Back in September 2012 we traveled to Italy and it was not just one of our trips - it was our honeymoon-trip.
We had got married on the 15th of September - a beautiful autumn day - in Tallinn St John's Church, stayed home for couple of days, and headed for Italy on the 25th of September.
Our first stop was Milan. The weather was nicely warm, around 23-24 C, and settled in in our lovely B&B Taraverde. Loved our Indian style green room! Having settled in, we headed out for the City and visited the must-visit-place Cathedral Duomo, dined and wined and did some shopping too.
On 26.09 we boarded a train to Como and from Como we took a ferry to Bellagio. What a journey this was! About an hour on the ferry, we admired lots of pretty buildings on the coastline, and felt really pleased with the decision to have our honeymoon in this gorgeous part of the world.
Having arrived at Bellagio, we got the keys to our rental apartment. The apartment was fine, nothing too special or too bad, and off we went for a walk in Bellagio. On this photo we are exactly on the same day, just arrived, next to a beautiful hotel. How nice it would be here in mid-summer!
The first evening, as well as the other 2 days, the weather was not too good - rained now and then, and so we walked a lot and also red a lot in our Bellagio home.
On 27.09 it was time to see some other places and so we boarded a bus to Como central. The journey was quite an entertainment - the road run along the coast but not next to the water but some 200-300 meters higher, on the rocks. Happily at Como, we took a cable car up to the mountain top, 750 above sea level, and absolutely loved it up there. The air was crisp and sunny, we walked around on the top and found a caffee that seemed totally out-of-this-world place. Had some glasses one wine and snacks up there and again and again said to each other: "How lovely it is to be away and to have some time off!".
In the evening, when we were back at Bellagio, we met a lovely dog next to our courtyard and named him Pronto. Unfortunately, I never took any photos of him but did of another dog on a balcony next to our house. Here he is.
On 28.09 we woke very early and left our Bellagio home and the lovely summer resort itself very early in the morning, took a bus to near-located Lecco and from there a train to Verona. Eearly birds as we were, arrived at Verona at about 11 a.m. The weather was lovely, even hot compared to what we had had up in Como and Bellagio. Settled in in our Artesia Verona B&B on Via Marsala and left for the centre.
We fell in love with Verona from the very first sight. How could one not do that? Right here was the balcony and the courtyard where Juliet and Romeo had their lovely moments.
See this.
Walked a lot in the old town, sat down now and then when legs were getting tired, had a cup of coffee and a tiramisu or
... a glass (bottle!) of wine. And so wondered around up until late at night.
On 29.09 - early morning again. Had a nice, homey breakfast and left our cosy Verona nest. By 9.30 am we were in Verona train station, at 10 am sat in a train and in an hour found ourselves in Venice. Our hopes were up since Venice was told to be something completely different. And it certainly was.
Water everywhere, and how naturally-feeling not-at-all-usual-way of living seemed there. Fancy a taxi drive? No problem, here is a water taxi. Fancy a longer drive to see the sights? No worries, hop on our water bus and we drive you around on our watery streets.
Our hotel was located on an island called Lido, about 10-15 minutes water bus drive from the center. The hotel - cannot remember its name - was not a great deal but would do. Settled in, headed back to the main island, and we walked, admired, ate, drank for hours and hours. As all tourists, spent some time on St Marco's Square. Later we sailed back home and on that very day I had wrote this into my diary: "We have so many emotions as if we have been for a month on the trip!"
On 30.09 slept as well as exhausted tourists do. After the breakfast, we toured around in Lido a bit. Spent some time on the beach were big festivals are being held.
Back on the main island, walked, ate, drank...
Back in the hotel, opened a bottle of Prosecco, hoping to get some relief to those enormous pieces of pizza that had traveled to our bellies on that day in Venice.
