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05-23-2007, 05:48 AM
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#1 | | Member
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bedworth Warwickshire
Posts: 49
|  Our Italian Highlights Tour
Leaving Coventry at 23:00 on Sunday 13th May on board a marvellous coach of Dresden origin. Drivers and couriers were all German, but speaking good English. We proceeded to London for the final pick up then preceded to Dover to catch an early morning ferry to Calais from Dover.
We progressed through France, Belgium, Luxembourg, France again through to Germany, before entering Switzerland. We stayed the night at a resort close to Lucerne. Next morning we took the beautiful road to Lugano heading towards the Italian border, also travelling through the long St Gotthard tunnel. The mountain view even in pouring rain, which we had all the way in crossing Europe were stunning.
Passing Lake Como we entered Italy, proceeding passed Milan towards Genoa, we then headed south, and reached our overnight hotel ten miles from Pisa. A quick wash and change and we were on our way to Pisa. Parking in the coach park we took the shuttle near to where the tourist attractions are. Seeing pictures of the Leaning Tower, never realising how spectacular it was to see it in person, and the cathedral and other building. Even in the evening the crowds were tremendous.
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05-23-2007, 05:48 AM
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#2 | | Member
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bedworth Warwickshire
Posts: 49
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Next day we proceeded to Florence, where we picked up a city guide on the outskirts of the city, yet a tremendous day expired, with a ride through the city, then a walking tour. A very beautiful city, and a very enjoyable day. We then proceeded to our next hotel, which we were staying two nights. The next day we went to Rome, again picking up a guide on the outskirts.
Most sites were visited with the exception of the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain, which were not accessible, by coach. Galleries are other places we did not have time to visit. We visited one cathedral outside the city walls, the coliseum and other ruins, but the highlight was the free time in the afternoon, a short review by the guide, about the Vatican, then we joined a very long queue for entrance to the Basilica of St Peter in the Vatican City. A queue we expected to leave, but to our amazement it moved very quickly towards the security check which visitor has to pass through. Words cannot describe the splendour, and size of the place, so I will just use one word “magnificent”
Leaving admittedly with still many places to see if we return in the future, we had a marvellous insight to a wonderful city. After a two hours drive we returned to our hotel, and dinner, bed and the usual early breakfast, load coach and depart to Venice. | |
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05-23-2007, 05:49 AM
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#3 | | Member
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bedworth Warwickshire
Posts: 49
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Venice was reached in early afternoon, where a boat was booked to transport us into the city, the boat departed near the shipyard where the Queen Victoria was being built, and the funnel was the only part of the ship visible. We docked half a mile from St Marks Square and walked over four bridges, including the bridge of Sighs and reaching the square. A few years ago we landed in Venice, and walked at express speed through many alleyways, some with superb shops, and others through the old town. We left the square, found the alleyways, and proceeded to the Grand Canal where we crossed the canal by the Rialto Bridge. Diverting away from the tourist we found old allies and many canals, with gondolas occupying them. Many squares were passed, till we felt it was time to return. We returned by the sign posted route to St Marks Square, returning with twenty minutes to spare before the boat took us to our coach near Lido de Jessico. Venice gave us a new dimension, and we would like to return again, and do more exploring around the old town. Lido was vibrant and we had a hotel with a sea view.
Last edited by Norman; 05-23-2007 at 05:55 AM.
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05-23-2007, 05:49 AM
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#4 | | Member
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bedworth Warwickshire
Posts: 49
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Next day we travelled to Lake Garda, where we had a 45 min boat ride to a beautiful lakeside village called Limen. After two hours we returned to the coach for our final destination in the Austrian Tyrol. A pleasant evening was enjoyed, and the next day we left at 08:00 for our journey home, travelling through Austria, Germany, Belgium and finally France to catch the 22:40 ferry to Dover. We arrived home at 04:00 Monday morning.
Phew! 3000+ miles in a week very restricted free time, early breakfasts, early departures, physically draining, but what a wonderful experience with many magnificent memories. One final word, Coaches were of a very high standard, much better than British ones, which made the travelling bearable.
Norman | |
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06-09-2007, 06:50 PM
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#5 | | Member
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Eastern Canada
Posts: 55
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Wow! What a lot to see in such a short time. The only part of your trip I've done is the visit to St. Peter's, and some other parts of Rome. You're right. It's magnificent. We hired a car and driver for the day in Rome and it was worth every penny.
__________________
August 2008..A Fortnight in Provence(can't afford a year) | |
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06-25-2007, 05:55 AM
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#6 | | Member
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bedworth Warwickshire
Posts: 49
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