You've probably guessed by now that I enjoy Italy a lot. There are so many reasons why but I think number one among them is I share memories of my first time in Italy not only with Bernie and Matthew but with my brother Brian and my friend Linne. As we traveled to the places we had visited five years earlier, our family conversations always started with 'Do you remember when ...' or 'This is the place where ...'. That stroll down memory lane is worth a lot to me, to share and revisit those memories with loved ones.
But it's not to say everything was a stroll down memory lane. We did visit new places and see new things. While the visit to the Cinque Terre was a repeat, we took the opportunity to stay near those wonderful cities perched on the hillsides and used two leisurely days to accomplish the task of visiting them. (Side note: When you've been traveling as long as we have, the impetus to 'get up and go' everyday is not there as it would be when vacation times were shortened.)
Other familiar stops were Pisa (the tower still leans), Lake Como ... Bellagio to be specific (still no sign of George Clooney), and Venice (the city is still sinking and the gondoliers are still rowing). But we did expand our horizons with new places and activities and these only added to my love of Italy. While on Lake Como we spent a day riding the ferry to other villages along the lake. Wow ... narrow streets, beautiful vistas, fall leaves, and pleasant temperatures, what's not to love?
Another new adventure for us was visiting the region known as Tyrol. Amazingly even though we were in Italy it was like stepping into Bavaria. All signs were in German and Italian and the language of commerce was German (and the local dialect). Our two days of driving and exploring took us through the Dolomites and this too was another Wow. Totally unbelievable mountains with ski runs perched on every cliff side.
And finally back to Venice. While both Venice and the island of Murano were repeats, the visit to the island of Burano was new. More fabulous house colours and lots of lace handiwork. I watched an eighty nine year old woman ply her skills, something she has been doing since she was fourteen! Italy is a charmer all right and I do hope to go back again one day!
