Vicenza!

Today we set off to visit Vicenza. For no other reason than it wasn’t Venice or Sirmione, both of which are fabulous, but JAMMED. Also, we’ve been to both.

I thought it’d be half an hour or so on a train, but at the train/bus station we were informed: No train. Two hours on bus… despite second thoughts.., we got on the bus.

Predictably, I did not have a jumper/cardi/scarf, and - surprise surprise - the bus air con was very uncomfortable! I was worried about coming back and being even colder.

Anyway, we eventually got to Vicenza, via every little town on the way, picking up two extra people. I popped in to Benetton, and got a nice light sweater (on sale). As we walked quite a long way into town, we came upon the old city gates, and knew right away we’d made a good choice. The town is full of fantastic (Palladian) buildings and monuments. And is just SO quiet and peaceful compared to Verona.

A coffee and croissant stop right away, followed by an ice cream shop, browsing through the nice (high end) shops, wending our way through the ancient, almost deserted, streets.

We happened upon a big open plaza, with not one, but two big monumental columns. And a cafe with a view of them. Perfect! A long lunch was enjoyed.

Italian people are very kind to old folk:
viz.

I dropped my walking stick as I sat eating my ice cream. A passer by stopped to pick it up for me.

The waiter at the ice cream shop then came out and brought over a chair to hang it, and the umbrella, on.

When we got back to the bus, just in time, VERY hot’n’bothered, we tried to buy a ticket, as we’d learned to do on the airport bus, but no - this time we had to go to the ticket office.
‘Where?’
‘Across the road.’
The ticket chap looked at my puce exhausted horrified face, and knew we’d never make it, and said,
‘On you go!’

I rest my case.

PS We made it back to the hotel just in time for the freebie fizz!

PPS. I’ve just checked. And there ARE trains from Verona- Vicenza!! Just not on Saturday (or, at least, this Saturday!)