The 007 Adventure on to Venice Italy

Today started early. Off to the train station, 1 train to Speize- 20 minutes that would take us to Milano. From Milano to Venice it would take 2 hours 20 minutes.  We ran into this couple, Margo and Larry who actually got the same trip at a different fund raiser. We found out we were staying at different places, but our travel time was the same

We walked a bit when we got to Venice, our clocks were off so was our breakfast, lunch and dinner.

We were in a hotel right on the Grand Canal. This made it easyto get our bearings and scoot around the city. This was our second time to visit Venice. The first time was quick we were on our way to Treviso to ride the Pinarello Gran Fondo.

After a great nights sleep we have breakfast right outside our hotel.

This is Francesca. She and her husband own the hotel. The rooms are small and we found out because it is in a building built in the 15 th century so they were limited in space.

There are 6 districts in Venice, the Cannaregio, San Polo, San Marco, Santa Croce, Dorsoduro and Castllo. By the end of the day we walked through all of them.

This is typical of the canals..

This bakery was very inviting. You could taste the aromas as you walked by.

So we wandered about till we got ourselves lost. Honestly you would follow signs and the next thing you know are all catty wampus.This fellow was trying to help us. He was funny he would ask us what language then start talking, then all of a sudden he would ask us again "what language." 

We left the fellow above and walked by a place that had a exposition on Leonardo de Venci.

We sat down to listen to a program in English and then to walk the exhibit.  2 hours later we were so pleased we stopped there. We learned so much about Leonardo and the times he lived in. It was most enjoyable. Below is a chain drive bicycle. The interesting thing about this is he drew it on two separate pages in his journal, 3 hundred years later the pages were put together to reveal the bicycle that you see Jim standing behind. It was a chain drive pedal bicycle.

Themirrored room below,Leonardo built to study and see things from every possible angle at one time.

Crossing over this bridge we spotted this huge sculpture made of bicycles.

All through the city there are artist and street vendors. This little guy was on a platform behind his owner. Opened his eyes for us,then promptly went back to snooze.

What better way to see a piazza, pigeon on top of a pondering philosopher.

Those who have been to Venice know that this is the Bridge of Sighs. It sounds romantic, however it is the bridge between the courts and the dungeons where prisoners would walk. Those windows were often the last time they would see the sky and the light of day

This guy was quite the poser and was hitting up anyone who might give him a snack

This was actually our last stop till we finally made it back to the hotel. At the end of the day we had walked all of the districts of Venice. We ventured to guess it was about 10 miles. With a lot of up and down stairs and bridges.

This morning we are off and walking around. We happened by this street entertainer that was pretty talented. He had a tambourine and moracha strapped to his legs, played the guitar and harmonica.

Whew that was one busy guy.

This was in another Da Vinci exhibit. It was his design for an underwater breathing apparatus.

This graffiti caught my eye while Jim was shopping some scetches. 

The logo for this Resturant was interesting. Not many cats on the street. Thank goodness we never saw a mouse or rat. Lots of dogs however. Many without leashes walking close by their owners. Ever mindful of where they were.

The color in this small canal caught my eye. 

Eating lunch along the canal with my best friend and love in the whole world.

We hired a water taxie and encouraged him to take us on a longer cruise around the islands of Venice.

Franco is his name. As he got more comfortable with us, he  enjoyed showing us interesting islands and sharing information about the area.

This island has the cemetery on it.

The island of Burano is the island to shop for lace. He dropped us off and we shopped around for about a half hour. Beautiful creations there. Notice the bell tower. It really is as titled as it appears.

The island below, Franco tells us is a privately owned island. It was well hidden by tall trees and bushes.

Headed back to the Grand Canal you enter at this beautiful church, St. George 

Making our way into the Grand Canal the architecture of the buildings are all very unique.

This was a good day. We so enjoyed it,

This huge building is the hotel where George Clooney married. There are only 24 apartments in it.

Compared to our room, I'm sure ours was the size of one of the closets

Next to our hotel is this church. We actually look out out window at it. This is the first time we see it from the water.

And this is the front of our little hotel. Very comfy and warm. Tomorrow we fly to Monoco for the third leg of our 007 adventure. There we will stay at the Monte Carlo and visit the Casino Royal.

Fortunately we don't leave terribly early this time.

The 007Adventure Oct.15-Oct 27 on to Interlaken Switzerland

About a year ago Jim bought at the Richardson Methodist Hospital Gala a trip called the 007 Experience. Visiting places in Europe that 007 movies have been filmed... Interlaken, Switzerland, 

Venice, Italy and Monoco... And now we're off. Can't wait to meet up with Daniel Craig.

We had been trying to get on business class for many months. At the last moment we made it. We haven't flown in a long time in business. They have really changed the cabins up. Woo Hoo!

