Interested In Idyllic Italy
After an early breakfast we were on the bus by 8AM. Along the way, we stopped at a McDonalds rest stop (which made Bucky's day). Dimitri made it clear that this would be the only such stop and once we were inside we would understand why this was an exception! The views from the big picture window wall were stunning. It was disappointing to be leaving Germany, but I couldn't help but be excited to see Italy. Venice- what's not to love, right?
Beautiful Bolzano is Bene
Our lunch stop was in the town of Bolzano, Italy. Bolzano is in the Southern Tyrol region of Northern Italy in the Dolomites of the Italian Alps. The Tyrolean region has a bit of an identity crisis as the majority of the people are of Austrian ancestry, but with Italian influence. Bolzano claims both Italian and Austrian/German as their official language, but around 75% of the people speak German.
This charming place had lots to offer in the 2 hours we were there. We had a brief walking tour and then were led to the little restaurant. The weather was lovely and we could dine comfortably outside. We were served a generous salad and then three different kinds of sandwich on different breads. It was all so good- as was the wine! Of course the perfect finish to a delicious Italian meal is a gelato!
After lunch, Lannie and I enjoyed walking around and taking pictures. This town was interesting, and being so close to the German border, the signs were in Italian and German.
The bus rides are always pleasant. You don't expect that as you plan your trip and learn that you'll be on a bus for 6 hours. It never feels like 6 hours. It's down time from the constant hustle and bustle. It's time to nap, or chat, or read up on the next place. It's time to sight see, or pass snacks up and down the aisles. Dimitri could always be counted upon to come up and fill us in on the next stop, or do language lessons with us. Even as he sat down with Little Ricky, we'd crack up at hearing them speak in Dutch and crack each other up. Then Dimitri would get on his microphone and point out interesting things as we passed them. I started to wonder if he had a GPS linked to Wikipedia- as it became a contest of "what DOESN'T he know?!" I should have nick named him Dimipedia.
In case you're curious as to what you might possibly have to look at for hours and hours on the bus, these views are not uncommon...
In case you're curious as to what you might possibly have to look at for hours and hours on the bus, these views are not uncommon...
Wonderfully Wacky Waterclosets!
It was always interesting to see what kind of toilet (and sometimes sink) you'd get in the rest stops. At this particular one, there was no lid at all, leaving you to hover or really feel the cold. Sometimes, it took you a while to figure out how to activate the sink water- there might be a foot lever or a button, or a secret sensor. Once, I just had to walk out and find my hand sanitizer! The hand driers were usually worthy of a laugh too as I swear some of them just spit more water onto your hands.
Curious Capture
Something you won't see in the States- at least I haven't, is a machine that dispenses candy, chips, pop AND cigarettes!
Venizia!
As we arrived at the outskirts of Venice, Dimitri let out an "uh-oh". There were 5 cruise ships in port. That meant a very busy city!
Little Ricky parked the bus and we all tried to figure out what our Venice necessities would be. We were advised to just bring what we needed for two days and leave everything else on the bus.
Dimitri walked us to our vaparetto, which would take us to the island of Venice. The vaparettos were quite packed and not everybody could sit. Julie and I met a nice couple of fellas from the south of the US- I can't remember which southern state though. They were on a Venice vacation and gave us some pointers of things to do and places to go.
Just Julie Jubilant with her Geocache!
Julie was excited about her geocaches. Her goal was to find one in each country and she did!
What is geocaching? (You might ask) Think of it as high tech, international hide and seek! There are geocache treasures all over the world and often in the most unlikely places! Download an app on your phone and use clues and GPS to seek out these hidden treasures. Not every cache gives you a treasure, as the fun is in the finding more than the getting. When you find a cache there is a little book that you can sign (most cachers have code names) and return. Sometimes you leave a treasure, sometimes you claim a treasure, but usually you sign that you were there, replace the book, claim your victory and start on the next cache! Julie loves the sport and is the Geo-Queen!
What is geocaching? (You might ask) Think of it as high tech, international hide and seek! There are geocache treasures all over the world and often in the most unlikely places! Download an app on your phone and use clues and GPS to seek out these hidden treasures. Not every cache gives you a treasure, as the fun is in the finding more than the getting. When you find a cache there is a little book that you can sign (most cachers have code names) and return. Sometimes you leave a treasure, sometimes you claim a treasure, but usually you sign that you were there, replace the book, claim your victory and start on the next cache! Julie loves the sport and is the Geo-Queen!
Once off the vaparetto we made our way to the hotel, with Dimitri pointing things out along the way.
