A photographic journal of my travels around Italy
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MONDAY - OCT 31 - TRAIN to MILAN . . . Practically the entire day was spent catching and connecting with trains to finally reach Milan’s Malpensa Airport. Mission accomplished! A total of 18 train rides in 3 weeks and a couple more flights and I’ll be home again. It’s been a great experience! Thanks to all of you who followed along. . . 🖐Ciao
SUNDAY - OCT 30 - AFTERNOON in PORTOFINO . . . One of my loveliest past memories was a visit to Portofino so I set out again this afternoon on the three o’clock ferry. It was a beautiful day for a boat ride and the scenery couldn’t have been more spectacular. Come see it with me . . .
SUNDAY - OCT 30 - MORNING in RAPALLO. . . As I walked around on this glorious Sunday morning I decided to photograph anything that struck my fancy. Maybe they will strike yours too! The weather is phenomenal!
SATURDAY - OCT 29 - PORTOVENERE . . . For several years I had wanted to go to Portovenere in the Cinque Terre area but just couldn’t manage it so today I was determined to give it a try. To get there from Rapallo I needed to take a 50-minute train to La Spezia then find the bus to Portovenere. Finding the bus was the biggest challenge but I accomplished it. So here we go . . .
FRIDAY - OCT 28 - RAPALLO . . . It was “moving day” again. From Florence up the western coast of Italy along the Ligurian Sea. I visited Rapallo back in 2018 and wanted to come again, so here I am. I had almost forgotten what a pretty town it is and enjoyed a walkabout this afternoon after arriving. It was an easy walk from the train station straight to the hotel in the city center (dragging my two carry-ons behind me - lol!) I’ll be here three nights as I get close to the end of my 3-week adventure. Two trains today brings my total to 14 now!
THURSDAY - OCT 27 - FLORENCE . . . This was my last day in Florence so I was packing up and sorting out things. I had been keeping a large suitcase filled with assorted stuff here in storage year after year. Well, since it’s been 3 years since my last tour groups and I won’t be doing them any longer it was time to dispense with all that paraphernalia. I’ll be off to Rapallo in the morning to continue the last part of my journey. Not too much to report today but I did take a few pics while out running errands.
WEDNESDAY - OCT 26 - FLORENCE . . . Today I was living like a local. Out walking around on my next to last day in Florence. It was good to retrace steps I’ve taken so many times before. When I started this post I realized I really didn’t take that many photos but there are plenty snapshots in my memory. I spent an hour on a local bus too!
TUESDAY - OCT 25 - LOVELY LUCCA . . . Of course I had to revisit one of my all time favorite Tuscan cities, Lucca! An hour and a half train ride from Florence makes this afternoon trip very doable. I’ve been here soooo many times but I love the peacefulness and serenity of this walled Renaissance town. It seems to have come through the Covid experience with little consequence even though I did notice a few shops and cafes that had closed. However it was encouraging to see some nice renovations as well. Lovely Lucca never disappoints.
MONDAY - OCT 24 - FLORENCE . . . I decided to take the day off and basically do nothing! I’m halfway through this journey so it felt good to not have a plan. I did catch up on the Jeopardy shows I’ve missed and took an afternoon stroll in a nearby park. Stopped for a pizza and ended a “do nothing day”!
SUNDAY - OCT 23 - THE DUOMO TO THE ARNO (and back) . . . Today we’re taking in the sights on a crowded walk through the center of Florence. Beginning at the Cathedral, called the Duomo in Italian, down the Main Street to the Arno River you encounter all sorts of sights. So let’s get going. By the way the weather is holding out great! Still in the low 70’s and no rain!
SATURDAY - OCT 22 - FLORENCE . . . I started the day with a visit to the laundromat. After I got that out of the way I just wandered around town taking pics of whatever struck my fancy. So come take a look and maybe something will strike yours too!
FRIDAY - OCT 21 - TRAIN TO FLORENCE . . . I spent most of today getting on and off trains for my journey to Florence. I’m feeling better but it was an exhausting day. It’s great to be back in my familiar “home” for the next week. No solid plans for how I’ll spend my days so I’ll just see how they turn out. Stay tuned . . .
