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Europa
Could be anywhere, right?Still on that whirlwind, but winding down a little here in Firenze, Italy.
It's been a mixed couple of weeks... from Augsburg Jon and I had a wierd ill-fated day out in downtown Schongau. Never heard of it ? Well Jon thought he had and we took a 3 hr local train ride over 70 km to a town it turned out no-one had really heard of, the train stopping 15 minutes at every second station. It was amusing at first but after a wander around the alstadt in the cold we needed alcohol to numb our bodies for the return. No fault on either part, Jon was a tad grumpy with himself, but I couldn't stop giggling about it.
It was really nice to have that 3 day stopover with Jon and Eva, thanks guys I really do appreciate it.
Heidelberg is a really pretty town, and here I had lunch and a wander with Stephanie (met in Turkey). Not sure where to venture next, I took a late-afternoon punt on Strasbourg, with half a mind for venturing further into France. I'm happy I made the the stopover there, at least as a preview to what travel
The road to nowhere
Schongau here we come! in France may entail, because I ended up crawling my way back east into Switzerland, and charming Bern. I may need a course in French, or at least stern attitude and grumpiness 101 before a French adventure.
Bern was hosting a kind of running festival/marathon when I arrived, the atmosphere was quite special. The hostel was great too, and I ended up there for 3 nights, spending some time with random solo travellers in the countryside, and around a fusball table. A night in Luzern in the rain, and onto Venice, via Milan, via the alps.
The train journey was very speziale. Plenty of little villages through Switzerland that would certainly be a delight for a highly expensive stopover, but not for whirlwind Bertie. Milan only got 2 hours from me.
In Venice however, I could have stayed longer, and should have I guess. Two nights gave me enough to explore (get lost) and enjoy the place thoroughly. It really is speziale. I met a lovely Spanish girl at the ostello and with very little language between us we managed some terrible miscommunication but alot of fun as well. Ah Venice.
Florence has been something of
a base for the last few days. I've seen some of the sights here, including the Uffizi gallery (great), and made some side trips to Siena and Cinque Terre for a day hike in the heat. I had intended to stay there but it seems la high season e en arrivo.
Finally cheap perfecto coffee is at hand, and the gelato abundant. Am still biding my time for a great pasta meal. Pizza is doing me fine for the moment. Dave, you are right, and I guess I knew all along from living in Melbourne, the Italians are very warm, humerous people. I think it would be a great country to live, however travel is a bit of a challenge coming into this time of year. There are innumerable, impenetrable, insular groups of Americans travelling en masse throughout the country, and now travelling on the fly gives way to itinerary and booking ahead. God bless America.
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Jonny Biggs
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Atmosphere
I'm glad you captured my sour persona so well in the prison of our train - I'd forgotten you took that! Nice one mate, you got me smiling again.