After we all had a good night of sleep we all went on a self guided tour of Piazza San Marco, Basilica di San Marco (the horses, gold ceiling, mosaics). San Zaccaria with Madonna and child by Giovanni Bellini.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 – Venice Italy – self guided tour of city
Monday, October 10, 2011 – Bardolino Italy - depart for Verona to Venice by train to meet up with friends, Nick and Judy to tour Tuscany next 2 weekds
We departed Bardolino early and drove back to Verona Italy to turn in the Fiat and get on the 9:15 am train to Venice, Italy. We arrived in Venice and then the question "how do you get to our apartment by water". We didn't know exactly what to look for in transport. Water Bus or Water Taxi? We decided just to avoid too much handling of our heavy luggage and in unfamiliar and confusing streets of Venice, the Water Taxi was our best solution, although the cost was a lot more. The Water Taxi was a very nice boat and the driver had to call to be sure of the location also. He took us as close to the apartment as feasibly possible. Alice, the apartment owner said we were very lucky as they sometimes leave people several blocks from the apartment because they don't want to deal with the one-way canal where the apartment is located . We got signed in at the apartment and got information about where we were and how to get to the areas we wanted to see. Alice and Marco were very helpful. Nick and Judy arrived about 1:00 pm and they wanted to rest up from their long flight and travel to the apartment. While Judy and Nick rested from their flight we did a quick tour on our own of Venice for a short time then returned to rest ourselves before going out for dinner that night at a Scililian Pizza place.
Piazza San Marco, Basilica di San Marco (horses, gold ceiling, mosaics. San Zaccaria with Madonna and child by Giovanni Bellini.
The Rialto bridge on the canal.
Sunday, October 9, 2011 – Bardolino Italy – R and R at a B&B
Today we are relaxing at a B&B Edward found this place by requesting information from a website that sent our date requirement to 18 B&B in Bardolino area. We received about 12 responses and we picked this one. It turned out to be more than we ever thought it would be. It was a restored chateau high in the hills above Lake Garda near Bardolino. Funny thing happened, Edward went to put some things in the room safe and when he opened the door the safe moved – the safe was not bolted down – how safe is that! Someone can just pick it up and take it away.
Both Lake Garda and Lake Como in northern Italy are super great places. The towns are interesting and each is somehow different from the others. Highly recommend for a visit.
Sadly we are leaving the lake district of northern Italy. After 6 days at Lake Como and Lake Garda we are rested and relaxed. Tomorrow we meet our friends in Venice for the last 2 weeks of our European adventure. We will travel through Venice, Florence, Tuscany and Rome for the next 2 weeks before boarding the cruise ship for home from Rome to Galveston. 5 1/2 months in Europe! What a way to retire and what an adventure. Hundreds of stories and more than 3,000 photos!!!
I am not sure about internet connections for the next two weeks since we will be in rural Tuscany. For 4 nights we will stay at a 13th Century Monastery that we know does not have internet (or telephone, TV or swimming pool for that matter). You have to acknowledge these deficiencies? before they will confirm your reservation. Guess they gave had a few Americans who screamed, "Where is the wi-fi, where is the pool?"
View of Bardolino from he B&B and the sailboats
Edward and the olive trees and in the olive grove
Marina in Garda Italy
Elaine at the marina in Bardolina Italy
The plaza after dark in Bardolina Italy
