Another update on the last week. Hard to believe it has only been a week since I left Ham, Ariane and Rosa in Lyon feeling so sad!!
Started Italian lessons on Monday with Madeleine the German Mountain Bike Tour Guide and Hyun, the 16y.o. Korean and perpetually tired student.
The lessons are enjoyable and absorbing but progress is almost indecipherable for me in terms of being able to actually communicate in Italian. From this perspective it is very frustrating but the school, the people and the lessons are enjoyable.
Madelein loves me to pieces and has befriended me as her buddy. She is a dear and it is really good to have her struggling along with me.
The school puts on things in the evenings and we have been participating. So, there has been a little walking tour of the city followed by aperativo’s in a very funky student bar. There has been a night looking at frescoes…all described in Italian and therefore thoroughly incomprehensible. And there there has been the Cooking classes…OMG I am Mrs HOPELESS!!! But it is fun and you get to eat your produce. I haven’t got a fabulous kitchen here so there is no way I’m going to be able to practice but I have learnt about risotto, soups and then how to make pasta. I just really wish Ang was doing the pasta making course because you would have loved it and learnt heaps, Ang. I am struck by how badly we have gone about it with our efforts in Melbourne…far too ambitious without the technique!!
Oh well, we’ll have a go when I get home and see if we can get it right. I have the recipes translated into English!!
So the week flew by and on Friday afternoon it was time to head off to Venezia. I arrived in the afternoon and was meeting Chris at 6pm at the Rialto. So I had a little time to wander the street and marvel at the beauty of this extraordinary city. When I met Chris she had booked at a restaurant she wanted to try out. Then for the first lesson of the city…it is IMPOSSIBLE to find your way around. Every single time fucking Mr Google told us it was a 20 minute walk it would take at least an hour and more! When it said 30 mins you could kiss 2 hours away. It is a labyrinth as you will all know. Then there is the up and over, up and over technique which is just fine for the first hour or so but my little legs were starting to protest after 3 hours!!
Anyway Friday night was a lovely meal and so nice to catch up with Chris and spend some time. There is no friend more comfortable than the one you’ve known since primary school. Great meal, Aperol Spritz, lots of vino then home to bed.
Next day was spent at the Architectural Biennale. This was interesting…surprisingly for me who knows nothing about architecture. Then the walk home which I swear must have been a good 10 kms cos the Biennale was way, way way along the Grand Canal. We bought a bottle of wine and collapsed in the hotel before going out later for a ‘not too far away’ meal. A huge day.
Sunday we were off on the Vaporetta (water taxi) over to San Giorgio island for an exhibition of art in glassware which I thoroughly enjoyed. Then off to another exhibition Chris wanted to see. By now it was getting late and left us with a mad rush to get to my train in time. I really was running out of energy at this point and after picking up our cases, the final dash with case nearly did me in completely.
A quick comment on the fact that there are many yachts moored on San Giorgio for the Tongan brand. How amazing if you got yourselves this far!!!
But, I made the train and collapsed, fortunate to have a seat on a chocka block train. Then the 20 minute walk from the station before finally being able to get the shoes off, treat the blisters and get the fee up. A lovely weekend mainly because it was just great to be able to spend the time with Chris. There were no tourist sites covered. They are left for when I’m back there with Tull. But so, so many tourists, particularly on Sunday when Italians join the throngs of Americans, Chinese, Japanese and English. I reckon Venice has the most tourists of any Italian city, all competing with space to get over the canals!!!
Today back at school. Tomorrow also have the next dental appointment. Tomorrow it is exactly 3 weeks until I leave Bologna. This is so hard to believe. Chris thinks I should spend the 6 weeks from 18th Feb to end March in Rome and knows of an apartment that has just been renovated that would suit me. I think this sounds like a good idea and will do it if it all works out. Nice and central for you to visit Ang!!
That’s the update for the last week.
So glad to have you back!