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Europe (Venetians tour) 2025
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  • Eattravelmove

Europe (Venetians tour) 2025

A biggish trip:
Paris - 6 nights
Florence - 4 nights
Siena - 13 nights
Venice - 2 nights
Venetians cycling tour - Venice to Dubrovnik - 15 nights
Munich - 4 nights
Tokyo - 7 nights もっと詳しく
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  • 最終アクセス場所
    🇩🇪 Munich, Germany
    EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Munich Dobinson
    Donut with appleWeiner schnitzelPork knuckleDeutsches MuseumDeutsches MuseumSwaadDeutsches Museum

    Munich ... the last few days

    10月13日, ドイツ ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    The weather has been much cooler, and Gayle has enjoyed shocking the locals of Munich by continuing to wear shorts on 13c days.

    We caught up with Michelle and Adrian for a video call, comparing travel stories - they're in Paris, and importantly, the same time zone.

    It's almost time to leave Europe and head back home via Japan, but we still have time to take in some more German culture. When I say culture, I'm mainly talking about eating!

    We dined at a classic Bavarian restaurant, Schneider Bräuhaus Berg am Laim, where we sampled Weiner schnitzel and pork knuckle and local beer and wine.

    We spent a couple of hours wandering around the Deutsches Museum - the closest Australian equivalent would be Questacon. It was pretty interesting once we got over the marauding children and their hapless parents. As I said, it is a bit like Questacon!

    Our last meal in Munich was less traditional, however; a very good Indian restaurant, Swaad - this wasour secondtime. It's good to have some spice 😋

    Next stop Tokyo: Michelin starred dining, Tully's, Mos Burger, Saizeriya and Jonathon's here we come!    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    German beer
    Good coffeeMunich Dobinson1My next carOld townOld townOld townOld townOld townOld townRoast chicken2DumplingsSwaad Indian restaurantSpicy food

    Munich..its been a while

    10月11日, ドイツ ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    We arrived at Munich airport about 45 minutes later than scheduled on Friday night. I'd arranged an airport transfer and our man met us at arrivals to take us to our hotel, about 30 minutes away. The last time we arrived in Munich, it was by train in 1997 and there was no such luxury. Arriving after 9pm, we checked in and had a bite to eat at the hotel restaurant/bar before retiring for the night.

    Saturday:
    I worked out that you could purchase public transport day passes online, so I organised that and added to my google Wallet. We walked up the road to a bakery, Aumuller, for some very drinkable coffee and bakery items for breakfast. The place reminds me of Canberra's Dobinson Cafe and so shall now be known henceforth as Munich Dobinson!

    After our breakfast, we took tram no.21 into the old town. There seems to be an old town in nearly all European cities, and this old town was rather scenic. First stop, however, was H&M in search of some warmer clothes - I found some more trousers and a cheap jumper. I really had no warm clothes.

    Afterwards, we wandered around the old town, taking in the sights. It was quite busy, even though Oktoberfest is officially over! Feeling a bit peckish, we wandered to a Bavarian restaurant, Ayinger am Platzl, near the more famous and raucous, Hofbräuhaus München. We had roast chicken and roast pork, with some local lagers.

    Now stuffed, we took tram no.21 back to our hotel, the Scandic Munchen, stopping at a cheap store, where Gayle bought a thrifty denim jacket to keep her warm. It's about 15c and overcast, so it's not that cold.

    In the evening, we went for a walk around the local neighbourhood, it's only 3 or 4 kms from the centre of the city, and very diverse, with lots of North African, Asian and Middle Eastern stores. We returned to our hotel bar for some happy hour drinks before heading out for dinner.

    We weren't super hungry but found an Indian restaurant, Swaad, just around the corner for a meal. The place reminded us of Blue Ginger in Canberra - very cool, Industrial decor, and the food was excellent. It was good to eat food with real spice.    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    View from our apartment
    Old townOld townOld town2Souvenirs2Evening view from our apartmentOld town viewsOld townMy loveSashimiTempura prawnsOld town1Not a bad viewDubrovnik airport

    Dubrovnik..you've been fun

    10月8日〜10日, クロアチア ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Wednesday:
    I am feeling much better with my cough easing. After breakfast at the apartment, we walked down to Pile Gate in the old town. The sun is shining but still a little windy, but it's good to be in the sun.

    We purchased some bus passes so we could explore the city a bit more, and so we didn't have to walk up all those stairs to get back to the apartment. We took a ride on the no.4 which took us out to a peninsular beyond our previous hotel for a looksie. We returned back to the bus hub, Pile Gate, and took the no.3, which passes our apartment - it was a very circuitous route, passing by the ferry port and bus station. We picked heaps of noisy school children along the way - it was like Lord of the Flies!

    We stopped at the apartment briefly before taking the no.3 back to the old town. Note for future visitors; the buses don't run on time and stop randomly for bus driver discussions. We had a late lunch at Silk, an eclectic Asian fusion restaurant we've visited previously. We chatted to two chatty Taiwanese girls who also needed a hit of rice and Asian flavours.

    We returned to the apartment on the aforementioned no.3 bus for an arvo snooze - the real joy of vacations. A quiet dinner of leftover chicken and red wine followed by some TV streaming.

    Thursday:
    After breakfast, we walked to the old town via Buza gate, which brought us into the town from the top of the eastern side of the town. We went souvenir shopping, picking up some fridge magnets, a bottle opener, and a tea towel - we know our souvenirs!

    We decided we needed a drink and food, so we located an Irish pub, the Gaffe. It was pretty quiet, especially given the huge tourist numbers on the streets. We shared a fish and chips, which was very good, and a few drinks and just relaxed for a while.

    We returned 'home' on the no.3 bus (we're really getting our moneys worth) to rest up and do a bag pack for tomorrow's departure.

    In the late afternoon, we walked down to Buza gate and went to Bota Sare restaurant - this was the japanese restaurant we went with our tour gondola our last night. The food was, once again, excellent - we had sashimi, tempura prawns, and gyoza, washed down with some local wine. A good way to end our last night in Dubrovnik.

    Friday:
    Let's call it what it is. Today is a travel day. It's a day of filling in time before we fly out late in the afternoon. We checked out of the apartment but hung out on the terrace with views across the city and sea until about 11 am.

    With our backpacks on, we took 2 buses to our old favourite, Public Pub, for lunch. We shared a cheese burger and fried chicken and a couple of drinks. They're pretty relaxed here, and we sat around having a drink after lunch.

