Peter_S_Aus

I’m not sure if one is meant to start a trip report before one actually starts the trip. But I’m sick of the Melbourne winter, and France and Italy beckon. Maybe as I age, I’m less tolerant of cold. So, mid-August we leave, six nights in Paris, four in Avignon, two in Lyon, three in Turin, three in Genoa, three in Reggio Emilia, then five weeks in Venice.

I suppose there are three “anchors” for the trip. Paris, because we have never been there (although I visited Paris in 1975). Turin, for the museum of Egyptian antiquities. Venice for, well, I suppose, Venice. The Arts Biennale will be happening in Venice while we are there, and that should be a point of interest. A friend is engaged in a performance art piece there, the performance being to read aloud all of “Das Kapital”, two readers at lecterns. I’m inclined to think that it might look more like an installation after an hour or three. Maybe the Mosque might have re-opened in Venice – I’m not sure, and with a bit of luck, there will be things at the Querini and Fortuny that call us back.

No idea what’s happening in Paris, and that time is very unplanned. We have a microscopic apartment in the Marais, so can pretend to be residents for a little while. Avignon, once the seat of Papal power, the third home of the Catholic Church, the others being Antioch and Rome. And “the South of France” sounds so hedonistic, maybe from reading too many Somerset Maugham stories set there – “the Three Fat Women of Antibes” springs to mind.

Apartments in Venice, one for eight days, then a second one for four weeks, as the one we wanted was not available for the whole time. The first is closer to Piazzale Roma than we would like, almost shouting distance from the prison, the second near the Carmini, our old stamping ground, so we will be moving house in Venice. Shouldn’t be too difficult if we plan for it.

Twenty eight days until we leave, not that we are counting. Yeah, right!

annhig

Hi Peter,

of course you can start a Trip report before the trip, it's all part of the process isn't it?

I will of course be looking forward to reading about your adventures in Venice, where you are more or less locals but also your impressions of Paris too, where you are comparative strangers.

28 days - how many "sleeps" is that???

mjperry

Good luck with your trip and I look forward to reading about your adventures.

We just returned from a 10 day trip to Paris/Avignon/Nice and we went to Venice/Rovinj last year. I wrote about both trips in my travel blog if you are interested www.travelfam.wordpress.com

Not quite finished posting this year's France trip but I did manage to cover Paris.

mxmmv

I know exactly how you feel, 34 days until we fly to Paris (and then Italy) from Auckland, not that I'm counting .

Hope you have an amazing trip, and look forward to your report

pariswat

Good luck, seems a nice trip in coming.
Do check on Egyptian museum in Torino - it was half closed a few weeks ago (a few months ?) - I could only see one big hall with statues.

Adelaidean

Peter, winter in Melbourne is the pits.. unless you are a football fan.

Looking forward to your TR, esp the stops between Paris and Venice.

margo_oz

Peter
I was thinking it was time we heard from you again! You've picked some great spots - and I'll look forward to your trip report to help with my forward planning.

I can certainly understand your counting the days- it's bloody cold and wet and windy in Sydney right now too - so I'm doing holiday research.

Annhig - it' a bit difficult to count sleeps here - what with first Wimbledon and now the cricket interrupting sleep.

cathies

We are freezing our tits off in Sydney at the moment, so I can only imagine it's worse in Melbourne.

I'm looking forward to your TR too, especially Paris. I hope you like it or even maybe love it.

Margo, where are you going?

Peter_S_Aus

For Ann, I'm thinking of a line from a song :

"They killed us at Cardiff, we had revenge at Lords". Mark Knopfler could do it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NWo-51v-SFA

annhig

Annhig - it' a bit difficult to count sleeps here - what with first Wimbledon and now the cricket interrupting sleep.>>

Are you watching, Margo or listening to the radio under the bed covers? Do you get the TMS coverage, BTW, or have your own dedicated radio commentary? I love Jim Maxwell and I'm even taking to Glenn McGrath, much though it grieves me to say so.

<<"They killed us at Cardiff, we had revenge at Lords".>>

and how.

di2315

I'm along for the ride too, Peter . . . unfortunately the only O/S travel for me this year is vicariously on the Fodors board!!
This is the first time in about 10 years that we'll be spending the entire winter in Oz.Happy travels, Di

sarge56

Peter, so looking forward to your trip report, especially Venice, since I know how you adore it.

I'm having difficulty, though, feeling sorry for your foul weather.. it will be 100 degrees F(38C) here tomorrow (North Texas)...again.

Buon viaggio!

northie

Sounds like a plan. PeterS
-2.1 here this morning in our area of Melbourne but the sunny day that follows frost is great. planes held up at airport due to lack of de icing machines . Didn't even realize we had any ?
Annhig - the ABC radio broadcast is Jim Maxwell, Phil Tufnell and Henry Blowfeld ( ( !! Spelling ). Mark Taylor and Shane Warne are 2 of the TV cricket commentators .

sandralist

Peter, I found this other day and it occurs to me you might get something out of it, although I am a nasayer about the aquarium and would specifically encourage you to go to the Naval Museum as an extension of your interest in Venice. As you know, the Venetian maritime republic was the great rival to the Genovese military republic. You also probably won't want to miss a glimpse at the buidling in the port where Marco Polo was kept prisoner by the Genovese, and where he wrote his "Travels".

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/...a-8526221.html

If you want to catch the spirit of Genoa in mid-August, you really should go for a cocktail at the seaside one evening, which is where everybody in Genova will be. Options are a taxi to Bocadasse, or a short train ride to the long promenade in Nervi or to picturesque Camogli.

bilboburgler

perhaps a canoe on the Seine this time??

annhig

Annhig - the ABC radio broadcast is Jim Maxwell, Phil Tufnell and Henry Blowfeld ( ( !! Spelling )>>

that sounds very similar to TMS, northie, except we get the incomparable Jonathan Agnew as well. As for the spelling of Blofeld, Ian Fleming got the name of his most infamous villain when he read Henry father's signature above his in the members' book at their London club.

taconictraveler

Peter: So happy you will be on the road again. I'll be waiting along with many others.

We go to Paris in mid September but only for 10 days. I can only dream of 5 weeks in Venice!!

Bokhara2

Hi Peter
Just stumbled over this thread & I'm glad you two are on the move again.
Always such interesting travellers' tales.

Echoing the other Aussies' thoughts about our arctic weather - no wonder you're distracting yourself with decamping plans! I'd be off too, if I could.

Peter_S_Aus

I have started a new trip report for this venture, mainly to include the intermediate places between Paris and Venice. Not hard to find.