Update 3
Another week over and more driving practice…
Italy has only one road RULE, if you’re doing less than 200km/h on the autostrada, KEEP OUT OF THE LEFT LANE UNLESS PASSING! All the rest of the “rules” have now been downgraded to remarks.
After trying to do a U turn the wrong way, Nadia has decided that driving on the right is another rule. “That’s pretty strong” she commented.
Luckily Rob seems to be managing autostrade and city confusion with only the occasional coffee (corrected, of course).
As well as making it possible for us to access the Internet and update our site, Angelica and Gianni took us to Gorizia and Trieste last weekend for a great tour of two very different but equally stunning castles. The one in Gorizia, within a stone’s throw of the Slovinian border, was a very old (medieval) fully defended castle complete with weapons of destruction.
Castle in Gorizia
In Trieste, the castle Miramare was the home of Maximillian Ferdinande (brother of Archduke Ferdinande) who eventually became emporer of Mexico and was killed there. This latter was very grand indeed set amongst about 50 hectares of botanical gardens of his creation and perched on top of a low cliff over the sea.
Miramare in Trieste
Trieste is where many cruise ships are built and is also home to about 5 major coffee roasting houses including Lavazza (we were impressed!). The local market was fantastic especially after Rob got over his confusion re carne sassichia (meat sausages). He had memorised the word for Dog earlier (cane) and it sounded awfully like what he was reading (carne)!
Watching the making of pizzas by Luigino was a great experience. This was less fun than eating the finished product but only just. Here they are not just mass produced things on pizza trays, rather each one is hand made to order on a granite bench with a great deal of skill (and a secret tool – we are definately not allowed to mention the green bottle used to roll them before hand stretching).
The Secret Tool
Stretching the “pasta” (pizza dough)
Topping with pomodoro
The chosen toppings
…and into the oven
Over this week, we have seen some of the tremendous amount of preparation that happens behind the final assembly process. Hours of work happen every day getting ready for the meastro’s performance!
Wilma barbequeing radichio for toppings
Zia at the special pasta balling machine
…and still more work after the machina has finished!
…and, of course you can’t have pizza without the vino!!!
Another trip into Venice took us to Murano where the famous Venitian glass is made. We had a visit to one of the factories that produce this very fine glass – each piece by hand.
Glass making on Murano
We continued on our visit by wandering through the island and along the canals, looking at a miriad of glass stores, before finally having some lunch at a local bar (very good) and making a couple of purchases.
Wandering about the canals on Murano
We were set to go onto Burano when Nadia had a coffee crisis and so we ended up back in Venice for coffee. After doing some necessary email communication with accommodation agencies, we were strolling around thinking we had half an hour to kill when Nadia spotted Florinda (the sister of a very good friend in Australia) who was over for a wedding. The world truly is a small place!
Nadia with Flo in Venice
The last few days have been filled with visits to various small towns nearby and with a trip yesterday to Padua (a walled city about 100km away). Padua has a gorgeous basilica dedicated to St Anthony. We initially went to another basilica thinking it was St Anthony’s and apparently weren’t the first. We were accosted by a kind priest/brother who set us straight and explained we could take photos there (but can’t in St Anthony’s). This church was also very beautiful with many antiquated features including the corridor of martyrs where 6 martyrs were found buried in a well. This is all painstakingly preserved.
St Anthony’s, when we got there, was no anticlimax. It is a repository for much art and we had our first brush with one of the Ninja Turtles – Donatello – (family joke) who apparently spent a good many of his most creative years there working on the basilica.
Basilica St Antonio – Padua
After many emails/calls/confusion, our accommodation plans in the Italian equivalent of B&Bs (caffelletto) are FINALLY confirmed for the rest of our Italian stay. We look forward to sharing some of our experiences in the next update. Today is finally cold enough for Nadia to wear a jacket although Rob still has enough of his own insulation. Autumn (Fall) has finally sprung (?).
