Venice Day 3

Today was one of the best days on our tour, although if asked it would be very hard to pick the best. Gigi arranged for us to be picked up by a water taxi to take us to the Island of Murano. All the chandeliers and wall sconces in the hotel were made especially for the hotel by a family owned furnace in Murano (one of only three still operating) and therefore they have established a great relationship. A representative from the company met us and they were happy to take us out to the furnace/factory at their expensive in the hope that we might buy something. The water taxi ride out to the island was great although standing up wasn’t an option this time as we were out on the open water. 

We arrived at the furnace and were treated to a glass blowing exhibition and a tour of their shop and museum. It really was interesting. So many absolutely gorgeous pieces, each one of them a work of art. We did buy a couple of small pieces but to buy one of the gorgeous artworks, we would have had to sell our first born!!!

At the conclusion of our tour we were on our own. Two intrepid travellers navigated the public ferry system further out to the magnificent fishing village of Burano, also known world-wide for lace making. I have never seen anything so beautiful. It is simply breathtaking. It is a tiny island and so it did not take long to walk the streets, admiring the beautiful handmade lace. We watched one of the little nonnas at work. WOW!!! How they create something so fine by hand is amazing. The temperature today was almost unbearable – 40 degrees and very, very humid. We found a ristorante with shaded tables and enjoyed a long cold drink, some very tasty local food and the view.

We then fought our way onto one of the ferries along with everyone else in Italy for the 50 minute trip back to Venice. With the help of our trusty map and a couple of locals only too happy to help with directions we found our way back to our hotel and a very welcome shower.

Venice Day 2

This morning we shared a water taxi with another couple from our group. They were also staying on in Venice for a couple of days and happened to be staying very close to where we were. That was lucky as the water taxis here are very expensive. However, it was worth every cent as cruising down the Grand Canal, standing up it the back Richard Gere style (Pretty Woman) was an absolute treat. I just needed the classical music or perhaps Botticelli blaring and it would have been perfect.

After dropping Deb and Scott off we cruised up to our little hotel which has its own marina. We were greeted by Barbara the owner and Alex the manager. They showed us around the hotel and took us up to the small terrace which is a special treat as very few buildings in Venice actually have terraces. We then went back downstairs to check in and Alex informed us that they had a surprise for us because we had come from the other side of the world. We had been upgraded to one of two suites……and it has a large picture window that opens directly onto the Grand Canal. We are so close to the Rialto Bridge we can almost touch it. I think we both nearly cried. We can sit on our couch and watch and listen to the people of Venice as they go about their daily lives. It is super cool!!!

Dinner tonight was at an Osteria (small restaurant serving simple food using local produce that is in season) just a short walk from the hotel. It was recommended by Gigi who works at our hotel. We would never have found it on our own as it was down a couple of very narrow laneways, however, the food was great and the atmosphere terrific. 

Venice Day 1

Our hotel the Hilton Molino Stucky is on the island of Giudecca which is a short boat ride from the main island and has beautiful views of Venice from the rooftop. 

A private boat picked us up this morning for the transfer to Venice and the start of our two hour walking tour. Venice is beautiful and the most unique city I have ever visited. It was very hot and humid but as Venice is flat the walking was much easier. Our guide led us up and down the most intriguing alleyways and streets. The history of the city and how it was established is amazing. Venice is a city of merchants and small shops line every street. The way they move their goods is incredible. Small barges pull into a stop and the goods are unloaded onto big trollies and these are then ‘run’ through the city. And look out if you get in the way of one of the workers hurrying to get goods delivered. They wait for no one and constantly yell ‘attenzione’ as they barrel through.

At the conclusion of our walking tour we climbed aboard a gondola for a 30 minute ride through the canals. It was wonderful and so interesting to watch how expertly the gondoliers manoeuvre their gondola through the very, very busy waterways that are basically the Venice ‘streets.’ At the conclusion of the ride Stephen and I sat a quaint ristorante and enjoyed a pizza for lunch. It even had red and white check table cloths. We sat a table on the street and simply watched the world go by. It was wonderful.

Bridge of Sighs and a bloke in a hat

A Venetian traffic jam!

Tonight, was our farewell dinner. Twelve people were ending their journey in Venice and twelve were continuing on to Budapest where they will board a Scenic ship for a river cruise. I must say that our group was terrific. Everyone got on well and we really did have an enjoyable time. As with every Scenic tour we have done our guide Marino and bus driver Milan were fabulous. Obviously hand-picked. Italian roads are not easy to drive along, particularly those that hug the steep coast roads and those that wind through the ancient towns, but Milan managed to manoeuvre the large bus through some very tight situations with great skill. As of tomorrow Stephen and I are on our own as our Italian adventure continues for a few more days.

Venice via Verona

Another big travel day today as we transferred from the east coast of Italy to the west. After a couple of stops we arrived in Verona for a walking tour. I think most of us are now feeling pretty tired and certainly a bit low on energy because of the sapping heat and a walking tour in the hottest part of the day wasn’t high on the agenda. However, Verona was yet another beautiful surprise. The coloured houses and architecture were stunning and the history so very interesting. We wandered the streets, sticking to the shade as much as possible, as we listened to our guide. At the end we enjoyed an ice cold drink in one of the bars lining the piazza before hopping back on the bus for the last leg of the day……two hours and we would be in Venice.

