I have just spent the most amazing week with relatives in Italy. They are all such welcoming, hospitable people who spoilt me rotten. As well as visiting the home where my grandfather, aunty and uncle were born I saw the house my gramdparents lived in when they were first marries. It has a beautiful lake with a waterfall in the back garden. I also visited the local cemetary and took heaps of photos of relatives who are on the wall of remembrance. The cemetary is so well looked after with loving care from the remaining families.
I visited Venice for the day with Nadia and Valentina, Trieste with Severino and Celina and a beautiful wee mountain village with the rest of the family. Its called Tambre but doesnt seem to be on the map. Its close to Belluno and its where the Doges from Venice came to centuries ago to cut pine trees to make their gondolas. Its apparently really popular with venetian people.
I also went to the Motta di Livenze Carnevale celebration which was full of music, dance and colourful costumes.
I was sad to leave such beautiful people this morning but am now in Florence.
Ive spent the afternoon exploring and will look through pamphlets tonight to see what Ill do for the next few days.
I was told the wrong platform this morning so ended up on the wrong train. Luckily I had a 6th sense the train was going in the wrong direction so leapt off and hot footed it across to the right platform. I think I was this mornings amusement for the local commuters but some young girls helped me and showed me where to validate my ticket on the train. (the system seems to change each time I go on a train). They were grateful to share some chocolate that I had been given,
Autostrada had a 140 km limit which was exciting, More nerve wracking was my cousins husbands driving up the mountain in the snow!He drove like a true Italian but at least had a lovely Audi to sweep around the corners.
