Discovering Triestian life

Dear curious travellers,

It's my pleasure to present you my Erasmus experience because it's surely something I will never forget.

My name is Marija, I am a student of Music Academy - pianist and I've spend one year in Trieste - the most special place in Italy.

Open sea, "triestan bora" (strong wind famous in Trieste), incredible views and friendly people... It was enough, in few weeks I've totally fallen in love with Trieste.

I liked so much that international spirit in the air. While you're walking through Piazza dell'Unità you hear so many languages and that gives you feeling that you totally belong there. I met so many special persons, and the most special were Triestians. They are so expressive and and funny. With Italian course I really improved my Italian (even though I knew basics from before), however Triestan dialect was so hard for me to understand; they have their own words but i liked listening to them.

Conservatory Giuseppe Tartini gave me opportunity to improve my music skills. They have jazz and electro music departments which is not case in Montenegro, so I used all new possibilities to improve in music. Professors were great and I played many concerts there. My colleagues were some from Italy, Slovenia, Croatia but many Erasmus students came from Albania, Serbia, Macedonia etc. It was pleasure to meet and to play with that special people.

Food was great everywhere even though I usually went to students restaurant. I liked that Italian tradition - 'Aperitivo' time, from 19 when we all went to via Torino where we had dinner and drunk aperitivi. There were so many people on the street, chatting and enjoying after work, it was my favourite part of the day.

Places like Miramare, San Giusto's Cathedral, the shore in Barcola, Molo Audace and the osmicas- special taberns where you can eat meat, cheese and wine produced directly by the owner - were my "escape places". I spent half semester there with sun and wind reading books and relaxing. Sunset in Trieste is something that everybody must see. Really unforgettable. Not only beautiful natural spots, there are also many museums, concerts, cultural events happenings every month. Even my conservatory organized concerts.

Now, let's talk about nightlife in Trieste. I prefer places like Romi with great music and casual atmosphere. Another interesting place is Round Midnight - place where were happening jam sessions with great jazz every sunday. On Mondays we usually went to Chinese bar :) I know it sounds silly because it's not well designed space, but it is place with most cheap drinks and if you have good company you can really spend great time there. For disco lovers, there are disco clubs like Mandracchio and Colonial.

The weather was perfect for me, because it was first time I experienced that strong wind and rain at the same time. Also, when sun is shining it's really great. Anyway, I loved weather in Trieste in every season.

The only thing I didn't like was the lack of art academies and more creativity in young persons.

The Erasmus programme gave me opportunity to meet different a culture, special people from all over the world and to improve my language and professional skills.

Moreover, if you organize well your scholarship you could travel on your holidays. I've visited Bologna, Padova, Venice then Ljubljana, Berlin, Amsterdam just on that way :)

My advice is to apply for Erasmus programme and use it the best way: to improve yourself, meet a new culture and different people and, of course, to travel as much as possible because that is only way to become richer person.