  

As an aside: People queue for ages to enter a very small square to view Juliette's balcony. However, the funny thing is that while the Capulet family did exist, Juliette and Romeo did not. In fact, Shakespeare who wrote of Verona with such enthusiasm, never actually visited the city and the balcony was only made famous after an early Hollywood movie.

Cinque Terre

I have always wanted to visit Cinque Terre and today was the day. Our coach took us to the beautiful seaside town/municipality of Porto Venere which is located on the Ligurian coast of Italy in the province of La Spezia. It comprises the three villages of Fezzano, Le Grazie and Porto Venere, and the three islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto. In 1997 Porto Venere and the villages of Cinque Terre were designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

From Porto Venere we travelled by ferry along the magnificent coastline to the first of the five villages, Riomaggiore. After dropping off a number of passengers and also picking up a few we cruised onto the second and oldest village, Manarola again to drop off and pick up a few passengers. The third village is Corniglia, population of 150. Unlike the other villages of Cinque Terre, Corniglia does not have a port as it is built on the top of a promontory about 100m high, surrounded on three sides by vineyards and terraces. The fourth side descends steeply to the sea. To reach Corniglia, it is necessary to climb the Lardarina (a long brick flight of steps composed of 33 flights with 382 steps) or walk along the road that runs from the station at Venazza, which was the next village and our first stop. We had a walking tour and some free time. Stephen and I chose to enjoy a seafood lunch in one of the many ristorantes. It was a lovely way to spend some time. We enjoyed our prawn pasta and calamari very much. We then clambered back on a ferry in order to make our way to our final stop for the day and the fifth village, Monterosso al Mare. Here we visited the pirates church before partaking in a gelati as it was so very hot again today. We made our way to the train station. The train took us to meet our bus.

Riomaggiore

Manarola

Corniglia

Venazza

Monterosso al Mare

Tonight’s dinner was on the terrace at our hotel with magnificent views towards Santa Margherita and Portofino. We indulged in lobster tagliatelle and it was sensational.

Pisa and Portofino

On the road again!!! I just can’t wait to get on the road again!!! Today was a real surprise. Both Pisa and Portofino were STUNNING and they both exceeded our expectations. 

The Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), formally known as Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square), is a walled 8.87 hectare area located in Pisa and is recognised as an important centre of European medieval art and one of the finest architectural complexes in the world. The square is dominated by four great religious edifices: the Pisa Cathedral, the Pisa Baptistry, the Campanile (Leaning Tower) and the Camposanto Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery). Partly paved and partly grassed, the Piazza dei Miracoli is also the site of the Ospedale Nuovo di Santo Spirito (New Hospital of the Holy Spirit), which houses the Sinopias and Cathedral Museums. In 1987 the whole square was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The magnificent white marble buildings almost twinkle in the sunshine. The lush green grass and azure sky added to the glorious picture. The baptistery is round in shape with a dome for the roof. At the heart of the piazza is the Duomo, the medieval cathedral of the Archdiocese of Pisa, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta (St. Mary of the Assumption).

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the campanile or freestanding bell tower of the cathedral. It is known worldwide for its nearly four degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. The tower is situated behind the Pisa Cathedral and is the third oldest structure in the city's piazza after the cathedral and the baptistery. The tower's tilt began during construction in the 12th century due to soft ground on one side which was unable to properly support the structure's weight. The tilt increased in the decades before the structure was completed in the 14th century. It gradually increased until the structure was stabilised (and the tilt partially corrected) by efforts in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

I am not exactly sure what I was expecting but the tower and surrounds were much more beautiful than I thought they would be. 

While we have been away, we have been following Laura Jane Hargreaves nee Hilditch as she and her new husband Shaun travelled through Scotland and then Europe. As we were moving north, they were moving south and today we crossed paths in Pisa. It was lovely to sit and have a drink and a chat with them before getting back on the bus for the drive to Santa Margherita and Portofino.

Santa Margherita which is a seaside town in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria is located 35 kilometres southeast of Genoa and is known for its port which is used for both tourism and fishing activities. It was from here that we caught a ferry to Portofino.

The views as we cruised along the Italian Riviera coastline were beautiful and the fishing village of Portofino a glorious surprise as we navigated our way around the bluff. Pastel coloured houses, high-end boutiques and seafood restaurants fringe the piazzetta, a small cobbled square overlooking the harbour, which is lined with super yachts. It certainly is the playground of the rich and famous. We found a bar and sat sipping our Coke Zero and local beer pretending that one of the super yachts moored nearby in the beautiful clear blue water was ours. Portofino is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to pay the price for a hotel room (up to 40,000 Euros per night for a water view) so it was back on the ferry and then back onto the bus for the hour long trip to Rapallo, our home for the next two nights.