The Hotel Mercurio is tucked into a tiny little alley. We walked through the doorway and... As became the joke of the trip (at least among the cabooses of the group) "Oh look... more stairs!" (Spoken with a smile of course because none of us were grumps!) The hotel building is about 4-500 years old, so of course it's quirky and with lots of character (and stairs).
We lined up in the tiny lobby to receive our keys. (Dimitri usually assigned our rooms to us on the bus) The front desk clerk greeted Dimi warmly, it's obvious that he is well liked by those he interacts with regularly. My ankle was relieved when I received my room key and learned it was on the main floor, off a little hallway next to the lobby and the breakfast room.
We lined up in the tiny lobby to receive our keys. (Dimitri usually assigned our rooms to us on the bus) The front desk clerk greeted Dimi warmly, it's obvious that he is well liked by those he interacts with regularly. My ankle was relieved when I received my room key and learned it was on the main floor, off a little hallway next to the lobby and the breakfast room.
Home Happy Home~ The Hotel Mercurio
My room was plain, but I had a big bed, beautiful venetian glass fixtures and a nice bathroom. We were given time to settle in and then were instructed to meet Dimitri for our Venice tour.
It just so happened that as I went to the lobby for the Wi-Fi code, I ran into Julie. She mentioned that she and Joe had a bottle of wine and to go to my room and grab a glass and join them. Lannie walked by and we grabbed her too. So there was a little pre-tour party in Joe and Julie's room. I think we might have drank the whole bottle. We might have been a bit giggly and wobbly as we met the others for the tour...
Picture below from tour-mate, Julie.
Venice is everything you see on TV. It's a visually stunning city, bursting at the seams. The people are passionate and nice and have wonderful accents. If you can just get past the crowds... The middle of the day is the worst time to see Venice. The real Venice is early in the morning and later in the evenings when the bulk of the tourists are gone. The Rick Steves tourists are lucky. Our hotel is right in the heart of the city- easy access to everything. We are dared to get lost, to explore those hidden alleyways and talk to the locals.
First we had our city tour. Dimitri pointed out all of the major sites, and helped us orient ourselves and find out way home should we get lost. Most of us would take a hotel business card when we checked in. They're easy to tuck in a pocket, and many of them have maps on them. If worse comes to worst, show your card to somebody and they can point you in the right direction.
First we had our city tour. Dimitri pointed out all of the major sites, and helped us orient ourselves and find out way home should we get lost. Most of us would take a hotel business card when we checked in. They're easy to tuck in a pocket, and many of them have maps on them. If worse comes to worst, show your card to somebody and they can point you in the right direction.
Venice also gave us our introduction to pesky sales buskers. They're in all the main tourist areas, selling you roses, lasers, glow in the dark spinners, selfie sticks- and anything else you might want or not want. They can be relentless in hounding you and you must learn quickly how to tell them to scram. Otherwise, you might be like one tour member (he knows who he is) who bought several things from them, though we never actually saw them in use after the purchase.
Another amazing thing (and I use the word "amazing" quite loosely) is the blatant selling of black market designer gear- usually purses. It's so blatant, that the men sell their counterfeit Gucci bags right outside of the Gucci store! They also sell their goods right next to the ATMs. Convenient, eh?
Most of the people who sell these items are young men from Africa. I heard several opinions of why these young men are selling in Europe, and none of the options sounded favorable for the young men in question. I pitied them. Every once in a while the cops came along and the men grabbed their goods and ran. But they're back in an hour. They know who the English tourists are, as we must scream AMERICAN in our dress and mannerisms, and they speak impeccable English.
Whatever you do, DO NOT give in to any temptation to buy the bags. You will be prosecuted. It is a crime for you to buy them.
Another amazing thing (and I use the word "amazing" quite loosely) is the blatant selling of black market designer gear- usually purses. It's so blatant, that the men sell their counterfeit Gucci bags right outside of the Gucci store! They also sell their goods right next to the ATMs. Convenient, eh?
Most of the people who sell these items are young men from Africa. I heard several opinions of why these young men are selling in Europe, and none of the options sounded favorable for the young men in question. I pitied them. Every once in a while the cops came along and the men grabbed their goods and ran. But they're back in an hour. They know who the English tourists are, as we must scream AMERICAN in our dress and mannerisms, and they speak impeccable English.
Whatever you do, DO NOT give in to any temptation to buy the bags. You will be prosecuted. It is a crime for you to buy them.
