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Published: October 24th 2008
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22nd October
Trieste - Venice
Got up bright and early this morning and headed for Venice. We decided to stay off the motorway so we could see more of Italy. That was our first mistake. These roads - it would seem take you through every industrial zone at 70km an hour. Then you also get the luxury of driving with people who only need 50m visibility to pass. Our second mistake was after taking 1hour to travel 40kms we decided to try our luck on the motorway. We have never seen so many trucks in our lives. It was share madness - rows and rows of huge trucks going 60km in one lane and cars doing about 140kms in the other lane. The scenery was n’t any better either.
It is unfortunate that Venice is now surrounded by a large amount of industry. It is dirty and it is disappointing. The funny thing is that right in the middle of all of this was our campground. The exact same one we stayed in 13 years ago - but this time it wasn’t pouring with rain. It was a smoggy sort of day. We couldn’t work out if it was smog, fog
The Hughes
waiting for our ferry home or mist from the sea.
We caught the ferry from our campsite out to Venice. There was huge machinery in the sea building more land and doing road works. This intrigued the kids. They were fascinated by the motorways and streets of Venice. Blake was worried that they would get water in their doors. But he liked the idea of going out your door and jumping on your boat.
Venice hasn’t changed much. It’s probably a little cleaner than last time. Less hawkers though. The kids simply enjoyed roaming the streets and eating gelato. We gave Anton the map and the task of finding an internet cafe which he was quick at achieving. Much to Gareth’s disappointment we didn’t get lost in Venice. Anton knew exactly where he was the entire time.
As soon as we got back to our camp Blake grabbed the hand lines we were given in Scotland, some bread and went and joined a man on the wharf fishing. He chatted away to the guy - who was from the Netherlands. The guy catch a fish and wandered off. The brothers then joined Blake and then they too catch a fish - Gareth and I were
the brothers
the fish - delicious surprised it didn’t have two heads. That for them was the highlight of the day. Not Venice and its streets but catching a fish with a small line and a piece of bread.
23rd
Venice - Bologna
The boys were up early and straight out to the wharf again for another fish. They caught another one. Two to eat now, not just one. That night we had heard the huge cargo ships coming and going past that wharf. Somehow fish had survived those waters and now we were going to eat them. Gareth had no idea what they were but we were eating them.
Stayed off the motorway again today but we knew what to expect so it was easy. Trusted Amy to find us a campsite and she took us to a fantastic one. Clean and green. Caught the bus into the city. The boys are getting use to this sort of life. They’re good at reading the bus signs - organising tickets and working out when to get off.
Bologna is a university city and we walked right into the heart of it. Mason didn’t like it at first but he soon got use to it. We had
promised the boys lunch in town but by the time we got there it was 2.30 and things were closing. They had had breakfast at 8 so by now they were pretty hungry. Gareth spied a Pizza place - thank goodness because things were turning to custard pretty fast. They were the best pizzas we’ve ever had. We watched them make them and cook them then the boys inhaled them. Fed us all for 9 euros, it’s the cheapest lunch we’ve had. Then onto hot chocolates somewhere else. These were so thick you couldn’t drink them you sort of had to eat them. Anton was delirious with it. Blake and Mason got covered in it. When I wasn’t looking Anton actually licked out his cup.
Went looking for some dinner after that. Found a street that was full of delis. Fresh pasta, pesto, olives, breads, hams, wines - everything down one street. In the fishmonger we even saw the fish the kids had caught selling for 10 euros a kg. Spent the rest of our money and caught the bus home.
As Gareth and I headed into the camp I heard Mason screaming. We were a good 800m away but I could still hear him. It had to happen the way they ride those bikes. He came off doing a wheelie and the seat got him in the groin. By the time we got there his groin had swollen that much it was the size of an orange. Ice and panadol administered. Swelling with down but it still looks ugly.
Made fish chowder that night. Tasted fine - even better with free fish and a bottle of Italian wine.
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Johnny , Olina and Zofie
non-member comment
Playing cards
YOUVE WORN THEM OUT, bugger the quality cant be as good as I thought, not tell anyone you have only had them a few months.... If you have an address you know you will be at at anytime then send it and and I can post some more to you, dont want you go without...... Italy, havent been there, well I havent been to alot of places you have been to, Dad wanted to get to Venice this summer while he was here but time didnt allow it, so he went to Switzerland instead, down South in the apls, he loved it there. Well done to the boys on there fishing, they could fish all day and then sell them at the market. Yep things are indeed getting colder, another frost this morning, and the afternoon cooled down quite quick, you will indeed look the part wandering around with shorts. Again it was our pleasure to have had you all here, glad you all enjoyed it. Right dishes to be done, we found some venison in the butcher today so that was nice to have for dinner. Keep up the good work. Who is going to be in charge of putting all the blog pages together and making a book, it would be a great memoir. John