Arrivederci Verona, ciao Venice

☹️  Today was our last major train trip.  We spent the morning in Verona exploring the Roman fort and other buildings on the archeological site. On our way we passed two churches , built in the 1100’s ,which of course have been modified by different generations and fashions. Both were very simply decorated outside,  but beautifully painted with murals inside.

We were standing at the gate of this church. The service had just finished or was about to start. People were gathered in the courtyard chatting. They invited us to come in , see their church and the organist played for a few minutes. The obvious pride in their community, and their desire to share it with strangers, was special.

Now , you will be pleased to hear that there were no stairs up to the fort, just a steep road. We enjoyed wandering around and seeing how nature had already started to reclaim it. When we wanted to explore the ruins more, we discovered they were doing repair work , so down the hill we went…….not too far thankfully.

The view from the top ,we had been told, was spectacular. They were not wrong as you could look down across the red tiled roofs to the water, and up to the gardens and vineyards on the hills.

 Stairs, where are the stairs. Of course, what would the day be without stairs.

  They were all downhill. It was a lucky day, because it was first Sunday of the month , when the archeological museum is only 1€ and , it was open. The Museum has been built in an old monastery,  and the monastery , had been built into a Roman theatre. Many parts of the building have been excavated,  but it is still progressing.

The details in the carved stonework,mosaics,murals and bronzes reminded us how skilful the craftsmen of these early times were. On one bronze of a foot,you could even see the cuticles on the toes.

After all this cultural exposure, we felt we should indulge in an Italian tradition of sitting in a piazza , drinking coffee and watching the world pass us. Great coffee.

From here, it was back to the B&B to meet the taxi  to take us to the train station. Travelling from Verona to Venice, you notice the change in the landscape. The distant hills are rounded, and you are in a wide flat valley. The land is drier. Great for growing grapes.

We travelled across the causeway to Venice , which is actually a series of islands that are linked by bridges……lots of bridges. Once you leave the mainland, it  is ferry to one of the areas on an island. We were being met at the Rialto gate. A quick phone call to our host ,and he came met us. Up alleys, down alleys, through piazzas, up wide steps over narrow canals. We are here. Up three flights of winding stairs, the husbands were exhausted carrying our cases. Wow, the apartment is fabulous,  in an interesting part of town……right near a chocolate shop, a pastry shop and a very popular with the locals bar who are singing .  We have our own pulley washing lines out the balcony window. Proper Italian dinner…first course pasta, second course smaller with fish meat and salad . We feel like part of the local population, especially with a visit to the local supermarket.

 So tomorrow we will explore Venice, starting early , before those pesky tour groups arrive.

Buona notte.    (Pauline and I have been learning phrases).😉