Val Rosandra

Sunday - a walking trip towards Slovenia with Sam Carr as a trusty local guide! When I have worked out how to do it I will post the walk using google earth/maps. Here it is:

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Aquileia and Grado

Saturday sees some of the conference participants off to Aquileia and Grado. Aquileia was once a Roman city of 100,000 people - though now is a shadow of its former glory at a mere 12000. The old forum is an evocative ruin though the white pavement can still be seen. The ruins have been recycled into later buildings. The city boasts an impressive Basilica whose present building dates from the 11th century but within is a mosaic found below the 11th century floor level which is 4th century.

While our guide explained the history, your faithful blogger made an astonishing observation - the Romans had already discovered the Iron superconductors and have published, in the mosaic, the phase diagram! Two features will be of immediate interest. First there is clear evidence of coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity. Second, there is a mysterious "hidden order" phase which lies on the other side of the magnetism and the authors have labelled with a rooster. Clearly much more still be be discovered in that system.

Then on to the seas side resort of Grado. Here we explored the old fishermen's houses before venturing onto the crowded beaches. A great day out!