Well what a wild, incredible night that was. Lightning, thunder, wind and rain. Extraordinary watching it flashing across the bay here on through the night. And this morning it’s COOL!!! We can’t believe it, although I’m sure by the afternoon it will be warm again for our last swim. Although I must say cooler weather would be great in Venezia, I’ve been dreading walking around there in the heat with no swimming to cool off.
Anyway yesterday was a great day. We set off, after our morning WiFi session, to Palmanova, a small town, as I said yesterday, designed in a nine pointed star shape with all roads leading into a large central Piazza, which is very pretty. It is surrounded by walls and a mote, has large massive gateways to enter the city and was designed this way as an eastern defence from the Infidels during the Renaissance. So it was nice wandering around there. It reminded me very much of Lucca with its massive wall and mote…Chris walked around the outside between 2 of the gates but I had a look outside the gates and decided to remain within!!
After that we went via another very small, lovely medieval town Clauiano (just a drive through) and then on to Udine, capitol of the Fiurili. This is a large town very similar to Bologna and very very lovely. It has a beautiful central piazza with elegant Medici-type buildings reminiscent of Venice (but no water). On top of it sits a castle. Very gorgeous. We went in search of a place Chris had identified for lunch, only to find that it was closed as many places are for this week of Ferragosto. So we found a fairly ordinary place, but on the divine central square, to sit and have something uninspiring to eat in a fabulous setting.
Up to the castle (a bus was very conveniently waiting to transport us up), a wonder around there, then a circle around the lovely town with its porticos so like Bologna, to the Duomo and back to the car finally. When we arrived in town and parked the car a woman gave us her parking ticket valid until 5pm…now there’s a bonus if ever there is one!!
There was one more town we wanted to see, recommended by Romano, the husband of Chris’ friend next door, Cividale. So, although it was now getting late we headed off. We got there and found the town enjoying a massive Festa. There was a large crowd and half of them were dressed up in medieval costumes. It was full on with food, alcohol, stalls and competitions including a foot race through the town. So of course we stayed on and ate and drank with everyone else, watched the parade, explored the stalls and generally got into the spirit of the thing. It was a lovely time. But then we had to get home in the dark and finding the right road was the challenge but we got back and just as we did the heavens opened. How lucky was that, just a bit of a drenching as we came down the treacherous stairs in the dark!! (with the help of iPhone torches).
Then the storms as I have said….I love a good storm I must say, and very heavy rain which waited until we were nicely at home.
Today is last swim / clean up day and tomorrow morning we have to head off for 2 nights in Venice. Then back to Rome for a final week before getting back on the plane. An awful prospect except that at the end of it I get to see my darlings one and all.
