If you'd like to catch up ...
Days 1-3: Pistoia, Firenze, Chianti, Siena, San Gimignano
Days 4-5: Santa Margherita Ligure, Cinque Terre, Porto Venere, Portofino
Days 6-8: Stresa, Lago Maggiore, Milano, Isola Bella, Isola dei Pescatori, Isola San Giulio
Days 9-10: Bolzano, Franciacorta, Soprabolzano
Day 11: Bolzano, Verona, Venezia (Sept. 29)
Today we said arrivederci (or auf wiedersehen) to Bolzano and stopped in Verona for a half day walking tour before continuing on to our final stop, Venezia. As many of you know, my mother is from Verona, and our relatives still live there; additionally, Nicoletta's mother is also from Verona. So when our bus arrived to Ponte della Vittoria in downtown Verona our relatives were all there, waving and smiling at the bus with its GIRLS' TRIP TO ITALY banner on the front window. After everyone said goodby to Nicoletta (who would remain in Verona), my sister and I spent a few hours with our relatives while the rest of the group toured the city of Romeo and Juliet. They visited Juliet's house, Romeo's house, Piazza delle Erbe (with its market stalls), and Piazza Bra with the world famous l'Arena (the open air colosseum which is still used today for concerts and a summer opera season). There was free time to explore and have lunch, and in the early afternoon we boarded the bus for the last time for a short drive to Venice.
On the outskirts of Venice we said a final goodbye to Rocco (alas, no bus drivers are needed in Venezia) and boarded water taxis for a thrilling ride up the channel and into the Grand Canal. It was an amazing way to arrive into this magical city. We disembarked at Piazza San Marco and walked across the famous square to our hotel, Hotel Cavalletto. Yes, that's right, our hotel was right next to Piazza San Marco!
That night, most of the group participated in a dinner and gondola serenade (Mary Brooke participated in a duet with the musicians on the gondola as they were floating down a canal) while the rest of the group either explored on their own or attended the 6:45 p.m. Mass at St. Mark's Basilica.
Day 12: Venezia (Sept. 30)
The sun was shining on our first full day in Venezia. We began with a guided tour of Doge's Palace where we saw masterpieces by Titian (one of the most important artists of the High Renaissance), Tintoretto (responsible for the largest oil on canvas in the world), and Veronese (known for his characteristic blue skies in the background of his paintings). We were able to walk across the Bridge of Sighs (so named by Lord Byron) which connects the justice chambers of Doge's Palace with the prisons.
After touring St. Mark's Basilica, we watched a glass blowing demonstration at the Vecchia Murano Glass Factory. Our afternoon was then free, and almost everyone spent that time exploring or, if they hadn't already done so the previous evening, taking a gondola ride.
Our Farewell Dinner was at Ristorante Al Colombo where we dined outside in a courtyard that provided excellent acoustics for Mary Brooke to sing two arias--Puccini's O Mio Babbino Caro and Ave Maria. She received a standing ovation from all of us, as well as from the other patrons dining nearby. After one last group photo, and after making a speech thanking Jane for being such a wonderful guide, we spent the rest of the evening in St. Mark's Square enjoying a magical evening of twinkling lights, orchestra music, and the festive air of the piazza.
Note: In the months leading up to our trip, my sister and I hosted several information sessions about some of the sights we would be seeing in Italy. While we went over Florence, Milano, Verona and Bolzano, I purposely did not go into great detail on Venezia ... mainly because I believe everyone's first visit to La Serenissima shouldn't so much be about the mind, but about the senses. You have to feel, taste, touch, smell, see, hear, and experience Venezia as the unique and magical place that it is.
Day 12: Venice-USA (Oct. 1)
Sadly, departure day. After our checked luggage was sent on ahead by boat (luggage which had "mysteriously" not only grown in weight, but also in number), the group again boarded water taxis for a 30-minute boat ride to the Marco Polo Airport. Long lines awaited us at the Air France counter, and while the rest of the group sailed on through without any problem, Maria was stuck at the ticket counter trying to prove that Maria Anna Novajosky and Maria Treacy Novajosky were sisters-in-law ... that is, two different people and not the same person! She made it to the gate just as everyone was boarding! Whew!
A connection in Paris, a customs and passport control in Atlanta, and the group said goodbye to Brenda, Jeannie, Elizabeth, Mary, and Mary Brooke (all of whom, with the exception of Mary Brooke, had connecting flights). Everyone else flew in to Augusta.
Much later that night (well past midnight) texts via WhatsApp confirmed that everyone had made it home safe and sound.
Today we said arrivederci (or auf wiedersehen) to Bolzano and stopped in Verona for a half day walking tour before continuing on to our final stop, Venezia. As many of you know, my mother is from Verona, and our relatives still live there; additionally, Nicoletta's mother is also from Verona. So when our bus arrived to Ponte della Vittoria in downtown Verona our relatives were all there, waving and smiling at the bus with its GIRLS' TRIP TO ITALY banner on the front window. After everyone said goodby to Nicoletta (who would remain in Verona), my sister and I spent a few hours with our relatives while the rest of the group toured the city of Romeo and Juliet. They visited Juliet's house, Romeo's house, Piazza delle Erbe (with its market stalls), and Piazza Bra with the world famous l'Arena (the open air colosseum which is still used today for concerts and a summer opera season). There was free time to explore and have lunch, and in the early afternoon we boarded the bus for the last time for a short drive to Venice.
On the outskirts of Venice we said a final goodbye to Rocco (alas, no bus drivers are needed in Venezia) and boarded water taxis for a thrilling ride up the channel and into the Grand Canal. It was an amazing way to arrive into this magical city. We disembarked at Piazza San Marco and walked across the famous square to our hotel, Hotel Cavalletto. Yes, that's right, our hotel was right next to Piazza San Marco!