    We took an Uber to Dubrovnik airport, which is about 40 minutes from the city, where we quickly checked in and made our way to the Adriatic lounge
    Free booze is always a good formula to waste time before our flight to Munich. This day-drinking will have to stop after the holidays 😄 🤣    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Jesuit steps
    1The many, many stairsNarrow alleys of the old townWestern wallJesuit stepsOld TownPublic Bar lunchView from our apartment1View from our apartment

    Dubrovnik so far

    10月6日〜7日, クロアチア ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    After a busy two weeks of cycling, we have really slowed the pace down. We are both a bit fluey and I've got a cough, so we haven't been doing too much.

    Monday:
    We were supposed to take a tour to Montenegro on Monday, but the operator called it off - not quite sure why. Instead, we walked down many, many stairs to the old town - entering through Pile gate.

    We walked through the small alleys on the western side of the city, climbing up as much as possible, mainly to avoid the tourist throngs. It really is a beautiful old city, but I feel it's being loved to death! We sat on some steps near Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (they love a good cathedral here), and people watched for a while.

    Feeling hungry, we decided to take a bus to our favourite bar, Public bar, to get some chicken wings and beer! After filling our bellies, we took an Uber back 'home' for a rest - this cold is taking its toll.

    Dinner was pizza from a 'nearby ' restaurant - not that far distance wise, but did I mention the stairs! Pizza, red wine, and Netflix for us!

    Tuesday:
    We did very little today, although the weather is quite good - I'm just tired. We did walk to a bigger supermarket, Tommy hypermarket (love the name), and picked up some supplies for the day, including the Croatian equivalent of a bachelors handbag!

    We video called Marsha in NYC, updating her on our travels and our recovering bottoms post-tour.

    Another quiet night in - almost Michelin-starred dining, with fish fingers and fried potatoes, yum!    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Dubrovnik old town
    View from our hotel roomDubrovnik old townDubrovnik old townDubrovnik1DubrovnikDubrovnik old townFinal dinnerFinal dinnerFinal dinnerFinal dinnerFinal dinnerGreat foodView from our apartment2

    Tour end in Dubrovnik

    10月4日〜5日, クロアチア ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Saturday:
    We had a lovely sleep in, recovering from 2 weeks of riding before heading down for an excellent buffet breakfast. The weather is clear but a bit cooler than what we've been used to on our travels.

    Whilst sitting in the lobby, some nice Scottish ladies gave us their city bus passes, which was thoughtful. We used them to catch a bus down to the old town gate, Pile. We took our time wandering around the old towns winding and hilly streets. There were so many tourists, and this isn't even the busy season! It's a beautiful old town, but I sort of feel bad for the locals - so many daytrippers, especially from cruise ships.

    We were feeling peckish, so we took the bus back near our hotel and went back to Public Bar for chicken wings and beer. We popped back to our hotel room and rested up before meeting up with the rest of the crew for drinks.

    We walked into the old town for our final dinner as a group to Bota Šare Oyster & Sushi Bar. The food was great, and the wine flowed very freely, and people got a bit loose 😄 🤣

    Afterwards, we stopped in the main square for a gelato - pistachio, of course. It was pretty cold, so we grabbed a taxi back to the hotel with Murray and Cathy. We stopped at the pool tables and had a couple of drinks and played some pool, which was great fun.

    Sunday:
    We were both a little slow getting moving in the morning - a few too many wines and negronis. We caught up with people at breakfast before checking out of our room at 11am. We moved to our new apartment, where we're staying for the next 5 nights.

    It started raining in the afternoon and really seemed to set in. Gayle is feeling a bit seedy, so I went out in search of a supermarket, and I got a bit wet! I managed to locate a supermarket and got some supplies for our stay. I'm such a good husband - I made some toasted cheese sandwiches and some tea for us!

    We have all our washing hung out through the apartment - nothing like a week with no washing for it to build up!

    We took an uber to the old town to get something to eat - we dined at Silk, a pan-asian restaurant. It was good to eat something a bit different 😋 An early night as we both have slight head colds - the joys of travel.    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Korcula town in early morning
    Some cold cyclists - Murray and CathyViews on a windy dayViews on a windy dayViews on a windy day - Dario riding upView back to OrebicView back to Orebic2End of the rideOn the ferry to OrebicEvening drinks

    Last ride and arrival in Dubrovnik

    10月3日, クロアチア ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    We were up early for a 7am breakfast and roll out at about 7.45am. A short 2.5km ride to the ferry back to the mainland. The weather is not just chilly, it is cold and very windy, almost Canberra weather - 11c, but feels like 5c!

    We dont really have cold weather cycling gear, so sleeves on plus a long sleeved shirt and rain jackets will have to suffice. Once off the tree ferry in Orebic, the plan is to ride 57km to the small town of Ston, where we then are taken into Dubrovnik by bus.

    Once on the road out of Orebic, we followed the coastline on a busy road, and after about 4km, the big climb of the day commenced. The climb was over 6km at an average of 5 to 6 gradient - everyone knows what my thoughts are on this misleading average! The climb was a series of switchbacks up the mountains overlooking the sea, and nd the views were breathtaking. The winds were strong but in gusts at intervals when we weren't protected by the mountains.

    We both managed to make it to the top of this somewhat treacherous climb, which was quite an achievement given the wind and traffic. However, our Odyssey support team told us that the weather ahead was getting worse, with even more windy conditions on the way. A number of cyclists had already called it quits, opting to ride in the van.

    We continued onto a tunnel through the mountains at the 19km mark, where the remaining cyclists gathered for pick-up and transport into Dubrovnik. The tunnel was approximately 200m long and a single lane, so we did ride through to take a look while waiting for our bus. We couldn't believe that cars drove through this tunnel, but they did and both ways.

    The temperature was cold, and as we were just standing around waiting for the bus, our bodies cooled down. Our bus arrived and ferried us into our hotel, which took over an hour, but it was warm on board!

    The Odyssey team organised early check-ins, and we also had our picnic lunch in a conference room. I can't say enough about how professional the team are and how they quickly adapt to these curve balls - you can't control the weather!

    In the evening, we walked to a nearby pub, Public Bar, where we had some drinks and a cheese burger. It was a relaxed night where we chatted to a lovely Swedish mother and daughter. We returned to our hotel and played some pool with Henrick and Henrique.    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    New jersey
    The road ahead1Views from the climbView from wineryLunchA bit chillyMany new wine varieties triedKorcula harbourGateway to old townCurved alleysStraight alleysHenrick and DarioCraig's birthday

    Riding the length of Korcula

    10月2日, クロアチア ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We had breakfast and got our bags in the van and geared up for a big day in the saddle. Today, we're riding the length of Korcula Island, from Vela Luka to Korcula town via a winery for lunch, a total of 70km.

    The ancient Greeks called the island Kerkyra Melaina, or Black Korcula, for its dense forests. We rolled through lots of small towns, olive groves, and vines before hitting the first of seven hill climbs. I love how the hills are referred to by their average gradient, which were 5 to 6 percent; however, there were some parts where the gradient was over 11 percent!

