Aug 17

Flixbus: Reader Beware, Curse Words Enclosed

Flixbus miseryI thought our next stop was to be Zurich, Switzerland and high tail it out of Italy forever but I thought wrong.
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Enjoyed a good breakfast, grabbed a taxi to the bus station and then the following scenario began which I posted publicly on Facebook because people need to be made aware of this type of crap before booking.
“Last freaking straw… FLIXBUS SUCKS!!! Continue reading

Aug 16

August 16 – Next Stopover, Milan

rialto bridge in venicePacked and not really ready to go, but time to go and leave Venice behind.
Travel Hint: If you are staying anywhere in the center of town, I suggest calling for a porter to retrieve your luggage and meet you at the people mover. Cost Euro 20.00, but saves your back and offers a relaxing way to depart the island. You don’t want to push or pull your luggage over all the bridges before reaching Piazzale Roma, the major gateway off.
We were a bit delayed by a protest group “protesting the war” and the porters waited for us. It was interesting to watch the protest and could not agree with their grieve more. They were followed up by approximately 30 police officers.

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Aug 15

August 15 – Too Short a Visit to Venice

water refillsToday we ate a simple breakfast at the hotel, but the coffee was outstanding.
I could not wait to get out to “feel and breath” Venice.
I think we reached our record high in photos for one day. It is just like you see in movies and TV shows. It was perfection to me. Now if something could be done about the over-abundance of tourists. In some areas, you simply could not walk and even then at a snails pace. I think a visit in April, March or May would be vastly better, even though weather may be less attractive, which in turn effects picture taking.
On a short stay Venice requires decisions on where to go. We didn’t make it to the Jewish Ghetto, as we stayed to do San Marco, The Rialto Bridge and a Gondola trip into Dorsoduro with a long circular walk back to Piazzale Roma.

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Aug 14

August 14 Travel Day To Venice

Room with a view in Venice

Room with a view in Venice

If you notice me not writing on some dates, those are just travel days. Not particularly eventful to note. Jump on bus, jump off bus for snack, jump on bus, occasionally wish the driver would slow down, speed up, stop talking non-stop, be a little friendlier, have more leg room, wish other riders take more showers and etc. You get the drift, right? LOL

By the time we arrive at our hotel, we just need some stretching and relaxation time.
Today was no different, except we had to lug our luggage 3/4 a mile through the streets of Venice, up and over multiple bridges and it was very hot out. While Han was taking over two pieces of the luggage over a bridge, this lovely young man (have to say he was American) came along and just picked one up and carried it over for us. How sweet was that?
My own travel hint that I will abide by next time? Pack your clothes, then take only half of what you “think” you need.
Overpacking makes traveling miserable at times and I have barely worn a 1/4 of what I bought.

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Aug 13

August 13 – A Tuscany Walkabout Tour

PisaThis was one dang early morning. Had to get up at 7:00am to get ready, eat and walk to our tour bus site.
Anywhere where they offer “Walkabout” tours, I highly suggest you booking one. We loved it and so did everyone else. We talked with many people and I only heard accolades for the tour guide, driver and places visited.
The hotel said it was the number one booked tour.
I will give a short recap, as if I wrote everything, you may get tired of reading.
Our tour guide was Alessandro, who was funny, interesting, informed, professional and kind hearted.
The tour is called, “The Best of Tuscany Tour”, which takes you to Siena, a Tuscany farm and vineyard for a great lunch, followed by a visit to San Gimignano and Pisa in that order.

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Aug 12

Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence

Ania, michel and tjWe wanted to get out of the busy city hubbub, so we decided to take a public bus to Piazzale Michelangelo to experience the great renaissance artist’s Florence from above. It was also near a camping where Han’s family used to camp at in the late fifties and early sixties.
It took quite some time to find the bus location (even the tourism office sent us wrong and then to purchase tickets., which happens to be any tobacco shop. I cannot even remember how many times we heard, “it’s over there” with a quick point of the finger and then dismissed. We went to the tourist office and found out you buy the tickets right outside at the bar set up. Wrong! The bar owner pointed at a store across the road and told us they were the ones selling bus tickets. By the time we walked all over looking for buses and tickets, we were already hot and tired, but was nice to settle onto the bus until it began jarring my brains apart going over the roads. It is a fairly rough ride up, but definitely worth the scenery and experience. Best deal for the price too; Euro 1.20 p/p with a ticket duration of 90 minutes.

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Aug 11

Florence is Flavorless

tj eating gelatoSo there are about 50 tour people, ages 20’s and 30’s, staying at the hotel which is located conveniently close to the main train station, just a couple of block from the famous ‘Duomo’. As always with groups, we were rudely awakened this morning at 2:30am by slamming doors and screaming and laughing. Yep, it sure started our morning off real nice.
Was able to sleep a little more then had some breakfast and spoke to the front desk. These travel agents are nice but when they see and hear them come in loud, drunk and obnoxious, then something should be said about a little respect for others.
Well, coffee helped quite a bit.
My assessment of Italy so far is still Go to Prague!
It would be perfectly wonderful, if not for the Italians.

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Aug 09

August 9 – Just Say “No” To Genova

Statue in Port of GenoaThere are so many titles I could use for this particular blog entrance, but most were not too complimentary.
To put it in a nut shell, we stumbled across Genova’s version of the red light district where street walkers, priests and police abide. It was quite interesting and entertaining, especially when I wanted to take a picture of one of the lovely streets and the women all scattered out of the camera’s eye and immediately around the corner was a gorgeous church on the Via Stefania Moro. They did not offer candles to be purchased, but instead had fake slender bulb candles that would light up once you inserted the appropriate amount of money. I am fairly sure this is done due to candle theft. I even found a craft store in this district and bought a small gift for one of my daughters.

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Aug 08

August 8 – Cannes Via Bus To Genova > What A Difference

tunnelsOMG! I woke up pissed off today. After not falling asleep until 12:30, I was woken at 2:15 by loud talking and disgusting smell of thick cigarette smoke. Our hotel is supposed to be smoke free. Even when I DID smoke, I could not stand sleeping in hotels that allowed it, as there is nothing more gross than sleeping in an ashtray.
I called down to reception and sternly stated my grievance, as this is the second time we have smelled smoke.
I guess the front desk clerk came upstairs because it became quieter, yet the smell of cigarettes hung in the air for the rest of the night. Then having to wake up at 7:00am to meet the bus, did not make me a pleasant person for the other front desk person to greet.

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Aug 07

August 6/7 – Cannes, Can We Just Stay Here?

A new LancelThe moment the bus rounded the corner and the beaches came into view, I was enchanted by the clear blue sea and it was calling to me.
I also saw a great sign that said, “Don’t Splash Your Trash”. Meaning do not throw your litter in the water.
We disembarked and went in search of a taxi. On the way we were subjected to our second impression of Cannes, that some people obviously have more money than class.
I am just going to be honest here. There was a very wrinkly old geezer, in a speedo, instructing his much younger arm candy on how to pose in a public fountain while wearing just her bikini bottoms. She had laid her top on a brick wall, and went to heeding his commands. So he is running around her like a teenager, snapping photos while everyone around was privy to their little display of oddity. I have no problem with nudity on the beach, but think there should be some sort of decorum and self-respect when in town. When they were done, they strolled off towards where laid the mega yachts. “Bless their hearts!” > insert huge eye roll here.

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