Europe Update! 6/16 – 6/17 52 Tunnels and Venice, Murano, and Burano Wow, if I had to define ‘travel whiplash’, I think it had to be the events of these two days. To start it off, Aunt Gina and Uncle Steve took me along with them on a hike of the Strada delle 52 Gallerie, or road of 52 tunnels. It was a breath-taking hike uphill through 52 tunnels built by the Italian Army during World War 1 because their normal supply road was within range of Austrian guns. So instead of the exposed vehicle road, a Navy engineer conceived a mule trail that wound along and through the mountainside that was shielded from fire. One of the coolest part of the trail was Tunnel #20, which wound through a stone spire in a corkscrew path! Afterwards we relaxed with some fresh cheese at a nearby farm, and after a nice glass of wine- crashed into bed for the night! The next morning, I didn’t realize I was going to live out every girl’s Instagram dreams! With much anticipation we took the train into Venice, which I had never seen before! However, we ended up spending very little time in Venice proper (really just Piazza San Marco), instead visiting the islands of Murano and Burano. Burano was like a photographer’s dream come true. Every house was a beautiful, bright, pastel color with fabric door covers floating dreamily in the breeze. Clothes lines were strung across alleys and the canals were filled with boat on stripped poles. It was truly a picturesque fisherman town. The fabrics in every door and window held special significance, as Burano is heralded for their work with lace and fabrics. There were so many stores selling table runners, handkerchiefs, shirts, and doilies that it was shocking almost. While we were there we enjoyed an amazing fish lunch and some prosecco before heading off to Burano’s sister island. Murano was the second island on the water boat stop, and it is renowned for its century-old traditions of glassmaking. As we walked along the canals, the plazas were adorned with beautiful glass sculptures, and sparkling knickknacks hanging from every window. I did a bit of shopping and made sure to cradled my breakable purchases very carefully in my hands, on trains, in suitcases and on planes until the I made it back to the USA- with all glass still intact! We took a quick jaunt through Venice and Piazza San Marco before heading back to the train stop and heading home for the evening, since unfortunately our feet were killing us….but what a day!
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Europe Update! 6/13 – 6/15 Italy: Vicenza and Verona It’s family time! Continuing my whirlwind trip, our program let off for our longest break yet! Since we were already in Italy and I’d already seen a good chunk of the mainstream stuff a few years back, the logical thing to do was visit Aunt Gina and Uncle Steve! Newly moved back to Vicenza in Northern Italy, they welcomed Ginger and I into their new home with open arms despite their furniture having yet to arrive! That made 4 of us living out of a suitcase! After a long train travel cross-country we were treated to an afternoon aperitivo, where I tried Prosecco for the first time, and I fell in love. Not only was it light and bubbly, we had the best view in the city since they took us to the super-secret local hangout- the roof of the basilica! It was such a unique experience and definitely a great way to relax after a long travel day. Throughout the next few days we visited a few places around Vicenza. We wandered through the local market which seemed to go on forever! There were stalls selling anything and everything you could imagine! We also saw “La Routonda”, a famous building by architect Andrea Palladio, and inspired Thomas Jefferson’s home of Monticello. To add on to the abundance of breathtaking views I saw this trip, we were taken to Monte Barico which sits on a hill above Vicenza where we could see the entire city! Another cool first experience I had on this trip was I got to attend my first wine tasting at a beautiful vineyard! I thoroughly enjoyed the tasting at Villa Sceriman, where I fell particularly in love with their Novello red which was very light and fruity. How special to get to do that with my Aunt, and in Italy no less! Of course after all of that lovely sightseeing, Ginger and I spent the evening watching Letters to Juliet, because in the morning we were headed to another bucket list item of mine, Verona! The place where Romeo first met Juliet…or so Shakespeare says! The first thing you notice when you pass through the arch into the plaza, is the Arena di Verona, a smaller and better preserved version of the Coliseum! When we were there they were setting up for an Opera, imagine that! I also had a perfect chance to swoon dramatically on some steps which Ginger managed to capture perfectly. We stopped for a quick lunch on the go and followed the crowds to the courtyard that housed all of the Romeo and Juliet hullaballoo. There in that courtyard is the Balcone di Giulietta, or Juliet’s Balcony. There was also the statue of Juliet, where lore has it if you rub her breast, it will give you luck in love. Though, I think most important to me was the mailbox to Juliet, where you can write the Secretaries of Juliet (a club of women who respond to love letters worldwide and sponsored by the city of Verona), and you will actually receive a response! How cool! With that accomplished we wandered around and took in Verona’s markets where I bought a beautiful ink sketch, and we treated ourselves to a gelato and aperitivo before heading home! (Many of these photo credits go to Aunt Gina, she was always happy to snap photos of us!) |
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