We got up at around 6:45 PM, packed, checked out of the hotel, and took a taxi to the Milan Central train station in the rain. At the train station, we called Bill and Lotte to let them know our plans. We waited on the train platform for about an hour and then discovered they changed the track number where we needed to be. Thankfully we had about half an hour to get to our platform and were able to get on the train in time. We ended up riding with a couple of Italians who couldn’t speak much English. So, the first leg of our ride to Verona, Italy was quiet. We changed trains in Verona and got on an EuroCity train to Munich (First Class). Our compartment had four other English-speaking people which was nice after being in Italy for over a month. Two of the people were from San Diego, California and two were from Australia. We changed trains in Munich around 6:30 PM and got on a train where we had a sleeper car that we shared with an older Danish couple (Inge and Mig Andersen) who spoke English and a Danish fellow only spoke Danish. We had fun talking with the Danish couple about the U.S., Denmark, and other topics. At around 10:30 PM we crawled into our bunks and managed to sleep until around 6 AM when the train got onto a ferry to go across the channel from Germany to Denmark. We got off the train and went upstairs on the ferry to get some coffee (American style). The ferry took about one hour to reach Denmark where the train left the ferry and took another 1 ½ hours to reach Copenhagen, Denmark. We made reservations to take Denmark’s new Intercity train from Copenhagen to Aarhus which took about 4 ½ hours. The train also had a one-hour ferry crossing where Carol and I got coffee and sandwiches aboard the ferry. We finally arrived in Aarhus, Denmark and I can’t find the words to describe how happy and relieved we were to finally arrive and to be greeted by Bill and Lotte at the train station.
Saturday, December 5, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 37
Saturday December 5, 1992 – Milan, Italy
We got up at around 6:45 PM, packed, checked out of the hotel, and took a taxi to the Milan Central train station in the rain. At the train station, we called Bill and Lotte to let them know our plans. We waited on the train platform for about an hour and then discovered they changed the track number where we needed to be. Thankfully we had about half an hour to get to our platform and were able to get on the train in time. We ended up riding with a couple of Italians who couldn’t speak much English. So, the first leg of our ride to Verona, Italy was quiet. We changed trains in Verona and got on an EuroCity train to Munich (First Class). Our compartment had four other English-speaking people which was nice after being in Italy for over a month. Two of the people were from San Diego, California and two were from Australia. We changed trains in Munich around 6:30 PM and got on a train where we had a sleeper car that we shared with an older Danish couple (Inge and Mig Andersen) who spoke English and a Danish fellow only spoke Danish. We had fun talking with the Danish couple about the U.S., Denmark, and other topics. At around 10:30 PM we crawled into our bunks and managed to sleep until around 6 AM when the train got onto a ferry to go across the channel from Germany to Denmark. We got off the train and went upstairs on the ferry to get some coffee (American style). The ferry took about one hour to reach Denmark where the train left the ferry and took another 1 ½ hours to reach Copenhagen, Denmark. We made reservations to take Denmark’s new Intercity train from Copenhagen to Aarhus which took about 4 ½ hours. The train also had a one-hour ferry crossing where Carol and I got coffee and sandwiches aboard the ferry. We finally arrived in Aarhus, Denmark and I can’t find the words to describe how happy and relieved we were to finally arrive and to be greeted by Bill and Lotte at the train station.
We got up at around 6:45 PM, packed, checked out of the hotel, and took a taxi to the Milan Central train station in the rain. At the train station, we called Bill and Lotte to let them know our plans. We waited on the train platform for about an hour and then discovered they changed the track number where we needed to be. Thankfully we had about half an hour to get to our platform and were able to get on the train in time. We ended up riding with a couple of Italians who couldn’t speak much English. So, the first leg of our ride to Verona, Italy was quiet. We changed trains in Verona and got on an EuroCity train to Munich (First Class). Our compartment had four other English-speaking people which was nice after being in Italy for over a month. Two of the people were from San Diego, California and two were from Australia. We changed trains in Munich around 6:30 PM and got on a train where we had a sleeper car that we shared with an older Danish couple (Inge and Mig Andersen) who spoke English and a Danish fellow only spoke Danish. We had fun talking with the Danish couple about the U.S., Denmark, and other topics. At around 10:30 PM we crawled into our bunks and managed to sleep until around 6 AM when the train got onto a ferry to go across the channel from Germany to Denmark. We got off the train and went upstairs on the ferry to get some coffee (American style). The ferry took about one hour to reach Denmark where the train left the ferry and took another 1 ½ hours to reach Copenhagen, Denmark. We made reservations to take Denmark’s new Intercity train from Copenhagen to Aarhus which took about 4 ½ hours. The train also had a one-hour ferry crossing where Carol and I got coffee and sandwiches aboard the ferry. We finally arrived in Aarhus, Denmark and I can’t find the words to describe how happy and relieved we were to finally arrive and to be greeted by Bill and Lotte at the train station.
