Bailey

Caroline,
I have it marked on my map! A friend of mine works just up the calle where Fond. de Sa Basegio turns into Fond. San Sebastiano. I have her scouting it out!!
Another treasure hunt!!
Thanks!!

caroline_edinburgh

You're welcome !

Final instalment...

Part 9 : Peralta, the rest of the week & conclusion
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Our initial excitement at staying at a house full of art was outweighed somewhat as the week went on by mild depression due to no cleaning, no fresh towels all week and no washing machine. Plus the children situation : the supposed 'no under-12s' rule turned out to be 'no under-12s except babies' !! So although the place is still as beautiful as ever, it's not the peaceful retreat it was and I wouldn't go again.

Spent a few hours in Pisa in between checking out of Peralta at 10am & flight at 6.15pm. Managed to park just outside the walls very close to the Field of Miracles, bought a ticket for the Duomo, Baptistry and cemetery (couldn't be bothered climbing the Leaning Tower – plus, unlike on my last visit, it looks like the climb is now mainly inside) & visited the 3. I was saddened by how disrespectful people were being by making a lot of noise, especially in the Baptistry, although tour guides seemed to be the main culprits. We were there on the hour when a member of staff demonstrated the echo, but she had to shout for quite a while to get people to shut up first. Didn't have time to go very far from the main drag for lunch but had a quite nice and reasonably priced one at Osteria I Santi on via S. Maria, off the SE corner of the square – keep going until clear of the tourist shops & sunglasses vendors.

Then to airport for flight home with jet2 from Pisa – what a luxury, a direct flight to Edinburgh ! This was the first time that we'd used this budget airline and I was impressed – check-in opened early, no queues, nothing said about slightly overweight bags, no delays, no problems at all. I will use them again. We were even back in time to change & go out for the last few hours of a wedding.

Already started booking next year's main holiday and decided that it will have to be 4 weeks…

LAwoman

Enjoyed your report very much, Caroline.

I'm just starting to plan a trip for next summer, US-Edinburgh-Venice, and I can see that getting from EDI - VCE is a challenge. Seems to take all day, and/or cost a bundle. Will check out Jet2.

caroline_edinburgh

Thanks, LAwoman (like the name - I had that album about 35 years ago !!). Yes, that's one of the disadvantages of living in Scotland, it's usually takes all day to get to anywhere on the continent.

Currently no airlines fly direct from Edinburgh to Venice, but Jet2 flies to Bergamo so I think that's the nearest. I'm currently planning on finishing at Lake Garda next year & flying back from Bergamo. Also flyglobespan goes to Rome, but the one time I used them I had a bad experience.

LAwoman

Caroline - I just saw your reply to my post, and in addition to topping your excellent report, wanted to tell you that I have a CD with your name on it - so, we're even.

Also, noticed that Ryanair now has a nonstop from EDI to Pisa, though of course not on the day of the week WE need it, and we want to go to EDI - VCE anyway.

caroline_edinburgh

Hello again LA Woman ! Well, sadly the Jet2 EDI-Bergamo route didn't get put again on this year, so we are coming back from Venice via London with BA. It was still quite cheap, though, booking early - €208 for the two of us.

LAwoman

Caroline, I booked BA EDI-LHR for £42 and BMI LHR-VCE for £79.

That's pp - I purchased 4 tix.

Have 1 3/4 hr connection in Heathrow, which is probably ridiculously tight. Am kicking myself.

This is for August, 1 way. Was watching a BA EDI-VCE £75 fare hoping it would go down, now it's £152.

caroline_edinburgh

Hi LAW. Ooh, good luck. The official connection time at LHR is an hour and a quarter now I think - or has it changed to one and a half ? - so you should be OK. I would have stuck to the same airline, though. When are you here & when do you travel to Venice ?