That night, most of the group participated in a dinner and gondola serenade (Mary Brooke participated in a duet with the musicians on the gondola as they were floating down a canal) while the rest of the group either explored on their own or attended the 6:45 p.m. Mass at St. Mark's Basilica.
Two of my favorite places on earth.
Enjoying lunch with my Italian family in Piazza Bra.
Much love to Paola, Silvio, Tizi, Luciano, and Martha!
And much love to Davide, Damiano & Irene (who had a baby
just a few days ago), and Chiara (who was away at university).
Melanie, Elizabeth, Jeannie
Verona, Italy
Lunch with a view.
Exploring Verona.
Our grand entrance into Venezia.
Our first glimpse of Piazza S. Marco, Doge's Palace,
and the campanile.
Melanie and Cathy taking in our view from Hotel Cavaletto.
If you go out the back door, you land in the canal.
Off to a gondola ride and serenade, followed by dinner.
Lower left photo shows the musicians (including Mary Brooke
who sang along).
Gondola Serenade
Piazza S. Marco at night,
and Mass at the Basilica (one of the few times they turn
on the interior lights is during Mass).
Venezia at night is magical.
Story of this photo: I was trying to identify a church across the
lagoon and slowed down to look at a map while my group went on ahead.
Since it was dark, I held the map up high to try and read it by
lamp light. All of a sudden I heard the sound of laughter ...
my group, taking this photo, saying I looked like a tourist.
You think?
The sun was shining on our first full day in Venezia. We began with a guided tour of Doge's Palace where we saw masterpieces by Titian (one of the most important artists of the High Renaissance), Tintoretto (responsible for the largest oil on canvas in the world), and Veronese (known for his characteristic blue skies in the background of his paintings). We were able to walk across the Bridge of Sighs (so named by Lord Byron) which connects the justice chambers of Doge's Palace with the prisons.
After touring St. Mark's Basilica, we watched a glass blowing demonstration at the Vecchia Murano Glass Factory. Our afternoon was then free, and almost everyone spent that time exploring or, if they hadn't already done so the previous evening, taking a gondola ride.
Our Farewell Dinner was at Ristorante Al Colombo where we dined outside in a courtyard that provided excellent acoustics for Mary Brooke to sing two arias--Puccini's O Mio Babbino Caro and Ave Maria. She received a standing ovation from all of us, as well as from the other patrons dining nearby. After one last group photo, and after making a speech thanking Jane for being such a wonderful guide, we spent the rest of the evening in St. Mark's Square enjoying a magical evening of twinkling lights, orchestra music, and the festive air of the piazza.
Note: In the months leading up to our trip, my sister and I hosted several information sessions about some of the sights we would be seeing in Italy. While we went over Florence, Milano, Verona and Bolzano, I purposely did not go into great detail on Venezia ... mainly because I believe everyone's first visit to La Serenissima shouldn't so much be about the mind, but about the senses. You have to feel, taste, touch, smell, see, hear, and experience Venezia as the unique and magical place that it is.
Mollie and Cathy
Buongiorno Venezia!
Brilliant sun, blue skies.
Our first full day in Venezia was perfect.
St. Mark's Basilica in the morning sun.
Very proud of this photo showing a streetlight (with the characteristic
pink Venetian glass) and St. Mark's lion (the symbol of Venezia).
Three details from Doge's Palace.
Details from inside Doge's Palace.
Window with a view, Doge's Palace.
My sweet sister in law, Mary, outside Doge's Palace.
Vecchia Murano Glass Factory.
The demonstration included glass blowing and glass pulling.
Each piece is exquisite.
So beautiful.
Waiting for our gondola.
A few of us took a sunset gondola cruise before dinner.
Flavio, our gondoliere.
Flavio, our gondoloiere, taking us through the smaller canals
and into the larger, Grand Canal.
Dinner in a courtyard.
Mary Brooke singing Puccini's O Mio Babbino Caro
Mary Brooke singing Ave Maria
Post dinner stroll.
Piazza S. Marco on our last night.
Our friend Karla took this amazing 360-degree photo
of Piazza S. Marco at night.
First night in Italy,
last night in Italy.
Sadly, departure day. After our checked luggage was sent on ahead by boat (luggage which had "mysteriously" not only grown in weight, but also in number), the group again boarded water taxis for a 30-minute boat ride to the Marco Polo Airport. Long lines awaited us at the Air France counter, and while the rest of the group sailed on through without any problem, Maria was stuck at the ticket counter trying to prove that Maria Anna Novajosky and Maria Treacy Novajosky were sisters-in-law ... that is, two different people and not the same person! She made it to the gate just as everyone was boarding! Whew!
A connection in Paris, a customs and passport control in Atlanta, and the group said goodbye to Brenda, Jeannie, Elizabeth, Mary, and Mary Brooke (all of whom, with the exception of Mary Brooke, had connecting flights). Everyone else flew in to Augusta.
Much later that night (well past midnight) texts via WhatsApp confirmed that everyone had made it home safe and sound.
Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends,
but it is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers.
~Pat Conroy
Half of our Bunco group (we missed the other half!).
We've been together for amost 17 years.
Walking across Piazza S. Marco one last time.
The heavier luggage was sent by boat ahead of time.
Mysteriously, our luggage not only creased in weight, but in number.
One last view of Venezia.
(photo sent to me by a blogging friend)
And I leave you with this ... a gondoliere singing
Ciao Venezia, which I happened to record on our
very last afternoon.
1 comment:
Maria, your recaps of the trip are so beautifully written! I am blessed to have experienced Italy with you and the 30 other women 🇮🇹🍷❤️Love, Blessings and a lifetime of memories until we meet again! Elizabeth
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