After some wandering and shopping today John offered to take us on a gondola ride and following some arm twisting we were on our way. Oh my, it was wonderful! Quietly drifting through the canals, some very narrow and under low bridges and seeing places we may not see if we had been walking. This accompanied only by the Gondoliers calling out to each other in their mysterious language followed by some bantering with each other. Every Gondolier is dressed the same with black pants and black and white shirts and all gondolas are identical carrying much symbolism and tradition. We later learned that being a Gondolier in Venice requires an education and one could suppose a screening for only the best looking as well. A Gondolier is respected and holds a prestigious and well paying position.
Once we finished the beautiful ride, Masses had finished and we were able to get into St Mark's Basilica. We have seen many cathedrals in Europe but this one is unique in that instead of frescoes it is totally covered with beautiful mosaics all of 24 karate gold. In the front lay the stolen remains of St Mark. Ah, there are so many stories about the incourageable, passionate, impractical and ever proud Venetians from centuries ago to present day and these present day citizens remain passionate about, and proud of their city. Although today living in the city carries many challenges including a high cost of living they love their heritage.
After a bit more shopping and a stop for some Prosecco, we caught our 'Taxi tour' around Venice which proved to be less than what we had hoped for and would recommend anyone coming to Venice to pay for a Gondola tour instead.
We spent the night in the lounge again for a lite dinner and prepared for our journey to Valle de Aosta tomorrow. John and I really never thought of returning to Venice but once this trip began to take shape, John heard Judy say she had dreamt of seeing Venice one day, so it became part of the plan and we were able to share her dream with her.
Allore, (the word most used by Italians at the front of a sentence)on to Valle de Aosta in the heart of the Italian Alps. Today we will take a train from Venice to Bologna, with a change to Turin, and a final change to a regional train to get to Aosta. As I have said in this journal in the past, this is not for the faint of heart. We are very good at reserving and then finding the right bin (track), and where our assigned car will arrive on our track, and finding our seats. But there is the three rather large suitcases and a couple of small carry bags that have to be dealt with each time we change trains. We have a system to team up to get the luggage on the train and up above the seats in the luggage rack. Me with a bad back and John with weak shoulders and we won't allow Judy to touch them, although she consistently tries. But it seems at every turn God provides an angel for us.
On the first leg of the journey, he was in the shape of an extremely good looking business man, who noticed us and offered to help us board; and on this final leg it was a young man who just appeared passing through our car with his dog and immediately asked if he could help us. Guess they figure we are pretty old, but whatever, if it works we are happy for the help.
We are in the final leg of the journey to our beloved Aosta with our last bottle of Brunello opened, toasting to our stay in the Alps. The train is beginning to climb into the Alps and we have opened all the windows as we have the car to ourselves. The ride into Valle de Aosta is one vista after another of castles atop the smaller mountains and vast snow covered peaks of the Alps on all sides. I don't know what I enjoyed more, the view itself or watching my sister run from one side to the other side, sticking her head out the windows looking for the very best view. I couldn't hear her actually squeal, but I felt it. She looked like a young girl. It was wonderful!
And so we arrived in village of Aosta. It is at least as beautiful as we remembered it and every bit as charming. We simply grabbed a light bite in the village and caught a cab up the mountain to our special place, Hotel Millelucci. This was a place that was not in our guide in 1996 and we found it quite by chance on our honeymoon. When I returned home, I wrote to Frommers recommending they check the Millelucci out and today he lists it as one of his 'best finds for Inns in Italy'. It is so beautiful perched on the side of the mountain with breathtaking views of the Alps from our balcony. Of course there are more rooms now, a lift, and even a lovely spa. The views from either of our balconies are those that likely come once in a lifetime if you are lucky and we have been very lucky twice!
And so we end our journal good evening and wishes for a visit to Aosta to everyone of you!
No comments:
Post a Comment