Friday, December 4, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 36
Friday December 4, 1992 – Venice, Italy
Woke early and drove to Milan on the autostrade which took about 4 hours and 20,000 Lire. In Milan, we ran into some terrible traffic which appeared to be due to poor road design (traffic circles, and 4 lanes merging into 2 lanes). We managed to find the Milan Central train station despite there being no visible road signs. We found a parking space and decided to try and change our reservations to go directly to Aarhus based on Lotte’s advice. Unfortunately, we once again got the run-around and couldn’t find anyone who spoke English. So, after considerable time and frustration, we gave up. We then found a funky one-star hotel near the train station (80,000 Lire) and drove to the Milan Duomo . We miraculously found a parking spot about one block away from the Duomo and spent about two hours checking out the Duomo. We then returned to the car and drove around trying to find gas for the car before dropping it off. It was somewhat of a relief to drop the car off but made me feel a little uneasy not having transportation. After dropping the car off, we took a taxi back to the hotel and made it just as it started to rain cats and dogs (all night).
Woke early and drove to Milan on the autostrade which took about 4 hours and 20,000 Lire. In Milan, we ran into some terrible traffic which appeared to be due to poor road design (traffic circles, and 4 lanes merging into 2 lanes). We managed to find the Milan Central train station despite there being no visible road signs. We found a parking space and decided to try and change our reservations to go directly to Aarhus based on Lotte’s advice. Unfortunately, we once again got the run-around and couldn’t find anyone who spoke English. So, after considerable time and frustration, we gave up. We then found a funky one-star hotel near the train station (80,000 Lire) and drove to the Milan Duomo . We miraculously found a parking spot about one block away from the Duomo and spent about two hours checking out the Duomo. We then returned to the car and drove around trying to find gas for the car before dropping it off. It was somewhat of a relief to drop the car off but made me feel a little uneasy not having transportation. After dropping the car off, we took a taxi back to the hotel and made it just as it started to rain cats and dogs (all night).
Thursday, December 3, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 35
Thursday December 3, 1992 – Venice, Italy
Woke early and took the 15-minute train ride from Mestre to Venice. We found a café where we got cappuccinos and rolls and then walked to Ponte Rialto, Campo San Polo , Ponte Academia , Piazza San Marco , and St Mark’s Basilica . Venice is an amazing city that totally depends on tourists and local shoppers. There were tons of shops specializing in blown glass, leather, jewelry, masks, etc. I bought some leather gloves, and glass ornament gifts for folks back home but couldn’t find anything for Carol or myself. We found a Pizzeria where we got Quattro Stagioni Pizza which was the best pizza we had on the trip so far. We then headed back to the station and caught the train back to the hotel around 8 PM just before it started to rain (which it did most of the night).
Woke early and took the 15-minute train ride from Mestre to Venice. We found a café where we got cappuccinos and rolls and then walked to Ponte Rialto, Campo San Polo , Ponte Academia , Piazza San Marco , and St Mark’s Basilica . Venice is an amazing city that totally depends on tourists and local shoppers. There were tons of shops specializing in blown glass, leather, jewelry, masks, etc. I bought some leather gloves, and glass ornament gifts for folks back home but couldn’t find anything for Carol or myself. We found a Pizzeria where we got Quattro Stagioni Pizza which was the best pizza we had on the trip so far. We then headed back to the station and caught the train back to the hotel around 8 PM just before it started to rain (which it did most of the night).
