Caterina House Venice

... steps to the top) and the Piazza del Signoria, a great, bustling pedestrians-only town square. We grabbed a gelato and took a short people-watching break before continuing on to Ponte Vecchio and finally, the day’s climax- the Uffizi Gallery.

The Uffizi has been described as the greatest collection of Italian paintings anywhere! But it is so much more. It is laid out in a way that walks you through the transition of style, content and technique from the ...

... She wonders where the money went.
OK: now we are driving in Italian traffic. These people drive as if they have nothing to live for. And, yet, we have not seen a single accident. Regardless, driving is nerve-wracking. But we made it safely to Padua, where we visited the Scrovengi Chapel, painted in frescos by Giotto in the early 14th century. It was commissioned by a man whose father was a very bad ...

... endowed a museum of modern art, which seems especially radical in Venice, with its nearly universal focus on the Renaissance.
After dinner and a rest, we finished our day with a night at the Opera! We saw “The Barber of Seville” a great, silly romp of an opera - and to add to the fun, it was performed inside one of the old Venetian palaces, with each act taking place in a different room. (The small audience followed the players and the Piano Quartet from room to room.)

... gave up on the sun ever coming up around seven and took off. The days here are extremely short: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. tops.
Our hotel here is amazing: they were happy to check us in at 7:30 a.m. and could not have been more accommodating. We slept a couple of hours and hit the streets - no, canals - around eleven. Our hotel recommended a restaurant where we had by far the best meal we have had in Italy before starting our sightseeing day’ ...

... pillows and as many makeshift covers (aka jackets and sweatshirts) to another compartment and sprawled out on the seats. When we got to Venice, it was very early in the morning, so we had to find our way to our hostel in the dark. But we made it there, only to find out that it was closed for another two hours (that's what happens during low season). So we wandered around, found a market to get a few ...

... didn’t stay until blackness, but it was late enough so the more pretty canals were lit by lanterns.
Once finding our way back to the jetty we boarded a now very crowded ferry and got off near the supermarket. It was time for some more scrumptious food. Even the roast chickens were delicious (more so because of the drool-worthy pesto we added). The chicken was eaten by us in a nice park we found. After it was finished and we washed our hands in a fountain (there ...

... its about to fall over. We wander round and stop for some lunch and then take the ferry back. Back at the camp we have dinner and prepare for the toga party, not looking forward to the 730 start tho, a third topdeck bus arrives at camp and the "bus about" bus joins us Oswell, house drink is called a "Mikes Special" a shot each of vodka, Bacardi, tequila, Whiskey then topped up with an orange Bacardi breezer, pretty lethal but adds up to a cheap and crazy night.

... 176*C in there and I hated it. Nuff said. We sat down to eat in the heart of the old city and I after ordering the Spaghetti Carbonnara, I realised that I have had this dish in each of the countries I have been to. So now I'm judging these dishes and will report back with the best country/Italian city. So far, Interlaken has it. We were catching the overnight train to Venice. These were not great digs. It was hot and there were two ...

... or any masks-oh well-got to see a few sights! Went up the Bell Tower in St Marks Square and into the Bascilica. Then had a look at the shops and a gelato! :) At 3pm met up with the tour and went on a gondola ride with muscians. Interesting experience. And no the canals don't smell. LOL. After the gondola ride we caught a water taxi to the Island of Burano (sp?) which is where all the lace is made. Here we had a nice dinner and then back to the hotel.

... We got a little lost on our way down and ended up doing a rambo through a forest for a while but eventually found the path. Afterwards, we drove to Limone and had a look round. Limone is opposite Malcesine on the other side of the lake and is carved into the side of the mountain. It is a pretty little town with a great promenade along the lake. That evening we ate out again and then went with Max and a few other guys from the camp site for a few beers ...