One night in Trieste makes a hard man humble.

Mizz S and I left Venice on the 14th. We paid for the fast(er) train to Trieste but we boarded the slow circuitous train by accident. But we had comfy seats and plenty of room so we figured it was no big deal. But after 3 hours of a slow train in the sun with no air conditioning and only very small windows that hardly cracked open, we felt like we were in a layer of hell. But to Trieste we were.

We planned to walk next door to the bus station and board a bus to Slovenia.

But it was Sunday. And all the buses leave early that day. Didn't we know that?

So we asked about the bus to Slovenia the next day. But they don't run that day. It's August 15th, didn't you know that?

We heard hints of a ferry, but the ticket office was closed by that time so we decided to spend the night. By the time we checked the next morning (a little after 9), the ferry had already left early....because it was August 15th.

Slovenia was proving elusive.

We asked about Croatia.

No problem! So bused it we did. To Pula.

A photo trip through Trieste.....

Trieste saw Mizz S and I bogged down with our bags more than we would've liked.

The Grand Canal in Trieste.

Our lovely (ahem) hotel, Hotel Centrale, was really just an expensive hostel. Air conditioning was extra as was the "free" internet. Mizz S and I figured with our wits we could outsmart their password. We tried and tried. We failed. The following morning, Mizz S charmed a front desk gentleman to give us the password. This, THIS! We never could have guessed. 

Yes, I stayed gluten free in Italy.

A trip into Italy without pasta and pizza and bread and cannolis? It can be done. To make up for any perceived sense of loss, however, I ate gelato three times during my afternoon/evening in Venice (fig! pistachio! creme caramel/hazelnut! oh yes so!).

Squid with squid ink and good-n-crispy polenta. Mizz S had a local specialty of calf liver pan fried in olive oil and lemon. Of course we had a large caprese salad as well.

Sambuca on the rocks with a few coffee beans thrown in for good measure.

Me and Mizz S's evening light bite: blue cheese, brie, buffalo mozzarella and parmesan (we think) with honey to accompany.

Made it to Venice

On August 13th, Mizz S and I took a two-hour flight from Bucharest to Venice. As neither of us had been to Venice before, we decided to overnight there before heading out for points east (Slovenia then Croatia being our plan). Our hotel was not in Venice but, rather, on mainland in Marghera. After a short bus ride as stowaways, we were looking at the canals and wandering the small streets. 

Trying to take pictures and I realized we were totally in the way. Mizz S was making me laugh with comments like "work it" and "make love to the camera."

An unplanned purchase but one I couldn't walk away from- a Murano glass bowl that I bought right off Piazza San Marco (you know, right where the prices are real cheap).

Piazza San Marco.

Genuine, authentic Italian graffiti.

Ok, it's official: I love my camera.