In Venice I was forced to put my money where my mouth is. I had vowed to try something new every day. The choice for dinner was plain pasta or pasta with clams and mussels. I had Little Ricky beside me and Dimitri nearby- and both knew of my vow. Both knew I'd never before had fresh seafood and that I was scared to death. Shouldn't it have been enough that I was introduced to the joys of Limoncello and LOVED it?! Loved it so much that the non drinkers gave me their glasses and I soon felt no pain in my ankle whatsoever?!
I knew if I chickened out with food here, there was no hope for me anywhere else. So I started with the salad, which was actually fresh mozzarella and tomato slices. I had a tomato slice, but just couldn't do more. The cheese was wonderful though! Then came the main dish. I scooped out two of the little shells and ate... I was surprised that it didn't taste horrible, but the texture was... ugh... I tried one of the big ones, but didn't care for that so much. Little Ricky was more than happy to relieve me of the rest of the shells and I finished my pasta. I ate dessert glad in the knowledge that I tried something new- and it didn't kill me. I washed it all down with more Limoncello. And cake. And Limoncello.
I knew if I chickened out with food here, there was no hope for me anywhere else. So I started with the salad, which was actually fresh mozzarella and tomato slices. I had a tomato slice, but just couldn't do more. The cheese was wonderful though! Then came the main dish. I scooped out two of the little shells and ate... I was surprised that it didn't taste horrible, but the texture was... ugh... I tried one of the big ones, but didn't care for that so much. Little Ricky was more than happy to relieve me of the rest of the shells and I finished my pasta. I ate dessert glad in the knowledge that I tried something new- and it didn't kill me. I washed it all down with more Limoncello. And cake. And Limoncello.
After supper, Dimitri led us to our gondola rides. I had crossed my fingers that I'd get in the boat with the singer, but unfortunately, that didn't happen. However I DID get the gondola with the grouchy gondolier! I think he spent most of the time scolding me and a few others on our boat as well. Apparently my weight, along with my attempt to take pictures was throwing off his balance. He scolded me so many times that I struggled to enjoy the ride. "Lady! Lady! You need to sit back- not move!" I spent it trying not to move. I spent it thinking that if my weight was throwing his boat that much off balance, then why hadn't he sat me somewhere else for better balance, or have me put on another gondola?
Doesn't he look grouchy? This is the face I saw throughout my ride. I think he needs The Rickster to explain what "no grumps" means! (Obviously Rick has nothing to do with the gondola rides other than providing access to them as an option on the tour.)
Doesn't he look grouchy? This is the face I saw throughout my ride. I think he needs The Rickster to explain what "no grumps" means! (Obviously Rick has nothing to do with the gondola rides other than providing access to them as an option on the tour.)
The views during the ride really were spectacular, and of course the singing was amazing. I tried to enjoy all of that, as well as my limoncello high.
After our gondola ride we walked to the Piazza San Marco (or St. Mark's Square). At night it comes alive with good food and great music. All around the square various restaurants try to solicit you to dine. The waiters stand around in their finery, either to greet you and show you a table, or to shoo you away if you're of the mistaken mind that you can just sit at a table without ordering.
I made the mistake of wandering away from my group to take some pictures and then I turned around- and I was all alone. It scared me. Thinking about being lost and my disappointing gondola ride, I had a wee, brief pity party for one. Fortunately, just when I was about to truly despair, I saw Joe and Julie, Ila and Tom and Lynn and Robert, enjoying the music. I wept a bit with relief and Julie saw me and gave me a hug. She got right to the heart of things and said she knew it must be hard to be on the gondola on Mother's Day with a bunch of couples in a romantic setting.
I joined them at a table and together we all enjoyed the wonderful music and the fine company of new friends before we all made our way back to the hotel together.
I made the mistake of wandering away from my group to take some pictures and then I turned around- and I was all alone. It scared me. Thinking about being lost and my disappointing gondola ride, I had a wee, brief pity party for one. Fortunately, just when I was about to truly despair, I saw Joe and Julie, Ila and Tom and Lynn and Robert, enjoying the music. I wept a bit with relief and Julie saw me and gave me a hug. She got right to the heart of things and said she knew it must be hard to be on the gondola on Mother's Day with a bunch of couples in a romantic setting.
I joined them at a table and together we all enjoyed the wonderful music and the fine company of new friends before we all made our way back to the hotel together.
Later, as I sat in my room and reflected, I could see it really had been a great day. Venice was absolutely lovely. My tour mates were great- so friendly! And while I'd still like to find that gondolier and push him into the canal for making me feel like an unwanted sack of garbage, I still had enjoyed listening to the singer and taking in the views. I was in Venice!
Happy Mother's Day to me!
Happy Mother's Day to me!