June 20 - Ravenna to Trieste

The Tri-Train Trial

I was sad to leave my B&B this morning. My room was very nice, the operators were friendly and helpful and the resident dog was tolerant but a little standoffish. I powered down some coffee, fruit, yogurt, egg and muffin and left for the train station a little past 8:00. Wheeling my bags over the cobblestones was easier than when I arrived two days ago. This is because I knew where I was going and I wasn't tired from the day's travel hassles. My train to Bologna left from track 1 so I didn't have to lug my bags down and up the steps under the tracks.

The train was an intercity train which meant that I rode in an unreserved second class car. This train was much nicer than the one that I arrived in. It was clean and the air conditioning worked. Because Ravenna was the originating station, it was ready for boarding early. I got a good seat and my luggage found a large area to sit in.

When I arrived in Bologna, I had to go down the stairs to find my next platform. A kind soul helped me with one of my bags. I got lucky going up to the next platform because there was an elevator to get me there.

This train was a high-speed one. I had a reserved second-class seat and plenty of space for my luggage. It was air conditioned. The seats were comfortable but a bit cramped. The lady across from me spent most of the time on her cell phone. I started to get upset, but she had such a melodic Italian voice, that I calmed down. The train was about 15 minutes late and I was slightly worried about making my next connection in Venice Mestre - that's the station right before Venice proper.

When I got off of the train, I had only 15 minutes to make my next connection. I thought that I got lucky because the train across the platform was going to Trieste. I almost got on it, but it looked too crowded. So I lugged my bags down the stairs and over to the stairs for the platform for the train I was supposed to board. There are lots of hustlers (in a good way) hanging out in these underground passages looking to earn a few euros by helping old people like me. Well I had one of them carry my bicycle bag up the stairs and gave him €2.00. He wanted more but I told him that was all that I would give him. He disappeared.

This was another intercity train bound for Trieste. It was very crowded and had no air conditioning. The temperatures were in the 90s. The top slits in the windows were open, though, so it was tolerable. As the train rolled into each station, more and more people got off. By the time we reached Trieste two hours later, it was half full.

I wheeled my luggage out of the station and asked several people for directions to the hotel until I finally found it. The rooms are modern in an old building. My room is clean, quiet and has good wifi. The first thing that I did was dump my bags and go around the coerced for a pinino and a beer. Then I got cleaned up and washed out today's soggy clothes.

Around 6:00 or so, I decided to venture out into the unknowns of Trieste. The nice young woman at the desk showed me how to walk to the old part of the city. It was still hot and the traffic was very noisy. I immediately walked down a lightly travelled side street and entered a pedestrian mall. Map in hand, I navigated through the historical, shopping and restaurant area. Part of the time I and several other people were following a marching jazz band. I'm not sure what their purpose was because they were handing out literature written in Italian. It was fun though. I eventually got hungry and settled in at Ristorante La Piazzetta. I chose it because it looked nice, had a decent menu displayed and there was seating outside under an awning and surrounded by bushes in planters. I had mixed fried fish and a mixed salad. Food is not deep fried like it is at home. It is lightly sautéed. There were sardines, small white fish, small flat fish, octopus, squid and shrimp. It was good but not great. I got my fried fish yearning taken care of.

After dinner, I wandered around on my way back to the hotel. There were lots of people out and most of them were sitting in outdoor cafes drinking, smoking and snacking. It was a young, vibrant crown - much younger and vibranter then I am. I didn't feel sorry for myself getting back to my room by 8:30.

I would have more photos tomorrow. One of the websites that I need to massage my photos on my iPad is down.