What a day or two (or was it three) but we are home

 What a day or two, or was it three, that we have had. Our homeward bound trip started on Tuesday in Padua where it was raining. Our landlady kindly allowed us a late check-out as our plane didn't leave until 7.15 pm. So we set off at 1 pm on the tram which was packed with senior school children. This made getting off with suit cases very difficult.

Being experts at the train system we purchased our tickets to Venice Mestre and found seats by ourselves and stared morosely at the rain running down the windows all the way to Venice. The smile is because Kel is sitting in the seats reserved for old people.

Off the train and onto the pre-paid airport shuttle which took us to Marco Polo Airport. We had quite a lot of time to wait for the check-in desk to open but when it did the young man on the desk seemed unsure how to cope with our four flight changes. He proceeded to label the cases but we noticed that Kel's had two tags and mine had one. A quick phone call and he was happy with his work, but I wasn't so sure.

With still more time to kill we decided to spend the last of our euros on eating an early meal.

There is some very classy shopping at Marco Polo, including this gelati shop.

At last we were on our way, the views of Venice were over the lagoons rather than the inhabited islands.

We were heading north towards Helsinki in Finland and the sunset colours were fabulous. The combination of low sun, clouds and the sea created a spectacular vision.

It was after 11 pm in Helsinki when we arrived and the huge, modern airport was very quiet, so quiet that we didn't know where to go. Looking at their Moomintroll and Santa and huskies decorations we suddenly realised we were running out of time. We had to go through (almost unmarked) passport control and walk a very long way to find our gate. Of course, the plane was running late so we need not have rushed so much. 

It was after 1 am when we departed and the night time sky was so bright, 

the phenomenon of the Midnight Sun.

Arrival into Hong Kong was very foggy with minimal views so we did a couple of selfies with Hong Kong backgrounds - great floral displays and fun mobility transport.

As we were  boarding using their super modern face recognition technology (no paper or phones needed), I was called aside and told that my case had not got on the plane from Helsinki but it would arrive in Melbourne on the 25th. The cause of this problem and my angst was that our original Hong Kong to Melbourne flight had been changed to HK to Sydney where you have to go through Customs then on to Melbourne flying Domestic

Lots more sleep and far superior food on the Qantas A330, fun and attentive staff and a very comfortable journey to Sydney. To our amazement Kel's suitcase was there but customer service confirmed what I had been told in Hong Kong. So off to change to terminal 3 we went with just one case.

But the surprises hadn't ended there ... our plane to Melbourne had been cancelled! We were allocated seats on the next plane and the woman fixing all this told us it was only her second day in the job and she had been given all the hard tasks.

The Sydney - Melbourne flight was very short compared to the previous two, we were amazed to see Kel's case on the carousel, the Qantas customer service was again very organised and assured me that they would deliver my case.

The 901 bus from the airport to Broadmeadows station, the train to Benalla and a friendly pick-up from the station ... and we were home by 2.45 pm. So that was our day or two, or was it three.

We have never experienced such a drama filled trip. As a group in Morocco we had lost luggage, a credit card scam, cash issuing problems, ten cases of COVID, many other medical upsets.  For those who went on to Europe it has not been all smooth sailing either. Time to come home for Rest and Recovery! 

A Birthday in Padua

 Today is the last day of our Morocco and Italy trip and probably our last trip to Europe. It's a sad thought but as we have travelled extensively for the past 41 years we can be extremely grateful for all the incredible experiences we have had in that time.

We have been collecting Buon Ricordo plates for many years, from a programme where if you order the house speciality you get a souvenir plate as a 'good memory'. We only have one more space on our walls so when I saw that there was a Buon Ricordo restaurant in Padova,  I decided that that would be my birthday treat.

Ristorante Osteria Antico Brolo is a family run establishment situated just across the road from the Padova Opera House. Antico Brolo means old garden or orchard and this restaurant is an oasis in the city, surrounded by lots of greenery. We were shown to a table in the first room, a glass walled room showing the many plants and flowers to advantage.

The Buon Ricordo dish was a tortelli pasta filled with salted cod (baccalà) on a bed of pureed beans and topped with crispy pork cheek and onions that had been soaked in milk before crisping. For primi Kel had a local pasta called bigoli served with a white meat ragù. Both were fabulous.

For secondi I had eggplant parmigiana and Kel had a pork fillet with asparagus. There was no room left for dolce and even the waiter was sad about that!

We enjoyed a bottle of DOCG Prosecco, and the frozen wine cooler on which it lay  interested us. It was elegant, simple and very effective.

A lovely lunch, a new plate to complete our wall and a happy birthday were all accomplished at Ristorante Osteria Antico Brolo.

Walking back to the tram stop I saw wooden bow ties in a window. They were resting on lumps of cork so I guess they were cork ties.

And one last shot of beautiful Padova. Tomorrow we travel to Venice Mestre (on the mainland) and on to Marco Polo airport before our 7.15 pm flight via Helsinki and Hong Kong.

Sunday in Padova

 We had a late start this morning, waiting for some warmth to come. Visiting Europe in May cannot be recommended by me as it is far too cool to feel like holiday weather. Although the weather app may say we had a top of 23, that is only for a brief period and definitely not in the shade or indoors. I am living proof that one pair of jeans and two zip up windcheaters can be worn for a month!

