Temperature topped 40 degrees today!

Thursday 23^rd August

After breakfast it was time to pack the bags and car and leave Venice. We headed south with the first stop - Padua. We visited the Basilica di Sant’Antonio & Prato della Valle.

Next stop Ferrara where Graham was pulled over by the bicycle police and threatened with a fine for driving in a pedestrian and cycle area only.  We quickly U turned and found a parking spot before doing a tour of Castello Estense – A moat encircled domain of the Este family. A rather large building dating back to the 14^th Century complete with dungeons for prisoners.  Beautiful lavish frescoed walls and ceilings and a marble chapel. We had a short stop for lunch before heading further south to Bologna. The weather is amazingly hot with top temperature today of 40°. A bit much to take when you need to be on the move. We found our accommodation very easily -Hotel Fiore is on the outskirts of Bologna.  After the mandatory washing of clothes and bodies, we set off again with map in hand to the City centre. Found the parking station and walked along to Piazza Maggiore. Decided to take an open topped bus tour around the city before finding somewhere to eat then back to hotel. We seem to have walked many kilometres so far in the past six days but find it is the best way to explore the cities. Car parking and autostrada fees are quite an expensive but necessary part of the holiday.

Fountain at Padua

Castella Estensa - Ferrara

One of the beautiful ceilings

Castella Estensa

Piazza Nettuno - Bologna

A few more pics

Basic glass objects made during demonstration

One tired tourist

Glass blowing

Venice / Murano

Temperature 36° again

When heading off to catch the bus across to Venice we accidentally stumbled across the Mestre market very close to our hotel. A very busy place indeed- Fruit & Veggies, Fish, Cheese and heaps of clothes. The vans stretched on and on for blocks.  About an hour later we took the bus to Venice and then the Vaporetta to Murano. We were fortunate enough to arrive before the crowds and didn’t have to wait long for a glass blowing exhibition. The glass is blown into many varied shapes, sizes & colours and created into many forms both useful and ornamental - from jewellery to chandeliers. Almost every shop along the canal sells glass in some form or another. We took the vaporetta back to S.Marco and visited the Basilica. The queue was much shorter today than yesterday morning.We were quite disappointed by the dreariness of it compared to the lovely Notre Dames in France however the floor mosaics were amazing. We headed back to Rialto for some shopping before heading home. We felt more comfortable today knowing our way around the vaporetta system. We even found a supermarket across from our hotel and purchased a few goodies to have dinner in tonight. 

Murano

Glass street art

Glass street art

 

•  Retail stores 50-70% off sales similar to home -Many derelict and/or empty buildings in Mestre reflecting economic times.
• Our accommodation was comfortable but very small room. 
• Excellent buffet breakfast
• Weather is very hot
• Public transport is excellent
• Loads of tourists
• No seating available on the island unless eating at a cafe or restaurant
• Pizza &  pasta in abundance
• Beautiful ice cream
• Very colourful
• Multicultural and language no problem – most signs are also in English and some restaurants have menus in different languages.
• Many of the buildings are in poor shape 
• Both glad we visited Venice

Venice in 36 degree heat

Set off on the bus trip to Venice (about 20 minutes) then took the vaporetta to S Marco. Many photo opportunities – Ponte Dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) then around to Piazza S.Marco (St Mark’s Square). Thousands of people everywhere – very long queues to the museum and the Basilica. We meandered around the narrow streets, crossed many canals and arrived at Rialto. The experience was overwhelming and the heat exhausting! Guide book and map in hand was useful to try and negotiate our way around. We eventually found the Teatro La Fenice (opera house). Having covered a lot of area in the S.Marco area, we set off for S. Polo. Over the Rialto bridge and along the market stalls. Fresh fruit for lunch. After about 5 hours we returned to the hotel for showers and a break before returning to Venice for dinner and some night time photography. We travelled the full length of the Grand Canal passing many impressive buildings including Palazzo Ca Rezzonico, Guggenheim museum and S. Maria Della Salute. Dining alfresco was beautiful in the clear warm night. Home about 11.30 pm and very ready for bed.

Piazza S.Marco

 

 

 

And so it begins..

Saturday 18th August. Milan / Bergamo / Verona


Temp 36°. Clear heat, very hazy skies

Excellent flight on Cathay Pacific and landed in Milan Malpensa airport 7.30am on time & feeling great. After the necessary paperwork for the car and instructions including setting the GPS. We were off!

First stop Bergamo -took the Funicular to Cittá Alta (upper city) - Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore/ Clock tower / Square complete with fountain and tourists. It was a bit hazy but still beautiful views over Bergamo. The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore was a magnificent church with every available wall space covered in paintings, mosaics or tapestries. Pizza lunch then back to the car for the next destination, Verona. The streets are amazingly clean.

Drove into Verona and parked in a large parking station close to the city centre. There were crowds of people everywhere, hundreds lining up for the Don Giovanni opera at the arena. Unallocated seating is on first in best seats basis. Fortunately for us we have allocated seats so won’t need to be so early to queue tomorrow night. Loads of street entertainment and no shortage of restaurants including McDonalds! We walked along the narrow laneways and found a lovely restaurant and enjoyed beautiful Italian style pasta – al dente. Returned to hotel for coffee and bed. Lights out 10.30pm (we’d had about 8 hours sleep in the previous 44 hours)



Sunday 19th August

Another warm day 30° at 10am

Bags packed and off to Lago Di Garda. We’ve experienced the best and worst of Italian drivers and roads today. Very narrow streets with room for one small car only but 2 way traffic. So pleased not to see any other cars on this road! Narrow roads along the edge of Lake Garda – Sunbathing on the stones called beach – no shade, no hats, unbelievable number of people. Park where you can and risk a fine. Always look out for bicyclists and motor bikes/scooters – no helmets. They are everywhere and overtake probably where they shouldn’t.



Decided on taking the bus to the Arena for the opera Aida which commenced at 9pm. We had wondered what would happen if it rained- well no need to wonder it was 36° , no breeze and quite oppressive. Between us we drank over 2 ½ litres of water in 3 hours. The arena is an amazing venue which I think seats 20,000 people. Our seats were in a great location but very uncomfortable - the cushions we hired were helpful. The opera Aida had very impressive sets, costumes and of course beautiful music. The opera finished at 12.45am and we were both totally spent and well and truly ready for bed.



Monday 20th August

Time to move on. We drove to Mestre via Asola, a very beautiful hill top village. It seems that as in parts of France, most things shut down on Mondays, so most shops were closed and I suspect lighter traffic. Arrived in Mestre and found our hotel with not too much difficulty. Not much activity in the area but a welcome break and time to take a breath before hitting Venice for a couple of days.

Bergamo - Citta Alta in background

Citte Alta -Upper city

Italy - here we come

The day has finally arrived! The bags are all packed and we really are on out way. Watch this space for more info in a couple of days

Nearly time to go!

We really are on count down now and I think I am more organized this time than for any other holiday- it's a bit scary. The homework is done, some bookings have been made and I've started dreaming about manual cars and gearshifts. We managed very well last time in France with our Peugeot 207 so expect no issues this time. During the last 2 years we have become more trusting of the GPS so hopefully we won't go too astray in Italy. I've been warned about their drivers so will be on high alert.

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