This morning we embarked on a tour of the ancient town of Sibenik. In order to get there we had to take a tender. A small boat from our boat to the shore. Because the winds were high( 50mph) the had bit if trouble getting the small boat to stay close to the large boat and shore giving rise to a great sow of seamanship.
Croatia is clearly still trying to recover from it's " troubles". There are lots of reallly awful communist era buildings around and many recent ruins. However the tour of the old city was fascinating. It began as so many do with the church. St Jacob it is quite plain by Venice standards and has more the feel of the churches in. Berlin. High ceilings but heavy. The old city is behind the battlements and is all narrow paved alleyways. We came out near an elementary school that was out for lunch. The playground was open tp the square we were passing through and the kids were having a wonderful time chasing one another and giggling and generally being kids.
Next we boarded buses and headed down the coast ot Split. The coast is lovely with pines still running up to the shore. The groind is Frey rocky and our guidecsaid not veer fertile so there are these tiny plots of land all up and down the hills to true to avid erosion so that they can grow somethoongg.. There are vineyards son the hills but many are dying. The guidecsaid in the early 1900s there was a blight in the vines so many vin tars left and went to the US. She claims that one of them took a reisling grape and that it is from Croatia that the reisling comes.
We next stopped at the museum of a Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic. His work is wonderful. We all enjoyed the stop very much. He taught ant NotrecDamevat one point and has statues in Grant Park in Chicago. He returned to his country at some point but died on 1962.
We returned to the ship for lunch and bit of wine. After lunch we went into Split to tour the Palace of Diocleation. He was a Roman emperor and is known as the last Emperor to persecute the Christians. The palace was huge covering 3800 square meters. The under levels remain and according to our guide are the same proportions as the upper levels. Over the centuries others built on top of the palace ruins and of course Christians eventually destroyed some to make their churches. The original mausoleum of Diacleatian is now the smallest Cathedral in the world. It is quite lovely and in parts you can still see the original decorations.
We then went out and through other squares including one where we were able to listen to a quartet singing. We also saw a number more of Mestrovics work including one won we had to rub the big toe of for good luck.
After the tour ended friend two and I went to the third oldest synogogue in Europe. It is om the second floor of a building on the old ghetto. We had to knock and be let in. There was another tour there who were being tod about the Jews in this p zit of the world. We lessened that there are only 80 jews in Split and that they do mot have a rabbi, now ever they ,eet ever Sabath and then have a kosher meal together.
Friend two and I decided to walk back to the ship rather than take the bus. It took us all of five minutes. All the others in the tour group took the bus.
After dinner they had a show in the theater on the 4th deck. There were four women and one male dancer and a singer. They were dressed in harlequin costumes for the most part. One dance had the, wearing all black except for black lit masks on their faces, hands and knees. It was very effective. Anyway it was a lot of fun. Not many of the passengers can stay that late however so the theater was only half full.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
More Venice
On our first full day of our Tauck tour we were first raced through the Basilica of St Mark. St Mark is the patron saint of Venice. He replaced St. Theodore who still appears on one of the two columns at the entrance to St Marks square. The other column has the winged lion which represents St Mark. Back to the Basilica, it is covered with mosaics, the illustrate the life if Christ. There are millions of gold leaf squares. In each the gold leaf is encased in glass.
The square was flooded again this morning and even the mosiac floors at the entrance to the basilica was covered. The chichi was at first the private chapel od the Doge but when Napoleon conquoree he opened it to the public. He also built the palace at the end of the square.
We were back at the hotel and prepared for our day on the islands of Burano and Murano. Burano is a fishing island where the famous lace is made. The wIves would wait for their husbands by making lace. They also painted their houses bright colors so that their husbands would be able to find the right home and wife when they came home. The village is charming, it isn't really a village, as it is a part of Venice but it has a village feel.
The lace is beautiful and quite expensive, despite that fact, I did feel that some members of my family needed a lace top. I can hardly wait to see them in them.
Murano is also a charming place. It is still home to the making of Murano glass and some is quite lovely and expensive. While I did feel somevhad to come home, I have to admit that lovely as some of it is and how incredible the artistry is, I was quite able to leave most of it there.
We were now water taxied to our ship. The La Boreal. Our tour is about half of the folk on the ship. We had a lifeboat exercise where we had to put on our life vests and head to our gathering point. Then off to dinner. The dinig room is large and was very noisy, on top of which they served lamb as the meat entry. Hopefully tomorrows dinner will be more to my liking.