    The views across the island and along the coast were fantastic, and we were 35km into the ride before stopping for morning tea. The weather is cool and breezy, the coldest day we've had on tour, so I had my sleeves on and even used my full finger gloves for the first time. I slammed down a coke, an apple, banana, and some little cakes at morning tea - it's amazing how much energy you burn! Dario fixed my broken spoke on my rear tire while I ate.

    Then it was a 26km to Vitis winery in Lumbarda for lunch. We just had to climb a very large hill to get close; about 10km of climbing at an average of 5% gradient! The views down to the sea and across to other islands in the Adriatic did make the climb all worthwhile. I had a puncture about 10km out from the winery, my first of the tour, but my hero, Dario, was on hand to fix it!

    It was chilly by the time we'd had our lunch and wine tasting outside overlooking the countryside, sea below, and mountains in the background. I've gotta say most people did not cope with the cool weather - us tough Canberrans were the exception of course 😅🤣

    A short 9km ride into Korcula town for a hot shower to refresh ourselves.

    We met up for apero at the hotel bar before walking into the old town. We met up with a local guide, Ivan, who walked us around the old town, explaining its long and interesting history. It seems, like many towns of its time, they lived inside thick and high stone walls as everyone was trying to attack them. Korcula was a successful town on the trading routes between Asia and Europe, but this also made them a target. They were prosperous under the Venetian empire.

    Ivan walked us past Marco Polo's house, and we heard about his life, both fact and myth.

    Dinner was on a lovely rooftop terrace, although it was quite chilly. Lots of great food, wine, and conversation. I chatted with Dario, my bike saviour today, who will be heading back home a day early for his daughters 9th birthday. It's getting near the end of our tour and we've met so many lovely people.    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Views from fort
    Fortica in HvarHvar harbourHvarOn our way to the fortViews from fortViews from fortFish and chipsViews from fort1Showering as entertainment

    Travel day - Hvar to Korkula

    10月1日, クロアチア ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    A more relaxed day with a late hotel breakfast and 11.30am check out. After breakfast, we both had massages booked with Christiana - what a treat that is. Our legs appreciated the attention after all the hill climbing yesterday!

    We wandered around Hval town and up to the Venetian fort overlooking the town and harbour. A leisurely lunch of fish and chips in the main square followed before we met up with everyone else to catch the catamaran to Vela Luka on the island of Korkula.

    It was about an hour ferry trip to Vela Luka, and we walked to the hotel Korkyra to rest up and wait for the boys to arrive with our bikes and bags. They had to take the car ferry back to Split and then another car ferry to Korkula.

    Check out the open plan shower - a room with a view!

    We dined at the hotel restaurant where there was another tour group from China. We'd noticed the same lady in the group that we saw in Hvar - her bright-coloured pant suit was hard to miss - she looked like a Ken Donne print!    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Split from the ferry
    Split from the ferrySplit from the ferryOur bikes and van getting on the ferrySplit from the ferryOn the way to JelsaVrbanj1This hill climb never endsLunch to recharge usView from our room, Hvar town on Hvar IslandView from our room, Hvar town on Hvar IslandLiz riding by at 350m above sea levelThomo riding by at 350mWhat a viewEmily and that view

    Split to Hvar

    9月30日, クロアチア ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We were really up with the birds this morning; the alarm went off at 5.40am. We had breakfast, and we all walked to the ferry - it's a chillier 13c this morning. The views of Split from the ferry were worth the early alarm. It's a spectacular city with stark, rocky mountains and clear skies in the background.

    The 2 hour ferry ride was uneventful, although the locals are certainly a noisy bunch - lots of loud conversations, especially on the telephones. The last half hour of the ride was slow as we entered a narrow channel as we headed into Stari Grad on the island of Hvar. A 58km ride awaits us!

    Once off the ferry, we saddled up, and we did a loop ride to Jelsa, a 17km ride through rolling countryside with vineyards and then along beautiful coastline. We had a quick softdrink in Jelsa and then wound up the hill before stopping for morning tea and some lovely local biscuits.

    The ride to lunch was challenging with a 10km hill climb, peaking at 458m above sea level. There are some other bike tours following this route, and our lunch stop was located at the top of the island, where there was a small stall selling cycling jerseys and lavender products. I bought myself a souvenir Croatia jersey! Lunch was once again excellent, and we were both famished after the big climb.

    The final 12kms was a rewarding decsent except for a 1.5km steep climb to our hotel in Hvar, Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort. The views along the last few kilometres of our ride were a sneak preview of the views from our lovely hotel room. Day 11 ride finished, and another 58km notched up!

    The world is a much better place after a negroni with views of the sunset over the Adriatic. We enjoyed a casual dinner at the balcony bar overlooking the sea, chatting with Jeremy and Emily - what a lovely couple.    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Diocletian's Palace Dioklecijanova palača
    Diocletian's Palace Dioklecijanova palačaSaint Domnius’ cathedralNarrow streetsA bit randomDiocletian's Palace Dioklecijanova palačaLocal marketPeople's squareBurekSea bass

    Split rest day

    9月29日, クロアチア ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    It was great to have a sleep in and later breakfast this morning. Gayle video called Donna and caught up on the Canberra and family news. We enjoyed the buffet breakfast before heading out to take in the sights.

    As far as we can tell, there's a lot of Americans and Australians in Split. Theres at least two cruise ships in port, so older visitors, lots of flag bearing tour guides - you know my thoughts on flag bearing tour guides and don't get me started on cruise ships!

    It was quite a lazy day for us - we're over halfway through the cycling trip, and the rest and recuperation will help. Lunch was burek from a nearby bakery - we had a cheese filled and beef filled burek - it's a filo pastry delight! I love how you can buy a beer at a bakery to wash it down.

    In the evening, we met up at 5.45pm for drinks put on by Thomo and Nicole, celebrating their recent nuptials, which was very nice of them.

    We then walked to our restaurant along the waterside, Brasserie no. 7
    A lovely evening was had with great food and even better company.    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    2Stradinskli Buk Waterfall
    Pre ride photoWind turbines at morning teaStradinskli Buk WaterfallStradinskli Buk WaterfallStradinskli Buk WaterfallMushroom lady pantry?SkradinSkradinSkradinSkradin from the road above1Dario and RussCraig and ChristianaBurek - cherry, cheese or meatThai spring rolls1Thai food

    Sibenik to Split via Krka NP

    9月28日, クロアチア ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    We had a good breakfast at the hotel before heading out of Sibinek towards Krka National Park - can I buy another vowel!

