Day 27 - Florence

It be nice if the US would rename Florence to be something closer to Firenze that it shows up as on any searches such as train stations.

So we did all the standard stuff in Firenze.  First we started with a visit to see the statue of David.  Last time they didn't allow pictures this time they did.

Next stop to checkout the Duomo.  We saw this during the day but also in the evening.  Walking up on it in the evening it looks like it's made of cardboard, not sure if it was the clean lines or the colors of the blocks but it looked fake.

Next stop was an outdoor gallery that had a bunch of statues.

Quinn says a normal horse can't bend like this.

These guys guarded the entrance.

This is a picture of a random dragon on a building.

Next we walked over to the bridge with shops, they also had fireworks on the river near hear that we were able to see.

Day 26 : Venice

So your first impression upon arrival in Venice is like taking a bridge across a busy highway except the highway is a canal and the cars are boats. 

Quinn's comments are that guys trying to pass but it's a no passing lane as the boats are end to end.

Day 24 : Matterhorn

So Joe and Quinn took the glacier express to Saint Moritz.  It's a 7 hour train ride they the alps.  I needed to get back to Milan so I took the gondola up to the tippy top to check things out before the train ride back.

So the adventure started in a light rain and with foggy views.

The fog got worse on the way up and you couldn't see a thing but then it cleared and oh my the verticals the lift was taking was steep.

There were two rides, a gondola that made 4 stops and then a cable car to the top.

This is a place I need to come backpack it georgeous.  But considering it's likely he warmest park of the year and I was cold, maybe hiking is best.

There were regular hikers, snow pick and rope hikers, skiers, and snow boarders heading to the tippy top.  The top is actually on the Italian side of things.

He elevation really isn't that high but it was impressive.  I sat down and hung out awhile to see if the clouds would move out of the way for the Matterhorn, but they were not playing too nice.

I think the impressive part is the fact it just sticks up.  No slope no nutting just solid rock.  Kinda like half dome but a cliff.

There was also a glacier palace.  It was a tunnel that turned into an ice tunnel assume under a glacier.  There were ice sculptures and a mini slide.  It was okay.

There were glaciers but I guess they are really melting.

So after watching all that I took the train back to Milan.  Booked the full ticket and was ready to go.  But no go.  First train was busted so had to hop on another to get halfway to the next stop then hop on another.  Then get to the place I was suppose to transfer, and of course missed that train.  Went to the ticket office to see what the next train was and he was saying they needed to write in the ticket it was delayed.  He was kind enough to get me a transfer so onto another train for a quick hop to another stop.  In Domodossola i had an hour so walked into town to find a drink and found a square where I sat for a bit.  No one spoke English but I got a good glass of wine.  Can go wrong in Italy.

This train looked like something out of the 70s.  It was a double decker, no one was on it and had a lot of graffiti.  But I made it a few hours late but oh well.

Day 23 : Italy / Switzerland

Today we drove from Ollavare to Bilboa.  It's a very mountinous drive.  Need to do more exploring in this area some day.

Next we took a plane into Malpensa, Italy.  The view of the snowy peaks of the alps was cool.

Next it was a train to Milan central.  Not at all interesting.

Next stop was a train to Domodossola.  Now this ran awhile along a lake and thru mountains.  Lots of neat little towns around. But be easy to spend a week exploring.

Next up a train to Brig Switzerland.  This leg of the ride was a bit different.  The train had Windows we left open (for a bit) and at one point we are flying thru a tunnel and another train comes by.  Both trains honk this screech noise.  Than later on as we're going someone has a medal luggage tag that flaps in the wind while the lights rattle and the Windows shake.  It was a crazy wind tunnel that lasted a very long time.

There were views that were amazing.  Huge green, lush mountains with small towns in each valley.  Seemed like there was a creek through every pass.

It was sprinkling when we made it to Zermatt so we didn't wonder around too much but it seems like a cute little town.

One thing i noticed that I have not seen in the past is all the roofs which looked to be made out of large rocks, bigger than you usually see slate cut into.  But on each roof was a stick or pole that looked to be removable.  I assume it has something to do with snow but not sure, will have to look it up.

View of the peaks in the background.

Vitoria-Gasteiz : Jardin Botanico Santa Catalina

After a week in Grañon we stopped near Vitoria to visit a friend.  They took us over to some botanical gardens created on the side of an old monestary.

Along the way we're random wooden sculptures.  This dokey was there to meet us.

Inside the monestary was a water fall.

With storm clouds all around the place was silent and the view spectacular.

A spiral stair case takes you up to the height of the bell tower.

I like the moss that grows on these old places.  It adds a vibrant color to the grey scale of the block.

I couldn't image what this place was like in its hay day.  But the people who lived here must have been in good shape because everything was either up or down hill.

They had his to show how they use to make carbon/coal in the old days.  Didn't realize you could make it out of wood but the process is very long and calculated.

This Shepard with his trusty side kick had beaty green eyes.  And these guys below were cute.

So the place did have plants and they definitely added to the atmosphere I just happen to be a bigger fan of architecture.  But here was a rather unique looking tree.