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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