Trieste 14 July

A bit of a performance getting here yesterday as the "Regionale" trains were on strike we found when we arrived at Venezia Mestre station around 11am. The only possibility was to exchange ticket after waiting in vain for advertised 1pm train. Long queues and much excited discussion but eventually acquired a booking for a FrecciaBianca train around 8pm. So we hung out in a rather dubious park, made friends with a delightful young lady from Rome, had some wines and cappuccinos etc and eventually made it to our hostel a bit before 10pm.

 Nice trains but none for us!

 Our home for 2 days! This rather forbidding locked door leads into a high stone hallway with a rattly old lift in the style of every old apartment building anywhere in Europe and so to the 3rd floor and our hostel, which is basic but convenient and comfortable and hosts helpful.

And this morning we set off for the big Piazza d' Unita del Italia. This is where the bodies of the Archduke Ferdinand and wife Sophia were brought after the shooting which was the trigger for WW1, and put on board a boat for .. Where? Not actually sure. Some photos were on display, seemed like might have only been yesterday!

 Not our idea but someone thought we should've photographed by this statue.

We then went to old castle and basilica on top of rocky hill above centre...and then to Miramare, the amazing place built by younger brother (Maximillian) of Emperor Franz Joseph after his naval exploits and before he was given a "hospital pass" in the form of a position where he was supposed to rule all of Mexico. Not surprisingly the Mexicans didn't take kindly to this imposition and lined him up in front of the firing squad. When his unfortunate wife was finally told of his death she returned to her own country Belgium and went mad before dying of old age. All very sad but the house remains and is being preserved / restored in all it's mad opulence.

Last one, just a random street photo. Time to go and find some dinner and hope this publishes ok!