After the flight over and many train changes we arrive in Interlaken. Not really knowing what we should do. While wandering the streets of the city we finally found out that the movie "Her Majesty's Sercret Service" Was filmed and responsible for the finishing of the Schilthorn Resturant and observation deck. The next morning we went to a travel agent across from the hotel. We met a most interesting lady, Elvira who became our advisor on what and how to do things during our stay.

Loaded with train tickets and cable car tickets we were headed to Schilthorn and a date with 007.

It doesn't seem possible that this little cable car will make it up to that little station. Thank goodness it does. Cause it is one long way down.

How the cable actually wind it's way up to the facility at the top of the mountain is amazing.

On the observation deck outside is a cut out of George Lazenby. He only played 007 once but he had an incredible location.

Below is the Eiger( you may knows from the Cllimt Eastwood movie "The Eiger Sanction",Monach, and the Jaungfrau (the highest point in Europe). 

I could not pass up the 007 Burger. Thank goodness it looked cool. Because it was one huge heavy piece of beef.

This is the cable car we will be riding in to head back down the mountain. It is headed right into the clouds.

The town of Murren is one of the villages we stop in to switch from one cable to another. We did it going up and going down

We stopped in Murren and had a drink. They have many different kinds of fountains in the city.

This is one of those big natural fountains that Mother Nature manage to come up with.

We took this photo because of Montag. It made us think of our good buddy Sam Montag. Didn't know his last name meant Monday in Swiss. So this is the end of our day and we will go back to see Elvira to plan our next days outing.

Up the next morning, we knew we didn't want to go to the mountains again. Elvira suggest we go on the boat to a village Giessbach. There are beautiful waterfalls there and from there we could go to a village called Brienz and back by train or boat. We pay for boat tickets and off we go. While waiting for the boat this lady came by with her 2 Yorkies in a basket. Around the corner she let them out and they wandered down the path.

Jim has become very patient and enjoys waiting for the boat.

The boat is decorated really pretty and lots of people load up on it. The trip takes about an hour. It stops along the way. Picks people up and some get off. We make 3 stops all total.

We are on our way to the other end of Thunersee Lake.

We could not help but to get a picture of this Dallas Cowboys hat this fellow was wearing.

This is the oldest cog wheel cable car in Switzerland. It was built in 1839. They charge quite a bit to use it. But it keeps it running.

Above are the falls we came all the way to see. We saw that there was a walking path that crisscrosses it and we decided to walk/hike the path to Breinz. Yes walk it. Those who know me know I'm not a big fan of walking let along hiking. This was acutally a lot of fun. We made it into Breinz in about an hour and fourteen minutes with a ten minute break. Below was the signs that gave directions and time for where ever you wanted to hike.

It was a beautiful hike. Up, up and then down

And what trip would not be complete without a photo of an old barn. Makes me smile.

The milk cans on the side of the road brought back memories for Jim. His father had a trucking company that picked up the milk cans from the Amish in his community when he was growing up.

This cow like the story too. Was quite enamored with Jim as well.

Walking into Breinz we found this sculpture outside a shop. 

Outside on the ramp for the boat this tree had some knitted pieces on it's trunk and 

The last leg of our adventure will take us back to the hotel. We have a reservation at a Resturant Elvira referred us to. It is one of her favorites and will give us a feel for the local community. Tomorrow we head off to Venice, Italy again another location for the 

007 experience.

April 30th Wednesday Casalabate to Otranto

The skies this morning are wonderful. The air is fresh as well. The cactus here grows huge

Each morning Gabe has a cycling tip for everyone. We all listen like we are going to have a test. Except for JB on the left. I think he is snoozing.

OMG Mr. Jimmy is at the head of the pack!

 We are now riding along the beach. This little dog was enjoying the sunshine with sleepy eyes.

The coast line is gorgeous here. The water is crystal clear. Probably cold too!

 We are riding into a national reserve. Very little traffic here.

 Coming up on this field of poppys I could not help think of our Texas hill country which would be filled the same only with BlueBonnets.

This is Dr.T's father Tom. He doesn't ride anymore, but he loves to come along on these trips and enjoy the companionship of all of us. 

Our lunch was across the street from the sea. The sail boat looks so small out there. 

The glass of Rose was so pretty I could not resist taking a photo of it.

Everyone was anticipating lunch and just enjoying each other and the lovely day.

I got several shots of this lizard. He turned out to be quite a poser.

In Otranto we will stay our last two days. It is an old walled city. Like many of the cities in Italy.

Years of being established by small tribes, then being over taken by Turks, Greeks, Romans

The history is Facinating. We will ride tomorrow to the bottom of the heel of Italy!