ITALIA!!!!!

We are in Italy, and have just finished a massive hike.  Some went on a shorter hike, but all enjoyed their day in Levanto - with summer-like weather, gelato, swimming in the Mediterranean and just all around good times Italian style.  Last night we ate a huge feast at Moresco, with our yearly host Roberto.  Tonight, we eat there again, only this time we deserve it!

The pictures below are from first the caves of the karst region of Slovenia, (right on the Italian border), then a couple from rainy Trieste, then Venezia (Venice) our first stay in Italy.  I won't have time for captions (like in Bled) for now, but will catch up later.

The weather has been amazing.  The two days we had rain, we went underground (salt mines in Salzburg, caves in Slovenia).  It's been like summer all the rest of the time. 

OK - This isn't Italy yet - this is the Karst region of Slovenia, right near the Italian border, and we are in the Skocjan Cave.  It's enormous, and intimate in different areas.  It's like a different world.  The above picture is technically illegal, so please don't look at it.

Leaving the cave.  Photo is legal.

Nice arrangement of the group, with Ashton and his sleeping friend and the front.

Perhaps a better arrangement, at the giant exit to the cave.

Waiting for the funicular outside of the Skocjan cave.

It poured rain here in Trieste - our first stop in Italy.  That's OK, we spent most of the day underground in Slovenia.  This is the square dedicated to the unification of Italy.  We spent about 30 seconds here and I said "Let's go!" and we were off to Miramare Castle up the coast a bit.

In front of the Hapsburg's Miramare Castle in Trieste, Italy.

On the gondolas in Venice.

Monica is upset - her Gondolier only sings Barry Manilow songs.

On the steps of La Fenice - ready to see Verdi's Rigoletto - which was first performed here in 1851.

In the courtyard of the Doge's palace.

Having fun outside Saint Mark's Basilica.

Sharon heads up the golden staircase in the Doge's palace.

The sad courtyard of the prisons connected to the Doge's palace.

Saint Mark's square.

Gondola service on the left, Harry's Bar on the right, and Salute right in front of us.

Mequel knew his last name was associated with one big hotel chain (Marriott), but didn't realize the Casanova's also had a hotel in Venice.

Venetian traffic jam.

They really need some salad.

Interesting architecture at one of the many palaces of Venice.

This guy guards one of the doors to Santa Maria Formosa.

Mr. Johnson and Kassaundra arrive right in the middle of our opera group picture.

Opera crowd at the hostel, ready to go!


The boys on their balconies in our palace on the canal in Venice.  The Foresteria Valdese is a youth hostel run by the Waldensian church, and housed in a 16th century palace, complete with frescoes on the ceilings and 16th century plumbing.  Ok, actually the plumbing is pretty good.

Bled

Slovenia is a tiny country which used to be the most northern province of Yugoslavia.  They were the first to secede from Yugoslavia in 1991 after a 10 day war, and they fortunately missed most of the brutality of the Balkan Wars that followed as Yugoslavia fell apart.  Bled is a tourist resort town for Slovenians - with a beautiful lake and island surrounded by the Julian Alps, it is starting to attract more tourists from outside it's own borders.  We always have a great time here with our excellent guide Robert.

My Pletna partners.

On the way to the Otok (island).  The only one in Slovenia.

I got to sit beside Janus, the local priest in Bled.  He is holding a large wooden crucifix on his lap, and is hitching a ride on our pletna in order to hold mass in the little church on the island.  This is something that typically only happens 3 times a year (though Janus, the young new priest in Bled has made it his goal to have mass on the island 10 times a year - his regular chapel is on the "mainland").

Climbing the 99 steep steps to the top of the island.  Slovenian grooms must carry their brides up these steps to make their marriages official.  Probably a difficult task for many.

Posing in front of a pletna. 

This and the next several pictures are people ringing the "wishing bell" in the church. 

Magdalena beside a statue of Magdalena.

James and Rens discuss red coat philosophy at the top of the island.

Not really sure what to say here.

Our great group on the steps.  What a positive bunch of kids and parents!

On the pletnas back to the mainland.

This group had the youngest pletna rower - a real hot shot - always beating the other pletnas across the lake.

Rens has driving skills.

Robert and I outside of the museum in the Bled Grad (castle).

Robert explains a bit of Slovenia history.

Kim and Monica make a new Slovenian friend.

Andrew, why didn't you close the door?

Chris shakes hands with this very devout Slovenian monk.

Magdalena enjoys her time working for the monk.

Emma does as the monk says (but notice she needs to use two hands - according the the monk, she must not play hockey).


With the printmaster, who runs the Gutenberg printing press in one of the the castle rooms.