Tomorrow Croatia!
The square was flooded again this morning and even the mosiac floors at the entrance to the basilica was covered. The chichi was at first the private chapel od the Doge but when Napoleon conquoree he opened it to the public. He also built the palace at the end of the square.
We were back at the hotel and prepared for our day on the islands of Burano and Murano. Burano is a fishing island where the famous lace is made. The wIves would wait for their husbands by making lace. They also painted their houses bright colors so that their husbands would be able to find the right home and wife when they came home. The village is charming, it isn't really a village, as it is a part of Venice but it has a village feel.
The lace is beautiful and quite expensive, despite that fact, I did feel that some members of my family needed a lace top. I can hardly wait to see them in them.
Murano is also a charming place. It is still home to the making of Murano glass and some is quite lovely and expensive. While I did feel somevhad to come home, I have to admit that lovely as some of it is and how incredible the artistry is, I was quite able to leave most of it there.
We were now water taxied to our ship. The La Boreal. Our tour is about half of the folk on the ship. We had a lifeboat exercise where we had to put on our life vests and head to our gathering point. Then off to dinner. The dinig room is large and was very noisy, on top of which they served lamb as the meat entry. Hopefully tomorrows dinner will be more to my liking.
Tomorrow Croatia!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Venice
We began with a tour of the Doges Palace. It is raining and the tide is high. They have put out raised walkways because the water from the lagoon is splashing on to the streets. The doges palace is a complex of government offices and three rooms in which the doge would live. There are frescos by Titan, Tinteretto and Veronese. Including the largest canvas in the world a painting by Tinteretto which is in the Senate chambers. I domt think it is called the senate but that was as close as i could come to the description. The doge was an elected position and all the nobels, 2000 of them, were charged with the governing of the city.
Because it is Sunday we must wait until tomorrow to see St. Marks church. It was originally the chapel of the doge and housed the relics of St Mark because the men who rescued them preferred to give them to the doge rather than the church. They came in handy at one point when the pope thought he would excommunicate the entire city and the doge used his considerable political power and the relics to persuade the pope to lift the ban.
We walked across the bridge of sighs. The guide explained that the covering is all advertising for the commercial sponsors of the restoration of portions of the city. Seems to me they are the replacement for the rich noblemen who insisted that they be portrayed in the buildings they built or sponsored. The good thing about our sponsors is that their pictures won't stay up the completion of the restoration.
The guide told us that the city is built on thousands of pillions. The church across from the hotel has over one million pillions supporting it. As she said a forest of trees under the water.
After the tour, friend seven and I struck out on a shopping and touring expedition. We wandered around a nimbler of new streets and ducked into lots of fun shops. When we were finally to hungry to go any further we dropped off our purchases and went to a cafe to eat and people watch.
Tonight we forage in the rooms for dinner.
Nor and I are definitely going to have to come back here!
Because it is Sunday we must wait until tomorrow to see St. Marks church. It was originally the chapel of the doge and housed the relics of St Mark because the men who rescued them preferred to give them to the doge rather than the church. They came in handy at one point when the pope thought he would excommunicate the entire city and the doge used his considerable political power and the relics to persuade the pope to lift the ban.
We walked across the bridge of sighs. The guide explained that the covering is all advertising for the commercial sponsors of the restoration of portions of the city. Seems to me they are the replacement for the rich noblemen who insisted that they be portrayed in the buildings they built or sponsored. The good thing about our sponsors is that their pictures won't stay up the completion of the restoration.
The guide told us that the city is built on thousands of pillions. The church across from the hotel has over one million pillions supporting it. As she said a forest of trees under the water.
After the tour, friend seven and I struck out on a shopping and touring expedition. We wandered around a nimbler of new streets and ducked into lots of fun shops. When we were finally to hungry to go any further we dropped off our purchases and went to a cafe to eat and people watch.
Tonight we forage in the rooms for dinner.
Nor and I are definitely going to have to come back here!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Bologna
The day began gray and didn't change throughout. Breakfast in the dining room was delicious. Eggs, meats, breads, fruit, etc,etc.
