Venice, Italy (Day 6)

Hi Everybody,

Today is another coach trip and this time we are off to Venice famous for its many waterways

For this tour we had a guide who told us facts about the canals  and where to go for a pleasant lunch with out being charged the earth.

This is the approach to the city as we entered by boat.

The level of this city has diminished over the years and the water level is now much higher than it used to be

You can see the damage that it is doing to the houses as the brick line disappears beneath the water

We were told that Venice is a little smelly but we did not find that at all and it was a hot day.

But I have to say that it is somewhat neglected in many parts and some of  the buildings look quiet scruffy.

Now of course Venice is famous for its Gondolas.

They are quite pricey to hire ... about 80/90 Euros for 45 minutes ... but they will seat six so if you share the ride with others then it is not too bad

This is St Marks square and it is a very large area

Around the edge of the square are cafe bars with a quartet playing at some of them, which was very pleasant but our guide told us not to sit down.

As soon as you park your bottom on the chairs you will be charged and it is very expensive.

Our guide took us inside and it was beautiful but there is some restoration work going on outside and part of the front elevation was covered in scaffolding and plastic sheeting

This is looking up at the ceiling and it is not painted gold ... it is gold leaf ... and it shimmers in the filtered light.

There was a service going on in one of the side areas and so we wandered round away from them to maintain the privacy.

We sat at the far end of the square on the steps and listened to the music in the lovely sunshine and passed a very pleasant half hour

You can get some idea of the size of the square from this photo and it was very busy.

This is the famous Rialto Bridge  and of course the best way to get the photo is to wander further down the canal and look back.

You can see the amount of people stood on it and there was actually a Bride and Groom in the middle somewhere trying to have photos taken.

This is looking along the Grand Canal at the cafes and restaurants that line both sides.

We are stood on one of the many bridges that cross the canals in many places.

Tomorrow I will combine two days in one post as we start our home ward bound journey.

We go back to France via Switzerland for this part of the journey but there won't be many opportunities to take photos ... though I will do my best

The last part of my holiday will be posted later today and then I will add a Friday Freebie this week as I get slowly back into work mode

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Peschiari Market (Day 5)

Hi Everybody,

This morning was a trip to the  market and we took the local bus to Peschiari.

There was a lot of leather goods and I bought myself a belt and a credit card wallet.

But right at the end of the market ... as we made our way back to the bus ... I spotted this fabulous leather bag.

It is quite large and the smaller one fits inside the larger one as liner to hold purse,  phone and personal items.  On the way home I used the larger one to carry tickets, passports and a magazine as well as water for the journey.  So it was a really good buy at 20 Euros ... and it is reversible too.    Another  medal for Louise our tour manager 

Now the rest of the day was supposed to be free but things kind of escalated in the bar last night ...  Let me explain ...

Griff and I took a walk into town before dinner and on the way back he said  "I would love to hire one of those speed boats for a couple of hours"    so we asked the prices ... which were very good and no license was needed ...  so we said we would think about it some more.

We mentioned it over dinner and Louise and Christine ... that we shared a table with  ... seemed very taken with the idea and said "Count us in too"

The next day we were telling  other people  about the plan and two more wanted to come with us ... so Griff was boasting that he was going out in a boat with  "five birds"   and here we are.

We hired the boat for two hours and we  had a ball and got wet as the lake was very choppy that day as you can tell from the photo.

So the two at the front ... Louise and Debbie ... did most of the steering and we didn't really have a plan ... but the direction we went depended on who was steering.

If Louise was in control then we went round in a big figure eight .... and if it was Debbie we went in a zig-zag line.

The boat is fitted with radar so that if we broke down they would be able to find us on the lake but if they had been charting our progress on that lake they would be saying 

"Where on earth are they going now"  and we giggled the whole time we were out there.

Griff sat up front like the lord of the manor and did not get wet once !!!!

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Sirmione, Italy (Day 4)

Hi Everybody,

The day dawned hot and sunny and the planned excursion was a cruise across the lake to visit Sirmione.

We went via the large ferry that I showed you in the harbour on Day 1 and the trip took about 20 minutes.

The water was a deep, clear turquoise and you could see the fish quite clearly.  Griff even managed to paddle his feet in it at one point 

We walked to the castle and it was very busy but when we got there it was closed ...

So we wandered the main street to the other side and went to see the Roman ruins.

The view across the lake was breathtaking  and to give you some idea of the view that the Romans would have had from this fortress I framed the view with the ruin walls as I took the photograph.

We explored for quite some time taking in the views and the atmosphere and this was another wonderful day on our Italian adventure.

On our way back from the ruins we stopped for a little more of that Ice Cream ... a little people watching and  to rest our tired feet for a short time.

We spent a little time looking at the shops and Louise the TM bought some lovely sandals that had lots of "Bling" attached.

Then all too soon it was time to go and we had to meet the group for our sail back to Desenzano back across Lake Garda.

Tomorrow is a "free day" for us to do as we like but Louise has asked the group if they would like to go to a local market in Peschiara.

The market sell all kind of items including tops, leather belts, sandals and bags.  So we are going to see what is there.... sure to spot a bargain.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

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