    We have a 62km ride today. A slightly busy road takes us quickly out of Sibinek and onto smaller and quieter roads and a very country farmland area - the smell of manure was quite bracing. A couple of big climbs to take us to a well-deserved snack stop.

    We then had a long downhill along country roads before a busier road for the last 10km to the entrance to Krka National Park! It was a fun 3.5km flat gravel riding trail through the national park and well worth the effort to get here to see Stradinskli Buk Waterfall. We had a look around before riding back up the gravel road and down to Skradin. We had lunch on our own today, joined by Liz, Russ, Tony, Theresa, and Judy. Our riding ended here for today - a short shuttle into busy Split, where we have a rest day!

    Boring us, we did some washing and then went out for Thai food - it was nice to have some rice and spice 😋    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Pre ride photo
    Dan and AlexLiz and RussTara and JudyPre ride photoCraig and KateCruise shipsZadar with mountains in backgroundBridge on Uglijan IslandCathy heading to the bridge on UglijanFamous Croatian basketballerGetting on the ferryOur guides buying lunch wineThe bike pack upThe bike pack up by HenrickThe bike pack upSome tired ridersIsabel1D Resort pool

    Zadar to Sibenik

    9月27日, クロアチア ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We were up early once again and had a really good breakfast at Almayer Art & Heritage Hotel - it was a cooked breakfast - I had scrambled eggs, and Gayle had an omelette. We were on the road by 8.45am, a small 5km ride through Zadar to catch the ferry to Preko. 15 minutes later, we were riding along the coast of Uglijan on side roads.

    It was a 31km ride on Preko on the island of Uglijan, as we're catching another ferry back to the mainland. I was cruising along with a few kilometres to go when Isabel zoomed up behind me, telling me we only had 7 minutes to get to the ferry! I followed Isabel and Judy, and we got there as the last cars were being loaded on. It was pretty funny as others in the team were also caught rushing as they lounged around having coffee nearby, 😄 🤣 I have to say that the scenery along the way was spectacular once again.

    We got off the ferry back on the mainland at Biograd na Moru and stopped nearby for morning tea. The cherry pastries were very good!

    We headed out of town for our last 27km leg. It was a bit of a busy road for 6 or 7 kms before we got onto back roads, through quiet farmlands take us to a tiny village spot for lunch at Banjevci. The temperature warmed up to around 25c. We're getting transported into Sibenek to D Resort, as the roads are too busy and not very scenic. Gayle and I rode in the Odyssey van with Dario and Henrick - these are two of the nicest and funniest blokes we've ever met!

    Once at the resort, I went for a swim - I was miraculously rejuvenated.

    We met at the rooftop bar for apero and briefed for tomorrow's ride. Hopefully, the weather will hold, but rain is a possibility.

    We had dinner at the rooftop restaurant and really enjoyed the food, wine, and conversation. We deserved it after today's ride.    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Church of St. Donatus Crkva sv. DonataCollie our lovely guide who lived in CanberraSt. Anastasia’s CathedralAlex and his doppelgangerFish HouseGood local fish and chipsIt's no BondiChurch of St. Donatus Crkva sv. DonataVenetian gatesMark and TheresaRandom wedding photosOur roomLiz and RussVery tasty pizzaBig boatsZadarDan, Sally, Kate and Finn

    Ferry to Zadar

    9月26日, クロアチア ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We have a travel day with a ferry from Mali Losinj to Zadar at 9.30am. We dropped our bags down to the Odyssey team at 7am - the boys, Henrick and Dario, are driving the two vans with all our bikes and bags to a car ferry and then driving down to Zadar. The logistics involved are impressive to make our tour work smoothly.

    We had the buffet breakfast, which was quite a spread, probably the best of the trip, before getting taxis to the ferry terminal. It was an every man or woman for themselves fight for a seat on the ferry; we just popped our earbuds in, and the 2.5 hours went by quickly.

    Collie, one of our lovely guides, left us as she was only on tour for the first week. We had some time before check-in, so we had a wander around the old town, which is very near our hotel.

    Zadar is on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast and is known for the Roman and Venetian ruins of its peninsular Old Town. There are several Venetian gates in the city walls. Surrounding the Roman-era Forum is 11th-century St. Mary’s Convent, with religious art dating to the 8th century. There’s also the grand, 12th-century St. Anastasia’s Cathedral and the round, 9th-century pre-Romanesque Church of St. Donatus.

    To be honest, we were just trying to avoid the daytrippers from the three cruise ships, so we wandered the back alleys until we found a place to eat. We had fish and chips at Fish House, washed down with a local pilsner. We wandered along the seaside and then to one of the Venetian gates before having a very tasty pistachio gelato.

    We rested up in our room in the afternoon. We chatted to the nice hotel reception lady about Croatia, food, wine, and life in general before heading out for apero across the road.

    We had our team catch up at the hotel bar - it's a fun group. We even got a flyover from a synchronised flying team.

    We went out for dinner at a pizza place about 10 minutes from the hotel, Family Pizza, in the back alleys. We dined with Liz and Russ from Melbourne - they are a lovely couple, both retired from university roles.    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    What a view
    The whole group heading to ferryFerry for CresView heading to ferryOn the ferryView to Cres townLooking professionalLooking professionalAfter the second climbDarioGayle and ChristianoGreek bronze statue of ApoxyomenosGreek bronze statue of Apoxyomenos3 wheeler

    Riding the length of Cres

    9月25日, クロアチア ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    We were up very early to have breakfast and be on the road by 7am. It's quite a big deal to herd 24 people with their baggage, bikes, and random last-minute questions and get everyone on the road on time. This morning, we had to be on the ferry from Brestova at 8.15am to Porozina on the island of Cres. It was a misty morning and a bit cooler (well, not for us tough Canberra folk) as we rode the 13kms to Brestova. After a little bit of a climb and some photo stops, it was all downhill to the ferry. The views down in the morning with mist over the mountains and the views to the Adriatic Sea were just stunning.

    The ferry ride was only 15 minutes, and the views of the mainland and of Cres and other islands in the distance were amazing. We pushed the bikes off the ferry, and that's when the hill climbing began. It was a 10km climb to begin with, but a relatively consistent gradient - we climbed from sea level to 458m at the peak. This was followed by an undulating up and down - there was another small climb of another few kms and then downhill to the town of Cres on the Island of Cres for morning tea. We were now 40kms into our ride for the day!

    It was so good to refuel with fruit, cakes, and fluids! The local custard filled cakes the team supplied was awesome. Feeling somewhat rejuvenated, and with the day starting to warm up into the 20s, we started our next 10km hill climb, rising a little less than the previous one. It was then a mainly downhill trip to Osor for lunch - there were still a few smaller climbs that were starting to bite!

