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Italy 2024
  • Ceri Chaplin
  • Edward Pomfret

Italy 2024

A 8-day adventure by Ceri & Edward Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 28, 2024
    Italy 2024
    The airport is that close!TIME bar... https://maps.app.goo.gl/gQsTaEGcyfdTkduv8

    And so to Venice

    September 28, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    After an early start and a quick pit stop in Stroud we headed to the airport.

    The door was a little bit late leaving but we amused ourselves in the lounge whilst waiting.

    We arrived at Venice airport and after an age for them to sort the air bridge it we walked through immigration and then collected our bags.

    Our transfer to Venice island was too be by water taxi. We found the desk and checked in then waited a short while until we were called to walk directly from the terminal to the quay.

    The water taxi was a small vaporetto boat and there were about 11 people on board. We left the quay and raced across the lagoon towards the city. There had been some storms in the area and the clouds with sun shining through looked spectacular.

    We were the first stop and once off we walked the short distance to the hotel Alle Guglie where we checked in.

    By now it was almost 7pm and so after unpacking, we explored the area around the hotel. The streets were quite busy, seemingly with locals and tourists and after a quick drink sitting outside we found a smaller bar where we whiled the evening away with wine and ciccetti. (Small snacks)    Read more

  • Italy 2024
    Venice is still busy at this time of yearArt!

    A day on the water - part 1 - Murano

    September 29, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    After breakfast at the hotel we headed towards the station as this is where we were going to pick up boat. We booked a hop on hop off bench ctrp for the islands and this started with a trip around Venice Island to St. Marks Square. From here the boat headed across the water to Murano. The whole trip took about an hour and we enjoyed watching the sights and sounds and vistas of Venice.

    Once we got off the boat at Murano we went straight into a glass blowing factory and saw one of the master glass blowers creating a jug and prancing horse. Quite impressively done.

    We spent the next half an hour wandering the streets and canals and had our first beverage of the day in a little courtyard bar/restaurant.

    It was then time to get back on the boat to head to Burano.    Read more

  • Italy 2024
    Yes it is leaning

    A day on the water - part 2 - Burano

    September 29, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    The boat trip to Burano took about an hour and as we were coming in you could see the lean tower of one of the main churches of the island.

    Once we docked we wandered through the streets in much the same way as we had on Murano. We stopped for a snack and drink at a little cafe on the street.

    Burano is famous for its colourful houses and it was certainly a brightly painted town. The streets here were also busy with visitors and we managed to miss the boat that we were aiming for. Not deterred we had a beer overlooking the waterfront after some more sightseeing.

    We rejoined the boats at about 3:00 p.m. for another hour's journey back to Murano. Here we had an hour's wait so I spent some more time taking in the scenery and refreshing ourselves before the final leg of our boat journey back to the main area of Venice.    Read more

  • Italy 2024
    Bridge of Sighs

    A day on the water - part 3

    September 29, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    The boat dropped us off about 15-minute walk from St. Marks Square and we navigated the narrow streets and dawdling tourists to get to the square. After some sightseeing and plenty of photos we walked past the Campanile and to the waterfront where the gondolas were plying their trade €90 a pop.

    Next we crossed a bridge where you had a view at the canal and saw the Bridge of sighs and then kept wondering through the narrow streets stopping for a quick beer at a small bar.

    Attic was now almost 7:00 p.m. we decided to walk back to the hotel which took about 20 minutes. After a quick stop, headed back out for a pizza and then some drinks back in the Time bar where we had been the previous evening.    Read more

  • Italy 2024
    11

    Wandering in Venice - to the Rialto

    September 30, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Having been to Venice before, there was no clamour to see specific sights. With the sun shining we decided to spend the day largely wandering and seeing what we found.

    We stayed by making a vague plan to walk to the Rialto bridge and this took us through a maze of alleys, streets and up and over numerous bridges.

    We arrived at the bridge just before 11 and spent some time taking photos and admiring the view. The Grand Canal before the bridge was a hive of activity with Gondolas, water taxis, water buses and commercial boats vying for space.

    After a quick refreshment stop we wandered on and picked up a trail which took us around the San Polo area.    Read more

  • Italy 2024
    Bridge of Tits (yes that is right!)1

    Wandering in Venice - 2

    September 30, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    One of the first sights that we saw was the Rialto market and from there we ended up at a bridge with an unusual name. The bridge of tits is so called because prostitutes used to line up on the bridge baring their breasts. It was apparently a ploy to convert gay residents.

    We continued the walk, stopping for dinner ciccetti and a beer in a large square. Onwards we went passing churches, schools and residential areas. The trail ended at the canal where we took a water shuttle across to the other side.

    From here we make a route to take in the Gran Teatro la Fenice, Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo and the Libreria Acqua Alta, stopping every so often for refreshments.

