Italy Part 2

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‘Prego!’



Apparently it means ‘You’re welcome!’ but it seems to fit at the beginning, the middle and the end of every conversation.



Venezia was every bit of much a treat as it was 36 years ago: gondolas, water taxis, water buses, steps up and down thousands of tiny bridges, churches, palaces, plazas, the jail from which Casanova escaped…



We witnessed a magnificent hissy fit between a gondolier and a Spanish couple with whom we were going to share a gondola. We aren’t quite sure what it was about but he refused to take them and proceeded to tell every other gondolier we met not to pick them up!



We enjoy Spritz, very pink but slightly bitter, and have become addicted to the kebabs – even better here than in Greece. Duple espressos have every bit as much flavour as you’d expect from the Italians.



From Venezia it was off to Trieste in a tiny corner of Italy, which had been almost entirely surrounded by the Iron Curtain. At nearby Goritz, the town had been split in 2 like Berlin and when we dashed into a WC at the railway station we discovered we were in Slavonia! More traipsing around castles and old Roman towns – but you can’t have too many of those. There seem to be old relics and bits of saints all over the place.



Queuing for an art exhibition “Rafael to Picasso”, we had to wait for hours in the freezing cold weather – under a balcony, which was a relief, as it was pouring with rain. Joining us under the balcony was a pianist playing a grand piano, together with waiters providing free coffee and croissants! Needless to say, the art was great.



We had decided not to spend any time in Rome, but a revisit to Michelangelo’s ‘Pieta’ was a must and we managed a quick sprint around some of the amazing sights before jumping on a plane for Singapore. We hope to acclimatize to both the weather and the time zone in a relaxing manner by a pool.

Arrivederci to Italy


Alan and Cherryll

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Photos

Venezia
what would you expect us to do in Venice?

Venezia
outside our hotel

Venezia
on top of San Marco

Venezia
Spritz cocktails - do you like the colour?

Venezia
ice skating in the square - it probably didn't need a freezer

Venezia
where Casanova was imprisoned

Trieste
discussing literature with James Joyce

Trieste
view from hotel window

Trieste
fish for dinner

Trieste
another morning tea… the top of another castle

Aquileia
church first built in the fourth century

Aquileia
more saints' bones

Goritz
border hopping

Soave
it really exists!

Soave
nativity scene made of bread

Verona
a mature Juliet - an alternative ending

Roma
defending italy's debts