Veneto (Oct. 23-27) - updated 10/28/06

We left Venice and drove to our small base town of Monselice south of Padua. We visited the two other interesting small towns nearby of Este and Mantagnana and enjoyed climbing the tower of the walled city in Montagnana.

Tuesday we visited Vicenza which gets relatively few tourists. We toured a few historial sites and enjoyed our first sunny day since our friends arrived. We arranged to meet the Italian woman (Catherine, who we met while visiting Zion National Park this summer) who lives in Vicenza for a drink at 6:00pm. Then we all went to her house for dinner with her husband, Gianni, and 3 children. She began with glasses of prosecco (an Italian drink very much like champagne) until her husband arrived home from work. After some wonderful conversation with Catherine, Gianni (Johnny) and Catherine's mother who also lives in the same building, dinner began with a wonderful mushroom pasta, followed by some great pork, potatoes and salad, fruit and dolce, and after dinner drinks. Of course the wine flowed all night too. They all speak English very well so communication was easy... and we talked about everything - from our respective countries to the rivalry between Gianni and Catharine's mother who is from France. When Italy and France play in the Soccer finals, the two of them have to separate themselves ;)

We had a very wonderful evening. We all feel we have made new friends who we will see again. I don't know if all Italians are as hospitable as Catherine and Gianni (I doubt it), but they went way beyond what we expected. We didn't leave until almost midnight. Mille grazie to both of them.

Wednesday we slept a bit later than usual, went to a laundramat (yes, we wash clothes every once in a while), then drove to Verona. Juliet's baloncy is not all that exciting, but the city center is pretty and alive with people. Again the fancy chain stores are a bit of a turn off, but that's the price of attracting huge numbers of tourists I guess. The gelato was good and wait until you see how big Cindy's afternoon gelato dish was with a 4' straw (note to the McCready clan: I'm sure you will not be surprised to hear Bob finished what Cindy left ;) Bob is becoming an expert on gelato and red wine.

Thursday we treated our visual senses to their limit in Padova (Padua in Italian). After walking around the large town center, we were able to visit the Chapel where Giotto painted his amazing frescos (Capella degli Scovegni). After an introductory movie, you are able to enter the chapel for 15 minutes where you see the master's work. Giotto was the inspiration for most of the great painters to come after him like Michaelango. And if that wasn't enough, the museum is now having a huge Mantegna exhibit which we viewed for over an hour until we just couldn't absorb any more. It was just awesome.

The open air bus tour of the city was also fun and informative. When we left at 7:00pm, it was rush hour in Padua. Fortunately I have the best navigator you could ask for in Bob McCready. And the car GPS navigator system is fun and accurate, so we got back to Monselice for a great dinner in a villa next to our hotel. The owner's wife came by our table and showed us around her villa (exactly why she came by our table is another very fun story that often happens when Marcia is around).

If I get more Internet time soon, I will add more details about what we saw in Padua. It is worth a lot more words.

Now we are off to Tuscany.

Photos to come.

Note: To those who love cars, we are driving a 2007 Mercedes R320 CDI (diesel automatic). Thought my number one son would enjoy that.