We had a bit of a snafu with our guide. A woman nameed Annalise who is reputed to be the best guide in Balogna was to be our guide but when we went downstairs to meet her she wasn't there. Friend four tried to call her as did her agency but she was not answering. Finally they figured out somehow that she had basically passed us on to another guide but had misdirected him about where to meet us. He came to the hotel and was incredibly apologetic. We assured him we were not angry. Then he started guiding and he was amazing. The best guide. We have ever had. He is an art professor and his speciality is ancient art. He was able to tell us so much about the things wevwere seeing and he made it so interesting in part because he was so interested. We decided that we were very fortunate that Annalise dumped us.
In the main plaza there is a large building that was used by the pope. He had a porch from which he would greet the people. Under the porch are statutes of two eagles. One by Michelangelo. He asked us to guess which one -- I went way up in his estimation when I got it right! Docents eat your hearts out! Right across from the porch is a beautiful Neptune fountain. The story is that thevartist wanted to build the fountain in Rome ute pope thought it was too sexual, Neptune is a very muscular nude and around his feet are four mermaids with water coming from their breasts. Since he couldn't build it in Rome he built it in Bologna, right in front of the pope's porch.
There are two towers in Bologna, these towers apparently are built by wealthy noblemen to show their power and wealth. The two towers settled in the soft sand beneath them and are both leaning toward one another.
At the end of the tour, Maximo, took us to a place to get traditional Bologna mests and cheese. It was great! He got a very generous tip. Did I mention that he was as nice to look at as the sights?
After lunch four of us tried and failed to go to three different museums but we had a lovely stroll around the city. Our guide in Verona told us that although football is supposed to be the national sport of Italy, the true national sport is strolling.
After the mandatory pre dinner proseco we strolled to Da Nello and had an amazing mushroom salad. The rest of the dinner was good but the salad was unique and amazing.
We had a bit of a snafu with our guide. A woman nameed Annalise who is reputed to be the best guide in Balogna was to be our guide but when we went downstairs to meet her she wasn't there. Friend four tried to call her as did her agency but she was not answering. Finally they figured out somehow that she had basically passed us on to another guide but had misdirected him about where to meet us. He came to the hotel and was incredibly apologetic. We assured him we were not angry. Then he started guiding and he was amazing. The best guide. We have ever had. He is an art professor and his speciality is ancient art. He was able to tell us so much about the things wevwere seeing and he made it so interesting in part because he was so interested. We decided that we were very fortunate that Annalise dumped us.
In the main plaza there is a large building that was used by the pope. He had a porch from which he would greet the people. Under the porch are statutes of two eagles. One by Michelangelo. He asked us to guess which one -- I went way up in his estimation when I got it right! Docents eat your hearts out! Right across from the porch is a beautiful Neptune fountain. The story is that thevartist wanted to build the fountain in Rome ute pope thought it was too sexual, Neptune is a very muscular nude and around his feet are four mermaids with water coming from their breasts. Since he couldn't build it in Rome he built it in Bologna, right in front of the pope's porch.
There are two towers in Bologna, these towers apparently are built by wealthy noblemen to show their power and wealth. The two towers settled in the soft sand beneath them and are both leaning toward one another.
At the end of the tour, Maximo, took us to a place to get traditional Bologna mests and cheese. It was great! He got a very generous tip. Did I mention that he was as nice to look at as the sights?
After lunch four of us tried and failed to go to three different museums but we had a lovely stroll around the city. Our guide in Verona told us that although football is supposed to be the national sport of Italy, the true national sport is strolling.
After the mandatory pre dinner proseco we strolled to Da Nello and had an amazing mushroom salad. The rest of the dinner was good but the salad was unique and amazing.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Padua
We took the train to Padua today.
We were met by our guide Angela. She walked us from the train straight to the old part of town.
As we crossed the bridge over the canal she explained that we could take the canal and river through a series of locks over six hours time and get to Venice. Just across the bridge was a memorial to 9-11 it is impressive the number of European cities I have been to that have a memorial to that day.
Our first stop was making reservations to see the Giotto Frescos. Then we went to the church very nearby.The church is very plain and again lovely.
We walked on to the university and watched the doctors graduate. Each of the doctor graduates wore a wreath of laurel leaves around their shoulders. Once they left the university square there were cartoons hung on the walls making fun of the graduate. We also saw a statue of the first ever woman to graduate from the university. She died young and alone because her family abandoned her and no man would marry her.
We walked through the market square and the ghetto area of town. We stopped at a cafe that has three rooms green red and white for the colors of the Italian flag. The green room does not serve food but the students and others are permitted to sit there as log and whenever the wished. It was originally built as an open air cafe but they have since glassed it in. The green room is still always open I believe.
