Italy - To The Villa ~

We started the morning by packing our bags & enjoying a wonderful breakfast brunch at the Hotel Pesaro.  Wonderful food, super service & the boost we needed for our travel day.  Next - our first experience with the trains!  Trains seem to be the mainstay of public transportation for the country.  Offering the convenience of schedules to all the major cities, tourists attractions & even smaller towns. It was a little hike to the station pulling our bags.  Of course there's the steps going up the bridges, down the bridges & up to the main floor of the station.  :-)

Venice Train Station~

We purchased our tickets from the machine & remembered to validate them.  It was just a matter of reading the arrivals board & going to the right bin.  The train lines were simply called the red & the blue.  Once the train came in, we started walking up the side until we found a car with room.  The idea for me, was to find seats facing the direction the train would be traveling!

The blue train~

The trains were for the most part, clean.  On some we enjoyed the observation cars, where we admired views of the passing countryside.  Even though it was another very warm, muggy day, the train was air conditioned, with comfortable seats.  Even so, I have to mention the little fan that Courtney brought!  It charged from a USB port & we used it during almost every train ride & flight we were on!

Vineyards~ 

The ride to our destination of Vigliana Sull' Arno Rignano  was just over three-hours.  When we pulled into the Rignano station, I was pleased to see restrooms.  Upon entering, I was less than pleased with the pit toilet - a hole in the floor, but it did have a very strong flush.  Yes, the stories are true regarding European restrooms.

Restrooms at the Rignano Train Station~

Courtney's group of friends had started arriving on Sunday & the group leader was kind enough to pick us up. The station was just a couple miles from the Villa. Dinner was to be at 7:30 p.m. & I would be meeting the rest of the group then.

Post Card of the Villa~

We were shown to our room, up a concrete staircase of 12 stairs, three more on a landing, then a turn & up another 15 steps to the door!  At least my knees would get a workout during our stay. :-)  Certainly not as palatial as our rooms in Venice had been & of course no AC.  We were thrilled to find a fan at the side of the far bed & put it to use.  Being on the second floor, our room was warm.  

Our Room~

We'd be sharing a bathroom with at least  6 other guests, so I expected that to be a challenge.  I didn't expect to be dripped on from the water closet high on the wall, my first visit.

View of the pool from the door of the Villa~

The views from the Villa were so typical of what Tuscany advertising promotes.  The pool was beautiful & inviting - even though I was unable to use it - due to my still healing incision. 

Front of the Villa~

The Villa itself was impressive in size & the interior floor plan consisted of many different levels, some separated by only one step between rooms.  I took a walk-a-bout, ready for some fresh air after the long train ride.

The only touch of color was provided by planters of scented germaniums!

Such a beautiful landscape, everywhere you looked was another photo opportunity.  The bugs though, were out in force.  I'd not thought to spray down, but did from this day forward.  Beautiful in it's day, time had taken a toll on the railings & gardens.

Beautiful railings/fences - now starting to lean~

There was a note posted asking that we not lean on the railings & I could see why.   I had hoped to see rows of Cypress, but there were a few magnificent older trees.  The garden areas, seemed to be at the end of their season.

On an outbuilding~

A tour of the Villa was scheduled for the end of the week, it would have been nice to have had it earlier.  We ended up missing it entirely, since we left early.  It was easy to admire the stunning architecture, iron hardware, massive doors & shutters.

Back interior porch~

The washing machine was in a small room off this porch.  The décor was beautifully old world, but the swallows had taken advantage & built several nests on the ceiling, leaving their marks.

Copper downspouts to a trough system~

I'm not sure how this worked, collecting rain water off the roof - but a very useful design - I'm sure.   

Stunning landscapes!

The late afternoon light was stunning, warm & golden.  This would be the perfect place for the Artist Escape.  Most of our congenial group was from the Duvall, WA area, but one gentleman had traveled from England with his daughter.

Looking up at Villa~

A local woman & wonderful chef - Stephania - had been contracted for the week.  She would appear the afternoon, loaded with shopping bags of food, pots & pans.  Her meals were just outstanding. Several courses, each beautifully presented.  The dining room & table were large enough that we could enjoy dining together.  Such a fun & diverse group!

Italy - Venice, Day Two~

Courtney had really enjoyed her evening boat ride on the Grand Canal.  We both slept in a little before packing up & going the block over to the Hotel Pesaro Palace.  We had managed to take the last available room.  Monday, was a "Bank Holiday" so the town was even more booked than usual.

Courtyard of the Hotel Pesaro~

At the top floor, we took a small staircase to a room up & under the eves!  Very quaint, with two rooms, two AC units & roof windows that opened to let in fresh air.  This bath too was all marble & huge.  Settled in, we walked only a block, before finding a nice little corner coffee shop with bar seating that faced the street.  Coffee & tea in hand, it was fun just to sit & watch the people going by.  Having gone east the first day, we decided to go the opposite way today.

Along the Grand Canal~

 We looked at the boat dock that Courtney had left from last evening & couldn't help but admire the quintessential Venice views.  With no particular destination, wandering the streets & discovering what was around each corner was fascinating.  The chalk artist below was working on a magnificent almost 3-d rendering of a lion.

Street Artist~

 The little girl standing next to Courtney was captivated. The colors of the buildings changed as we walked.  The warm hues just exactly as we'd imagined.  Add the myriad of blue/green waterways to the picture & it would be easy to spend months admiring this city & still never see it all.

One of the smaller waterways~

 It was close to 2 p.m., when almost everything closes down for the afternoon quiet time.  Our morning sweet had worn off & we were ready for a snack.  We'd passed a very small shop front, that didn't look very welcoming from the street.  I decided to take one more look.  As I walked past the counter, I saw that the little wine bar went much deeper into the building than we'd originally thought.

Our afternoon Pausa Pranzo~

 On the counter was a plate filled high with what looked like meatballs.  I had to try one!  The shrimp was fresh & wraps contained zucchini & cheeses.  We shared what turned out to be a delicious meal, sitting by a window looking out on a small waterway.  The fresh breeze off the water felt wonderful on a hot, humid afternoon.

A residential plaza~

After the wine, our motivation for walking dimmed a little, but we continued on, both wanting to capture what we could of the architecture.  The buildings seem to be such a mix of cultures.  We couldn't decide which, nor did we know enough of the history to recognize the variety of styles.

Waterfront ~

 Even showing age, most seemed well maintained.  We'd managed to find our way to a quieter part of the city, close it seemed to the ocean.

Smaller boats, on a residential waterway~

 The amazing blue sky, reflection of the water & colors of the buildings just continued to captivate us.  With no cars, many deliveries are made with large hand carts.  Similar to the shape of those we use to haul hay at endurance camps, but much larger.  Boats are used to go any distance.

Many small bridges too~

Courtney had asked me earlier in the day if I wouldn't like a boat ride?  I thought about it & told her that if she could find a boat that would take us out & away from the city, to some of the islands, I might try it.  She started making calls.  I also had to add the stipulation that the boat, once underway, could Not stop in the water!  No bobbing up & down for me!  :-)

 Bell Tower~

Courtney has missed her calling, as a top notch tour guide.  Her text was returned & we were set for a two-hour excursion that would start at 5:30 p.m. & return us to town by 7:30 p.m.  Two-hours sounded possibly two-hours too long, but I was willing to give it a go.  After all, they could drop me off somewhere if I couldn't handle it - right?

Our Evening Dinner Reservation~

We also made dinner reservations after 8 p.m. at this restaurant recommended by the boat owners.  This was where we were to meet our Captain!  Next:  Evening Tour - Laguna Veneta~