Off to Italy we go!

I thought the train trips along the Rhine and heading to Austria were good but it was equalled, if not surpassed, by the trip through Austria on our way to Italy. We had been watching the weather channel and the snow and had our fingers crossed that we would see some good scenery – we were not disappointed. This picture is just one of the many fantastic views we saw from the train as we headed through the countryside.



Then we arrived at Mestre, just outside of Venice. Our little feet are tired and our eyes are worn out. We have traversed much of this wonderful city, been up and down canals, caught buses and ferries and been to Murano where we saw glass demonstrations and some truly wonderful creations. Seeing first century glass in the Museum was mind blowing. It was really fine and looked quite modern in design.

We have also been to Burano, the old lace centre, where the colours of the houses look like a Dulux commercial. As well we have done bits of the Grand Canal several times as well as the whole thing in one go this afternoon. We went to St Marks Square 3 times and saw the tide come in and go out again. The food has been good (especially tonight when I had mussels), the wine has been excellent and the service and friendliness in our hotel are first class. I am grateful that we are not on a tour group – I could not cope with a waving umbrella and an enthusiastic voice.





I have been looking out for chairs to try and outdo Emily's Scandinavian beauties - I found this one in a shop window in Mestre.



It is now night time in Roma and we are installed in our apartment where we are staying for a week. We have a lounge room, complete with two lounges, a glass table and 4 chairs and a side cabinet. Lots of lamps and a glass table make this room quite comfortable. We have a bedroom with a flat screen satellite HD TV, a bathroom and a kitchen and 3 sets of external doors which lead to our balcony which has table and chairs and a clothes rack. There are wind up shutters on all the windows. We have a dishwasher and are currently washing the dishes in unknown product – some sort of water softener or ??????. But not detergent! The supermarket is a couple of blocks away.

Roma termini is quite a station – actually totally daggy and confusing. The train trip which landed us there went through quite a bit of latitudinal distance and right across Italy. There were lots and lots of tunnels. I am not sure that all of Europe has good manners – especially the gypsies and thieves who wander the station. We were in a first class carriage and, as the first passengers got off, two scavengers shoved their way onto the train and pushed their way through to see what had been left behind. Tony clouted one deliberately with his backpack and the when he got to me I yelled at him and elbowed him. He actually looked quite stunned.

I have seen the Tiber. I am happy.