Aug 16 2016

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 2016

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 2016

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 2016

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 2016

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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