One church we entered was bombed during the war and has been completely restored. The yhave rep laved many of the frescos and used computer generated cartoons from old photos. They then using the computer located all of the fragments that they had to allow them to reproduce the frescos. There was scaffolding in one side chapel and the artists were working on the walls. It was fascinating to see. Made me think I should try to contact Chris and serif he is anywhere near here.
We went back to see the Giotto frescos. The church was paid for by a Paduan for himself and his father who were usurers and trying to avoid hell. They are some of the first paintings to use perspective and the modling of faces using shadows. In order to see them we had to sit and watch a film while our body temperatures accla mated thrnvwe went in and were then permitted 15 minutes in the chapel.
We discussed the important topic of which Shakespearean play was in Padua and Verona. I checked up and learned the answer. It is the Taming of the Shrew.
Back to Verona and more Spritz on the piazza.
We went to a restaurant on the piazza. This was by far the best restaurant so far. I had a wonderful risotto and everyone raved about their meals. The chocolate dessert friend four and I shared was heaven. It was sort of one of those volcano cakes but the chocolate was so much better that the US variety.
We had wine, of course and slept well our last night in Verona.
We were met by our guide Angela. She walked us from the train straight to the old part of town.
As we crossed the bridge over the canal she explained that we could take the canal and river through a series of locks over six hours time and get to Venice. Just across the bridge was a memorial to 9-11 it is impressive the number of European cities I have been to that have a memorial to that day.
Our first stop was making reservations to see the Giotto Frescos. Then we went to the church very nearby.The church is very plain and again lovely.
We walked on to the university and watched the doctors graduate. Each of the doctor graduates wore a wreath of laurel leaves around their shoulders. Once they left the university square there were cartoons hung on the walls making fun of the graduate. We also saw a statue of the first ever woman to graduate from the university. She died young and alone because her family abandoned her and no man would marry her.
We walked through the market square and the ghetto area of town. We stopped at a cafe that has three rooms green red and white for the colors of the Italian flag. The green room does not serve food but the students and others are permitted to sit there as log and whenever the wished. It was originally built as an open air cafe but they have since glassed it in. The green room is still always open I believe.
One church we entered was bombed during the war and has been completely restored. The yhave rep laved many of the frescos and used computer generated cartoons from old photos. They then using the computer located all of the fragments that they had to allow them to reproduce the frescos. There was scaffolding in one side chapel and the artists were working on the walls. It was fascinating to see. Made me think I should try to contact Chris and serif he is anywhere near here.
We went back to see the Giotto frescos. The church was paid for by a Paduan for himself and his father who were usurers and trying to avoid hell. They are some of the first paintings to use perspective and the modling of faces using shadows. In order to see them we had to sit and watch a film while our body temperatures accla mated thrnvwe went in and were then permitted 15 minutes in the chapel.
We discussed the important topic of which Shakespearean play was in Padua and Verona. I checked up and learned the answer. It is the Taming of the Shrew.
Back to Verona and more Spritz on the piazza.
We went to a restaurant on the piazza. This was by far the best restaurant so far. I had a wonderful risotto and everyone raved about their meals. The chocolate dessert friend four and I shared was heaven. It was sort of one of those volcano cakes but the chocolate was so much better that the US variety.
We had wine, of course and slept well our last night in Verona.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Verona day two
Today is Columbus Day (observed) . So we are off to discover Verona.
We began with a really good breakfast, including eggs and bacon.
We met our guide. Valaria and took off for a four hour walking tour. Wwe bagman with the church right outside our hotel. St. Anastasia. It was built for the church by a veer wealthy man whose sarchoghi is elevated outside the front of the church. We learned that our hotel was at one time the quarters for the Signores guards.
The church is Romanesque in style. It is unfinished on the outside and you can see around the doors and windows how there is obviously more work to be done but since the man died before it was completed apparently that is how it will remain.
Next it was on to the river across the river is the old Roman theater. The ruins can still be seen and it is still used for out door concerts. On the top is an old monastery. It is built on the ruins of the old wall of the theater.
