Venice, Murano and Burano

On the Gondola

Waiting for the Pope

As all the river traffic had been cleared, we saw these beautiful reflections on the Grand Canal

There he is!

Burano colour

The leaning bell tower of Burano

The colourful streets of Burano

Clare with her beloved - her beautiful leather jacket

The leaning bell tower of Burano - it rang while were were standing right there - note we were not standing under it!

Look at the shop we found!

Look who else we found! Looked for him at Lake Como - but he was in Venice all along

Our Hotel in Venice - Ca' Favretto

The Pope has decided to visit Venice today - must have heard we were here. His procession of boats motored straight past our hotel whilst we were having coffee on the balcony. What luck! He even waved to us! Unfortunately this meant that the main tourist places were closed and the whole length of the Grande Canal was shut down for about 2 hours to ferry and gondola traffic while the security and police patrolled up down, and a helicopter constantly buzzed overhead, in readiness for the Pope. People hung gold and white flags outside their windows to wave. They called out and clapped as he went by. We did too! And took lots of photos!!

Louise & Vanessa started the day with a Gondola ride through the narrow canals of Venice – how delightful it was too! Our Gondolier spoke English well and we were able to ask him a few questions about his wonderful city. Meanwhile Clare was trying to sort out an impending Air Traffic Controllers strike threatened for her flight within Greece. Let’s hope they change their minds as Clare has tried all day to make some sense of it.

Our afternoon was spent with a ferry trip across the water to Murano Island where they are famous for their glass making. There was shop after shop of glass everything – from beads and various jewellery items to the most elaborate chandeliers you could imagine. We found a workshop where we hoped we could see a demonstration of something being made but were told we could only see a demo if we bought something – humph! We left and went to another shop across the way and were talking to the salesperson there who had lived in Australia for a year and then in NZ. He told us a group was expected any moment and they would be going to see a demo there so we should tag along with them – which we did. The ‘master’ made a simple vase in less than 2 minutes, cut it off the pole and that was that! I’m fairly sure he threw it into the scrap pile after all the people left to be recycled at the next demo.

Enough of the glass – we took the ferry to Burano Island next and what a treat that was! Every house was a different colour – no matter where we went! So many homes had pots of flowers on their windowsills – geraniums, begonias, hibiscus, petunias and pansies. The colour combinations were spectacular! There was a leaning clock tower too! In one of the shops there was a lady sitting with her apron on making such beautiful lace by hand. There were garments, framed pieces, table clothes and runners, even bookmarks. Oh, and more scarves! There was even a shop called ‘Vanessa’ but Vanessa couldn’t find anything there to buy! Not even a scarf!

We dinner enjoyed a delicious meal of lasagne and gnocchi, mmmm sensational, on our way home and walked in the door about 8.30pm...what a day! The weather has been glorious, blue skies, sunny everyday about 23....but this evening the wind has sprung and it was a bit chilly walking home, wished we had our scarves! (and Clare wished for her leather jacket, of course!)

Venice - just arrived

OMG WE'RE IN VENICE!

The Rialto Bridge

One of the smaller canals

No straight lines here!

Florence

We arrived in Florence on the train and went straight to our hotel to get rid of our bags – then hit the streets of Florence and the market and shops. What wonderful shopping we found here in the markets, especially with leather wallets, belts and jackets; scarves, clothing and a whole food section – we didn’t go in there, though! Too much to entertain us with the antics of the salespeople all trying to sell us leather jackets! Clare found the leather jacket of her dreams and has willingly modelled it for us any number of times! Vanessa found the most beautiful purple leather, cashmere lined gloves – so soft! And I went a little crazy with the scarves – well, we all did!

On Friday morning we went on a guided walk of Florence with a company called Art Viva. Our guide, Sophie, was so knowledgeable about all the buildings, art and history of Florence; it was a most entertaining and interesting 3 hour walk around the city.

We have had some excellent meals in Florence – great pastas, pizza, coffee – I’m sure there are no bad meals here!

It’s now Saturday morning and we’re on a train to Venice.

