Traipsing about Italy

30th October - 6th November 2008:

Only 2 days after my school trip to the south of Italy had finished and I was off again back to Italy. This time with Yani and this time on a coach - oh the difference - and I don´t mean in a goos way.

A long coach journey from England had two weary travellers deposited in the North of Italy. There were good times to come and great things to see but also lessons about the dangers of travelling learnt.

Lake Garda, Pisa, Tuscany, Florence, Venice, Italian and Swiss Alps.
Location: Northern Italy

We finally arrive at our destination overlooking Lake Garda.

Voyage on Lake Garda!

We visit the lovely town of Limone. Due to the micro climate of the Lake crops such as lemons have been grown on the lake - beneath the shadow of the Alps - since Roman times.

Entrance to the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, most famous for Brunelleschi's brick dome, considered one of the inspirations for subsequent Renaissance building around Europe.

Equally inspiring in some ways - Gelato!

Ponte Vecchio, one of the few bridge in the Europe still with shops on it. Others include the Pultney Bridge in Bath, England and the Rialto Bridge in Venice.

This is the one cheesy touristy shot I have allowed myself to do. Well, that and the Eiffel Tower...

Back to Venice for me. I had been in July earlier in the year. In late October it was a far different city however. More flooded, gray and rainy to be precise... Managed to catch up with The Oriental Musuem, a Leonard Da Vinci exhibit and the University art gallery, which had escaped my attentions in my last trip.



Enjoying the inventions of Leonardo.

Venice was our end point but Yani and I had learnt a strong lesson about the usefulness of insurance when she became quite sick towards the end of the trip (it later turned out to be an allergic reaction to some anti-biotics - oh the irony!!).

Anyway we both made it home and alls well that ends well as the saying goes.