    All in all, we clocked up 74kms, our biggest day yet, and the biggest of our bike tour. I was proud of myself for using no more than level 1 assist (there's 3 levels), which given all the climbs was great! Gayle went well on her limousine, making it all the way on one charge.

    Lunch was another great and healthy meal designed to recharge us after a long ride. There was an option to do an extra 24km ride to the hotel, but we opted not to push our luck and rode in the van.

    We checked into Hotel Bellvue, which is quite flash. At 4.45pm, we took taxis into Museum of Apoxyomenos
    Muzej Apoksiomena, where we went on a private tour. The museum is beautifully modern and focused around the unique discovery of the ancient Greek bronze statue of Apoxyomenos, which was found in the sea near Lošinj.

    We were pretty spent after all the day's excitement and opted for a quiet dinner in our room.    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    1Kate, Emily, Gayle and Tara
    Motovun muralCheck out the first hill climbView to MotovunStunning viewsWet ridersTony and TheresaPazin castle we didn't visitPazin views1

    Motovun to Plomin ... it rained

    9月24日, クロアチア ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    We were up early and lining up for the hotel breakfast buffet to open at 7.30am. The scrambled eggs were good, and we needed our energy for some big climbs this morning. It had rained a little overnight and was overcast and drizzly outside.

    We hit the road by 9.00am with rain forecast. We have rain jackets in our jersey pocket ready for action. We rode down the steep incline from Motovun and turned off onto quieter single lane roads near the bottom of the hill. The roads were a little slippery, but the rain held off - at least for a while!

    The ride started off on the flat, but it wasn't too long before we hit the hills. It was pretty steep to start, with about a 5 to 6km climb, and then the ascent was at a better gradient for another 6 to 7kms. We had fantastic views back to the hilltop old town of Motovun, and we could see how much we'd climbed. At about 16kms into the ride, we hit our highest point, which was 459m above sea level!

    I felt like I coped with the hills much better than my last ride - perhaps I'm more accustomed to the bike now, and yesterday's rest helped my recovery. Others definitely had a worse day, with two riders coming off their bikes in the slippery conditions - luckily, no major injuries, but those abrasions are going to sting tomorrow.

    Our morning tea stop was at about the 30km mark, and we could feel and see the weather turning a bit nasty. Gayle and I pulled over to first lock the screen of our GPS to stop the rain affecting the touch screen. It wasn't too long before the shower turned into heavier rain as we were getting closer to our morning tea stop in Pazin. We probably had 4 to 5kms of rain pelting into our faces and on a busier road!

    We arrived at Pazin and went to a friendly cafe to seek shelter and caffeine. The rain had really settled in now, and the Odyssey team made the call that our day's ride was over - it was just too wet and misty to be safe.

    As we arrived in the back half of the pack, we copped the rain more, and our riding knicks and shoes were soaked. We opted to head into the hotel, Guesthouse Renata, in the vans in the first shift, while others went and visited Pazin castle - they were dryer than us 😅 As much as I love a good castle, the hot shower and change of clothes was always the winner. We have our wet gear hanging up in our room to dry - the socks and shoes might be an issue 😄 🤣

    The Odyssey team are just so adaptable - the rain caused them a lot of logistical grief with packing all our bikes, arranging taxis, rearranging lunch plans etc, but they just took it all in their stride and kept smiling. We had our 'picnic ' lunch at the hotel and enjoyed a good local beer.

    Looking forward, the weather forecast for tomorrow and future destinations is looking like it will be warm and sunny 🌞

    Our rooms are very quaint, more guesthouse style with an attached bar and restaurants. We are located 12kms from tomorrow's ferry ride to the island of Cres, where we have the biggest ride of our trip.

    Tip for drying wet shoes - stuff them with rolled up toilet paper to absorb the moisture! It seems to have worked.

    Dinner was at the guesthouse restaurant, and the food was again lovely, with enormous portions.    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Truffle dogs
    Black truffle plantationTruffle dogsTruffle degustationTruffle degustationTruffle degustationTruffle degustationTruffle degustation1Scrambled eggs with trufflesPizza time

    Rest day in Motovun & truffles

    9月23日, クロアチア ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    The weather forecast was looking quite ominous for day 4 of our Venetians cycling adventure. We were given the option of the planned loop ride with likely rain or a sleep in and massage at our hotel. Gayle and I chose the latter and, after a big ride yesterday, it was the right choice for us. A few others also chose the rest.

    As it turned out, the rain held out in the morning, so the others got their 36km ride in. We enjoyed a later breakfast after a great sleep, and both of us had a massage from our lovely soigneur, CiVi (Christiana).

    The riders returned around 12 midday, and we met in the hotel lobby to be ferried up to the truffle farm. We arrived at the very scenic Karlić truffles in the village of Paladini. It's a multi generational family business where they propagate and wild harvest black and white truffles. Well, the latter cannot be propagated.

    We got to see the truffle dogs (all female) in action, which involved a walk through the Karlić plantation and into the adjoining forest. The best trees for truffles are oak and hazelnut, and it was fun to watch the dogs doing their thing! We learnt lots about truffles and how they grow and how the dogs are trained.

    We then walked back to the farm restaurant where we learnt more about cooking with truffles. We sat with Peter (Thomo) and Nicole, both Australian and recently married, along with Jeremy and Emily from California.

    We enjoyed fresh bread with truffle oil, truffle balsamic vinegar, truffle powder before watching our host (she's 3rd generation), cooking scrambled eggs with truffles. The scrambled eggs were stunning with truffles in oil used in the eggs and then served with fresh grated truffle on top. It was a lot of truffles, I'll probably smell of them for days to come!

    We finished with little doughnuts for dessert - yes, there was truffle in the vanilla cream inside the doughnuts 🍩

    We returned to our hotel, and tonight, we have dinner on our own! We decided to walk up the very steep hill to Motovun old town for dinner. Well, we were going to take a shuttle bus but, as we arrived at the bus stop, a large tour bus dropped off a large group of singing Germans (I think they were Germans), so we walked instead.

    We pulled into Pizzeria & Grill Smile Motovun (love the name) and ordered beer and pizza. Tony and Theresa from New York were already there, eating gelato for dinner. A few other people from our tour group arrived as we were dining: Murray and Cathy from Brisbane and then Liz and Russ from Melbourne. They're really nice people, and after dinner, we walked down the hill (much better) with Murray and Cathy to our hotel.

    It didn't really rain today, but the forecast tomorrow is looking quite ominous - thunderstorms and heavy rain possible - let's hope the forecast is wrong.    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    View from our room in Piran
    Dario, Henrick & CollieLunchtimeView from Hotel Roxanich, MotovunOld town MotovunOld town motovunVery old olive tree at hotelHotel barThat pussy-cat is in a precarious positionFruit store near the castleGehrig's with Kate and CraigView from the castleOur restaurantCastle watch tower?