Wednesday, December 2, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 34
Wednesday December 2, 1992 - Florence, Italy
We checked out of the hotel and went to the train station to make reservations to go from Milan and then to Denmark. We miraculously found parking near the station but spent around 2 hours getting the run around and were not able to make reservations! Feeling frustrated, we left for Venice at around 12 noon and took a side road so we wouldn’t have to pay the tolls to drive on the autostrade. However, it quickly became apparent after driving in circles that we would have to take the autostrade and pay the tolls. We arrived in Mestre which is just outside Venice and found a room at Hotel Piave for 90,000 Lire per night. The hotel was much cheaper than hotels in Venice and was just a 5-minute walk to the train station where we could take the train into Venice. The room was OK and included a T.V., bath, and optional breakfast for an extra 10,000 Lire per person. We unpacked and went to the train station and took the 15-minute ride into Venice (1,000 Lire/person). In Venice we found someone who spoke English and were finally able to make reservations to take the train from Milan to Aarhus, Denmark (Milan, to Verona to Munich to Copenhagen to Aarhus) This wasn’t our preferred route (i.e., via Zurich) but was the only one that we could do without stopping overnight. We then walked to Ponte Rialto where we got our first look at the Grand Canal . We walked around and ended up getting dinner at the Venice train station cafeteria (pasta with cheese sauce, green beans, pane and aqua minerale for Carol and birra for me). After dinner, we took the train back to the hotel where we watched some T.V. (Wheel of Fortune and dubbed American TV shows).
We checked out of the hotel and went to the train station to make reservations to go from Milan and then to Denmark. We miraculously found parking near the station but spent around 2 hours getting the run around and were not able to make reservations! Feeling frustrated, we left for Venice at around 12 noon and took a side road so we wouldn’t have to pay the tolls to drive on the autostrade. However, it quickly became apparent after driving in circles that we would have to take the autostrade and pay the tolls. We arrived in Mestre which is just outside Venice and found a room at Hotel Piave for 90,000 Lire per night. The hotel was much cheaper than hotels in Venice and was just a 5-minute walk to the train station where we could take the train into Venice. The room was OK and included a T.V., bath, and optional breakfast for an extra 10,000 Lire per person. We unpacked and went to the train station and took the 15-minute ride into Venice (1,000 Lire/person). In Venice we found someone who spoke English and were finally able to make reservations to take the train from Milan to Aarhus, Denmark (Milan, to Verona to Munich to Copenhagen to Aarhus) This wasn’t our preferred route (i.e., via Zurich) but was the only one that we could do without stopping overnight. We then walked to Ponte Rialto where we got our first look at the Grand Canal . We walked around and ended up getting dinner at the Venice train station cafeteria (pasta with cheese sauce, green beans, pane and aqua minerale for Carol and birra for me). After dinner, we took the train back to the hotel where we watched some T.V. (Wheel of Fortune and dubbed American TV shows).
Tuesday, December 1, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 33
Tuesday December 1, 1992 – Florence, Italy
Woke around 8 AM and went out to find some breakfast and explore the area. We went to the Galleria dell’Accademia where we saw Michelangelo’s David . David stood in his own room lit by a huge skylight dome and was quite amazing. We next visited the Duomo which was surprisingly dark and austere inside but very impressive. Unfortunately, we decided to not climb the hundreds of stairs to the dome of the Duomo which I now realize was a mistake. We left the Duomo and walked over to the Uffizi Gallery where we saw Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, plus some works by Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci. We spent most of the rest of the day shopping for gifts and window shopping. Later, we stopped at a Pizzeria where I had pizza and birra and Carol had pane with beef and cheese. We then returned to the hotel to recuperate and make plans for the next few days.
Woke around 8 AM and went out to find some breakfast and explore the area. We went to the Galleria dell’Accademia where we saw Michelangelo’s David . David stood in his own room lit by a huge skylight dome and was quite amazing. We next visited the Duomo which was surprisingly dark and austere inside but very impressive. Unfortunately, we decided to not climb the hundreds of stairs to the dome of the Duomo which I now realize was a mistake. We left the Duomo and walked over to the Uffizi Gallery where we saw Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, plus some works by Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci. We spent most of the rest of the day shopping for gifts and window shopping. Later, we stopped at a Pizzeria where I had pizza and birra and Carol had pane with beef and cheese. We then returned to the hotel to recuperate and make plans for the next few days.
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