The Rest of the Story

Just wanted to finish up our trip to Italy.  On Wed morning we went to the museum and saw the David statue by Michalangelo.  Needless to say it was amazing.  Lots of other impressive art work as well.  Then another  train to Bergamo which has it’s old city at the top of a hill.  You can walk up or take a bus but they they have a “funicular” which is a small bus on rails that climbs up and down the mountain every 10 minutes.  We found the best pizza in a little shop while we were walking around.   In Milano you couldn’t get a full dinner until 8:00, in Bergamo it was 7:00.  I knew people ate late but a lot of restaurants don’t even open until then.  What a lot of cafes do have is an appetizer bar which you can eat from if you order drinks.  We didn’t try any but the food looked pretty good through the windows and would probably be a more economical way to eat.  Did I mention Euro shock!! 

On Thursday we took, trains, taxies, and ferries to get a feel for the Italian hill country.  We were in Bellagio and Varenna which is across Lake Como from Bellagio.  This was unfortunately our second of only two rainy days so it wasn’t ideal walking weather but the towns were still beautiful.  The taxi driver who took us from Lecco where the train stopped said the one road to Bellagio is insane in summer. 

America could certainly learn something from the Turkish and European train system.  The trains were always on time and comfortable.  We arrived home at 3:00 this morning on the train from Istanbul.  Fortunately we had a good book tape so we were entertained.  Just in case we fell asleep we set the phone alarm for 15 minutes before the train stopped in Eskisehir.  I’m always a little anxious that we will miss our stop but so far that has never happened.  There were still people walking around town at that time of the morning.  (they were young people). 

Not sure where we will go next.  We have semester break the first two weeks in February so we have to get busy and make a plan.  Those that know me know I always have a “plan”.  Jerry will post pictures later.  He is still sleeping.