That’s How I See You, Trieste

This story is part of the literary competition created by In Trieste magazine in collaboration with Comune di Trieste called “Stories from Trieste to the World” which was open to all female writers living in Trieste as part of the annual “Festa della Donna” initiative by the city of Trieste.

by Marjetka Jelenc

Of all the port cities I visited in my life, I carry you on the heart side, Trieste. I have always loved you, admired you and all these years I keep coming back to you… You have never disappointed me. Your beauty and your relaxed way of life fascinate me again and again. You know, I especially love your sunny spring and summer mornings when the serenity of the sea is in stark contrast with the life on your streets, overflowing with the smell of freshly baked pastries. I love your sunsets, when the banks shine in thousands of lights and the first twilight paints them in a beautiful gentle bright purple color. As a person who loves literature and art, your are especially dear to me, as you are a city with a strong literary tradition, a city of literary cafes and literary giants like Joyce and Svevo. I’m not surprised that they both chose you to create, as you are a place of endless inspiration. I am sure I will always love your atmosphere that embraces me by the Audace pier and your pleasant breeze that smells of the sea. 

But in the past year you have changed significatly, Trieste. You kept your beauty and your charm, but you changed your character. You’re so different, Trieste, from time to time you seem to be sad…I miss your hustle and bustle, I miss the smell of coffee on your streets and all the relaxed people in your many wonderful bars. Your relaxed way of life, that has fascinated me again and again for so many years, has disappeared. Your many little shops that I love to enter are closed. It is not possible to buy the best Illy coffee on Via delle Torri and the gorgeous ice cream in your very old ice cream parlor Zampolli. It is also not possible to  dive into a glass of tocai wine at the Urbis bar or just seat in Caffè degli Specchi and observe the beauty of Piazza Unità d’Italia.

Now, your narrow and steep streets are almost empty, there are no breathtaking ships at berth in your port, even the sea seems to be calmer. You look so sad, so tired, so desperate. 

But your shores are still full of lights at dusk, the lighthouse Faro della Vittoria still adorns you and your sea is still blue, as it has always been. The wind, bora, keeps visiting you and sweeping your many roads, the sun still warms you and the rain gently washes your Habsburg palaces and beautiful buildings over and over again. The queen of your squares, Piazza Unità d’Italia, now reigns alone, with all her pride and in all her beauty. 

You are our mirror, Trieste. We have changed, and that is reflected in you. The terrible disease which emptied your streets and changed your character, has affected us all. However, through decades and centuries, through all the wars and diseases, your streets have been emptied so many times; yet your beauty has always remained. You will always be bathed in the sea, seagulls will always fly over you, even the bora wind, sun and rain will not leave you. And many books and poetry in different languages dedicated to you in all these years will remain on our shelves and be with us during those seemingly endless, long days at home.