Jet lag, laundry, bills to pay...nevertheless returning home from a great adventure still has its pleasures. After three weeks in Italy, we were happy to sleep in our own bed, thrilled to see the folks at home, and grateful for our morning coffee and newspapers.
We began our travels in Venice, arriving by waterbus to our hotel in the Dorsodura neighborhood. We walked the city from the Piazza San Marco to the neighborhoods on the west side of Venice. The highlights of Venice for us were the trip to the island of Murano, the neighborhood wine bar where we snacked on appetizers for 1 Euro and a glass of wine for 2 Euros, and the Campo Santa Margherita where we joined the Venetians for Saturday market and Friday afternoon "School's Out" time with families. We also loved learning about the gondoliers, their training, and their fabulous gondolas which are specially fitted and designed for each gondolier.
The lowlights of Venice included the crowds at St. Mark's Plaza and the pigeons, who decorated Dick's shirt as he sat on the steps of the neighborhood church savoring his gelato!
From Venice, we travelled by train to the Cinque Terre, 5 remote villages on the Ligurian coast, which boasted a beautiful hiking trail along the cliffs above the Mediterranean. We completed the hike in 6 hours...then returned by train to our starting point, the village of Monterossa. The scenery was spectacular, the hiking was rigorous and the peaceful villages were delightful.
The next stop on our journey was Siena, where we met David and Sue Tucker for two more weeks of travel and adventure.
We visited Florence and the museums, the Uffizi and the Accademia; and we witnessed the late night celebrations in Siena of the Oka Contrada (the Goose) who had recently won the annual Palio...a horse race in the town's square. Our rooms shared a small balconey, where we served appetizers and wine each night before dinner!
From Siena we travelled by train again, this time to Positano on the Amalfi Coast. Once again the scenery, the hiking and the great food reminded us that although the cities are stimulating and filled with art and architecture, we love the small town atmosphere.
Finally, our last stop was Rome. We didn't expect Rome to be our favorite city on this trip...but surprises are the best part of adventures! We toured the sites of ancient Rome, St. Peter's Basilica....and walked La Dolce Vita at sunset.
Each of these stops along our way promise a detailed and sometimes humorous story...so don't hesitate to ask one of us...unless you are a little short of time! The best part of an adventure, though, is returning home...where Rebecca picked us up at the airport and Mary brought dinner for us all....pizza! What else!
Arrivederci for now,
The Happy Travelers