I just have to add that I woke in the night to find Clare checking the cupboard to make sure her leather jacket was still hanging there safely! ..she tip toed back to bed thinking we were none the wiser for her night time activities!

Lou Lou went, crazy market shopping!...Is an understatement!!!! She was truly hyperventilating as she roamed her eye over the colours and variation of the fabrics and product on sale from the vendors. Mind you, she does scrutinise everything and not just rush in for the first thing on offer.

 As you can imagine, Clare thoroughly enjoyed the flirtatious approach of the vendors and played her part extremely well! It was hilarious to witness ....these guys thought they were irresistible to any woman, and were so confident of an impending sale that when the crunch came, they were disgusted that she didn’t buy from them!! ... and then they put down Aussies and walked off! The cheek!  

Absolutely loving the train we’re on at the moment – a “frecciargento” train that has a long bullet nose and reaches speeds of up to 280km/hr. We’ve had champagne, coffee, biscuits on board – all part of the 1^st class service – this is the way to go! And spectacular countryside that we’re passing through too.

Florence’s shopping was sensational. The markets were unbelievable – mostly leather goods. Lou Lou and I have looked at umpteen different purses in every style, colour and type of leather, while Vee is the fundi on belts – from the colours to the buckles. Our bags are at bulging point again, but Vanessa managed a last minute mammoth effort with more scarves on the way to the station – she has to wear them, as there is no more room in the bag!  Lou Lou is so wound up (pardon the pun) with her scarves and I know for a fact that my jacket is safe and sound in my bag. Venice, here we come!

The antique lift to our room - hey! it works!

Florence!

Our roof top

This is a view of the corridor built which joined two palaces and the inhabitants could safely go between residences - it is 1k long.

The bridge over the river is lined with the most exquisite jewellry shops and is called Ponte Vecchio. All the shops are owned by old Italian famillies and are passed down through the generations.

Every shop had very different designs, some specialised in various stones whilst others were just full on gold!

Cinque Terra

You know all those holiday brochures that describe the ‘idyllic surroundings’ that you can find yourself in whilst on vacation? Well it was true for us today! At around 7.30 am, threw open the double doors to let in the sound of the crashing waves and the bells tolling to the apartment. We curled up snug in bed and stayed there until 9!

After our leisurely breakfast, enjoyed on Via Colombo (the steep main street), we spent the entire day strolling around the township enjoying views and sunshine, the sounds of the sea and the voices of so many different nationalities of walkers who ambled through our town. There were two quite unique chapels, one was inlaid with white marble and other stones of the local area and highly polished. The views of the coastline were dramatic and splendid. ...and yes, I (Vanessa) am beginning to really like (not ‘love’ yet) the red geraniums. Their colour is so pure, clean and crisp, that they provide a sensational contrast for the surrounding scenery and buildings. Some great pics are to be had! So typically Mediterranean.

This is where we stayed - the orange building just left of centre on the very top floor - 72 steps up!

Sensational sunset photo - from our resident photographer, Vanessa!!!

Milano to Cinque Terra

Had a very laid back start to today as our train to Cinque Terra didn’t leave until 12.05, so we had a leisurely breakfast, packed our bags and checked out of our Hotel, strolled down the street and stopped for a coffee on the way to Milan Centrale.

We are sitting out on our balcony sipping some local wine, eating some local cheese and olives, listening to the waves gently licking the shore and watching the sun go down. Does it get any better than this? ...I would say “no, Lou Lou!”

..as you could imagine how relieved I was when we finally made it to the apartment after following the lady up and down, round and round, past smelly fishy areas, underground in dank mouldy parts...I was thinking that Louise and Clare were going to kill me if it went on much further...then voila! The shutters were opened and the view was amazing and we are right here on the waters edge..unbelieveable!...I’ve tried sketching but it is better to capture the essence of the place with a camera. Clare and I have stripped off to our bras, 7pm in the evening mind you, sipping Bianco on the balcony while Lou Lou fills in the blog....dinner is at 8 and only a little walk from here, but it is the journey home up the steps that has me worried!!!....

