Trieste

I have this folder of info about the boat, but well, in the intervening months that folder has been put somewhere or other, so I can't say all scientifically just how the boat was. It was pretty big. In the category of Ban-It-From-Venice big, which I can totally agree with because the environmental harm these behemoths can do, as they parade up and down the lagoon, looming large over the city taller than anything in sight. 11 decks above the waterline, maybe 4000 people aboard including crew.

 

I agree, and yet, there I was on the boat, and happy to be. 

 

We glided out of port in the evening, watching from the top top railing as the modestly lit city slid by. It's interesting how dark Venice is at night. I understood that in a small way, when walking to or from dinner, the narrow streets were often unlit, and the plazas only dimly. From the vantage point of the ship you can see that it's that way everywhere.

 

First thing: decide on a drinking plan.

Seriously! You've got your Costa card, and you choose a beverage plan and pay for the whole thing at once, for the whole trip, and then you just present your card at any beverage-dispensing point and consume as many as you'd like. There's a plan with only soft drinks, coffee & tea for maybe 15€ a day, way on up to one including unlimited orders of the most complicated cocktails. Unlimited being one at a time, of course: you can't use one card to get a round for the whole table. Dang. Each client a card. We settled on one including ordinary wines and standard cocktails. There was an option, I think, where you could pre-pay a certain number of items, and once they were gone you could top up the card. but we went the route that really encourages you to consume. Another espresso? Sure. An apéritif? That sounds nice. A nightcap? Oh, now you mention it...

 

Then there's eating. All standard meals are included, plus a certain amount of snackage. The buffet was alright, but mobbed, so we usually ate at our designated table in the dining room. For dinner you're supposed to go at your assigned time, and sit at your assigned table, with your assigned tablemates. You can change, though. But it's nice if you have interesting neighbors to see them each evening, because you get to know them a bit. Breakfast and lunch the waiters take you to the table that suits them. I liked the tables at the back window, overlooking our wake, but it's noisy there, only 2 floors above the waterline.

The room was great. Excellent bed, lots of space, bathtub, armchairs, a private balcony. The only way to tell the ship is underway is the low vibration and background of noise. You get used to it, and tend to notice when it stops. That means you're in port.

Oh, look! Trieste has magically appeared outside the window.

Oh, and it's raining, but just a little.

It's Sunday morning, and not much is going on in Trieste.

We hiked up the hill to the old monastery there, which was cool. The museum for the fotress up there was closed, of course. But you could go up the belltower of the Church. That was cool, not just for the view (beware of the time, because if they ring 11:00 right in your ear you might be deaf for a while), but because some nifty works of art on what used to be the outside of the building are now on the inside. As you climb up the stairs, there's this on the left, as best a view as can be had.

Down in the town again, the shops were opening in the shopping area. They must do a lot of tourist business there, from the cruise ships coming to refuel. I'm not sure we'd stop here but for the fuel...

Anyway, there are two interesting things. There's a tiny little handcraft fair, with about a dozen stands selling soaps and textiles and leather goods and knicknacks. And there's a race.

 

A walking race.

Racers of all ages are going round and round and round a circuit of about 2 large city blocks. Walking as fast as they can, which is pretty fast. There apparently are racewalking clubs here, and they have come together to compete in their favored sport on this drizzly September day.

 

Time to go! Fuel tanks full, supplies all on board. Let's head South.