1. Question: What are some of the “things” or activities that the people of Trieste do for fun?

Answer:

The Triestini are brave people: they sunbathe from February to the last sunburst in November! And they love to enjoy life, tasting one of the 40 different coffee cups or venturing into the Karst for biking, trekking, climbing or just looking for the popular “osmizas,” private houses where you can taste local food and wine (karstic prosciutto, cheese and of course wine). They love to enjoy all the “Dolce Vita” opportunities offered by their historical city located between the Adriatic Sea and the kartic plateau, on the border with Slovenia.

2. Question: What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Trieste?

Answer:

Three intriguing clues: Trieste is the city of Barcolana, the most crowded regatta of the world (more than 2000 boats). James Joyce lived here for more than 12 years. Last but not least, Piazza Unità d’Italia is the largest square in Europe facing the sea and, when the weather allows it, you can see the magnificent Alps set on the gulf of the city. A perfect combination! The waves of the Adriatic touch the only open side of the square (over 12.000 square meters), while on the other three elegant buildings rise as a reminder that the city was once the seaside outpost of the Habsburg Empire. And what about Baron Revoltella’s secret used to check merchant vessels reaching the port of Trieste? I suggest you to visit the Revoltella Museum, an important modern art gallery.

3. Question: Share some aspect of what Trieste has contributed to the world.

Answer:

Trieste is also the city of coffee. With its elegant Viennese-inspired historical cafés and considering the amount of cups consumed in the bars, Trieste and its port have undoubtedly contributed to the spread of coffee culture all over the world. In the city the ritual of coffee is that popular that a specific vocabulary dedicated to order it has developed in time: try to ask for a “capo in B” or a “gocciato”! There is something interesting at all levels: you can make guided tastings of various blends or learn how to prepare the perfect espresso attending the only master class in the world that trains experts. Moreover the city has also contributed to the world as a hub for science thanks to all the research organizations and institutes in the city. This made possible that the city was finally selected to host the EuroScience Open Forum, the most important European event dedicated to science, technology, society and policy. The event will take place from 4 to 10 July 2020.

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Founded by the Romans in the 7^th century, Dubrovnik’s walled village is located on a rocky cliff overlooking the Dalmatian Coast of the Adriatic Sea, in the Southeastern part of Croatia. The city was known as Ragusa until the end of WWI, when it took its present name.

My first glance of the UNESCO World Heritage Site came from the deck of a cruise ship, which approached from the Mediterranean Sea. From this vantage point I got a panoramic view of the giant stone wall surrounding the city. Jetting 100 feet high from the rocks that line the coast, the 20-ft-thick wall stretches more than 6,350 ft-long as it wraps around mediaeval ramparts, draw bridges, and other castle features. For those wanting a cool, birds-eye view, it is possible to walk along the wall to get a memorable look at the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” the nearby islands, and the Franjo Tuđman Bridge, with iconic triangular, cable-stayed profile.

The barrier took nearly 500 years to complete and was built to protect the town and its prized location from ambitious invaders. Today it is considered one of Europe’s finest surviving fortress walls. It’s easy to understand why George Bernard Shaw once said “if you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik.”

After docking in the modern Port of Dubrovnik, I took a bus to edge of Old Town, where I found an exciting seaside atmosphere. There were kids eating ice cream on green lawns overlooking the water, shops full of tourists and pubs pouring beer. On one side I watched colorful fishing boats bob in the harbor beneath the fortress wall, and on the other side, I noticed hotels blending in with regular homes.

To enter Old Town I walked through the main Pile Gate, where I discovered a medieval world of densely packed brick buildings with arched doorways, marble inlays and red tiled roofs. Many of the buildings are mixed-used with private residences set atop quaint shops and charming outdoor cafes.

The town is dissected by a large and shiny limestone main street, which branches into a network of narrow, sloping alleys and steep stairways, teeming with plants. The bustling, cream-colored main street brightly reflects the sun’s rays during the day and turns them into a sandy glowing hue at night.

The landscape is also speckled with Baroque churches, monasteries and palaces, Renaissance fountains and facades, all intertwined with gleaming wide marble-paved squares and those steep cobbled streets, all of which have also remained unchanged for centuries. Old Town is also home to an 800-year-old Gothic church and Europe’s oldest pharmacy.

As I wandered in and out of the town’s walkways, I was overcome by the aroma of fresh seafood riding a warm Mediterranean breeze. The scent led me to a place called Pink Shrimp Street Food located in a charming little alley off the main street. Here I sat outside and enjoyed a fresh shrimp sandwich with salad and a mug of cold, Croatian beer.

As I ate my lunch I watched people from all over the world stroll up and down the cobblestone streets. If you are out at the right time, the place can be a peaceful village, while much of the time it is bustling with tourists. The place gets about 2 million visitors per year and a good chunk of these people come by way of cruise ship. During the summer, Dubrovnik can welcome up to six cruise ships on a single day.

Cruise lines such as Holland America stop in the Dubrovnik. In fact their ship Oosterdam is leaving on a 12-day Mediterranean Romance cruise October 15 (next month), that departs from Venice, Italy and stops in Dubrovnik. For more information, visit Holland America.

Go here for more info on Croatia and Dubrovnik

Los Angeles Intl Airport offers daily connecting flights to Dubrovnik. A good local tour company for the Los Angeles area is Adriatic Travel Inc., which specializes in Croatia and Dubrovnik.

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