Fall Italy/Spain 2024

We are ending our first week in Italy.  I have already learned so much.  I will generously share my pearls of wisdom.  1) Trieste is a fabulous city with much to see and do, including visiting nearby Croatia and Slovenia.  Lesson learned: One week is not enough time to enjoy this city and area. 2) Wine is cheaper than water. Lesson learned:  Drink more wine. 3) Italy makes some amazing chocolate. Lesson learned: Eat more chocolate.  4) Most women's bathrooms in Italy have no toilet seats.  I asked why, and was told this was done in an effort to help keep the bathrooms cleaner. Seems to me that whoever planned this, failed to ask the critical question, "What could possibly go wrong with this strategy? " Lesson learned: Women... Practice using the restroom standing up at all times.  Please let me know how this works for you.  5) Italian restrooms NEVER provide toilet paper.  I have no idea what they are thinking with this one.   Lesson learned:  Pack lots of those little do...

We are returning this evening from a 3 days, 2 nights in Ljubliana, Slovenia.  It was a quick Flix bus ride from Trieste.  In an effort to make the most out of the bus ride, we spend a little extra cash for the "deluxe, front row seats, that provide panoramic views" What a treat.  So impressive, I just had to share our panoramic view... The window shade adds so much to the panorama. Don't you agree? Ljubliana was beautiful, quaint, pristine, friendly, and so impressive.  The center historical area is automobile free making it a very easy city to maneuver (on foot of course).  The city provides free electric mini busses for those unable to walk the area. A river ambles through the main area providing boat excursions, kayaking, etc.  The banks are lined with restaurants, bars, and stores.   The city was named the "greenest city in the world 2019".  All garbage is fed through pipes that run underground.  No mess, no smell, etc.  Every household is given electronic ...

Yesterday we booked a tour of the famous Caves Giante.  After a harrowing   quick ride to the top of Trieste ( I'll elaborate on Italian taxis after I've recovered from the trama)  we joined a group of 20 also clueless tour participants.  The following sign was posted throughout the waiting area.  I assumed it was an invitation to crawl up the 500 steps to exit the cave.  Turns out  much to my surprised that this was highly frowned upon by the tour guides.  Who knew? The following photos were taken mostly by Cheech.  ( I like to give credit where credit is due. )  I found it difficult to take photos as I decended 500 wet, uneven, and slippery steps.  Additionally, it was difficult to maneuver a camera as I maintained a death grip on the railings.  Common sense prevailed not my usual choice and I concentrated on making it safely to the bottom of the cave.   It was amazing.  One of the largest and deepest caves in Europe is also breathtankingly beautiful.  This was an excursio...

We arrived in Trieste on Tuesday the 9/24 about 6:00 in the evening.  This was 20 hours after our departure from San Francisco.   Airline travel is about as fun as a root canal  can be a little challenging.  We arrived in Frankfurt with plenty of time to catch our flight to Venice, 2 hours to spare.  Well, kind of... we didn't anticipate having to wait for a bus to shuttle us to our new departure gate.  There were hundreds of us waiting for buses, yes that's right, busses,  to shuttle us to connecting flights in different terminals.  We waited in a cue  that rivaled Space Mountain at Christmas break  that I like to think of as the "testy travelers club".   An hour later we arrived at a new terminal only to find ourselves in the same sized customs cue.    After customs approval, with only minutes to spare we ran , carry ons in tow, from gate A1 to gate A68.  Heads up to my fellow seniors... after a certain age probably 20, running through a terminal, luggage and old a...

We are 3 days and counting to the start of our trip to Italy and Spain.  Almost fully packed (have been almost fully packed for the last 10 days).  Upside to this: feeling very prepared (and a bit smug).  Downside to this: I have worn the same two outfits (those not packed) for the last 10 days.  If nothing else, I am a fashion statement. We have a long travel day ahead of us on Monday.  San Francisco to Frankfurt by air.  Frankfurt to Venice by air.  Venice to Trieste by train.  Train station to home exchange (by foot). We expect to arrive ready to saunter down the Trieste boardwalk from the train station to our home exchange.  Looking forward to a lovely walk after a long day of confined travel.   Update:  As Rick Steves advises, "If your vacation is not meeting your expectations, change your expectations."   Edited expectations after seeing Italy's extreme weather warning for the area on the date of our arrival:...