Saturday, September 29, 2012

Treviso in September


Treviso Italy after the rain
The weather is getting cooler and Fall is definitely here. We had a rainstorm that was so intense even the locals were talking about it for several days. Of course there was lightning but the most impressive time was just after it stopped raining. I went for a walk and snapped these pictures, yes the colour is a bit strange in the pictures but they are just like what I saw. Many people had their cell phones out recording the strange sky.

Treviso Italy after the rain
After walking for a few minutes this rainbow appeared. I went looking for the pot of gold but all I got were some nice pictures. Cars were stopping and people were getting out of their cars just to watch the colours in the sky.


Treviso Italy after the rain
I walked a little further past the University and the sky had change to a bright red. it was getting dark as you can see from the car headlights.
A few minutes after these pictures were taken the sun went down.



On our walk we go along this tree lined street. Things have changed since when we first arrived. From these trees being covered in lush green leaves we now see them shedding their red and yellow leaves and dropping large mature chestnuts to the ground. Too bad these are not the edible type as you could get buckets full here. We have to wait until next week when the roasted chestnuts go on sale in the Piazza.
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You can tell that Fall is here when you visit the vegetable market. There are all sorts of squash to pick from. We made a simple risotto with the one in this picture. Simple ingredients of rice, squash, garlic, vegetable broth and a bit of pancetta made for a hearty Fall meal.
Almost forgot we had to have some Prosecco to assist our digestion.
Squash at the Treviso Market
Treviso Italy Bicycles
We live close to the University and have seen the changes with all the students going back to classes. The bicycle parking lots was nearly empty all Summer but now no empty spaces can be found. Treviso also has a bike rental system here for the residents. You can get a bike from one lot and drop it off at another lot for a nominal cost. You do not find bike lanes here and there does not seem to be any problems with cars, bikes or pedestrians using the same spaces. To me it seems as if the bike riders respect the others on both the roads or sidewalks. When you are walking along the river the sidewalk may not be very wide in some spots. Should a bike come up from behind you they will ring their bell to warn you. This gives you plenty of time to give them some room.


I am including this picture just because I like it. The bridge that crosses the Sile River at the University is a wood framed, arched construction. At either end there are two large posts made of laminated timbers with a ball at the top. One late afternoon when returning from our walk I saw the sun peaking out from behind the pillar.

Treviso Italy - Ponte dell'Universita

Danna and the Feline
On many blogs we have seen Danna with statues of Lions. Today is no different but she is now with a small live Venetian feline that belongs to my cousin Adriano. This one is a bit fluffier than the statues we have photographed in the past.


It does not matter to us if it is late September and Fall. We can always make time to have a gelato on the front steps of the Duomo.
It still tastes as good as it did in June!
Treviso Italy - Gelato on the Duomo Steps




"Take only memories, Leave only footprints!"


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Mogliano and a black eye.


On October 6th my cousin is getting married in Mogliano which is about 10 minutes by train from Treviso. With everything going on that day we said we would find our own way to the church. Rather than having a problem on the wedding day we did a test run. Quick train ride, then a 5 minute walk and we arrived at Duomo of Santa Maria Assunta.
Mogliano Treviso, DuomoThe original church dates back to 997 AD, over the years it had to be repaired due to age and damage from various invaders.


Mogliano Treviso, Duomo

We stopped at a small gift shop next to the Duomo. Their window display was filled with many interesting items. The items that caught my eye were the place card holders for the wedding tables. Appropriate since we are here for a wedding.
Mogliano Treviso Wedding
Across from the Duomo we found the beautiful Villa Stucki Hotel. It is a 19th century mansion that has been converted into a hotel.
Mogliano Treviso -Villa Stucki
Mogliano Treviso - Villa Sticki




The entrance hall was filled with antiques and had two chandeliers for illumination.





Mogliano Treviso in front off the Villa Stucki
We walked in the garden area and found a nice gazebo and of course a statue of a lion.

