by Alessandra Ressa
The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and while others are out basking in the warmer weather, you’re feeling sleepier than ever. What’s up with that? Some people call it Spring Fatigue or Springtime Lethargy. Take advantage of the warmer weather to do fun Spring things in Trieste with these easy tips.
- Wild asparagus hunt. Staying active during the daytime will help your body get exercise, keep your mood levels up, and enable you to sleep better at night. Head up to the Carso hills on foot, any road or public stairway will take you there, and join the locals in their morning quest for wild asparagus. These wild plants sprout up just about anywhere in Spring, you just need some eye adjusting to learn how to spot them. If in doubt, do not eat them and ask the locals for advice. They are delicious in risotto or with eggs.
- Hanami – flower viewing in Trieste. The Japanese love it, why shouldn’t you? Take advantage of the blooming season to admire some of the best flower displays in town. A short hike to Orto Botanico won’t disappoint, as there are lots of local and exotic plants in bloom from March to June. In April and May do not miss the vast rose gardens at the very top of the former Trieste’s madhouse complex of San Giovanni. A stroll along the beautifully renovated buildings and gardens make you completely forget that this used to be a place of great sorrow. Bring a picnic blanket, some hot violet tea and a slice of home-made cake to complete the flower viewing experience.
- Poetry by the sea. Take advantage of the relatively few beachgoers of the season and find a secluded spot by the sea to compose some of your best poetry. Listen to the sound of the sea, enjoy the cool breeze in your hair and expose your skin to as much sun as you can to get your vitamin D. The best secluded, free-access places near the water are the pebble beaches you can reach from Strada Costiera through steep, rugged paths to the sea, such as Canovelle and Ai Filtri. Barcola is more conveniently located but much less secluded. Many famous writers found their inspiration while contemplating the sea in Trieste.
- Table tennis tournament. The beautiful and centrally located public garden de Tommasini, commonly known in Trieste as “giardino pubblico”, is a real treat in Spring. You can admire several plants in bloom, including some Japanese plum trees with their fat, pink blossoms, and challenge friends and strangers into an unforgettable table tennis tournament at the stone tables located near the pavilion while listening to hundreds of birds chirping away at the season of love.
- Opera delight. We are so blessed to live in a city with so many theaters at such affordable prices. You can treat yourself to a fancy evening at the beautiful Verdi opera theater in Trieste. The cost of a ticket in the best possible seats is a little over 80 euros. Did you know? Stall seats at the Opera house in San Francisco are currently 1,200 dollars. If you have never been to the opera, buy an evening ticket for Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot in May. It may not be in the sun, but a fancy evening at the opera does wonders to your Spring-fatigued soul. First, plan to have your hair done by one of the hundreds hairdressers or barbers in town. Then, choose a fancy dress or smart suit or treat yourself to a new outfit. Evening gowns are not so popular at the Trieste opera anymore, one more reason to wear one and feel like Grace Kelly for one night. Jewels are also a must-wear, whether they are your grandmother’s or flashy tins from the street vendors. Leave home at about 7 and have a cocktail and a light dinner in one of the many restaurants near the opera house. Everyone will know you are headed for the opera and will look at you with admiration and envy.
- Give life to a stray seed. Don’t forget to give new life to a seed in Spring. Save your seeds from fruit, avocados, pumpkins or just pick random seeds from gardens and plant them in a pot. Savor with anticipation their sprouting, then tend them while they timidly grow. Stray seeds are always fun to grow, especially when you can’t remember what plants they come from, although most of them don’t usually survive the season. You can plant them in one of Trieste’s “stray seed sanctuaries”, public lots, tiny flowerbeds and even forgotten cement tubes all over town neglected by the local municipality, where residents have started planting flowers and even vegetables.
Whatever you decide to do to fight Spring fatigue, remember to stay happy and be creative. It is no coincidence that the first day of Spring is also the International Happiness Day.
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