    Slovenia into Croatia

    9月22日, クロアチア ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Today was our first big A to B ride, from Piran in Slovenia to Motovun in Croatia, a distance of 69km. We had an early breakfast, dropped our bags to the Odyssey team, and got our bikes ready. We were on the road by 8.30 and had lovely views back across the Slovenian coast as we climbed into the hills and into the Portoroz hinterland.

    I mentioned climbing, and there was quite a lot; I'm not as prepared as I should have been, and I'll pay for it tomorrow 😆 My road ebike is pedal assist, which means you still have to use those legs, and the first 28kms were climb after climb! We stopped in Marezige at a lookout and loaded up on fluids and fruit - the food on this tour is fantastic.

    Lunch was another 28kms away, and I just kept spinning those legs, but I did struggle to be completely honest. I keep telling myself I will ride myself fit! Sometimes, it's best to lie a little to yourself! For those who like the numbers, we climbed from sea level to 401m at the highest point. We also crossed the border into Croatia, although there are no border checkpoints anymore. We've added two new countries to our list on this trip so far!

    Lunch was at the foot of a castle ruins, which we could see from a distance a way - a beacon 😄 🤣 Lunch was perfect: pasta salad, salad, bread, cheese, and more fluids! I've gotta say, this really refuelled me; it was just so good. The mozzies, however, also liked refuelling, and I was their favourite food!

    It was a relatively easy roll into Motovun, about 11kms, except for the last 1 or 2 kms, where we had to climb up to the walled city and our hotel! Gayle opted for a ride in the van from lunch, which was very sensible; whereas, I did the ride and survived, at least for now! A total of 10 hill climbs completed, and my bottom may never be the same again!

    In the arvo, we freshened up (i.e., I had a cold shower to cool down and wash the sweat away) and rinsed our cycling gear; mine was soaked with sweat even though it wasn't that hot.

    I got us a couple of beers from the petrol station across the road because I know how to show a lady a good time! We're replacing fluids and electrolytes! We met up with the team at 5.50pm for apero before another hill climb (we walked) for dinner in the old walled city!

    It's looking likely to rain tomorrow, so we'll opt to have a sleep in and chill. We'll go in the van to our truffle degustation for lunch.

    We walked up a fairly steep hill; it's a change from cycling up them at least, to the restaurant for this evening. Isi worked her magic to get us a table outside - the rain is not here yet. We sat next to Dan and Alex, a lovely couple from the USA, who split their time between Seattle and Palm Springs. On the other side of us, we have Judy, a real estate agent from California (everyone knows Judy) and Liz and Russ from Melbourne. There's an eclectic mix of people from varied walks of life, which makes for great conversation.

    Dinner was once again a spectacular feast, with many courses of way too much food. We were exhausted, so we walked back down the steep hill, watching the lightning as we did.

    It's been a big day, but one we won't forget!

    PS, I steal photos from others in our group!    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Pre-ride briefing
    Pre-rideToday's rideViews from olive grove to salt panViews from olive grove to salt pansLight lunchA new grape variety for me1What a photo...not mineWe did not walk to the topBeautiful piranSunset from our hotel during aperitifCollie and us1

    Piran warm up loop

    9月21日, スロベニア ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Our second day of the Odyssey Venetians cycling tour, but our first day on the bikes. After breakfast at the hotel, we all met up for our pre-ride briefing. The Odyssey team is so organised and professional;it's going to be an awesome two weeks. We both have ebikes, but different types: my bike is a lightweight road ebike whilst Gayle's is a step-through with a huge 500kw motor - the limousine! My ebike does also has an extender. Our daily cycling routes are preloaded into our Karoo GPS, which the team stepped us through.

    Today is a 32km loop - a nice varied ride on mainly quiet roads and some cycle paths. It's a bit of a warm-up for everyone to get used to their bikes, with most renting bikes. There are some people who have brought their own bikes.

    We stopped after about 21 km at a fantastic olive grove overlooking the sea for an olive oil tasting, followed by a lovely light lunch. We met the owner, who was so engaging and knowledgeable as she discussed the olive oil making process.

    After lunch, it was an easy roll down the hill to the coast, which we followed all the way back to the hotel. We went at our own pace, but we were always in sight of one of our fellow Odyssey riders! I've gotta say that the GPS is so easy to use and is a real gamechanger for me cycling!

    After we freshened up, we went to a local laundromat to keep our washing up to date - I know it's not exciting, but it's part of travel. We had a wander around the beautiful old town and walked to the top of the hill for some photos of the city and surrounding seascape.

    We met up for team drinks and a briefing about the day ahead. It's a much bigger ride tomorrow, about twice the distance.

    We walked just 50m to the restaurant for the evening. We sat at the table with Jeremy and Emily from California along with our guides, Isabel, Henrick, and Dario. We enjoyed some local seafood: risotto, squid, sardines, and vegetables along with more local white wine. We mainly talked about food, our favourite topic, with Henrick and teased our foreign guides and guests with Australianisms! It was a great day all around!    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Our Isi
    The old shipyardsThe old shipyardsLunchLunchLocal seafood in Piran

    Venice to Piran

    9月20日, スロベニア ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    We met up with all our fellow Odyssey cyclists and the Odyssey support team for our morning briefing. This is a well-oiled machine with Isabel leading the way! Our ferry to Piran leaves around 5pm, so we're being taken on a tour of the city by two local Venetian guides; Enrico and Giovanni.

    We took the vaporetto back to the main islands of Venice for a walking tour, led by Enrico. We learned much about the lesser known parts of Venice and avoided many of the tourist hordes. We went to a lovely Ristorante for the first of many great meals on the tour, I'm sure.

    We got to know some of our fellow travellers, mainly Australian but also some Americans. We are apparently the youngest travellers on tour, but I feel that many are very seasoned cyclists. We may be younger, but I reckon we'll be humbled on the road by many of them. There are also many returnees who have done other Odyssey bike trips.

    After lunch, Giovanni took half the group, including us, on a walking tour through the Jewish quarter - the original ghetto. She was very knowledgeable about her city and its deep history. Venice has been a cosmopolitan city for centuries. It started as a place of refuge and became rich as a trading nation.

    We made our way to the ferry terminal to take the ferry to Piran. It was about three hours to Piran, so we got to know some of the people on our tour. The Hotel Piran, where we're staying for two nights, is just 150m from the ferry. We picked up the key to our room for the next two nights and went to our room where our bags were already delivered; how good is that!

