Today

Determined not to be disappointed again, last night we devised a new scheme for today.  A better researched and well thought out plan. We again checked the requisite websites and were secure in our knowledge of the correct bus route.  (A quick aside: the one upside of staying on this major thoroughfare is that all the major bus routes stop literally in front of our apartment building.). Having risen early we were determined to seize the day.

We were headed to Duino, the town and castle made famous by the poet Rilke.  The bus as I mentioned, passes in front of our building so we did not have far to walk to catch one.  The bus we caught was very crowded with all kinds of people-shoppers, students, sun bathers headed to the tiny beach near the marina.  Eventually many of these hopped off at the small towns we passed on the way to Duino and we were able to sit down and enjoy the views. 

At last we reached our destination and just to make sure we had the fortification to make it through whatever arduous climbs were awaiting us, we stopped for a bite in a shady cafe. 

That done, we headed across the street to the castle.  And...it was closed!

So guess where we went?  Back to the cave.  It was open this time and omg.  What a crazy experience that was.  Here are some illegible pictures.  N has better ones on his camera.  All those tiny lights you see are steps.  I cannot even begin to tell you what this experience was like.

Tomorrow we go back to Duino.  If today was any indication, the castle should be open.