Lipcia to Lokev, Trieste and back to Lokev - May 27

This morning James and I woke up and were off to our horse riding lessons, on real Lipizzaners!!! James has riding experience so he signed up for a private lesson where he was able to get the horse to walk sideways and then a front hooves in the air thing. He had never seen a horse walk sideways before so he was totally mesmerized by that and wanted to do it himself. Really, these Lipizzaners can do moves that we have never seen any other horses do.

I had beginner lessons, only they assumed beginners have at least a year of riding experience. They were very accomodating though and Niada (my instructor) gave me Siglavy Strass XX 1988, to ride. I pet his neck to see if he would be nice to me and he nuzzelled up to me to be petted more. Niada taught me to sit on the horse, then to talk and then she had Siglavy trotting and me holding onto the saddle at first and then to totally let go of the saddle. I did in-saddle and out-of-saddle trotting. This was amazing and a totally great lesson, 20€. I never would have gotten that much instrucion back in The States. It was really akward sitting for someone who has never ridden drassage horses before, but I really want to go back and get more experience.

James and I then drove to Lokev, a whoopping 10 km away to stay at a cheaper place but still in the same area as the nice people at Hotel Maestroso told us about another cave in about 5 km away.

James and I then drove into Trieste. I have been wanting to get here for years as it was the only Austo-Hungarian port the empire had. Driving was a TERROR. Every car and scooter was completely agressive and passing every chance they had (and sometimes chances thez didnćt have, but they did it anyways). So we headed straight though the city to Mirimare, the castle where Archduke Maximillian III and Charolette lived. Thez left from here to Mexico to become Emporer Maximillian and we all know how that story ends (he was killed and Charolette went mad after that).

Mirimare was pretty, but James and I were not liking Italy that much and wanted to leave. James also started finding ticks on his leg and arms from our hike the previous night so he really wanted to get back. Fine, neither of us liked Italy like wećd thought we would anyway.

We then went back for a nice swim in the pool in Lipica and headed to bed.