    Given the late arrival, we dined at the hotel restaurant - another great 3 course meal with local seafood.    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Piazza San MarcoPiazza San MarcoPiazza San MarcoPiazza San MarcoWhere's WallyVenetian masksGondola1GondolaPonte di RialtoFish marketVongola with botargo1Tagliatelle with prawns, scampi and zucchiniPiazza San Marco

    Venice...it's been a while

    9月19日, イタリア ⋅ 🌙 23 °C

    We walked to a nearby Pasticceria for a very drinkable cappuccino and pistachio filled croissants - these have become a favourite.

    It was time to do some sightseeing - I'm sure there won't be many tourists at San Marcos! We took the vaporetto from Lido to San Marcos, and the tourist hordes had already arrived in their vast numbers. I don't recall there being this many in 1997! Even with so many people following their tour guides' little flags, bumping into us while intently listening to their audio tours, Piazza San Marco remains a special place.

    Photos were taken of
    Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) and, of course, Saint Mark's Basilica
    Basilica di San Marco. We wandered the narrow streets of Castello, trying to find quieter places, but there were few. We took photos of bemused tourists on gondola - paying €90 per head for the privilege.

    We crossed the grand Canal over Ponte di Rialto, amused with the selfies - the view is better of the bridge than from it! We walked through San Paolo's streets to the fish market, a hive of noisy activity. We were getting hungry, so we stopped for lunch at Ristorante Vini Da Pinto, an Odyssey recommendation 😢 We had seafood, of course, with Gayle having tagliatelle with prawns and scampi and I had vongola (clams) with botargo (cured fish roe).

    After stuffing ourselves, we walked to the grand Canal where we took a vaporetto back to Lido, with great views of this beautiful city. We arrived at the hotel and did our bike fitting - these ebikes are very high quality - it's going to be fun!

    In the afternoon, I wandered down to the hotel bar whilst Gayle was making herself even more beautiful! I chatted to Liz and Russ, some of our fellow cyclists, our Odyssey Venetians adventurers! We popped around the corner to La Sferetta Srl for a prosecco and negroni. They ran out of vermouth for my second drink, so I had a campari spritz - this may be a new favourite 😍

    Dinner was a simple pizza and some Vino Rosso dela casa at a local Pizzeria, Stella!    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Dinner at i gabellieri
    Basilica Cateriniana San DomenicoBasilica Cateriniana San DomenicoBasilica Cateriniana San DomenicoRandom sculpture we thought looked coolPiazza del Campo one last timeDinner at i gabellieriLido CanalLido Canal

    Goodbye Siena, hello Venice ...

    9月17日〜18日, イタリア ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Wednesday:
    We walked through the old city one last time, stopping to take a looksie inside Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico. Good old St Catherine is the patron saint of not just Siena but also Italy and all of Europe - who knew! Creepily, bits of her body are held in the basilica, namely her head and a finger 👉 It was very airy inside with very high ceilings and lots of lovely artwork.

    Siena is on a pilgrimage route, the via Francigena. The Via Francigena (meaning "the road that comes from France") is a historic pilgrimage route from Canterbury, England, to Rome and then to Apulia in Italy.  This explains the many hikers and cyclists we've seen over the last week.

    All this history made us a bit peckish, so we wandered up near Piazza del Campo and had some lunch and a spritz at San Paolo pub. I know I said there weren't any real pubs in Italy, but this was as close as it gets - it was a weird combo of Irish and italian, but the food was ok. Afterwards, we took an obligatory last walk through the piazza - until next time!

    In the afternoon, we packed our bags, managing to jam everything back in, ready for tomorrow's train trip to Venice. We visited our favourite haunts: Bar Impero for drinks and I Gabellieri for pizza, wine and dolce!

    Thursday:
    Up at sparrows fart to catch our first train to Florence. We had some coffee and pastries at Pasticceria La Campane to get us going. The regional train ride to Florence was smooth - no train strikes this time - although there is one next weekend! Dodged another bullet! We then took the Frecciarossa (a fast train) to Venice - we got a snack and a wine - before we knew it, we were rolling across the water to St Lucia station, Venice.

    It's been a while since we've been in Venice, I guess it was only 1997! We took the vaporetto from outside the station all the way to Lido, where our hotel is. A quick freshen up, and it's time for apero! There's heaps of nearby bars and restaurants.

    We had some drinks at a couple of nearby bars before returning to the hotel bar, where we met Isabel - our tour leader and my niece Lisa's best friend from Young! We also met Henrick, an Irishman and another of our tour guides - he's visited Young, as one would!

    Afterwards, we walked to a seafood restaurant, Trattoria Andri, where we had a great dinner. We chatted to a lovely German couple from Bremen.    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    2Monteriggioni
    Bar Impero ownerLornano wineryLornano wineryLornano wineryLornano wineryCastellina in ChiantiCastellina in ChiantiAgricola Poggio ai LaghiAgricola Poggio ai LaghiAgricola Poggio ai LaghiAgricola Poggio ai Laghi with WendyMonteriggioniMonteriggioni1Monteriggioni

    Chianti wine tasting tour

    9月16日, イタリア ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Our chianti wine tasting tour was starting at 2 pm, so we went to Bar Impero for the lunch special - it was a lot of food. We've been there a few times over the last 11 days, and the owner is very friendly - photo to attest!

    We met up for the tour at the train station; there were 15 people on the tour, mainly American. We chatted to a lovely lady from Oregon, Wendy, who was daytripping whilst her partner was at a conference. Wendy had studied in Australia.

    We're not usually tour bus people, but it's pretty sensible when you're tasting wine!

    Our first stop was Fattoria Lornano winery, a family run affair producing chianti and chianti classico. We learnt all about the wine classification system - the chianti classico is grown and produced in the chianti area only and to exacting specifications - look for the black rooster! Chianti wine is sangiovese, so if you're not a fan of sangiovese, this tour may not be for you. We tried four wines along with estate grown olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The estate itself was in a medieval stone building, and we got to look around their cellar. It was a mix of modern and traditional computer controlled, stainless steel tanks for fermentation and centuries old stone cellars.

    Our next stop was the picturesque hilltop town, Castellina in Chianti, where we had some free time to wander around. We also stopped for a gelato, which we're really getting into. The surrounding countryside really is quite spectacular - rolling green hills with lots of grape-laden vines - it's like a Dante poem!

    We then hopped on the tour bus and went to Agricola Poggio ai Laghi, near Monteriggioni, where we tried a number of estate wines. Apart from the chianti classico, we also tried a very nice super Tuscan (they grow and blend international varieties that aren't sangiovese) - we actually preferred the super Tuscan! The sparkling rose was really good, too.

    A few people were starting to get a bit wobbly on their feet by this stage. Our last stop was the walled, hilltop town of Monteriggioni. There was a bit of a steep ascent to the town from the carpark, and it was amusing to see the tipsy tourists coping with the stone paths.