Arriving back I Treviso we had a light lunch as we planned on going out for Japanese food. The restaurant is only a short walk away so at 19:30 we headed out. We were within 50 meters of the restaurant when all of our plans changed. While trying to get around a couple of people that were blocking the sidewalk Danna tripped and did a face plant. Luckily the only damage was a cut lip, scraped nose, black eye and a headache. From the way she landed I thought she had broken a tooth.
For the record, alcohol, drugs and speed were not contributing factors in this incident.
She looks much better now, with all the colours her eyelid looks like a sunset. This is not a new fashion statement but it is 100% natural.

Following image may scare small children
Proceed with CAUTION!






Trip + Fall = Black eye








"Take only memories, Leave only footprints!"




Friday, September 21, 2012

Some days I hate technology!


Back on August 1st I posted that technology is something that you can have a love/hate relationship with. Here it is the middle of September and I feel the same way.

I received a notice on my iPad 3 that an upgrade was available. If it is an upgrade it must be better, and it is free! After the upgrade I no longer had access to one of my favorite travel programs Google Maps which includes Streetview. That is only part of the problem since I can no longer post blogs from my computer. Danna being the smart one did not upgrade and she has no problems posting to the blog. I am now trying a different way to post to our blog.
Hopefully all will be fixed in a day or two or else I will have to borrow Danna's iPad to keep the blog up to date.
This morning we had a nice walk in the sunshine.

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UntitledAutumn Trees beside the Sile River in Treviso Sept. 20/12


Danna was having a good walk and would not slow down when I stopped to take pictures. For most of the walk I was behind her trying to catch up with the speed walker.
We were also luck enough to see some swans flying over the river. They did a low level flyby and their wings were splashing in the water.
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Now I will publish this and see if it works.







"Take only memories, Leave only footprints!"


Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Treviso in September

Usually on our way back from the vegetable market I stop off at "casa del parmigiano" for some fresh bread for my lunch.
It is located just a few meters from the fish market.
casa del parmigiano, Treviso Italy


The fresh bread with some cheese and sliced meats are my idea of heaven. I picked up a couple of buns for my lunch. When I got home I realized they were bigger than I expected. No problem, eat one for lunch and the other one will be for tomorrow. People go shopping for their bread every day and now I know why. The buns I bought are not made with any preservatives which is why they taste so good. Down side is that they turn rock hard if not eaten on the day they were baked. I learned my lesson not to buy any more bread than you plan on eating that day. 

photo Here is my wonderful bread, it had a nice crust with soft insides. 

Today things are a bit different. Note how it is shaped like a club or is it a hammer. The bread got so hard I am sure you could pull nails with the claw side.  I planned on feeding it to the ducks but I could not break it into small pieces for them.

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This weekend there was dancing in the Piazza. The dance studios around Treviso get together and put on a show for everyone to enjoy. It is also a way to promote their studio for dancing classes. Dance styles ranges from break dancing through to ballet and salsa.
 

Treviso Italy - Dance

This little girl was watching every move the dancers were making. 






In Treviso people bring their dogs everywhere. This little dog was also watching the dancers but it was more interested in the other dogs.

Treviso Italy - Dance

This group performed several dances with much enthusiasm, facial expressions and their hand movements were synchronized perfectly with the music.

 Treviso Italy - Dance Treviso Italy - Dance

From traditional dancing we went to break dancing. One boy put on his helmet and started spinning on his head. Just the thought of making some of their moves hurt my back. 

Treviso Italy - Dance

Which end is up?


Treviso Italy - Dance Treviso Italy - Dance

This couple did an Argentinian Tango. High leg kicks by the lady were matched by the man's intensity.



The dancing continued the next day with other dance schools participating. This piazza was one of several that were hosting the dance studios. There was no charge for any of the performances.



Sile River, Fiume Sile, Treviso, Italy


On our late afternoon walk we noticed that things were changing. Trees are starting to loose their leaves, the baby swans are almost the same size as their parents which means fall will be upon us soon. This has been an unbelievable summer that I will never forget.


Almost forgot the best part, I spent it all with my best friend!

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Sunday, September 16, 2012

More of the best from Budapest

Budapest the city that never sleeps. In the five days we walked over 40km. Much of our walking was done in the evenings when there was still a lot of action on the streets. Thank goodness for digital cameras as I would not have taken as many pictures to remember this  trip. Here are some pictures that we liked.

