A Little Camping...Where you say!?!
Photo Album. Our Italian venture has crisscrossed its way from the ports of eastern Ancona through the history and artistic grandeur of central Firenze, its zigzagged up and over the majesty that is the wine country of Toscana (Tuscany) and dropped us into the Empire of Rome (albeit for a quick 22 hours!). A little respite found us amongst the awe-inspiring cliffs of the Cinque Terre before our final Italian experience, romantic Venice – Truly, the Jewel of Italy.
Half of our travels here have been spent fabulously with Kevin & Judy, meandering our way from a spectacular apartment in Floren/Users/andy/Desktop/Mini.JPGce to scenic B&Bs throughout the wine country; all the while in the little red, mirror-less jelly bean of a Daihatsu – everybody lean forward, hill coming up!! From Rome we were train bound and back to official backpacker status, just Stacy & I off to the northwestern coast and Riomaggiore, the southernmost of 5 tiny villages that make up the Cinque Terre. We enjoyed a nice room atop a hill, picnicked everyday and drank some of the best 3 Euro wine ever! Viva la France!, errr Italy!
We are now on our way to Munich for a taste of Oktoberfest and some QT with our new German pals, Robert & Simone. I have made a serious effort to avoid the cervezas and stick with the vino the last 10 days or so, giving my liver a chance to ramp-up for the serious stein gulping we’ll be doing in just a few short hours (well, maybe it’ll have to wait til tomorrow). When does this train get in?
Before we boarded this TrenItalia locomotive heading north, we spent 2 days in the postcard that is Venezia – the city of canals and NO CARS!! Romance was in the air. Gentle strolls through the cities back alleyways, sipping wine from water-side cafés, smiling at the gondolas drifting by at 80 Euros a pop and then cozying up at our luxurious camp ground to end the days. Whoa!?! Campground in Venice you ask? Indeed, the campground is the new millennium’s B&B, I’m telling you. For a small fraction of the cost of any place in Venice proper, this out-of-town Camping Alba d’Oro was perfect! I may be the cheapskate in the family, but it was the wife who found this place on-line and boy did she nail this one!
I think I may have overstated the reality, however. Despite the pleasant 70-degree days in Venice, we did not in fact camp – pitched tents, cookers, logs on the fire were not happening (my feet have been smelling though). Actually we had a Twin en suite room, which is basically a 3Mx3M room w/2 twin beds, a small wardrobe closet, heater and our own bathroom. It was like a mini motor home, just really MINI! But perfect!
The grounds of the place blew us away with a huge pool, 2 Jacuzzis, bar, restaurant, supermarket, Internet room w/ my coveted WI-FI & hundreds of accommodations! Families and young travelers alike were enjoying this place and the 20-minute shuttle bus ride that connected campers to the Venice, just across the lagoon.
The thought of coming to Venice and camping had never once crossed my mind, and once Stacy should me the web page it sounded cheap but really, what were in store for honey? I had seen a camping ground just outside of Athens that we passed in a bus just 2 weeks ago, and ewwewwe. The experience we had in Venice was utterly remarkable and fascinating. Believe it or not, the campground roll of the dice added to the creation of this lifelong memory never to be forgotten.
What a funny trip we are having!
Half of our travels here have been spent fabulously with Kevin & Judy, meandering our way from a spectacular apartment in Floren/Users/andy/Desktop/Mini.JPGce to scenic B&Bs throughout the wine country; all the while in the little red, mirror-less jelly bean of a Daihatsu – everybody lean forward, hill coming up!! From Rome we were train bound and back to official backpacker status, just Stacy & I off to the northwestern coast and Riomaggiore, the southernmost of 5 tiny villages that make up the Cinque Terre. We enjoyed a nice room atop a hill, picnicked everyday and drank some of the best 3 Euro wine ever! Viva la France!, errr Italy!
We are now on our way to Munich for a taste of Oktoberfest and some QT with our new German pals, Robert & Simone. I have made a serious effort to avoid the cervezas and stick with the vino the last 10 days or so, giving my liver a chance to ramp-up for the serious stein gulping we’ll be doing in just a few short hours (well, maybe it’ll have to wait til tomorrow). When does this train get in?
Before we boarded this TrenItalia locomotive heading north, we spent 2 days in the postcard that is Venezia – the city of canals and NO CARS!! Romance was in the air. Gentle strolls through the cities back alleyways, sipping wine from water-side cafés, smiling at the gondolas drifting by at 80 Euros a pop and then cozying up at our luxurious camp ground to end the days. Whoa!?! Campground in Venice you ask? Indeed, the campground is the new millennium’s B&B, I’m telling you. For a small fraction of the cost of any place in Venice proper, this out-of-town Camping Alba d’Oro was perfect! I may be the cheapskate in the family, but it was the wife who found this place on-line and boy did she nail this one!
I think I may have overstated the reality, however. Despite the pleasant 70-degree days in Venice, we did not in fact camp – pitched tents, cookers, logs on the fire were not happening (my feet have been smelling though). Actually we had a Twin en suite room, which is basically a 3Mx3M room w/2 twin beds, a small wardrobe closet, heater and our own bathroom. It was like a mini motor home, just really MINI! But perfect!
The grounds of the place blew us away with a huge pool, 2 Jacuzzis, bar, restaurant, supermarket, Internet room w/ my coveted WI-FI & hundreds of accommodations! Families and young travelers alike were enjoying this place and the 20-minute shuttle bus ride that connected campers to the Venice, just across the lagoon.
The thought of coming to Venice and camping had never once crossed my mind, and once Stacy should me the web page it sounded cheap but really, what were in store for honey? I had seen a camping ground just outside of Athens that we passed in a bus just 2 weeks ago, and ewwewwe. The experience we had in Venice was utterly remarkable and fascinating. Believe it or not, the campground roll of the dice added to the creation of this lifelong memory never to be forgotten.
What a funny trip we are having!
posted by Stacy @TheZenGirl at
4:55 PM
1 Comments:
Hi Andy and Stacy,
I am reliving some of my own European Adventures looking at your pictures! Although the bier tents were definitely not that ornate back in '68!! It looks like you have a couple of new life long friends and great memories.
Love,
Mom
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