    It was just after sunset by now, and Monteriggioni was quite stunning. We wandered around, taking lots of photos like the good tourists we are!    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Ristorante La Locanda dei Tintori Siena
    Ristorante La Locanda dei Tintori SienaPalazzo SalimbeniCertaldoCertaldoCertaldoCertaldoCertaldoCertaldo - check the little old lady looking out the window.Certaldo- camera timer photoCertaldoCertaldo- camera timer photoCertaldoRistorante L'Antica FonteRistorante L'Antica FonteRistorante L'Antica FonteCertaldoCertaldoCertaldoCertaldo

    Siena Sunday & Certaldo daytrip

    9月14日〜15日, イタリア ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    We had a bit of a lazy Sunday....

    We did follow the heartbreaking Raiders game online... we were robbed!

    We did head to an Irish pub for a couple of drinks in the afternoon. Pubs aren't really part of Italian culture - they have bars and Trattoria but not real pubs! There was soccer on the TV so there was mainly English at the pub.

    We were desirous of some steak, so we headed to a restaurant called Ristorante La Locanda dei Tintori Siena. We enjoyed a duck pasta and a lovely rare fillet steak with some local chianti.

    Monday: Certaldo daytrip

    We had breakfast at the patisserie at the top of the railway station - sweet pastries and coffee. We then took a 40-minute train ride to Certaldo, which has a lovely old town on top of a steep hill. Fortunately, there's a furnicular to help with the hill.

    Certaldo dates back to Roman and Etruscan times. We walked around the compact old town, taking lots of photos of the old buildings and beautiful surrounding countryside.

    This sightseeing gives you an appetite, so we found a lovely restaurant called Ristorante L'Antica Fonte. We enjoyed some Tuscan cold meals and cheese with some sangiovese whilst enjoying the lovely garden terrace overlooking the countryside. It's all very civilised!    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Back alleys
    Piazza del Campo againPiazza del Campo againPalazzo PubblicoPalazzo PubblicoPalazzo PubblicoSiena universitySiena universityBar Impero lunchBar Impero lunchCoffee and pastryView of the duomoBasilica Cateriniana San Domenico1Siena alleys1Basilica Cateriniana San DomenicoDistrict horse stable before the raceHorse relaxation areaHappy girl with gelatoSiena alleysDrinks at Bar ImperoDinner at i Gabellieri

    Enjoying Italian life

    9月12日〜13日, イタリア ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    After a full day of cycling and Italian opera, we've had a slower paced few days.

    Friday:
    After breakfast, which we've mainly been making in the apartment, we meandered around the old city, attempting to take the quieter, less travelled paths. This was largely unsuccessful as the tourist day trippers have arrived with their flag holding tour guides! Look, I get that we're part of the tourist hordes, but I'm not a fan of the flag holding tour guides😜 I have taken to holding my phone up in the air to take Gayle past the tours which has been met with Gayle pretending she doesn't know me!

    We stumbled upon a few new sites during our wanders, including the very beautiful Siena university, where we took in some lovely ceiling art. We also wandered through the Palazzo Pubblico, the Gothic town hall.

    Enough sightseeing, it was time for lunch. We returned to our favourite bar, Bar Impero, for the €15 lunch special: spaghetti pomodori, lemon chicken, salad, bread, and a glass of Vino! Delicious and good value.

    We decided we were going to eat at 'home' tonight, so we picked up supplies from the Pam supermarket, i.e., prosecco and wine.

    Fresh pasta with pancetta, cheese, and cream - it was quite delicious. Sometimes you just need a regular night in, cooking dinner and some TV.

    Saturday:
    We went to a new pastry shop/ cafe and had some 'healthy' custard filled delights with the nicest coffee I've had so far. Complaining about coffee outside Australia is my cultural right!

    In the afternoon, we went on a bites and stories walking tour; learning about local wine, food, and history. Our guide, Alessandra, was very knowledgeable and told us lots of interesting stories about Siena. She had a tour guide flag - I don't want to talk about it! We tried some local chianti classico, a sangiovese, had a gelato and some panaforte. There were 5 couples: 2 x English , 1 x American, 1 x Belgian, and us. We did learn a lot about the 17 districts in Siena and the palio, the biannual horse races held at Piazza del Campo!

    After the tour, we stopped at our local. Bar Impero; a couple of aperol spritz. We walked up the street to i Gabellieri to share another lovely pizza, Vino Rosso, and a cheeky tiramisu 😋    もっと詳しく

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  • EattravelmoveEurope (Venetians tour) 2025旅行者
    Artistic Castle photoCastle with Siena in backgroundSiena in backgroundLunchPizzeria Osteria Bella NapoliPorta OvilleA night at the OperaA night at the OperaOur opera performers

    Cycling and Italian opera

    9月11日, イタリア ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    Well, we awoke to no rain!! After breakfast, we took the bikes out for a trip into the Tuscan countryside. We used google maps to navigate a route recommended by the guys at Siena Bike Shop - they emailed it to me!

    Once we got out of the city, the roads were much quieter, and the scenery was amazing - lots of rolling, green hills filled with vineyards, olive groves, and even a castle. We rode past areas, not really towns, like Pieve a Bozzone, Montechiari, and San Giovanni! The roads were somewhat narrow with some occasional gravel, but only local traffic and a few other cyclists and motorcycles. The ebikes made light work of the hill climbing, and we got some great views back to Siena.

    We finally found a small town, Ponte a Bozzone, and stopped for a drink and bite to eat at Pizzeria Osteria Bella Napoli. It was a lovely family run affair, and the owners were relaxed and friendly. We ordered some food, arancini and pici with pepper and cheese. The bread that came out was homemade and delicious. There were quite a few other cyclists who stopped for a bite to eat also. We chatted to a nice Canadian couple - they were very keen to make sure we knew they were Canadian and not American😜

    There was a little shower whilst we had lunch but no more rain when we rode back into Siena. We came in through the Porta Oville gate and cycled through the old city and back to the apartment.

    We freshened up after the day's ride, and at around 3.30pm, we rode the bikes back to Siena bike shop to drop them off. Almost every business shuts up up for an hour or two each day.

    In the evening, we had a couple of aperol spritz at 'home' before heading out for dinner before tonight's 9pm Italian opera!

    The Opera performance started at 9.15pm in what looked like a converted church; we could see confessionals. There was a soprano and a tenor, plus a pianist, and they played 12 pieces from a range of renowned Italian operas. There was an intermission where we enjoyed a glass of prosecco! I've gotta say, I really enjoyed the evening - more than I expected! We strolled back through the old city and walked home in the cooler air.

    It's been a full and fun day!    もっと詳しく

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