    Back to St Mark's Square and then the church of San Zaccaria with the flooded crypt.

    We walked the mile or so back from here to the Jewish ghetto where our walking tour ended!

    After a beer we had a rest stop back at the hotel before heading out for pizza (again). After tea, we had a final drink at the same bar as we'd been to the previous nights before an early ish night.    Read more

  • Italy 2024
    12

    Into the mountains - Stelvio pass

    October 2, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    We left Venice on the 8:40 and after a quick stop and change of train at the Central station we headed to Verona where we were to pick up a hire car.

    Destination for today was the Stellvio Pass, second highest paved mountain pass in Europe. After collecting our fiat 500 we drove a couple of hours before starting the climb from where we were up to around 2,800 m. The road is not for the faint-hearted although we did see quite a few cyclists making the journey. The higher we got it got mistier and the view from the top wasn't brilliant. Despite the steep climbs and 47 hairpin bends, the little car made it.

    From here we descended the other side with more helping bends and fantastic views. We stopped a couple of times on the way down for some photos and then drove to our final destination for the day which was our Airbnb situated on lake Como.

    We checked in to the apartments and found a lovely, spacious place for us to stay. Have to check in. We went for a walk and found a bar for some refreshments for a quick stop back at the apartment and then out for tea.

    Despite not having done all that much walking, we were both tired and so had a relatively early night.    Read more

  • Italy 2024

    Lake Como

    October 3, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    We left the house to find somewhere for breakfast and after having a plate of scrambled eggs with meat and cheese overlooking the lake, we walked across the road to catch a ferry to Bellagio.

    The ferry first stopped at the next village down the coast called Verrana before crossing the lake to Menaggio then finally back across the popular village of Bellagio. The town sits on a promontory overlooking the lake and has a beautiful views. This makes it very busy.

    We spent some time wandering around the village and taking in the sights and of course having some refreshments. We were lucky that the weather was beautiful with sun shining but some clouds framing the views up the lake.

    After having our fill of the town, we caught another ferry back up the coast to Verrana. Here we spent around an hour flooring and waiting for our final boat trip of the day on the fast ferry back to Bellano.

    On arrival we headed to the canyon and paid to wander around the natural waterfalls with some spectacular views back out to the lake.

    It was now late afternoon and we spent the next couple of hours bar hopping and taking in the sun. Because each drink seems to come with snacks. We actually didn't feel like tea and eventually headed home for an early night.    Read more

  • Italy 2024

    From lake Como to Milan

    October 4, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Today was a bit of a travel day which is just as well because it rained almost the entire day.

    After checking out of our house we found somewhere to have breakfast over looking lake before starting the drive back towards Verona where we were dropping the car off.

    On the way we made a quick stop at lake Garda and specifically the town of Sermioni where we had some lunch. From there we travelled onwards. Verona where we dropped the car off and then waited for our train to Milan.

    The train journey was around an hour and we arrived in Milan late afternoon and then caught the metro to our hotel where we'd been upgraded.

    We headed out for some food and some drinks into the town and tried our best to avoid the rain.    Read more

  • Italy 2024
    Our first tram... Built in 1928!

    Milan - day 1

    October 4, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    It was still wet when we woke up at and after breakfast we headed out. Sadly, the rain lasted most of the day and didn't really dry up until late afternoon.

    We walked to the Duomo, variously as either the third or fourth or fifth largest church in the world. Next we went to a large shopping gallery and saw the beautifully tiled floor, and the one mosaic which Italians seem to think brings them luck if they stand on it and spin around meaning there is now a hole in the floor.

    From here we walked through the shopping centre to see the Scala opera House. Sadly, lots of buildings in Milan seem to be covered in scaffolding, presumably being renovated in time for the winter Olympics in 2026.

    With rain continuing we decided to take a not open top bus tour which took us around Milan. It was a bit of a shame that the top was closed as it did limit some of what you could see but at least it gave us an impression of the city.

    The tour took almost 2 hours and so by now it was time to get something to eat and after that we walked to the castle.

    We took shelter in a bar for a rest and some refreshments before catching a tram to the Navigli area, a canal lined with bars and restaurants.

    After a couple of drinks we caught another tram back to the area of our hotel for a quick freshen up.

    Our evening was spent having drinks and a pizza before returning to the hotel for bed.    Read more

  • Italy 2024

    Milan to London

    October 6, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    For our last day in Milan the sun came out and so we spent a relaxing morning wandering around the cathedral area and then the castle area before having a couple of drinks in the sun.

    We'd arranged a late checkout and so after picking up our bags at around 2.:00 p.m. we then made the short walk back into San Biblia area and stopped at a panini shop. I have to say that the paninis were amazing.

    From there we headed to the airport for our flight home.    Read more

    Trip end
    October 5, 2024
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