What a day I had all morning running on this trail loose even if no dogs are allowed to. Mom breaks that rule when no one is around knowing I'll listen when she needs me to come.

It was a challenge in places so I had to stop often and wait for Mom. Sometimes she stops to look at the gorgeous view and take pictures. I want to look too and because I'm shorter I jump up on a rock and Mom gets panicky, I can tell by her voice. Just because she is afraid of heights and is too clumsy to jump up on rocks, doesn't mean I can't. 

I'm as agile as a mountain goat I tell her

OK, I'll get down I don't like hearing that voice 

Our goal was to reach the Duino Castle which is the private residence of the Princes della Torre e Tasso ............No we were not invited,................................. the Castle of Duino has been open to the public since 2003

we were early the castle wasn't open yet, so we found a nice little cafe where we relaxed for a while

This time Mom said no to the guided tour, not only because no dogs were allowed inside, Mom wasn't in the mood for it either, but we really wanted to see the garden

        Castello di Duino is a marvelous fortification from the 14th-century privately-owned castle that is best known for its literary and musical guests, such as Mark Twain, Liszt, Strauss, and particularly the poet Rilke.

There was noone around, so we cheated a little and ran inside just for a minute. Mom needed to use the facilities.

This staircase and floor looked  amazing

Of course, we had to see the dungeon too, and Mom didn't want to go down there but I insisted I felt some really cool air from there

The Bunker of Duino Castle has an area of 400 square meters and is 18 meters deep. It was constructed in 1943 by the forced-labor organization TODT for the German navy to defend the base at Sistiana against a possible Allied attack. Venezia-Giulia was part of the Adriaten Kustenland .. In 1944 the bast Sistiana was used by the Kleinkampfmittle flotilla 441 with midget Submarines: MOLCH (newt). Many people of Duino, before the Bunker was armored and housed a cannon, fled inside when there was an air-raid warning. From 1945 to 1954 the British used the Bunker as a fuel store.

Mom did NOT like this ? she said we're 18 meters underground alone and only one way out, besides a lot of bad stuff has happened here. I couldn't disagree.

After this, we had to visit the old castle which is in ruins 

The Lords of Duino, vassals of the Patriarch of Aquelia were first mentioned in about 1150. From their ancestral seat, located on a rock high above the Adriatic Sea, they controlled the trade routes running from the city of Monfalcone along the coast to the Istrian peninsula

Prince Raymond standing on these ruins looking at his Castle occupied by the Allied military government (June 1949)

I bet he wanted his castle back

The views are amazing

Not too many people seem to come here it was quite overgrown

Mom spotted something in the water below and zoomed in for a picture. That jellyfish looks huge like it sweeps you into it and sucks your blood or something, no swimming I say........the water looks very inviting says Mom they don't move fast, you can move around them

Many seagulls are enjoying the cliff

Looking at getting back to our camp without walking the same way we found a bus, so we just hopped on and since Mom couldn't figure out how to pay and the chauffeur couldn't be bothered we got a free ride back.

There was a sign about muzzles for dogs on the door here too but no one said anything this time.

Every country has different rules and some don't make sense to us, like for instance Mom wasn't allowed into the pool without a bathing cap? For hygienic reasons, hmm a lady told me men aren't allowed to wear baggy swim trunks either they have to wear speedos, and trust me not ALL men look good in them. Mom thinks it's hilarious that for a change MEN are told what to wear.

Back at Lucy Mom made lunch..........

And it looks like it'll be the same for supper

Life is great 

Wet kisses Henry

after checking the weather map Mom said we'll be driving west, and we only have to get over those mountains 

And look that map was correct

so we are in Italy now?  things sure changes quickly around here

We are just passed the city of Trieste, a deep-water port, that is a maritime gateway for northern Italy, Germany, Austria, and Central Europe. It is considered the end point of the maritime Silk Road with its connections to the Suez Canal and Turkey. Since the 1960s, Trieste has emerged as a prominent research location in Europe because of its many international organizations and institutions. The city lies at the intersection of Latin, Slavic, and Germanic cultures where Central Europe meets the Mediterranean Sea, and is home to diverse ethnic groups and religious communities.

Trieste has the highest percentage of researchers in Europe in relation to population.^["Città della Barcolana", "Città della bora", "Città del vento", "Vienna by the sea" and "City of coffee" are also idioms used to describe Trieste.

This is now our setup and view

This campsite is a luxury for us and  I got a nice bag of goodies to welcome me..............and no muzzle is needed anywhere here.

They also had Mom's favorite beer in the store, ( I guess we're staying three days?)

The restaurant next door served the best mussels ever.............according to Mom, I didn't get a taste 

Mom said they were way too spicy for me. 

With that a local beer that was just ok

Since Mom claims she's the expert tiramisu maker she had to try this chef's version

And we both agreed it was yummy, not as good as Mom s though ( I HAD to say that, I'm not stupid)

The sun is just peeking over the mountain so we are off for a long morning walk before it get too hot for me.

Life is peachy 

wet kisses to yall

Henry