On to the Duomo. Each city we learned has it's own duomo which is the seat ofvthe bishop. This church is lovely. It is quite large and heavily painted. It to is built on the ruins of an early Roman church. It was built by Helen (Saint Helena) the wife of Constantine. This is now the home of older priests who serve in many capacities in the parish. We walked through the cloister and the baptistry. The baptistry is a chapel all to itself. According to Valaria the parents will stand outside the door of the church with their child to ask that they be admitted and then enter for the ritual. The font had eight bas relief images from the story of the birth and youth of Christ ending with his baptism by John. It looked like a full immersion would gave been done in the font but they also had a smaller basin within the font. At the entrance to the church was the basin for holy water. The basin sits on the shoulders of a hunchback. We all rubbed his hump for luck.
Of course no tour would be complete without a stop a Juliet's balcony. It is a place purchased by the city for just that purpose, for tourists to walk to. It is in a very small courtyard and people were having their picture taken rubbing the breast on the statue of Juliet. We did not spend much time there.
We next walked to Erbe Piazza which iscthe main square. It is ringed with snoops and cafes and of course apartments above. At one end is a very impressive building tat looks like a government building but itbwas actually the home of some rich folk who in the earlier times wanted to impress the citizens. The fountain is a combination of a mideavel basin, a Roman statue and an eighteentj century head. In the very middle os a raised platform that was used for crying out the news and for public punishments.
We ended our tour at the Roman arena. Arena wee learned means sand because that is what covered the bottom of the area. The arena is used for large summer operas and rock concerts. We went in and I went with the groupvto the very top. I even took a picture to prove I did it.
As it was now one and we had had only one snack since breakfast we stopped for lunch. Two of us split a wonderful pizza. And five of us shared a bottle of wine.
After lunch some of us crossed the river and wandered around the theater and monastery. The views of the city from the top were lovely even though it had turned a bit gray. About five, five of us wandered back to the plaza for a glass of wine. Actually tow or us decided that we had to have the local drink called a spritz. It is made with vermouth, fruit juice and a sparkling water. It is. Ow my second favorite drink discovered on this trip. Orangeina being first.
Dinner was at a locals restaurant. I had a gnocchi that was excellent. Apparently both horse and donkey are favored meats. So we have all learnica the Italian for both so we can avoid them on the menus. The place filled with locals drinking and eating risotto. I enjoyed our meal and we were very well treated but the nine women really stood out in this small local cafe.
Back to the rooms and to bed.
We began with a really good breakfast, including eggs and bacon.
We met our guide. Valaria and took off for a four hour walking tour. Wwe bagman with the church right outside our hotel. St. Anastasia. It was built for the church by a veer wealthy man whose sarchoghi is elevated outside the front of the church. We learned that our hotel was at one time the quarters for the Signores guards.
The church is Romanesque in style. It is unfinished on the outside and you can see around the doors and windows how there is obviously more work to be done but since the man died before it was completed apparently that is how it will remain.
Next it was on to the river across the river is the old Roman theater. The ruins can still be seen and it is still used for out door concerts. On the top is an old monastery. It is built on the ruins of the old wall of the theater.
On to the Duomo. Each city we learned has it's own duomo which is the seat ofvthe bishop. This church is lovely. It is quite large and heavily painted. It to is built on the ruins of an early Roman church. It was built by Helen (Saint Helena) the wife of Constantine. This is now the home of older priests who serve in many capacities in the parish. We walked through the cloister and the baptistry. The baptistry is a chapel all to itself. According to Valaria the parents will stand outside the door of the church with their child to ask that they be admitted and then enter for the ritual. The font had eight bas relief images from the story of the birth and youth of Christ ending with his baptism by John. It looked like a full immersion would gave been done in the font but they also had a smaller basin within the font. At the entrance to the church was the basin for holy water. The basin sits on the shoulders of a hunchback. We all rubbed his hump for luck.
Of course no tour would be complete without a stop a Juliet's balcony. It is a place purchased by the city for just that purpose, for tourists to walk to. It is in a very small courtyard and people were having their picture taken rubbing the breast on the statue of Juliet. We did not spend much time there.
We next walked to Erbe Piazza which iscthe main square. It is ringed with snoops and cafes and of course apartments above. At one end is a very impressive building tat looks like a government building but itbwas actually the home of some rich folk who in the earlier times wanted to impress the citizens. The fountain is a combination of a mideavel basin, a Roman statue and an eighteentj century head. In the very middle os a raised platform that was used for crying out the news and for public punishments.
We ended our tour at the Roman arena. Arena wee learned means sand because that is what covered the bottom of the area. The arena is used for large summer operas and rock concerts. We went in and I went with the groupvto the very top. I even took a picture to prove I did it.
