Day 27

Today marked our final day in Trieste, and also the bittersweet end of our shared European adventure before we head back to Australia. Since we’d be flying out to London Stansted this evening, Ted suggested we start our day with breakfast out — a nice way to mark the occasion.

That was easier said than done. Apparently, breakfast isn’t really a thing here the way it is back home. Most cafés and restaurants didn’t even start serving until lunch. But we were determined and eventually stumbled upon Home Sapore di Casa, a cozy café that not only had proper breakfast options, but also — to my great joy — served the first decent coffee I’ve had in weeks. (Not one decent one on the cruise — not for lack of trying.)

We’re still having a few misadventures with language. Ted ordered a latte and was promptly served a large glass of warm milk. (Technically correct, but not what he had in mind!)

After breakfast, we headed back to the apartment to pack up for good. We stored our luggage at the nearby train station to enjoy a final wander through the city. Ted was on a mission: new shoes. His current pair had all but disintegrated. Shopping, as many know, is not my favorite activity — but I braved it with the promise of gelato as my reward.

We returned to the same shaded pedestrian street where I’d found that delicious kebab earlier in the week. There, we grabbed some lunch (pasta and a sandwich), and — true to my promise — I got my gelato.

One thing that stood out today: the heat. Apparently, it’s seven degrees hotter than the average June day here, which might explain why I’ve been melting more than usual.

Eventually, we made our way back to the station to collect our bags and catch the train to the airport. To our surprise (and relief), the train was already waiting at the platform. We gladly jumped on early, choosing the bliss of air-conditioned comfort over a stuffy wait on the platform.

The ride was a quick half hour, but the arrival was… unexpected. The airport was tiny — far smaller than we’d imagined. Honestly, it made Newcastle Airport back home look like an international mega-hub with multiple terminals.

After a lot of sitting around, we finally went through to the boarding area — which wasn’t exactly ideal, since there was barely any seating available for passengers. Not that the Ryanair flight itself was much better! We boarded our glamorous (not) budget airline with its tiny seats and no seat pockets, and waited for our pre-ordered inflight meal.

After takeoff, our TV dinners were finally delivered: Ted had lasagne, and I had… vegan lasagne. I’m not being snobby, but when we tried to eat them, the tray tables — which had no lip or edge — meant we both ended up with our meals in our laps at least once. And the Cokes we’d ordered? Tepid, of course. We knew better than to expect ice.

Thankfully, the flight was short — though the landing was a hard one, to say the least. At immigration in Stansted, the queue looked huge but moved surprisingly quickly. Then came the minor drama of transferring money to my Travelex card, since the hotel had claimed its shuttle only accepted cash. Naturally, when we arrived, they accepted cards too.

The hotel is basic, but honestly perfect for a one-night stay: clean, efficient, and tucked away in a quiet area. Tomorrow will be bittersweet — Ted and I go our separate ways for the first time this trip. But only for a few days! We’ll be seeing each other — and Snoopy — back in Australia soon.Okumaya devam et