Looking forward to a good pizza from your kitchen now that you have seen how the real ones are made.
Murray and Lieve
Don’t let the grass grow under your feet xxxnori and remo
Dear Rob and Nadia
Just a note to say that we have followed your progress with great interest. I just heard that Bruce and Judy returning from the States today I think. They have been having a tremendous time doing many things. But I suspect you are cutting the cake both metaphorically and it seems literally. It seems that life is one big gravy train for you at the moment. Mum says good on you. Ann is green with envy and wishes to be with you. I’m so happy for you both particular you Rob because you now have a soulmate to enjoy such a trip.
I go back to school on Monday but this time only for seven to eight weeks and then I will be going to India for about seven weeks lecturing at Dehra Dun. As you know Ann will not be able to come with me due to a number of issues but I think one of the principal ones this issue is not so keen on India. I will be leaving in the evening of the 4th December and returning around the 20th January. I have paid for my ticket so it is rather official now.
I think Scott is enjoying it is time house sitting. We don’t see him very much but he does call in from time to time. In the first week of the school holidays we went down to see Kate and Mark. Last week we had Rob and Chris Scott stay with us which was really great.
Everyone says their love
lots of love
Richard and Ann
Still glad to hear you are having such a wonderful time. It seems like worlds apart – Australia is so new. I remember doing extra units of Italian art history at school. We are setting up a new computer system today so I hope we can get the email/internet up and running.
Bye, Megan E.
And still the fun goes on…..good food, good wine, good company….is there a reason to come home?………..Or will we all be planning visits to Rob+Nadia’s European Villa? For European lifestyle and Australian hospitality?…Love the site and all the pics!
So jealous, but at the same time delighted to hear you’re having such a great time. Take care.
Oh the pain of having to sit here in dry sunny Brisbane while you enjoy the sights and sounds of another country. Glad to hear that you are having a great time and can’t wait to see you and hear ALL the details of the trip
Hi Rob and Nadia
Me again – I can’t believe it – this is the first time I’ve had some time to myself for ages. Leo and Maiko and Aiden are here – currently in Mackay sorting out papers. Maiko seems happy to be back in Australia but hoping that they will be able to do regular trips back to Sapporo. Leo is hoping to get work here and they are talking about buying a house. Maiko’s new baby due in December. Andrew and Kylie are having a tremendous time in Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. They have decided not to stay and work – quite complicated and then they won’t be able to enjoy travelling because they’ll be to busy working. They return in another week but leave soon for a month in New Zealand. Then they too are planning on coming up to Mackay to live, already picked out a place at the harbour to buy. There seems to be plenty of work for Andrew. Zana has decided that if they are all staying here then she is coming too and plans to leave Brisbane early December. James and Meredith, Ruby and Luke are all fine. We are planning a trip to Adelaide early in January – with a quick stopover in Brissie to check properties so hope we will hopefully be able to catch up then. Looking forward to some authentic Italian meals.
Your pics brought back memories – I have been to Miramare and also Padova – back when I was about 20. Also the Murano glass factories – I wonder whatever happened to all my souvenirs! They’d be antiques now!
LOL Leonie
Dear Nadia and Rob,
I have finally made it to the computer – shock and horror. Our recent trip to Thredbo looks boring now. Steve and I are suitably jealous! Belated ‘Happy Birthday’ Rob and congrats to you both on anniversary no. 3. You certainly know where to go for a romantic dinner to celebrate!! We all survived our week in the snow – all bones intact on return. The kids had a great time. Matthew in particular seemed to pick up the skiing quite easily. Shame I can’t say the same! Fortunately no video evidence. Steve seemed to remember it all from 20 years ago, including the all important post-ski bar visit. Margaret came along as well for her first snow experience. We returned home via Canberra – a great time to visit as there were of course no pollies! I hope you both have a great holiday and return home soon, safe and in good health (after all the wine,coffee,mountains of good food ……) Sickening!!
Your jealous friend PIP XX