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We spent three lovely days in Venice. We didn't do much as far as the usual sightseeing... I think we are beginning to tire of the usual tourist venues. We saw the Basillica, the Doge's Palace and the Correr Museum, but spent most of our time just roaming the city and talking with the people.
Venice is a shrinking city. Their populous which was 160,000 is now down to 60,000. I suspect most of them are simply there to care for the tourists. It is a beautiful old city with lots of character. So far, it is my favourite Italian city. I continue to be glad we started in the south and made our way north because we have liked Italy more and more as we progressed.
I think I'm growing used to Italian. I am starting to understand more and I can conduct some transactions totally in Italian. This means nothing more than I have become good at my bucket of words which help me deal with train stations, hotels and restaurants. Nevertheless, I think I could become capable in the language if left here for a couple more months. I like that. I was beginning to fear I had grown stupid in my old age because I could not grasp the Chinese language. This gives me hope that my arteries have not hardened beyond repair.
We left Venice and headed north through amazing mountainous regions that I have described in detail in my journal. Just beautiful. Innsbruk is gorgeous, just a lovely city surrounded by amazing mountains capped in snow. The people are curteous and nice enough, but they are more distant and less outgoing than the Italians. They are harder to read and I don't speak a word of German, so I feel a little like an outsider. Even when I couldn't understand the Italian words, I felt I could understand the intention behind them. Here, I don't feel much of anything from them.
Nevertheless, it is lovely. Perhaps a course in German before we come to visit the next time would be wise. We are doing laundry and wandering today, then it is a full day of trains tomorrow as we head off for France. I can't wait!
Here is loving and missing you all!
PS This keyboard is fun to type on. The keys are laid out differently. Wheee! And I found Milka chocolate bars. there are a million flavours, Naudiz. Do zou have a favourite? I hesitate to buy any now as they will surely melt in the next month. I'm sure I'll see them again in the Frankfurt airport on the waz home and I will buz some then.
Venice is a shrinking city. Their populous which was 160,000 is now down to 60,000. I suspect most of them are simply there to care for the tourists. It is a beautiful old city with lots of character. So far, it is my favourite Italian city. I continue to be glad we started in the south and made our way north because we have liked Italy more and more as we progressed.
I think I'm growing used to Italian. I am starting to understand more and I can conduct some transactions totally in Italian. This means nothing more than I have become good at my bucket of words which help me deal with train stations, hotels and restaurants. Nevertheless, I think I could become capable in the language if left here for a couple more months. I like that. I was beginning to fear I had grown stupid in my old age because I could not grasp the Chinese language. This gives me hope that my arteries have not hardened beyond repair.
We left Venice and headed north through amazing mountainous regions that I have described in detail in my journal. Just beautiful. Innsbruk is gorgeous, just a lovely city surrounded by amazing mountains capped in snow. The people are curteous and nice enough, but they are more distant and less outgoing than the Italians. They are harder to read and I don't speak a word of German, so I feel a little like an outsider. Even when I couldn't understand the Italian words, I felt I could understand the intention behind them. Here, I don't feel much of anything from them.
Nevertheless, it is lovely. Perhaps a course in German before we come to visit the next time would be wise. We are doing laundry and wandering today, then it is a full day of trains tomorrow as we head off for France. I can't wait!
Here is loving and missing you all!
PS This keyboard is fun to type on. The keys are laid out differently. Wheee! And I found Milka chocolate bars. there are a million flavours, Naudiz. Do zou have a favourite? I hesitate to buy any now as they will surely melt in the next month. I'm sure I'll see them again in the Frankfurt airport on the waz home and I will buz some then.