Final Daze

However much I write and post, there are always more things left out, than included in these postings. 

For one, the tempo of my travel is quite fast. Though I’ve slowed down somewhat from the giddy tempo of my youth and often spend two, even three, nights per town, that still makes for a whole lot of destinations and day trips. More than can be comfortably squeezed into any travelog.

Every day I run into things that amuse me - such as this utter failure of a submarine I ran into in Korcula - the ”semi submarine” that doesn’t actually submerge.

I run into great art - both old, such as this Venetian era doorway in Trogir

ancient, such as this Roman burial monument repurposed as the doorposts of Trieste cathedral

and contemporary, such as this stunning and slightly frightening cathedral door in Ljubljana by sculptor Mirsad Begiĉ

I run into strange plants - such as this one on the island of Hvar, which must have been the original inspiration for chicken wire mesh,

and familiar fruit such as persimon, a personal favourite, hanging heavy on the branches of the trees.

I run into foggy nights

and even two rainy days.

But mostly sunshine and epic sunsets - here seen on the coast of Croatia.

But I’ll push on now, as I near the end of this roadtrip. 

You last left me in the Slovenian Alps. As I descended from them, I took a couple of hours to check out Bled, an iconic day trip destination from Ljubljana and must see location. The town of Bled itself is the victim of it’s own success. Ugly and oversized squares of hotels have ruined what may have been a pretty Alpine village. The fortress on top of a stunning cliff plunging into lake Bled remains, 

as does the little church and monastery on an island. But from the town proper these seem a bit underwhelming. One has to walk to the opposite shore of the little lake so that the island covers the view of the ugly  town - and there you have it. 

Bled is a one view destination. But that’s quite the view!

From the mountains I slide on down to the sea, and the old fishing town of Piran. 

At the tip of a peninsula, sheltered by a fortified mountain, Piran thrived under Venetian and later Hapsburg rule. It’s a truly lovely little seaside destination and comes highly recommended!

And now, finally, I have arrived in Italy at Trieste, waiting for my flight north. 

After the small old towns with fewer people and hardly any traffic, Trieste, a bustling industrial town and one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean, comes as a slight cultural shock. 

But also Trieste has its own big town charm. There is still the memory of the Hapsburg years in the bones and architecture of this city. 

but also the memory of the Venetians and also old Roman remains and findings. Such as this gravestone of a Roman soldier, depicting his armour, chained barbarian and weeping woman - basically everything a soldier could wish for in the afterlife.

Food is wonderful, restaurants are full and there is oh so much life on the streets! 

My lovely hosts here, Mirella and Mauro have made me feel most welcome - and on hearing of my fetish, even bought some of my favourite bisquits for my breakfast (Mulino Bianco Macine - accept no substitutes!).

What else could a traveller want at the end of a journey? Thanks for travelling with me.

Have a bisquit, keep safe and keep on moving!