On 01.10 - October already! - woke up and Andres did not feel himself too well. Packed our bags, traveled back to the main island and this was not at all an easy task for Andres. To be sick and travel on a jumping boat is definitely not the best combination. Boarded a train to Bologna and as soon as we were there, we loved the city from the first moment. A university town as our home town Tartu. Had some trouble finding the hotel - Amelia Hotel - but having once found it, the hotel turned out to be a real treat. Plus, we had an extra big room with an extra sofa.
Since Andres was not feeling well, he stayed in bed and I went out exploring the surroundings. Walked for about 2-3 hours between the buildings of the university as our hotel was located in the university quarter. Having returned the hotel, read one of the Millenium books for Andres and ordered some good food from room service. My trip book was Jane Eyre and I was about to reach the marvelous end of the story.
On 02.01 felt Andres a lot better and we had a walk to the city center. When walks were done, we packed our things and headed towards the central station. This was quite an action since there were some kilometers to go, we had a big suitcase and other bags, and right on that day the local bus drivers were striking. At the station finally, we caught a fast train. As they say - all roads lead to Rome - so did the very road of ours. We arrived Rome by train, a fast (too fast!) train that ran up till 250 km/h. Too fast was it indeed - not a chance to watch the picturesque landscapes - and so a promise was given: we have to come back here one day. Perhaps when we will be married for 5 or 10 or 15 years? Would be nice to visit the same places again and to take a really slow train. When would it be then... on 2017 or 2022.
However, the train arrived Rome and right on that day there was a strike going on. We were said that it should stop around 5 p.m. and since our hotel was rather far from the center, this was what we had to live with. We told ourselves: "We are on a holiday, no reason to rush and stress about missing transport" and off we went to the city center. Leaved our luggage in the train station luggage room and began to explore the ancient city.
There is no words enough to describe Rome. History on every step... Had a look at Colosseum, ate, sat and just watched the people. Rome, and in particular the way the people drive here, squeezing their tiny cars lots of other tiny cars, was just adorable. To us it looks like a total chaos but there are certain rules in the chaos, and at the end of the day, I believe they manage better than us at home. To me it seems that the key is communication - people look at one another's eyes and decide together who goes first. Respect!
Our hotel was about 10 minutes drive from the center but it was a clean and nice one. And what made it even nicer - we were given a bottle of wine and some fruits as a wedding gift with this lovely note
On 03.01 woke up, had a breakfast and took a metro to Vatican. As it was Wednesday and on Wednesdays the Pope gives a speech, we saw the Pope and listened to the speech.
The weather was just wonderful, around 23-24 degrees. Then we walked to the Piazza di Popolo, sat on the Spanish steps, visited the Trevi fountain and took a train to a shopping center outside of Rome, called Porta Di Roma.
04.10 - the last day of our trip. Spent the most of the day visiting an revisiting lots of sights and had a long-long walk in the Roman Forum - wow, what a great experience this was! It was really hot on that day but we managed and rested in shadows as much as possible.
Had a very last meal on the Piazza di Popolo and agreed that this had been a wonderful trip and the destination - the North and the Central Italy - was just the best for a honeymoon.
Usually it is sad to return home but not this time - it was time to start our everyday life as a couple and this seemed more than exciting.
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In order to keep record of our costs in Italy, and perhaps compare it with prices in years to come, ...
Bus from Bergamo airport to Milan: 2.50 eur one ticket
Taraverde accommodation in Milan: 120 eur per room
Train from Milan to Como: 5 eur one ticket
Ferry from Como to Bellagio: 14.50 eur one ticket
2 nights accommodation in Bellagio: 260 eur in total
Train Lecco-Verona: 25 eur one ticket
B&B in Verona: 80 eur per room
Water bus in Venice: 25 eur one ticket for 36 hours
Hotel in Venice: 230 eur per room, 2 nights
Hotel in Bologna: 99 eur per room
Train from Bologna to Rome: 112 eur 2 tickets
Roman Forum tickets: 24 eur 2 tickets
Hotel in Rome: 394 eur per room, 3 nights
