Monday, April 10, 2017
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Last Day in Italy
It seems as if we just arrived. We left Lake Como this afternoon, and drove to the airport outside of Milan. We're staying at an airport hotel this evening. The car has been returned to the rental agency.
We visited some wonderful places over the past three weeks that a few million other people were also visiting at the same time. I was surprised…no stunned at the sheer numbers of tour groups that are being herded through Florence and Venice on a daily basis. I understand the attraction to people throughout the world. The visual presence of a history of civilization expressed in the beautiful forms of painting, sculpture and architecture can only be truly experienced in person. Books and photos can not convey the emotion of standing before the real thing. The sheer scale of many of the buildings and sculptures leaves one in awe of the artisans and architects who created them.
What an amazing experience this has been. I must come back soon, and maybe stay. Italy is an extraordinary country.
I am leaving this adventure with a few photos that I did not previously post. So sad to go.
It seems as if we just arrived. We left Lake Como this afternoon, and drove to the airport outside of Milan. We're staying at an airport hotel this evening. The car has been returned to the rental agency.
We visited some wonderful places over the past three weeks that a few million other people were also visiting at the same time. I was surprised…no stunned at the sheer numbers of tour groups that are being herded through Florence and Venice on a daily basis. I understand the attraction to people throughout the world. The visual presence of a history of civilization expressed in the beautiful forms of painting, sculpture and architecture can only be truly experienced in person. Books and photos can not convey the emotion of standing before the real thing. The sheer scale of many of the buildings and sculptures leaves one in awe of the artisans and architects who created them.
What an amazing experience this has been. I must come back soon, and maybe stay. Italy is an extraordinary country.
I am leaving this adventure with a few photos that I did not previously post. So sad to go.
A street car in Milan
An Italian pay phone
Hotel garden in Florence
Drinks at our hotel in Florence
Neighborhood market in Florence
Music while we painted in San Gimignano
Piazza San Marco, Venice
Piazza San Marco, Venice
Shops along the Piazza San Marco
Gondolas
One of the villages along the banks of Lake Como
Farewell Italy. We love you.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Lake Como
It rained all night last night. We left our balcony door open, and the air was divine. I awoke about 2 a.m. I just sat by a window and listened to the breeze through the pines and rain hitting the lake. I looked across the lake at the lights from one of the many villages that populate the shores cast a golden reflection on the rippling water.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Venice to Lake Como
We reluctantly said good by to Venice as we stepped off our water taxi and walked to the parking garage. What a wonderful and interesting place it is. As it is Saturday, the traffic was heavy. People were coming into the Venice area for the weekend. We cautiously edged our way out of the busy area where all of the parking garages are located. You need to make a reservation for a parking spot, or you may have sit and wait for who knows how long. Cars were lined up outside of the garages in queue.
It took three plus hours to arrive in the Lake Como area. We drove through 26 miles of tunnels separated by short bridges. The highway literally goes under all of the little towns along the shoreline. Two of the tunnels are almost a mile long.
Our boutique hotel sits on the shore of the lake, or a finger of the lake. The little villages on the other side look like pictures in a children's book. A bottle of cold champagne was waiting in the room, compliments of the hotel. We sat on our balcony over looking the lake and sighed as the evening crept in.
We reluctantly said good by to Venice as we stepped off our water taxi and walked to the parking garage. What a wonderful and interesting place it is. As it is Saturday, the traffic was heavy. People were coming into the Venice area for the weekend. We cautiously edged our way out of the busy area where all of the parking garages are located. You need to make a reservation for a parking spot, or you may have sit and wait for who knows how long. Cars were lined up outside of the garages in queue.
It took three plus hours to arrive in the Lake Como area. We drove through 26 miles of tunnels separated by short bridges. The highway literally goes under all of the little towns along the shoreline. Two of the tunnels are almost a mile long.
Our boutique hotel sits on the shore of the lake, or a finger of the lake. The little villages on the other side look like pictures in a children's book. A bottle of cold champagne was waiting in the room, compliments of the hotel. We sat on our balcony over looking the lake and sighed as the evening crept in.
Each place we visit seems to be better than the last. This a quiet meditative location. We're just going to chill here for a couple of days.
Friday, May 30, 2014
Venice - A walk and lunch
We went for a walk to see the cathedral Campo della Salute. On the way we stopped for lunch at a cafe with a dining area that had a a panoramic view across Canale della Giudecca to the island of Giudecca and Isola di Saint Georgio Maggiore.
We went for a walk to see the cathedral Campo della Salute. On the way we stopped for lunch at a cafe with a dining area that had a a panoramic view across Canale della Giudecca to the island of Giudecca and Isola di Saint Georgio Maggiore.
The view toward Isola di Saint Georgio Maggiore from our table.
The waiter brought a tray displaying the daily selection of fish. He explained how each could be prepared or stated that we could make a personal request for a style of preparation.
The daily catch.
We started with oysters. Ohhh!…were they good.
They could be the best that I have ever had.
For the main course, Debra had saffron pasta with blue lobster.
I had Venus rice with shrimp and mussels. A couple of glasses of
soave wine went well with the fish.
After a leisurely lunch we continued our walk to the original destination of Campo della Salute. The walk took us around the tip of the island, Punta della Doggana. This point seemed to be a gathering spot for people to sit and sun themselves. It is at the convergence of the Grand Canal and the Canale della Giudecca.
Campo della Salute
The interior
Looking back at Campo della Salute on our way back to the hotel.
Venice - the transportation system
It occurred to me the second day in Venice that there is a certain calm in the air. I came to the conclusion that the lack of traffic and automobiles created a feeling of tranquility. The pace of things is slower, the noise level is low, and the anxiety that traffic creates is nonexistent. There are no parking hassles. Love it!
If you need to get about, you walk or you take a water taxi. Even the boats go slow. This is a lovely place to be.
So you have your main thoroughfare.
You have your secondary thoroughfare.
You have your back alleys.
They are all wonderful to look down.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Venice
We made the three and a half hour drive from Florence to Venice in the afternoon. The highways are really nice here. Some traffic but not too much. Thanks to our handy navigation system on the iPad, we arrived without getting lost. The hotel had made reservations for us at a parking garage just a block from the water taxi stand. We wrangled our one suitcase and two carry bags out of the garage and across to the taxi pier. Debra called the hotel and they sent a boat for us. The boatman soon cruised up and deftly put his boat against the pilings. He helped us aboard and off we went.
We made the three and a half hour drive from Florence to Venice in the afternoon. The highways are really nice here. Some traffic but not too much. Thanks to our handy navigation system on the iPad, we arrived without getting lost. The hotel had made reservations for us at a parking garage just a block from the water taxi stand. We wrangled our one suitcase and two carry bags out of the garage and across to the taxi pier. Debra called the hotel and they sent a boat for us. The boatman soon cruised up and deftly put his boat against the pilings. He helped us aboard and off we went.
The water taxi pier.
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