We found our train on platform 19, found our seats and settled in. There were 3 other people in our compartment, 2 of whom turned out to be hilarious – for us! I can not begin to relay the turn of events and the conversations that went on but at one stage the three of us had to get up and leave to regain our composure. There are just some things which will have to stay in Italy!

We had to change trains – thank goodness – and again found our next train after quickly buying the ticket, running underground and back up to the platform and just jumping on in time! Phew!

So here we are in Cinque Terre, which means 5 lands or towns, in the westernmost area of the Ligurian Riviera. We are in Riomaggiore which is an old village situated in a small valley planted with vineyards. The village is called after the brook (rio) which flows through a deep winding gully down to a small beach. It is very steep here – we have to climb 72 steps up to our apartment – and what a sensational view we have. The sunset will occur right outside our room and we have an uninterrupted view of it all.

Final day in Milano

Our last full day in Milano and the first job we had to do was to book all our rail travel and to do this we had to attend in person and show our passports to have tickets validated.

Today we went back to the Duomo to go up to the roof top and look out over the city. It not only gives a whole new perspective of the size of Milan but also on the intricacy of the marble sculptures on the Duomo and the ingenuity of design – it’s really quite incredible. It is in the process of being cleaned and parts are being replaced with new marble where the old sections are possibly beyond repair. You can see after cleaning the slight pink tinge in the marble which is just beautiful!

Just think of the conversations these guys must have!

This is a view from heaven

 And here we are in heaven

The Giuseppe Arcimboldo exhibition was really quite remarkable. To think that during this time, 1560-1590 both Arcimboldo and Leonardo da Vinci were beginning to stray away from the mainstream thinking of art concerning portraiture. (Renaissance – very dark, can be oppressive) to a more ‘scientific’ and ‘natural’ (nature) inclusion in their work. This worked to such an extent that together they began to add humorous content as well! Much to the horror of the art critics of the time! Arcimboldo even went to the extent of painting what at first appears to be a still life of a bowl of fruit and vegetables, but, when viewed up-side-down, is a man’s grinning face!! How sensational that these two geniuses redirected the road of art.

Whoever said you can’t get a bad meal in Italy lied! We found one today! We asked for a toasted Panini with cheese, tomato and ham and we were served a toasted ham and cheese sandwich with tomato sauce! This compelled us to go elsewhere for a delicious iced coffee and check out what we had! This kind of made up for it!

I was quite taken with the human statues so I dropped a few coins into this one's box and look what I received! sensational!

Back home via the Metro – with the obligatory gelati on the way, of course.  New flavours tried were blueberry, almond, mint with pistachio remaining a firm favourite amongst us all.

Back home for a rest and catch-up before we try our luck for dinner again – Oh for a plain good ol’ pasta.

Milano

Here's Vanessa next to our zippy Ford Fiesta on the car ferry from Bellagio to Cadenabbia.

 Today in Milan is May Day or their Labour Day and there was a big parade planned - the police and riot police were there in full force. Thankfully we made it through here before the parade started.

This is the Duomo in the heart of Milan is the 3rd largest church inthe world after St Peter's in Rome and the Seville Cathedral. There was Mass being conducted when we were there, but the public were still allowed to wander around inside the church!

This is one of the amazing stained glass windows in the Duomo

And this was taken from the rear of the church looking forwards.

In the square outside the Duomo was a live site set up streaming Mass conducted by the Pope. There were lots of people watching that too. The is a dome inside a shopping mall which ran off one side of the square. There was a cafe selling a selection of gelato. It passed our visual testing requirements, being that they be in stainless steel containers meaning they were home made and the colours of the lemon and banana were not at all artificial. They were, of course, delicious with the rum & raisin, mango, strawberry, pistachio and tiramisu flavours sampled.

We stopped and had a break on the edge of this fountain - not too many people throwing coins in for luck as there was a dear little old lady wading through the water collecting them.

We had a walk through a park nearby on the way to another attraction and wer amazed by the number of people there. Some sunbaking, some with their dogs, kids with soccer balls, friends and families relaxing in the sun - it was a beautiful day!