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).
Showing posts with label Florence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Florence. Show all posts
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.
Monday, November 30, 1992
Italy - Denmark Trip - Day 32
Monday November 30, 1992 – Siena, Italy
Woke at round 7:30 Am and went out for breakfast of cappuccino and rolls. We checked out of the hotel by 10 AM and stopped at a COOP in Siena which was the first real supermarket I had seen in Italy. The market had a very good selection of everything and seemed reasonably priced. We continued our road trip and made our way north to Florence stopping occasionally to take photos. We stopped just outside of Florence for gas and got 32.7 Liters for 49,000 Lire (1,490 Lire/Liter). We arrived in Florence without even realizing it, but it soon became apparent because of the smog and number of cars and scooters. We studied the map and oriented ourselves and began the ordeal of looking for a place to spend the night. We finally found a place along the south side of the Arno River just east of Ponte Vecchio named Hotel San Remo (120,000 Lire). We unpacked our things and I managed to find a place to park the car (no small feat). We then walked to the Ponte Vecchio and found an American Express office where I was able to exchange $600 for 804,000 Lire (1,340 Lire/$) We crossed the Ponte Vecchio bridge to the Florence Duomo, and Uffizi Gallery . Florence is a shopper’s paradise and things were busy. We returned to the hotel and had wine, cheese and bread for dinner and watched a little Italian T.V. which consisted of a lot of dubbed American shows and silly game shows.
Woke at round 7:30 Am and went out for breakfast of cappuccino and rolls. We checked out of the hotel by 10 AM and stopped at a COOP in Siena which was the first real supermarket I had seen in Italy. The market had a very good selection of everything and seemed reasonably priced. We continued our road trip and made our way north to Florence stopping occasionally to take photos. We stopped just outside of Florence for gas and got 32.7 Liters for 49,000 Lire (1,490 Lire/Liter). We arrived in Florence without even realizing it, but it soon became apparent because of the smog and number of cars and scooters. We studied the map and oriented ourselves and began the ordeal of looking for a place to spend the night. We finally found a place along the south side of the Arno River just east of Ponte Vecchio named Hotel San Remo (120,000 Lire). We unpacked our things and I managed to find a place to park the car (no small feat). We then walked to the Ponte Vecchio and found an American Express office where I was able to exchange $600 for 804,000 Lire (1,340 Lire/$) We crossed the Ponte Vecchio bridge to the Florence Duomo, and Uffizi Gallery . Florence is a shopper’s paradise and things were busy. We returned to the hotel and had wine, cheese and bread for dinner and watched a little Italian T.V. which consisted of a lot of dubbed American shows and silly game shows.
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