Author Archives: Sparky
ATW-2 Day 27: Rome, Italy
Our penultimate (love that word!) day in Europe was low-key. We wandered the city for a while but otherwise just chilled in our room. And played cards which, of course, Marlene won, 2-1. Our meandering route took us up the hill behind the hotel where there were some Roman ruins, past the skate park and … Continue reading
ATW-2 Day 26: Florence to Rome, Italy
Let me tell you about our apartment at the Fattoria il Milione Agriturismo in Florence. This is a rural estate in the hills overlooking Florence. Yes, it is difficult to get to, but worth the trip. Almost everything about this place is fantastic. We had a large apartment with a view down to Florence. The … Continue reading
ATW-2 Day 25: Florence, Italy
The day started with the complimentary breakfast at the hotel, served in a rock-walled room directly below our apartment. A very good breakfast. We chatted with a group of 6 from Lincoln NE who were staying at the hotel for a full month. They loved Italy and Tuscany in particular. For one it was her … Continue reading
ATW-2 Day 24: Venice to Florence, Italy
Our hotel for 3 nights in Venice (or, as I have explained, Mestre, a suburb of Venice) was the Hotel Ambasciata Venice, a small (20 room) hotel near the Mestre train station. I picked it for its location, its free parking, its free breakfast and its low price. I wasn’t disappointed. It was everything I … Continue reading
ATW-2 Day 23: Venice, Italy
We started the day with the hotel breakfast, then set off for Venice again. We didn’t want to walk the same 10 miles this time so we resolved to give the ferry on the Grand Canal a try. When we left the train station I approached the ferry ticket booth and asked for 2 tickets … Continue reading
ATW-2 Day 22: Venice, Italy
Well, I finally made it to Venice. I think Jett would be happy for me – our plans to visit Venice at the end of TC1 in 2018 had to be aborted due to Jett’s health. Since then it has been near the top of my bucket list. I was very much looking forward to … Continue reading
ATW-2 Day 21: Salzburg, Austria, to Venice, Italy
Technically, the destination of this trip was Mestre, Italy, a suburb of Venice. But it is virtually impossible to drive to Venice and that was really why we were staying in Mestre. So I will call it a trip to Venice. We had breakfast of coffee, bread and cheese in our room, then packed up … Continue reading
ATW-2 Day 20: Salzburg, Austria
I got the day started by going to the market next to the hotel to get fresh bread and we had a breakfast of coffee and bread with butter and jam in the hotel room. We admired the nearby mountains as we ate – we didn’t see them upon arrival as it was very dark. … Continue reading
ATW-2 Day 19: Landau, Germany, to Salzburg, Austria
I got up at 7am, went out to get coffee and bread and to gas up the car ($80 – a new record for a vehicle that isn’t my truck). Then we had breakfast and, after a lengthy chat with the host, got on the road. Our home for one evening in Landau (or Kronau, … Continue reading
ATW-2 Day 18: Paris, France, to Landau, Germany
The four nights in Paris were memorable in both good and bad ways. But the hotel in which we resided for the final 3 days was very fine: Sejours and Affaires Paris Vincennes. This seems to be a hotel geared toward long-term stays by students. But it isn’t a dormitory, isn’t affiliated with a school … Continue reading »