Our first task was to check out a restaurant where we hope to celebrate a birthday tomorrow, and get one more Buon Ricordo plate. We only need one more to fill our wall space.

From there we continued walking to Porta Molino and Ponte Molino. The gate was the main access into the medieval city walls of Padua. The tower was built in the 13th century. The bridge crosses a branch of the Bacchiglione river which was the site of many mills, hence the name of the gate and bridge.

We have only eaten out at night twice since arriving in Italy and Kel was craving pasta so we had lunch in Piazza dell' Erbe where he had a penne amatriciana (not as good as I make according to him). I have been a bit off colour so gave lunch only brief consideration.

Another corner of the map beckoned and we found ourselves at Palazzo del Bo, the University. Founded in 1222 by a group of students and teachers from Bologna, it is the second oldest in Italy.

Opposite is the Municipio, another grand palazzo. View as seen through a large cast iron gate.

Diagonally across from the university building were several other picturesque palazzi.

As we walked down Via Roma we experienced the typical Italian Sunday afternoon activity. Whole families were out walking, dressed to impress, and babies were the centre of attention. The shops were open and doing a great trade with the young, the street cafes were alive with the noise of barking dogs (fur kids) and people enjoying their Sunday. 

Yesterday when we went by Prato della Valle in the tram there was a huge market set up on all the public space up to the island and canals. I think thousands could have bought a pair of shoes and not bought the market out of stock. Today that same space was covered with stalls selling, art, antiques, books, bric-a-brac and other intriguing things.

As we arrived home the sun was shining along our pathway making the roses look very pretty. The vase of roses were in the apartment when we arrived.

Sitting in the sun was enjoyed by all, including the cat that visits.

Day Trip to Vicenza

 Do you know about Andrea Palladio? We didn't but after a day trip to Vicenza we know quite a lot about this amazing man.

He was born in 1508 in Padua and was a Renaissance architect who worked mainly in the Venice region. His designs were influenced mainly by Greek and Roman architecture and he is widely considered to be one of the most influential persons in the history of western architecture.

Vicenza, the pearl of the Renaissance,  is World Heritage listed thanks to the amazing work of Palladio, twenty six of his buildings in town and three suburban villas stand testament to his great skill. He died in 1580 and his funerary monument is in the Chiesa di Santa Corona  in Vicenza. There are forty seven registered Palladio  buildings in the Veneto region.

The term Palladian is a recognised architectural style which displays symmetry, perspective and the principles of formal classical architecture.

We arrived in Vicenza by train and walked through the Porta Castello gate, and immediately our heads were swivelling. The architecture of the beautiful city of 112,000 people just 'blows you away!'

Piazza dei Signori is the centrepiece of Vicenza with magnificent buildings all the way around, plus several statues, some towers, a clock and the stunning Basilica Palladiana. This not a church but an exhibition space.

The ground floor of the Basilica Palladiana now houses the Museum of Jewellery and the art of goldsmithing.

The elaborate Palazzo Thiene is considered the peak of Palladio's conception.

The  Basilica Palladiana has a double set of loggias, a beautiful copper roof shaped like an upturned hull of a ship.

We bought Vicenza Cards which gave us entry into any four of the eleven entry paying buildings open to view. The Teatro Olimpico was our first visit and absolutely our favourite. Neither words nor pictures can do this justice.

The theatre was opened in 1585  and is Palladio's last work and masterpiece. It is the oldest roofed theatre in the world. It is famous for its perspective scenery of the Streets of Thebes designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi. We just sat there for ages, being amazed, and every place we moved to created another unbelievable perspective. Seven wooden trompe l'oeil scenes fan out from the  doorways to create these illusions.

Next, the Chiesa di Santa Corona which is a Dominican complex, and houses some important art works. Also found here is the Valmarana Chapel by Palladio.

'The Baptism of Christ' by Veronese.

Back to the Basilica Palladiana where our ticket allowed us to visit three levels of this great building. Walking around the loggia gave pretty street views and a close look at the construction of the walkways around the Basilica.

Another level higher and we walked around the rooftop terrace with a view of the clock tower, more Palladio buildings in the countryside and the impressive roof.

Down to the first floor exhibition space and a good look at the upturned boat ceiling.

Our fourth entry was used at the Palladio Museum, Palazzo Barbarano which was an urban dwelling. Here we learnt about Palladio's life, his mentors and sponsors, his methods and new ideas like country homes, and how he became so successful.

There were many rooms, in various stages of restoration but the main interest was in the many models of the Palladio buildings and information on how he made economical buildings, the materials he used and his ideas for housing being relaxed but very functional. He was aware of the relationship between buildings and landscape.

Through all this fascinating stuff we had forgotten about lunch but eventually information overload kicked in and it was time to leave.

We joined the queue for the daily gelato, then walked back to the train station and headed home.

We shall remember Andrea Palladio, an amazing man whose greatest asset was his ability to think outside the square, a genuine creative.

By the way, if you ever get the chance to visit Vicenza, do it!