As it was now one and we had had only one snack since breakfast we stopped for lunch. Two of us split a wonderful pizza. And five of us shared a bottle of wine.
After lunch some of us crossed the river and wandered around the theater and monastery. The views of the city from the top were lovely even though it had turned a bit gray. About five, five of us wandered back to the plaza for a glass of wine. Actually tow or us decided that we had to have the local drink called a spritz. It is made with vermouth, fruit juice and a sparkling water. It is. Ow my second favorite drink discovered on this trip. Orangeina being first.
Dinner was at a locals restaurant. I had a gnocchi that was excellent. Apparently both horse and donkey are favored meats. So we have all learnica the Italian for both so we can avoid them on the menus. The place filled with locals drinking and eating risotto. I enjoyed our meal and we were very well treated but the nine women really stood out in this small local cafe.
Back to the rooms and to bed.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Sunday Travel to Verona
Today we got up early and traveled to CDG for our flight to Venice and then on tp Verona.
We had been unable to reserve out seats in advance so had to take our chances at the airport. Friend two and I had no problem and both got window seats but friend one who ALWAYS travels first class but was flying economy this leg ended up in the middle seat in the very last row. I think thoughthat this has to be the last bad thong that happens to her on this trip.
We arrived at Marco Polo airport and were met by the rest of our traveling companions. They were just in from the States and were definitely feeling the flight.
We all marched off like little black ducklings following our mother duck to catch a bus to get to the train. The bus took is through some very UNlovely areas and dropped us at an even more unlovely train station.
We all got in line to get our eurrail passes stamped. While wevwaited we were "entertained" by some legendary Italian anger. A traveler was not gettingbwhat he wanted from the clerkvand started yelling. The clerk and the traveler got going arms waving and shouting. Not sure if the traveler ever got what he wanted but eventually he and the woman he was traveling with went off somewhere.
The train ride was un crowded so that made it nicer. It was a local so we did stop abbot ever y five minutes .. Again the scenery was mostly nothing to take a photo of. When we arrived in Verona we took a cab to our hotel, actually we took three cabs but however it was we got there. This partvof Verona is clearly the old city and finally something lovely.
The hotel is on a square with a church. The Hotel Due Torre. I am that means two towers. Still looking for the second tower.
We in checked and somecof us went for a walk. We found a festival. The werecselling local cheeses, meats, wine and crafts. It seemed to be in part about preserving old ways so there was a man makingvcheese and another who was iron mongering and weavers and them there were dancers and singers. We were invited to dance butvducked out before the music started.
Dinner was thevwhole group at a restaurant recommended by the hotel. The food was good and the company great! Back to the hotel and to bed.
We had been unable to reserve out seats in advance so had to take our chances at the airport. Friend two and I had no problem and both got window seats but friend one who ALWAYS travels first class but was flying economy this leg ended up in the middle seat in the very last row. I think thoughthat this has to be the last bad thong that happens to her on this trip.
We arrived at Marco Polo airport and were met by the rest of our traveling companions. They were just in from the States and were definitely feeling the flight.
We all marched off like little black ducklings following our mother duck to catch a bus to get to the train. The bus took is through some very UNlovely areas and dropped us at an even more unlovely train station.
We all got in line to get our eurrail passes stamped. While wevwaited we were "entertained" by some legendary Italian anger. A traveler was not gettingbwhat he wanted from the clerkvand started yelling. The clerk and the traveler got going arms waving and shouting. Not sure if the traveler ever got what he wanted but eventually he and the woman he was traveling with went off somewhere.
The train ride was un crowded so that made it nicer. It was a local so we did stop abbot ever y five minutes .. Again the scenery was mostly nothing to take a photo of. When we arrived in Verona we took a cab to our hotel, actually we took three cabs but however it was we got there. This partvof Verona is clearly the old city and finally something lovely.
The hotel is on a square with a church. The Hotel Due Torre. I am that means two towers. Still looking for the second tower.
We in checked and somecof us went for a walk. We found a festival. The werecselling local cheeses, meats, wine and crafts. It seemed to be in part about preserving old ways so there was a man makingvcheese and another who was iron mongering and weavers and them there were dancers and singers. We were invited to dance butvducked out before the music started.
Dinner was thevwhole group at a restaurant recommended by the hotel. The food was good and the company great! Back to the hotel and to bed.
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