also a major player in getting the Suez Canal built as it was so important in sustaining Trieste as a major port. Fascinating to see his house basically as it was. The adjacent house also houses the Contemporary Art Museum so lots to see and 154 steps up to the (would you believe it) 7th floor and 154 steps down!!
After both these large museums we were exhausted and it was pouring. So after a stop to stock up on wine we came home.
Trieste is such a confused town with a great mix of the Germanic, Italian and Slovak cultures. Your phone company keeps trying to change to Austria or Slovenia and the food is also a mix of the Austrian/ German and the Italian. The buildings are very Austrian Hungarian Empire. There are more German and Austrian tourists than I’ve seen anywhere. All of this makes it so unique. Driving up to the north of Slovenia yesterday we could have been in Switzerland. Eeverything is jumbled up and Trieste wears it like a queen with sophistication, great food and restaurants, great bars and a generally relaxed feel. The Coast is of course full of summer holiday makers at the moment which adds to the feeling of a relaxed laid back place to be.
Great to hear that the London contingent are all having a great time together!!