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Published: July 13th 2012
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Hello all you beautiful people,
Okay so the Italian vacanza 3 week extravaganza kicked off to a flying start with a 7 hour drive to Muggia in Trieste to reach the Adriatic Sea. We hit the beach straight away only to discover that there is no sand, but stones!! Massive effort getting in and out of the sea, as it is so painful to walk on them! We went to a popular seafood restaurant, but as I don’t like fish it was spaghetti pomodorro for one.
The next day (Monday) I had to face the fear and get on a boat to go 30 minutes across the Adriatic Sea to Trieste. Normally I avoid boats like the plaque because I suffer horribly from seasickness, but I had no choice. I had to starve myself at breakfast, then the mum got me to lie down on the boat with my eyes closed so I probably looked like a mental person, but I’ll tell you what it did the trick I was not sick either on the way there our on the way back!!
Trieste is very beautiful, we took the open top bus
around the area and then after lunch we walked up to Miramare Castle. I would love to live there, waking up every morning and looking out at the sea. Every room was decorated in a different style. One bedroom was done to look like a boat with low ceilings and wooden walls, very strange as it did actually feel like you were out at sea. I also tried watermelon gelato, it shouldn’t work but it so does. Bellissimo!
Tuesday we drove through Czechoslovakia to reach Croatia. We spent the day on the beach in Rovinj. When I first heard we were going to Croatia I must admit I screwed up my nose a bit, it wasn’t on my list of ‘places to visit.’ But now I have been I thoroughly recommend it, the views are beautiful and so are the men! In the restaurant we went to for dinner there was 3 gorgeous waiters (what are the chances??). The only downside was the beach here also had stones and not sand and the gelato in no way compared to that of Italy.
Wednesday was another super busy day we hit Slovenia in the morning,
to got to the First World War museum in Kobarid. It was very interesting to see the war from the prospective of another country and they even had a section on the Jewish soldiers there who fought in the war. This part of Slovenia actually used to be part of Italy, but when they lost the war they had to give it to Slovenia. They had a dumbbell from the war which consisted of a stick with two massive rocks on it, good way to improvise.
After lunch we went to see two war memorials, one in Kobarid, Slovenia and the other in Redipuglia, Italy showing the names of all the soldiers who fought and died defending their country. Then it was back to Slovenia (Lipica) to see the Lipica horses which are famous in that area. The day was finished with a plate of spag bol and profiteroles. Good times!!
Thursday morning we chilled by the pool. After lunch we went back to Slovenia to Lipica again to visit the horse stables and to go to the horse museum. It was very interesting to learn about the horses as they are born brown,
but between the ages of 4 and 12 they turn white. Occasionally one will stay brown, but not very often. I also found out today that horses sleep with their eyes open and standing up!
After this we went to Postojna to visit the underground caves. I loved it, you have to take a train underground to get deep in the heart of the caves, which are massive and filled with stalagmites and stalactites. It’s only 8 degrees in there, which is a shock when outside is 20+ degrees. There is a massive area they call ‘the ballroom’ which has really good acoustics (they get you to sing in there to hear it for yourself) and they hold concerts in there, which I think would be pretty amazing to see. My fav thing there was a stalagmite and stalactite joined together called 'Romeo & Juliet.' Also had my first gnocchi since I’ve been here. Only one day left here, as Saturday we leave to go to the grandparent’s house near the beach.
Friday we went back to Trieste, thankfully we went by car this time so I didn’t have to be nil-by-mouth. We saw
some Roman ruins and went to San Giusto to see the castle. After lunch we drove for a bit to see a cave where they buried some soldiers and then we went swimming followed by packing. Leaving very early tomorrow to go to the grandparent’s beach house where we will spend the next two weeks.
This week I’ve become a lot closer with the youngest one who normally doesn’t talk to me. She wanted to hold my hand, sit next to me at dinner and she even fell asleep on my lap in the car. Massive step forward in our relationship, but I can’t help wondering if this will continue when we get home or if she’ll go back to being grumpy and distant. again We’ll see!
Been a good week, although most of it has been sitting in the car (not my idea of a holiday but never mind) and seen lots of interesting things. Finding the long days with the family difficult though, as not getting a lot of time to myself, but I am still getting paid so can’t complain too much.
Not long now till London baby!
I’ll probably post again once I’m back in Ivrea with the installments from weeks 2 and 3.
Arriverderci!
Soph
xXx
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