Venice

Dave here.

We have been so busy running around this amazing town, we haven't taken the time to post.  I am resting my feet in the Academia art museum, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to update everyone.

Tourist.

Classism isn't a new concept.

Visited great new glass museum.  Shows very interning works -- not strictly glass, but art that reflect the qualities of glass: fragility,  transparency, delicacy etc. some of the works wee a stretch.

Austine broke the bank buying a pair of the most amazing original eyeglasses at this shop.  They should arrive at home in a couple of weeks.  Really really cool.

Ciao for now... 

d

Monday- We transfer to Venice

It took about an hour by bus from Bassano del Grappa to Venice. 

Beautiful countryside. 

Inside the water taxi from where the bus dropped us off to Venice. About a half hour of a very bumpy ride! 

Through a very narrow passageway, we arrived at our Hotel Saturnia. 

As our rooms were not yet ready, we walked to St Stephano square for lunch. 

Found a really well used old Polage in a Solaris sunglass store. 

Outdoor market

Late afternoon refreshment in a little back Alley Cafe. 

Right above us:

Leaning tower. 

Met some others from our group for very expensive drinks on the Westiin Hotel Terrace on the water with an amazing view. Forgot to take photos! 

Drinks were served with complimentary finger apetizers. Dave and I decided to call it a day and proceeded back to our hotel while the others went elsewhere for dinner. We were so full!

Venice

Dave again...

Venice. The jumping off point for Columbus and George Clooney.  It is all at once beautiful and maddening. Crowded but somehow charming.

We took a water taxi from the mainland near the airport, and it took us almost directly to our hotel. We have been wondering around fighting the temptation to buy tourist stuff. But found a nice little café on a side street where it is quiet and we can sip wine and relax. it's nice not to have a tight schedule, have to follow turn by turn directions, and pedal up lots of hills.

More later...

d

End of the Road

Dave the Don here.  

Well, we're done with the hard work.  Now there is no excuse for eating vast quantities of wonderful food.  

Has a nice goodbye dinner with our leaders last night.  VBT hires the nicest leaders.

Big street fair in Bossano last night.  We found a cafe on the edge of the craziness and read over espressos.  

Today we are off to Venice for a few days sans bicycling. We will miss our 19 new friends!

Over and out.

d.

Sunday Oct 5, Last Day of Biking

Another beautiful day! A little chillier but felt great. We started with a bus trip up the valley from the charming little town of Bassano where we are staying. 

Deb decided to take the day off from biking and explore the town. I was mightily tempted to do that too because Bassano is so beautiful. 

But it turned out to be one of the most scenic rides of the week! 

View from the Bus. 

Consulting after a wrong turn. Actually

it was mostly easy directions today. Almost always just following the well marked bike path. 

One of many amazing views along the way. 

Dave stopped to take some video. 

At one of the trickiest turns our guide Luca was waiting to point the way. He was the van driver today and Valeria was bringing up the rear on her bike. 

At mile 30 or so we came to a Bici Grill where we stopped for lunch. There are many of these along the bike path just for bikers!

We had enormous salads. 

Some people rode another 25 miles. We decided to take the train which was offered as an option as the most scenic riding was over. 

Waiting for the train. 

45 minute train ride back to Bassano. 

After a shower we decided to walk around town. Dave wanted to find a quiet place to have a coffee and read his twin engine text book, but we got stuck in the middle of a huge crowd because the town was having a fair. 

It took us a while to make our way out of it. We did sit for a while at a Cafe. But are now back in the room waiting to meet the group at 7:45pm for our farewell dinner. 

Tomorrow morning a bus and water taxi take us into Venice. Only an hour from here. 

Saturday October 4

This was a transfer day. We had to have our packed luggage outside our door by 8 am. 

Stopped im a small town for espressos so we could use the facillities which was the hole in the floor type! Really tough on the quads for those of us of the female persuasion:-)

We rode about 35 miles across the valley to the little castle town of Marostica. 

Lunch on the chess board square of Marostica. 

Dave is connected at almost every stop. Here we are wating for lunch. I had another Spritz Apero which I am becoming very fond of!

I had grilled cheese with grilled vegetables. Dave had a great salad and caffe doppio Americano. 

A selfie on the castle square after lunch. 

Our destination for the night was picturesque Bassano del Grappa. 

In the background you can see the old wooden Ponte Vecchio. 

The view in the other direction. 

We left our bikes and walked into the old town to find our centrally located hotel. Dave found a free wiFi connection on the way :-)

Passed some musicians playing on the bridge. 

We started to take a selfie and a old man stepped up and offered to take the photo.

Walking to dinner from our hotel, a whole long row of trees have memorial photos with the same date. 

Dave and Barbara had made reservations for 6 at a restaurant recommended by Valeria. They invited Bob and Deb and us to join them. Ate way too much!!!