June 29: We are in Rome!

Yesterday we left Bassano and took the train to Rome. First we took a regional commuter train into Venice where we connected with a high speed train to Rome. The train travels at speeds over 300 kilometers per hour so it is much faster than driving. 

 

Our route

 

 

I found the train grafitti especially interesting

 

The view of the tuscan countryside from the train was just as I had imagined. 

 

The train barista making me a cafe macchiato. 

We made some friends on the train....

 

These girls are studdying abroad in Tuscany with a group through their college in North Carolina. 

They made me jealous with stories of the food chemistry and artisan bread baking courses they have been taking in Italy. 

 

These are the two Melissas. They are from San Diego. They are spending a couple of weeks together traveling through France, Italy, and Greece. Melissa(on the left) just graduated from UCSD, and Melissa (on the right) attends a college nearby in San Diego. They told us all about their visit to the Paris Disneyland which has an extra elaborate Cinderella's castle with a very realistic smoke breathing dragon beneath it. 

We expect to be welcoming all of our new train friends in Santa Barbara in the near future 😎

We arrived in Rome and found our hostel/hotel just a few blocks away. 

We are staying at "The Beehive", an urban hipster hostel owned by an american couple. I had heard about it on "the iceberg probect", an Italian language learning website and podcast. 

 

 

The room is clean and pleasant, but it is tiny, and the bathroom is smaller than I thought possible. The area around the hostel is very sketchy.  I would be nervous about walking alone. I guess that is what comes with a central location near the train station. Lucky for me I have a big burly husband to walk next to 😉

After checking in we went to explore. We took a metro to the area near the Colloseum to find a late lunch. We found this little hole in the wall place serving pizza by the kg. The family running it was very interesting to watch; the girl at the counter totally reminded me of an '80s Madonna 

 

 

Good pizza😋 and a super afforable lunch. 

 

 

 

Then we walked about 2 blocks over to the Colosseum and looked around. 

 

 

It is pretty amazing to be standing right next to such an iconic historical monument. 

We decided to book tickets for a hop-on/hop-off bus that goes all around Rome. 

 

We rode the bus all around the city for the next 2 hours, listening to the audio commentary of the city's sights. 

 

Vatican City is across the bridge

 

 

 

 

 

Then we got off of the bus and explored more by foot, walking through narrow stone streets, and we made our way to the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. 

 

 

It looks so inviting. And it is so very hot out.   It took every ounce of self control I have not to jump in and go for a swim.  

 

We were ready for dinner so we found a restaurant recommended by my guidebook: "Miscelanea". It was very good and affordable and the portions were generous. We ordered way too much food. The whole dinner with wine was only 40€

 

 

 

They have a house specialty wine that they serve to guests as an after dinner treat. It is called "Sexy Wine". I thought it tasted like a black cherry wine cooler. 

We walked back through the streets which were all lit up and full of people. There was a lot going on and the energy was high. Rome is an active place at night. 

 

Then back to our hotel after a long day.  

We had a fun first day in Rome!
 

 

June 28: Good bye Bassano!

This morning we packed up, ate a quick breakfast, checked out of our hotel, and walked a few blocks to the train station to catch a train headed for Rome. 

We are currently sitting on a regional train to Venice where we will catch a fast train to Rome. Our train switching time is very tight, so hopefully we will be able to quickly find our playform and get our next train with no problems. Fingers crossed that our train is not delayed. 

 

June 27: Bassano del grappa, shopping, and a day trip to Padua (Padova)

Today we enjoyed breakfast at the hotel and then spent the morning walking around and exploring Bassano del Grappa some more. I bought a few souveneirs and we had a little rest at the hotel before catching a regional train for a day trip to Padua, or as they say in Italy- Padova. 

 

 

I just love this electric custom coffee maker that they have here at the hotel. I need one in my kitchen, right??

 

The walls in the city have little nooks and alcoves that are adorable. I think this looks just like a little door for fairies....

 

The bridge here is so beautiful and the river and mountains make such a picturesque vista. 

St. Anthony's basillica.  

 

This horse statue was made by Donatello. Inside the basilica the artwork is amazing; it is like a museum filled with frescos, marble carvings, statues, and gilded ceilings. I wish I could have taken pictures, but photos are not allowed. 

 

We had a simple lunch in a wine bar because we waited too long and missed lunch time. Apparently in restaurants lunch is only served until 3:00.

 

We found this cute little yogurt shop as we were walking along and got frozen yogurt for dessert. They have their own version of a pink-berry. 

 

 

We were walking down a side street on our way back to the train station and happened upon a game shop. The young man who was working here showed us his game pieces that he had made and painted himself. He was very enthusiastic and spoke excellent English. 

 

June 26: Venice and soccer!🇮🇹👏🏻⚽️

Today we woke up at the Hotel Belvedere and had a very nice breakfast in the hotel before meeting up with Alessandro and Carlotta to go to Venice. 

 

 

 

We drove to the train station just outside of Venice and we took the train to the ferry which takes you through the canals. 

 

 

 

Venice was beautiful. The canals, the architecture, the gondolas, the bridges; everything was just like you see in pictures or the movies. There were a lot of people though,  and it was hot. 

 

 

 

 

We rode this ferry around the canals and then walked through the streets. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

We had lunch in an Italian restaurant in Venice. 

 

After lunch we walked around some more. So much to see!

 

This shop window caught my eye with the cute little miniatures. 

We stopped at the Magnum Ice cream parlor for a little treat😋 

 

Then back to Bassana del Grappa. 

We got sim cards for our phones with help from Alessandro. He knows everyone and everything in Bassano, and he is an excellent host. 

Next we went with Alessandro to his parents' house to watch the Italy/Spain soccer match, or as they say in Italia, Calcio!

Alessandro's parents were very hospitable and made us feel welcome. 

 

It was a great game because Italy won with a score of 2-0.

After the game we went back to the hotel to meet up with Alberta and Carlotta for a wonderful dinner at the hotel restaurant. Alberta, Alessandro's wife, runs the restaurant. 

 

Delicious and beautiful!!!