Today is a travel day, going from Assisi to Venice – through Umbria, touch of Tuscany and into the Venetian areas. We were fairly lucky on the weather again with only a sprinkle of rain along the way.
First up was a tour of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi which is a Franciscan church UP a STEEP hill above Assisi. It was a beautiful church – unfortunately we were not allowed to take any pictures in it nor were there any postcards available! The frescos on the church ceiling and walls were unbelievable and depicted scenes from history very accurately. Also the views over the valley were gorgeous!
There were two more highlights of the day for me – one the lunch spot and two, the ferry ride – more on the 2nd one in a bit!
After our “comfort stop” disaster of the day before on our way to Assisi, Mikael and Antonio (our fantastic bus driver) found us a different type of rest stop restaurant (just off the highway instead – not a stop on the highway) that was willing to serve us all a gluten free lunch! So we had risotto (no idea the flavour – it was blonde colour and yummy)! and veal/potatoes/veggies (which I did not take part in) for the second meal. What an awesome lunch spot! What made it extra special was that the washrooms which were downstairs like in most places in Italy, had an elevator to get down there! Luckily I was warned about the stall that locks you in – Liz though I heard was not so lucky and it was good someone could rescue her!
We were then off again on our quest to make the ferry in Venice! We DID arrive in Venice on time and dropped off those going on the optional canal/gondola excursion with Mikael and then Antonio took us to the ferry on the bus along with everyone’s suitcases! Suitcases and gondola’s do not mix 🙂 For those who have been to Venice, the ferry, left from near the old cruise ship terminal and took us to the Lido, which is an island, and the only part of Venice that has cars, where we were staying for the next 2 nights.
I LOVE being on the water and an Italian ferry is a new experience for me! For those who live in BC it was like the Gulf Island Ferries with a large lower deck for cars (and a bus) and an enclosed upper deck where passengers can sit. We had to get off the bus for the 45 minute ride, so taking the glass elevator up to the upper deck (we do not have glass elevators on BC Ferries!) we had a gorgeous view standing on the front of the upper deck, outside, going down the main canal of Venice, at sunset and then over to Lido.
On Lido, as I mentioned, there are cars, unlike the many islands that make up Venice proper. Antonio was probably the best bus driver I have ever seen and he had lots of fun attempting to get to the tour hotel. A lovely 8+ point turn to get onto the hotel street due to a poorly parked car, one scrape down the side of the bus by a tree branch and we arrived at the hotel! The people who did not go on the gondola tour then got off the bus, while I stayed on, thinking we were driving to the next hotel where Mikael, Antonio and I were staying (for accessibility purposes). I saw all the suitcases removed from the bus and I saw Liz tell Antonio which suitcase was mine and to put it back on the bus for me. Antonio does not speak English. So then he got onto the bus and parked it about 20 feet ahead on the side of the very narrow street so that some cars could get by.
My suitcase and Antonio: Antonio motioned for me to get off the bus, which I did. At that time another gentleman appeared and talked to Antonio in Italian and I did understand that Antonio said that he had to take me to my hotel and then he would come back and move the bus. I did NOT however hear the word Canada or English (in Italian) spoken and all of a sudden this man was addressing me in English (I must have had speak English tabooed to my forehead) and asking where I was from etc. Antonio wanted to get going – I could tell. However my suitcase was in the bus hold! So I tapped on the bus door where it was and he did not understand – so the man who showed up to the rescue! I told him that my suitcase was in the bus and I needed it. So Antonio then understood and got it out for me and said thanks to the man who went away at that point. Now I knew where we were going as I had looked up the hotel on Google Maps. Next I knew Antonio had taken off with my suitcase! I tried to get it back but he refused – I guess men pull women’s suitcases in Italy. Will have to remind Andrew about that! So off at a VERY fast pace we went down the lane and past the hotel which was on our left. Oh, no, I cannot tell Antonio that he has past the hotel entrance – he was 10 metres ahead of me! So I stopped walking and he got to the street and asked another man for directions (NOTE: men in Italy ask for directions) and then express walked back to me standing at the fence for the hotel. He just grinned – he thought it was funny that I knew were I was going! He took my luggage upstairs and got me checked in while another desk clerk took me around the back to the elevator – which I was told was a service elevator. Oh it was so CUTE! The same kind of lifts that are used on the Skytrain in Vancouver – I know how to operate these! So my own private elevator – how cool!
We had a hosted dinner tonight at a restaurant on Lido which was delicious! Pasta with smoked salmon, fish, salad and strawberry/lime gelato for desert! Again the pasta dish was outstanding and made me think of home due to the salmon… then we walked back to the hotel. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day on the “City of Water”!