New York Cafe, Budapest Hungary One morning we had a light breakfast and went to The New York Cafe. You can definitely find a cheaper cup of coffee in Budapest. This cafe is like taking a step back in time when style and class were appreciated.

New York Cafe, Budapest Hungary

New Yor Cafe, Budapest Hungary

After our caffeine fix we were ready for a nice walk. Along the way Danna spotted a fabric store and we had to go in for a few minutes. I stopped to take a picture of a fountain and Danna stood in the shade as it was a very hot day. After the picture I went to Danna and saw an expression of disgust on her face. She had stood close to the wall and when you looked up you could see the culprit sitting there. Is it good luck when a pigeon poops on you? Since it missed me I think I am the lucky one.

Danna after pigeon "dropping" incident. Pigeon

Budapest Hungary Statue

Maybe if this guy was around the pigeon may have left Danna alone.


Budapest Hungary Fountain

The days were very sunny and hot. This fountain was a great place for people to cool their feet. The pigeons were also here cooling off and reloading before going out looking for another victim.


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While walking across the bridge we noticed one of the river cruise ships below us. Later in the day we went on one of the ships to see what they were like. All the cabins had large windows so you could enjoy the riverside scenery.


Margaret Island Budapest Hungary


We continued our walk over the bridge to St. Margaret's Island. Beautiful and very peaceful setting. No cars are allowed on the island but you can rent bikes or even small peddle cars to cruise around.


Hungary has gone through a lot of horrendous times in it's history. There are several reminders for the people about these times. The House of Terror has displays of life under the fascist and communist dictatorial regimes. This is a very sad place and we did not go there. Another reminder is The Metal Shoes Memorial. This is a memorial to the Jews who were ordered to take their shoes off and then shot at the rivers edge. Their bodies were then swept down the Danube River. These cast metal shoes are stark reminders for the future generations.

Metal Shoe Memorial, Budapest Hungary

Budapest Hungary, Central Market Hall


On a happier note we went to the Central Market Hall near the Green Bridge. Here you can buy fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and any other food product you can think of. On the second floor there were lace table cloths, souvenirs, and several places to get a bite to eat. We had a roasted sausage and a beer for our lunch. Simple but very tasty.


Budapest Hungary

On our walk we saw an assortment of architectural designs.
Budapest Hungary

Budapest has several types of public transport. Take your choice of 3 subway lines, surface light rail or large busses. Their only shortcoming is the airport does not have a direct transit line into the city yet but it is in the plans.

Budapest Transit System



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On our evening walk Danna thought about our dog Maggie when she saw this bronze statue.


On our last night in Budapest we had dinner at a restaurant across the street from the Dohány Street Synagogue. The setting was nice but this was the worst meal I have ever been served. Those of you who know me will be surprised to hear that I did not finish what was on my plate! I think this is the first time this has happened since I was 5 years old. Suggestion, do not go to the Walhalla Club for anything other than a beer. All the other meals we ate from street food to nice restaurants was very good.  

Dohány Street Synagogue Budapest Hungary

Here is the building that was our home for 5 days. In the old days they did things differently than today. The ceilings were 12'6" or 3.8m high which gave the rooms a spacious atmosphere. Each of the windows had wooden shutters that could be closed at night or when it was cold outside. If you are planning a trip to Budapest check out the following link for " The Walnut Apartment."

Walnut Apartments - Budapest Hungary

Sorry to say but our time in Budapest was over. When we woke up the sound of raindrops could be heard. We were lucky that the rain started at the end of our visit. We did our packing and waited for Daniel to drive us to the airport. At the airport we had lunch and then waited for our flight. Everything was going well until they said it was ok to board the plane. We had to walk out to the plane with the wind blowing and a light rain. Almost on the plane and then we were told to wait as something was being done to the plane. Luckily we had a small umbrella to keep us dry for the 10 minute wait. Once on the plane we were back in Treviso within an hour and a half.

Ryanair Budapest Hungary

Our trip to Budapest was well worth taking. We got to see another city that is full of history, culture and of course good food.