Good Times in Your 40s

Today's bus sensations will give you the best sea views possible and a cultural experience, all for the price of a bus ticket.

Behold as we discuss the magic of bus numbers 42, 44, and 46.

They all start in Piazza Oberdan (if your back is to that statue in the middle and you are looking at the starting point of the Tram d'Opcina, the bus stop is to your left) and finish in Opicina (42), Villaggio del Pescatore (44) and Samatorza (46).

The advantage of these busses is that they take you up to the Carso, which is the upper part of Trieste that is full of great places to go walking, enjoy nature, and drink wine. I like them because you get a good dose of the international flavor of Trieste. You will hear people speaking Slovene (the Carso is largely Slovene speaking), Italian, Triestino, English, German, and even Urdu and Turkish.

All three busses go up to Prosecco (don't confuse this Prosecco with the one that makes sparkling wine), which is the first stop in the Carso (actually Contovello is a few meters before but let's not get too technical) so there is less of a wait. It is a 25-minute ride. My advice: get on the bus and sit down 10 minutes before departure, as these fill up fast and standing up can be challenging while the bus makes its ascent. Sit on the left side if you are going up and on the right side if you are going down. If you can't get a seat, go to the middle and wrangle your way in to the spot where wheelchairs go (rarely).

Hang on for dear life.