Date: 2008-02-24
To: Venice
Miles today: 0.0

Hi all, sorry I have not added to my journal of late, but have been rather busy. Caught a train from Padua to see Nicole who was there for work reasons, walked around the town for a bit. It was much smaller and less touristy which was great and it was up in the north, had another huge Basilica to see and this one was of a completely different design. Up in this part of the world the Italians are more organised, more polite, more taller, more everything really, but it still has the charms of italy.It was off to Bergamo which is towards Milan on a train to spend the night, Nicole had a conference on there. There was a lot of confusion about accomodation and I had an interesting night stumbling around a city I did not know trying to find a place to stay, but eventually found something, everyone I meet on the street was so hopeful, it was fun trying to interact with them, I can survive in italy without Nick. In the morning Nick and I charged up to the high point of the city, and it was fantastic. It was such a steep climb, great training, but the architecture was so different and interesing, still had the terracota rooves, but many of the buildings seemed to be similar to what we saw in Zurich. Every part of italy has its own style. It was back on the train and in the late evening we made it to Venice.We are staying with Isidora (that is how nicloe spells it, but i think it should be spelt Isaddddddooora) who is of Greek extraction, all these different cultures really add to the fabric of life, and it is intrigue to me how they all blend together, they meet at uni, and her husband who is a genuine Italian who grew up in Venice whose name is Alessandro. Get this for a deal, they have a place right on one of the canals, front row. Open the front door, take a few steps and you would fall in the canal, it is great. The best part of the deal is Alessandro who is able to answer all of my questions, and volunteers a great deal of information. A very bright fellow, and he has a passion for Venitian yachts, easily fit right into my family, maybe i will adopt him. To be honest it is about time Nicole kicked a goal for the team, and she has come through for us on this occassion, the only friends I know from uni move off to places like Bendigo or Ballarat.I am sleeping on the floor of their loungeroom, it is very spacious, and the floor is very comfortable, the tiles are so soft. Last nigth Isadora, who I must add is a wonderful host, invited over a friend, Anthony. We were sitting at the table, 5 Australians, and a northern italian and 4 of the 6 had a PhD, all of them in the chemistry field, so lets be honest a Degree in Surveying and Geomatics is worth more than all the other qualifications put together, well that is what I kept whispering to myself each time I fell behind in the conversation, looks like I will have to read some more books. I had a few glasses of wine, and tears were rolling down the face from laughter, it was another great night in Venice, with great company. The place is amasing and it has been made even more interesting by the opportunity to stay with some locals. It gives you a more genuine feel of what life is like for locals, and for the first time I do not feel like a tourist in italy. Venice is trully stunning, so much to see. Went over to Lido today, it is another Island, and put my feet into the Adriatic. Hard to see much here today as it is so foggy, but it has added to the experience. Saaint Marks church is painted with gold leaf all over the inside, a reminder of just how powerful and rich the Venetian Republic once was. The floor is like a wave as it goes up and down all over the place. There is not one right angle in the whole place, it is a surveyors nightmare, nothing stays in its place for long, it all moves up and down with the shifting mud Islands. To walk over a bridge with a gondola passing underneath is certainly a unique experience. Enjoy Tasmania mum, you should see some of the sweets and chocolates in the windows here in Vencie, and all over italy. It is a great mystery to me how the Italians stay so thin.