GUMNUTS.....AND OTHER STUFF: Europe Trip 2017: Part 4. 27th to 29th May.

Venice, what an amazing place.........Italy, what an amazing country.

These next 3 days cover the last days on the bus and the 1st night on our river cruise ship, the MS Travelmarvel Diamond.

We spend the 1st day in Venice, both on the water, water taxi and gondola, and a walking tour plus free time just taking it all in. That evening some of us had dinner at a local 'sports' bar.

I won't mention the couple of 'incidents / issues' some of had with some of the hotel staff while staying here.

In the morning we head of for Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, via a lunch stop in Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia. We arrived in Zagreb a little later than expected, maybe that was because of the passport procedure at the border crossing into Croatia, so the walking tour we went on in Zagreb was at the fastest pace of all the tours we had done up until then. That night we had our farewell dinner, for the bus journey, at the Okrugljak Restaurant.

To get my photo numbers up I went for a walk on my own, after getting back to the hotel, and then again in the morning.

Monday morning we get on the bus for our final day before reaching Budapest and the river cruise. After saying goodbye to Daniele and Antonio we transfer to the boat, check out our cabins, and it's back on a bus for a tour of Budapest. As it was warm and we running a little late, the group of fellows from our Italian tour decided to bend the boat's dinner dress rules and wear shorts to dinner (yes!). After dinner it was on deck for a twilight cruise on the Danube River to see the city's monuments lit up.

Videos have to be watched on this page

and

click / tap on photos to enlarge.

(PbL) Photo by Lynn

(tbw) taken through bus window

Saturday 27th. Venice

Boarding the water taxis for the Venice tour.
(PbL)

Our crew for today are David, Laraine, Rob and Hazel.
(PbL)

Water Taxi

Venice Water Police.

Venice delivery van.

Coming up to the Bridge of the Academy.
(PbL)

There are about 400 bridges in Venice, this is one of them.

Venice architecture.

(PbL)

Venice architecture.
(PbL)

Some of the chimneys were a little different. In ancient times many of the roofs were covered in straw, so chimneys were built with a truncated cone or inverted flue making it possible to cool the sparks as not to start a fire.

Venice architecture.
(PbL)

Richard Orlinski's wild Kong and Bear in front of the Centurion Palace.
(PbL)

A bit like my garage after heavy rain.

'Rifiuto Residuo' = 'Residual Waste' (Residential Waste?)

Venice architecture and chimneys.

A sculpture ‘Fate of Banished Man (Rearing)’ by Damien Hirst.

Venice architecture.

Bridge of the Academy

The Golden Tower by the late artist James Lee Byars.

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute.

Venice's answer to the Statue of Liberty.

Punta della Dogana is a Art Museum.

Church of San Giorgio Maggiore.

Bridge of Sighs.
This infamous footbridge connects the Doge's Palace with the Prigioni (prisons).

Marciana National Library and St Mark's Campanile, 16th-century square cathedral tower.

Seating under the arches of the Doge's Palace.
Finding somewhere to sit down in Italy has been a bit of a task.
(PbL)

The Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale).
(PbL)

The entrance to Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale).
(PbL)

Saint Mark's Basilica
(PbL)

Saint Mark's Basilica.
(PbL)

Some of the detail on Saint Mark's Basilica.

The whole exterior is covered in marble that was stolen from Istanbul and brought back square by square and column by column.

Stolen marble from Istanbul.

Venice's largest piazza, Saint Mark's Square, is the city's main meeting place.
No, the tower isn't leaning, just the camera angle. The building on the left is Procuratie Vecchie.

This building is the Procuratie Vecchie.

St Mark's Clocktower, a Renaissance tower from 1499.

It's OK, it's just a New Zealand thing.
(PbL)

(PbL)

Gondola tour

Bridge of Sighs.
This infamous footbridge connects the Doge's Palace with the Prigioni (prisons).

(PbL)

I have no idea how all those chunks out of the wall happened.

(PbL)

I was just glad it wasn't 'throw out the bath-water day'.

Canal entry to the Hotel Kette.

......and you thought the roads were crowded. OK Mick, clear a way through.

Doors of Venice.

Our navigator was only a little chap.

More bridges than you could step over.
(PbL&B)

(PbL)

C'on, keep moving please.

Cheery window gardens.
(PbL)

Is that brickwork meant to keep the walls apart or support them?

Rising water level. The water should be below the steps.

Some cracks are beginning to appear.

(PbL)

The colours of Venice.

Bits and pieces, Venice. I found the 'Cockatoo' interesting.

Venice architecture.

Parish of Santa Maria Formosa, 16th century Catholic church.

Watch the step.

When you haven't got a back-yard.

Venice laneway.
(PbL)

Dogs of Venice......"hey, where did she come from".

'Ferramenta fazzini ci siamo transeriti in calle del dose al civico'
We've been drunk in a dime box at the house. (Must make sense to someone).

Ruzzini Palace Hotel (white building) in Campo Santa Maria Formosa.

