Aeolusbreeze

The suitcases are almost packed and pre-travel stress has set in. Worst concern seems to be come from the anticipated fifteen hour flight from Portland to Germany, the layover, and then flight to Rome.
Everyone we've talked to say they love Italy and the people. As with most big cities, they have echoed the books that advise caution in the railroad station and city centers. Scam artists, pick pockets, and people who snatch purses and bags are quite prevalent.
I will try to access the internet from the hotels or internet cafes and keep a log of our activities here. Of course, I don't know anyone who'll be reading it, but at least there will be a record.

Wayne

May 9, 2006

We drove to Portland today and are staying over here. Primary reason is that if we do this, we can leave our car in the hotel parking lot for three weeks for free. Good deal... Too bad dinner at the hotel was $85 with the tip. Always a gimick.

We'll be taking a shuttle to the airport tomorrow morning and our plane will leave at 1:30. Then for a very long....fifteen hour flight to Frankfurt, a three hour layover, and another three hour flight to Rome. Makes me tired to think about it.

Once more I can't find the spell checker, so will just have to proceed on my own.

Sleep went pretty well except for the nearby train that had to blast its horn I suppose to scare the possums off the tracks.

Anxiety fills us as we anticipate boarding the jumbo jet in four hours. I was wrong about the first leg being fifteen hours; it will be a mere ten hours. The fifteen hours includes the layover in Frankfurt plus the flight from there to Rome.

Took the bus from near the hotel to the Vatican. Packed in with standing room only...everyone pressed together. Streets of stone are rough and we made many turns...hanging on tight. Very warm in the bus and we were sweating when we arrived.

Driving in Rome is crazy...white lines are only for decoration...people use any part of road or street they want. Road rage doesn't seem to exist. Driver who's nose is ahead seems to have right of way. Cars, buses, scooters all struggling for space and very close together. Big surprise is absence of accidents...which one would expect all over the place. Americans would have great difficulty driving in this environment.

Thousands of people at the Vatican...many in tour groups. A long line forms. Inside the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Cathedral very crowded...making the visit full of tension.

Italian people very talkative and full of fun in restaurants. More of a party atmosphere...at least in the less expensive places. Kids are very vocal and jumping around a lot. Parents seem more interested in the kids. One mom leaned over the table and kissed her daughter several times.

We are now in Verona, which so far is our favorite stop. It is much quieter and cleaner here, with far fewer cars, buses, taxis, and touists--at least in the areas we've seen so far. The old architecture, so full of color and character, often placed what seems a haphazard manner, is quite charming and beautiful...so unlike the sterile new plastic stuff thrown up by money-hungry contractors.
City life is so different when the majority of people live in the downtown area in multistory apartment houses.
The area we have toured so far is in the wealthy part of town. For the first time we are seeing SUV's and more luxury cars like Mazzarattis. Yesterday we had lunch at a very nice pizza restaurant...so different from those in the US. These places are more sophisticated, like regular restaurants. The pizzas are all thin crust with many interesting variaties. It seems to be considered more of a regular meal than a casual food, as in the US.
The Italian people have been very friendly and helpful, making Italy a great place to visit.

Today we took the train from Verona to Venice where we spent the day. Tourist traffic seemed light, but long lines trying to get into the one large church caused us to lose enthusiasm.
All the boats and condolas are less exciting than in the pictures I've seen. The canals are very busy, mostly with motor boats, and the water is quite stagnant and smelly. I would never choose to live in this place.
We visited some of the glass shops which are famous with tourists. Other than the fact it might come from Venice, for me the glass art back in Oregon is more exciting.
We had a typical Italian, or European, lunch with its three courses. The fish pie, sort of like lasanga with fish it it, was quite good. Also had grilled flounder and fries, plus a mixed salad.
Though we did less, it was a more tiring day than yesterday...probably must because it wasn't that interesting for me.

They say if you wait and come here in July and August that the place is overwhelmed with tourists.