Verona, Italy (Day 3)

Hi Everybody,

On day 3 we took a coach trip to the bustling town of Verona.

We had a tour guide around this town and Maria was so knowledgeable it was fascinating to listen to her

She took us to many of the tourist spots and also explained the history behind this very old town ... of which she was clearly excited by.

 This is where the Arena and it is older than the Colosseum in Rome ... over two thousand years old

The building is smaller than when it was first built as an earthquake demolished most the top tiers.

Originally it seated 35,000 people but now only holds about 18,000

It is still in use for concerts and operas throughout the season.

It is part of a very large square that has cafes all around the edge where you can stop and relax and it was here that we sampled some of the wonderful Italian ice cream.

It was recommend to us by Jim ... who is the husband of one of my regular  readers ... so thank you Jim it was really good  Mmmm Mmmm !!

No trip to Verona would be complete without the visit to  Juliets' house ... and I have read the stories that the balcony was built to attract the tourists in 1937 .... but I don't care !!

I enjoyed it for what it was and Maria our guide told us the story of Rome and Juliet

She added most emphatically that the story is true ... even if the balcony is not

Romeo and Juliet met and fell in love even though the two families did not get on with each other.

One challenged  Romeo to a dual but to accept it meant either banishment from Verona or death.   So on winning the dual he had to flee.  Before fleeing Romeo and Juliet secretly married and he climbed the wall to the balcony ... spent the night with Juliet and then had to go to save his life.

Later her family wanted to marry her to some one and she couldn't tell them that she was already married to Romeo

She confided in the local priest and he gave her a potion  that he told her would make her sleep as if dead  and then she would recover

He told her would ride to tell Romeo what she had done so that he could come and save her... but the priest didn't go

Romeo heard the story that the young Juliet was dead  and he raced to Verona  and when he found her he  thought  that indeed she had died ... and there he took his own life.

When the potion wore off and Juliet awoke she found the body of  Romeo by her side and she also took her own life as she couldn't live without Romeo ..... she was 14 and he was 16 .... Tragic (Sob!)   OK !! Time to put those hankies away ....  back to reality !!

This is another very old building in Verona.

The difference in the colors of the tower are because one layer is red brick and the other is a Limestone mix

It was done in this way to save money as the red brick was so expensive and there are many others layered in this way.

 This is one mode of transport and NO we did not partake in any bike rides.

Griff cycles a little at home and I can fall off a bike negotiating a corner....

But these bikes are every where and once hired you can leave it at any of the other cycle ranks around the town.

Altogether a wonderful place and a very enjoyable day was spent wandering around.

Then back to the hotel by coach to get ready for dinner ... along with the obligatory Bacardi and Coke on the terrace in the sunshine

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

n

Desenzano, Italy (Day 2)

Hi Everybody,

On day two of the holiday we take the train journey from France into Italy and the scenery is spectacular as we cross more high,  snow covered Alps

We arrived at the hotel that will be our destination for the next five nights and this is the view from our bedroom window.

The weather is sunny and warm and the town of Desenzano on the edge of Lake Garda is very pretty.

This is looking at the pretty  harbour with the  boats all moored up.

We sat for a pleasant hour people watching and enjoying a Bacardi and Coke and Griff had a beer.

Along the front of the harbour there are some speed boats that can be hired

Once you sit at these tables they bring you dishes of pretzels, crisps, nuts or pizza slices all free of charge ....

There are many lovely squares with bars and restaurants with tables covered in bright cloths all dotted around.

This is the bar attached to our hotel,  where most of our group met each evening to enjoy a cool drink before going in to dinner.

So tomorrow we are off to discover another part of Italy.

I hope you will join me for day three as we take a coach trip to Verona .... home of ill fated lovers Romeo and Juliet

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Holiday with a difference (Day 1)

Hi Everybody,

Here I am back at home again after a fabulous week away and what an adventure this has been.   I would like to share some of my photos with you and hope that you will enjoy the journey too.  For this holiday we decided to go to Lake Garda in Italy and do it all ... by train.

We went with a company called Treyn and they provide a Tour Manager who escorts the group the whole time... and her job is to ensure that all runs smoothly.

We went via the Euro Tunnel from the very elegant St Pancras station in London into Paris and then switched to the TGV towards Italy.  

We arrived at   Gare du Nord and then had to cross Paris to the  Gare de Lyon  and this part of the journey was to take place by coach  ....  but the coach did not turn up 

Now if that  was my job I would have been in a panic but  Louise the TM ...stayed as cool as a cucumber,  did some neat haggling with a taxi driver and managed a deal that took 26 people,  in his large fleet of taxis across Paris in rush hour ... which is no mean task

This is a journey that can take up to an hour  in all that traffic ... but those taxi drivers were fabulous.

They weaved in and out of other traffic ... used the bus lanes and got us all to Gare de Lyon with about seven minutes to spare.... 
  
              Panic over ... medal to Louise !!

The scenery on the route was spectacular with white fluffy clouds covering the tops of the high mountains... as we sped past on a very fast train 

This was the first nights stop  in a pretty town called Chambery in France, with the beautiful snow covered Alps in the background.

We arrived late in the afternoon and just had time for a quick look around before going  for dinner and this picture was taken looking down one of the tree lined roads on the way to the restaurant.

The scenery was breathtaking along the way so far and tomorrow is another day of travel.

This time we go into Italy for our destination by the side of  beautiful Lake Garda for  a five night stay in a hotel by the waters edge.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Californian Collection - Background

Hi Everybody,

For todays card I have used another  of the dies from JGD Crafts and this is the Californian Collection  Background die designed by Sue Wilson.

I have simply cut the pattern out of white card and then  cut it into strips and backed each one with pink card. The card is from Papermill Direct

I have mitred each corner and added it to an embossed panel
with foam tape to raise it up






There is a smaller frame over the verse and a little  pearl from Want2Scrap added to the centres of each pattern

The verse is from Crafters Companion

The tiny bows are off a new pair of pyjamas ... as they look much better on my card

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and are a lovely mixture of Roses, Tulips, Cosmos Daisies and Sweetheart Blossoms.

All sprinkled in glitter from Glitter Magic

It is quite a big card at 7 inch square but it does look very pretty.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

With You in Mind ...

Hi Everybody,

So here today is a pink card .... just for a change !!  And once again it has many layers

I have used California Collection - San Francisco as the topper and layered it over the second die in Elegant Labels Four.

The Sue Wilson Collections are available from JGD Crafts   and they will ship worldwide

The matching bling for the Labels Eleven comes from Want2Scrap

The lovely pink satin ribbon is from Mei Flower    and I have tied it into a double bow ... and  added three Sweetheart Blossoms from  Wild Orchid Crafts  

A really pretty card with lots of depth to it.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spellbinders S6-001 Nestabilities Matting Basics A Die Templates, 5 by 7-Inch

Spellbinders S6-002 Nestabilities Matting Basics B Die Templates, 5 by 7-Inch

Spellbinders S6-005 Nestabilities Elegant Labels 4-Die Templates, 5 by 7-Inch

Spellbinders Grand Calibur Nestabilities Dies, Labels 11

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