From Prague we made the 8 hour drive to Trieste on the coast of Italy, traveling through Germany and Slovenia. Trieste has changed hands between Italy and Slovenia a number of times. Slovenia today has very little coast. It is very beautiful, but lacks the major port in Trieste, Italy.
We chose to visit Trieste because it was actually a business trip for Emily. We were forced to stay in the Honeywell appointed hotel with the view of the harbor. It was dreadful, but both Emily and Isabelle said it was by far the nicest hotel of the trip - such troopers.
There was a castle on the northern side of Trieste which was used by the Americans just after WWII. Along with the castle, their was a marine biology center that used the waters in the foreground of this photo, and on the other side was a rocky "beach" (i.e. one without sand.)
Next to our hotel was the large square which was quite beautiful especially at night.
Isabelle, Spencer and I visited the Grotto in Trieste. This involved walking down 500 steps and then back up a different set. I thought the most interesting part of the cave was the huge wire extended from the center through a plastic tube that is used to sense tiny movements in the earth, like earthquakes. (I've been told my text can be rather nerdy so I won't go into any other detail).
After purchasing our tickets we were told by means of enormous models that the cave is home to sprickets. I'm not sure if spricket is really the correct term, but they are bugs which are something like a grasshopper and a cricket. Sprickets seems to have a fondness for jumping at Isabelle, which she finds terrifying. She decided to stick it out and go on the tour anyway. Fortunately we didn't end up crossing paths with any during our trip.
Isabelle and Spencer at sunset across from our hotel on Isabelle's 22 birthday
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Me and Isabelle
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On the right of this picture you can see a little cafe. This is were we had Isabelle's birthday dinner. I think everyone but Spencer liked the lemoncello.