THURSDAY - OCT 20 - TREVISO . . . This will be a short post because God said “WHOA!” today. I had planned to go see another castle and have lunch with Tina’s group but I woke up with a stuffy head and felt I might be coming down with a cold. So it became a “lounge about” day instead. I’ve been going strong for the last 9 days so I put on the brakes today. Tomorrow I’m leaving for Florence for a week with my Italian family at La Contessina where my tours were based for 12 years. It’s a 3-hour train ride with a transfer in Venice (the green line on the map). I’m feeling much better and will look forward to going “home” to Florence. More later . . .
WEDNESDAY - OCT 19 - TREVISO . . . A free day for the group and for me. I had a relaxing morning then wandered around Treviso for a while this afternoon. This is such an easy walking town and the scenery along the river canals is beautiful. This evening we had a cooking demonstration at the group villa with the chef, Stefania. A nice day with lovely sunshine and good food.
TUESDAY - OCT 18 - VITTORIO VENETO . . . I’m still in Treviso but did not go with Tina’s group to Venice today. I been there many, many times so I decided to have an adventure a little further north to Vittorio. I enjoyed a slow morning and took an afternoon train. Why this place? I’ll explain . . .
MONDAY - OCT 17 - PADUA . . . Today I’m traveling again with Tina’s tour group to nearby Padua for a guided tour of the city and another fabulous lunch. The highlight of the day was a visit to the Basilica of St. Anthony. It is magnificent! Here’s a lot of sights for you to see from my camera lens . . .
SUNDAY - OCT 16 - CASTLE BRANDO . . . Our excursion today took us about an hour away from Treviso to visit a spectacular castle. With 2000 years of history and change from the Roman days this place has held a significant role in the area. The Brandolini family owned and lived in the castle for over 500 years ending in the 1950’s. After the castle tour we had a wonderful lunch featuring meats roasted over an open fire. Come along and take a look . . .
SATURDAY - OCT 15 - TREVISO . . . My train trips were all successful and I’m in Treviso until next Friday. Here are some first impressions of the city as I walked to the villa where I’ll meet Tina’s group from St. James. We had a fabulous meal together and I’ll be joining them for some excursions.
SATURDAY - OCT 15 - TRAINS! . . . I moved from Lake Garda to Treviso today and had to make four train connections! I’ve been on eight trains in three days so I’m getting pretty good at it. More later . . .
FRIDAY - OCT 14 - BERGAMO . . . Several years ago a friend said to me, “If you ever have a chance go to Bergamo.” So today I went! It was a one and a half hour train trip from Desenzano. Bergamo is back in the direction toward Milan (30 miles away) and is in the foothills of the alps. Switzerland is about 60 miles away. So come along and see what I saw in Bergamo today . . .
THURSDAY OCT 13 - LAKE GARDA . . . Today was my cruise on the lake. I really love this lake, even more than Lake Como or Lake Maggiore. It’s just one of those fascinating places for me. Here are a few (lol!) pics for you!
WEDNESDAY OCT 12 - DESENZANO - LAKE GARDA . . . This is a charming town of nearly 30,000 on the southern end of the largest lake in Italy. I took a walkabout this afternoon and walked about three miles around town and the lakefront. After that walk and being up over 24 hours now, I’m ready to conk out! More later . ..
WEDNESDAY - OCT 12 - MILAN . . . I know I’m officially in Italy when I have my first cappuccino! After finally getting through passport control (a very long line!) I headed straight for the coffee bar! This cup will be one of many as coffee is one of my primo pleasures in life - especially in Italy. From the airport I took the train to Milan Central station then transferred to a train to Lake Garda. So now I’m checked into Hotel Benaco in the lakeside town of Desenzanto. Stay tuned for more photoblogging coming your way.
Flying off to Italy on Tuesday October 11 for a three-week solo adventure! I’ll be seeing some new places and revisiting some of my favorites. Stay tuned right here at “ALL OVER ITALY” with Pat Kirkman! More later . . .
Yay! Back to Italy!
MARCH 1, 2022 . . . Yes, Carnival returned to Venice this year! Maybe not quite as exuberantly as in the past, but certainly more festive than 2020 and 2021. Venice has the most beautiful and extravagant costumes which would make this a magical place to be today! Ciao to all my friends who love Italy!
Santas swap sleighs for gondolas in Venice Christmas regatta‼️
https://facebook.com/ABCNews/videos/382413823571252/
Wishing you all many Christmas blessings - Patrizia
SANTA and his gang showed up in Florence for the tree lighting in Piazza Duomo. The fun has begun . . . 🎅
Alitalia Air has been transformed into ITA Airways!
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