These guards are to stop water entering the shop during floods.

Venice masks.
(PbL&B)

Shiny Happy People (REM)

Bridge of Love (Bj Thomas)

The Rialto Bridge is the main pedestrian crossing over the Grand Canal.

Yes, they were here as well.

Venetian glass.

Temptations
(PbL&B)

Pizza for lunch.
(photo by Jenny)

I wonder what it's like when it's crowded.

While waiting for Lynn I started taking photos of the passing parade of people......until,
'jumping man' came along.

This couple took a big interest in the sculpting on the pillars.

Clockwise from top right: 1. Colourful passersby 2. The tall and short police patrol 3. Doesn't look like rain 4. The fellow I think the police are after......wait a minute, he looks familiar.

I don't know either one.

Venice walk and jumping man

This wins 1st prize for the best pose in front of a historic building.
I hope she didn't cut his head off like I did.

Checking the results.

A beggar near the water-taxis.

Something caught our attention coming back in the water-taxi.
(PbL)

Water taxi return

On our way back to the bus. (PbL)

Not my idea of a holiday.

The Venice People Mover.
The track was opened in 2010 and is only 870m long. The trains run at 29kph (18mph).

Frecciarossa high-speed trains can reach speeds of 400 km/h (250 mph).

Sailing (Rod Stewart)

The mob at Venice. (photo taken be a lady who was walking out of hotel)

Our room (arrowed) at the NH Laguna Palace Hotel, Venice.

We had no air-conditioner, so had to have the windows (and sometimes the door) open.

The NH Laguna Palace Hotel, Venice.

View from our floor.

I didn't enjoy looking down the 5 levels to the
billiard table below every time I left the room.

Sunday 28th. Heading for Zagreb

The Soča or Isonzo is a 138-kilometre long river that flows through western Slovenia and northeastern Italy. The river is well known for its unique trout species Salmo marmoratus (known as the marble trout). (tbw)

The Pushbike Song (The Mixtures) (tbw)

More poppies.
(tbw)

Craig, our 'assistant tour director' keeping the driver's seat warm at the Toll Road Rest Stop.
And if Craig couldn't do the job, we still had................

............ 'The Stig'.
(reflection of the Stig, on Ron's cap, in the bus window)

This Mini was at the Toll Road Rest Stop.
Must have had a pretty spicy dinner last night or has a very heavy head-cold.

Toll Road Rest Stop (Google Maps)

The mob at the Toll Road Rest Stop. (photo taken by cafe worker who came out for a smoke break)

It was Sunday, so big trucks are banned from the
highways (unless they are carrying perishables).
(tbw)

Village churches seen along the way. (tbw)

Our travelling home on wheels.

Most of the naughty people were in the back section...........

.............. but then again.

The red should catch your attention if you are hang-gliding.
(tbw)

Southern Limestone Alps.
(tbw)

Three damaged buildings along the way.
(tbw)

Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be (Julie Andrews)
(that's the best I could do) (tbw)

BioGuano fertilizer is an organically mineralized fertilizer from bats' droppings.
Thought Greg and Lenore from Glasshouse Mountains Nursery would be interested.
(tbw)

One of the last toll stations we were to pass through.
(tbw)

Toll charges.
(tbw)

Thought someone might be interested in the ~~Erotic~~ Magnum shop,
coming into Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia. (tbw)

Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity.
Baroque church built in the 1700's with 6 large African marble columns at the entrance.

Ljubljana Castle overlooks the Slovenian Philharmonic Building (below) and (right) the University of Ljubljana, one of the largest universities in Europe with over 63,000 enrolled students.

There must have been something on at the Slovenian Philharmonic Building.

Markets in Ljubljana.

We went to the bar on the left first for lunch but nobody would serve us,
so went to the restaurant on the right.

Lunch at Restavracija Paninoteka (Restaurant Paninoteka) looking
across The Cobblers' Bridge, or Shoemakers' Bridge.
This bridge dates back to at least the 13th century.

Toasted ham and cheese sandwich, Slovenian style.

The Cobblers' Bridge.

Ljubljanica River

Park Zvezda, taken just for the trees.

Looking up Congress Square. Museum of Illusions (corner building, left) to the Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity.

Doors of Ljubljana.

As well as these two, the population of Slovenia was only 278,853 (2015).

Yep, still Sunday.
(tbw)

The high-voltage power poles weren't that tall.
(tbw)

Shooter's hide. These were everywhere.

Passing another church.

No big areas of the same crop here or ...............
(tbw)

............ big farm equipment.
You would see fields with one person just using hand tools,
such as a scythe or hoe, to work the land. (tbw)

Hello Zagreb.
(tbw)

Something different, modern buildings..............
(tbw)

........ but not for long.
A lot of Zagreb's building were showing a bit of wear and tear. (tbw)

(tbw)

Our hotel in Zagreb was the Sheraton.

Happy in the hallway.

How I really saw it.

The foyer of the hotel.

Art Pavilion. In the left background is Glavni Kolodvor.

