Best Western Hotel Biri Padua

... especially, played some sweet strings.

This opera company, “Musica a Palazzo”, follows the “directions for contemporaneity” requested by Verdi at the first performance of La Traviata (which caused a scandal at the time by its brazen realism). The first act begins in the Portego (central/great hall, where we all were sitting), where we, the audience members, quickly realized that we were playing the role of the party guests as Violetta ...

... in terms of its architecture and artwork. (Due to restoration work, we couldn’t climb the large bell tower related to both the church and the chapel – although that probably would’ve been just Murray and not me!). As we were leaving Torcello and returning back to Burano, we saw a gorgeous sunset over all the islands in the area.

I didn’t think anything could top little Torcello, but upon returning to tour Burano, we ...

... br>
I took the chance this time to purchase a bottle of brandy in Toronto and stored it in my carry-on. Oops! Upon arriving in Paris we were required to clear customs to connect to Venice and we only had 1 hour to drink the brandy or relinquish it to their customs department. As time allowed, we exited customs and checked the carry-on into luggage wrapping the brandy with a sweater and hoping for the best.

... haunting music...just one of those special moments..I did buy a CD from them..so may inflict it upon you when we return:)
On the boat back we met 2 fantastic ladies from Canada and New York, Nina and Erika. We had a lovely time chatting and then we ran into them in town later so we continued over a wine.Late that night John and I climbed some lovely narrow cobbled stairs to a small place for dinner before taxiing back up to ...

... is definitely the best time to visit, even if the weather is cooler. Fewer crowds make for a more pleasant experience while walking the narrow streets and bridges.

Sailing out of the city on a giant 150 ft. Windstar yacht towards Slovenia & Croatia was absolutely beautiful. We saw million dollar yachts along the main canal, St. Marks Square & the frilly exterior of Doges Palace, and the tall bell towers of the city's most important churches.

OK, just a quick update to say, yes, ok, it's getting better. Don't worry about me too much, with how frustrated I was at my last post. I will say, sadly, NO, I really haven't figured out Italian eating establishments yet... but it's getting better. And most people are so ridiculously nice anyway. A few small observations on Italy -- they absolutely love Californians. All the "Don't let any European know you're from America" stuff is total BS here in Italy.... tell ...

... walk through the city to San Marco (Saint Marks) Square for ice cream and a sit by the water. We stayed a while as the restaurants had clasical music bands outside playing traditional Italian music. The entire atmosphere was so warm so combined with a cold night - a lot of warming cuddles didnt go a miss. The place was full of couples at night and although the shops were closed (apart from food) the place was buzzing and still very beautiful. By now our poor feet were ...

... decided he could get us home (near St Mark's Square) from the other side of the city north of the grand canal (Cannaregio) WITHOUT A MAP. We got so lost! Venice is completely impossible to navigate because there are so many dead ends (well, they're not dead if you have a boat I guess) and none of the streets are actually straight. Somehow we ended up walkiing in exactly the opposite direction and hit the edge of the island! Today we head to Milan - I'm prepared to feel like a total dag!

... as likely to come into the place for coffee or soft drinks as they are for booze. They even bring their children to these little places, which are more like small cafés than bars. There is no "bar" to sit at - you have to sit at a table - and this doesn't really work when you're alone. It's now been almost two months that I've been traveling, and I'm still not used to going into a bar and seeing people order espresso, chug it down, and then leave! To me, a bar is a place ...

... universe. Padua's laws protected him from the wrath of the church, but when Pisa poached him with the offer of more money, he was outside this protection, and excomunicated. Leaving Padua was easier than arriving. In no time we were in the countryside and heading off into the Colli and Euganei hills. This alarmed Ches, as she was hot and tired, and just wanted to go home. I had decided upon a surprise detour. The hills are a loverly drive, and while we were only passing through ...