Italy! Venice, canals, wine and seeing the parents |

15th September – 19th September

Venice! It was lovely to explore the quieter parts of this amazing place with mum and dad!

It was time to make our way to Venice.. We were meeting my parents there (and they were putting us up in a hotel for a few nights, thanks mum and dad!!) Although we could make the trip straight to Venice, we decided to stop for a night in Trieste. Getting from Slovenia to Italy was not so straight forward, however, as trains do not travel between the two.

First, we had to catch an early morning bus from Bovec to Most Na Soci (the train station in the middle of nowhere previously encountered on our way to Bovec). After a couple of hours of waiting, we jumped on a train, headed to the Italian border. The furthest the train would go was Nova Gorica on the Slovenian side of the border. We got off the train and walked 3.5km across the border to the Gorizia train station on the Italian side. We then jumped on the next train to Trieste.

Arriving in the afternoon, my first impression of Trieste was nothing special. It is a big port city, has some buildings, seems fairly standard really. However, wandering around in the evening the city takes on a new charm. The main square is beautifully lit up. And the dining district is filled with lovely little deli’s and wine bars, with people filling the streets.

Trieste, Italy. Whilst not the prettiest city we have been to, did have its moments. — Trieste, Italy. Whilst not the prettiest city we have been to, it did have its moments.

Trieste, Italy. This place it lit up beautifully at night. — And it was lit up beautifully at night, completely transforming parts of the city.

Trieste, Italy. The central square.. which actually isn't really a square - it has one open side to the water. — Trieste, Italy. The central square.. which actually isn’t really a square – it has one open side to the water.

Wine time! There are lots of really lovely little deli's and wine bars in Trieste. — Wine time! There are lots of really lovely little deli’s and wine bars in Trieste.

The next morning we headed to Venice to meet my parents. It was great to see them and catch up after 9 months away. We were staying right in the centre of Venice, not far from Saint Marks Square. Whilst the square was crazily packed with tourists and flooded with water come high tide each day, we found ourselves wandering a bit further afield into the less popular areas for day trippers. And in these quieter parts of town it was really lovely. Our trip coincided with the Venice Biennale, and so we stumbled upon numerous exhibitions around the city. It was wonderful to be able to step inside so many of the buildings and explore behind the walled alleyways. I was quite surprised by the grand interiors of what seemed such understated places from the outside.

Venice, Italy. — As much as it is swarmed with tourists, I did really enjoy our time in Venice. It was good to get out of the very central area and explore some of the tucked away places which were a bit quieter.

A little doorway through to another alleyway.

Love it or hate it, you can't deny that Venice is a pretty unique place. I loved the worn old buildings and canal boats. — Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that Venice is a pretty unique place. I loved the worn old buildings and canal boats.

At the Venice Biennale we stumbled across this art installation. Ian was inspired to do his 'biennale' dance. — At the Venice Biennale we stumbled across this art installation. Ian was inspired to do his ‘biennale’ dance.

So after a few days in Venice it was time to say goodbye to the folks and head on to explore a few other Italian towns and cities..

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