Glavni Kolodvor, Zagreb's Central Station.

Relaxing in Zrinjeva Park.
(PbL)

' Ljubionica' 'Drvena klupa za park' Sjesti na lakat udal jenosti od simplatije' 'Poceti recitirata romanticne stimhove' 'Pokretati se mic po mic prema sredis tu klupe'
I think it means: A Romantic wooden park bench. Sit next to someone who is on their own. Recite / read something romantic to stimulate them (I have to be careful here, there might be children reading this). Then both move slowly towards the center of the bench. (I didn't read the back of the sign to see what happens after that, sorry)

Ban Ivan Mazuranic. Ivan was a Croatian poet, linguist, lawyer and politician who is considered to be one of the most important figures in Croatia's political and cultural life in the mid-19th century. (PbL)

This monument is dedicated to the memory of the Yugoslav Partisans
who died in war against fascists forces during WWII in Yugoslavia.

All I remember the guide saying on this walking/running tour was "watch out for bikes" & "watch out for the trams". I stiil here, so thanks guide. I've only just found out (4/8/17) what these round post-box like things are, they're Advertising columns or Morris columns.

Jack D belts one out.

Zagreb buildings.

Venice and Zagreb

Add caption

Trams in Zagreb.

If I had sat in one of those bean-bags you wouldn't have got me up again.
(PbL)

Zagreb walk

The Stupa of St. Mary (column).

The Zagreb Cathedral.

The 'egg' outside the Ulupuh Gallery.
(PbL&B)

Eat street.

This sun-dial must only work part of the day.

Monument to Marija Jurić Zagorki, Croatian writer

Their personal ties lead them apart.

Street scene in old Zagreb.

A carriage way to a courtyard.

Statue of St George (with slain dragon), with Stone Gate in background.
(PbL)

Medieval stone gate into town with a Virgin Mary
shrine popular for prayer & candle lighting. (PbL)

Gradska Ljekarna.
I took a photo of a photo on a stand across the road and blended it with the one I took on the day.

Patterns

Actors in period costume near St. Mark's Church.

Actors in period costume near St. Mark's Church.
PbL)

St. Mark's Church. The 'leggo' church.

They stood just in the right spot.

They were most obliging.

Traditional dress, not from here but Korea.

Vintage car rides.
(PbL&B)

From a different period.

Left: Museum of Broken Relationships. Rear: Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

Saint Cyril and Methodius Church.

The usual way to make some street money ..................
(PbL)

........ another way, have your photo taken in this car.
(PbL)

The church clock-tower of St Mary, Zagreb.
(PbL)

The Lotrščak Tower, which dates to the 13th century,
was built to guard the southern gate of the Gradec town wall.

The cannon, in the tower, which goes off daily.
(PbL)

Zagreb Funicular.

Royal Telephone (Jimmy Little)

Zagreb skyline from Strossmayer's Promenade.

Antun Gustav Matoš was a Croatian poet, short story writer, journalist, essayist and travelogue writer.
He is considered the champion of Croatian modernist literature. Lynn is just someone who sat on his lap.

All this brass could have paid for our holiday.
The lookout stairway at the end of Strossmayer's Promenade.

In a small courtyard through a gateway
behind the lookout at Strossmayer's Promenade.

Take our group away and Central Square would be nearly empty.

"They went that way",
The famous words used by Count Josip Jelačić von Bužim in military campaigns during the Revolutions of 1848.

"Bloody hell that wind's strong"

Lonely in Zagreb.

" I'll be glad when they get the stairwell fixed "

"Could someone please get that phone, I'm out here cleaning up".

Meteorological clock in Zrinjeva Park.
(PbL)

Some of the colouful doors in Zagreb.
The bottom right one was on a school just around the corner from our hotel.

Untouched doors of Zagreb.

You could pick a face that looked like you. for half price.
I thought Lynn might say something about his spelling.

Hoofing it back to the Sheraton.
(PbL)

Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

The local constabulary's chariot.

The Dacia Duster is a compact (SUV) produced jointly by the
French manufacturer Renault and its Romanian subsidiary Dacia.

Farewell dinner at the Okrugljak Restaurant.

With Daniele and Antonio.

I went for a walk after arriving back at the hotel. The lady in the bath was in the foyer.

Monday 29th. Last day on the bus and heading for Budapest.

My morning walk around the block.

Zagreb hydrant.

Dogs, with a patch over their eye, are not allowed.

The Egyptian look.

The Roman look.

The bird-cage look.

Fine architecture falling into disrepair.

No money means no maintenance.

Everything about it just caught my attention.

Seen on my morning walk around the block.

I'll need to see a chiropractor if I keep doing this.

On the bus.

Antonio drives past the street art I was looking for, earlier that morning, but couldn't find.

Driving through and out of Zagreb with general bus chatter.

Everyone off at the Croatia–Hungary border crossing to have our passports checked and the bus searched for un-wanteds. Nobody spoke well of the toilets that people are heading for.