We crossed 4 borders getting to Val d’Isere – Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, and France, and skirted just below Austria. But we only had to show our passports in Croatia and Slovenia – starting with Slovenia, we were in the EU, so there were no more border checks of our passports. It took about 7 hours to get to Venice, and about 5 hours to get to Turin for our second night.

The driving was wild – everyone goes SO fast, but I heard only TWO horns honked – drivers were surprisingly patient with cars in the left lane trying to get around trucks. But they do come right up to your tail and stay there until you get over. And VERY few passed on the right. The british passport renewal online procedure is more convenient and better for the ones that want to apply and travel again.

Our first night hotel was in Mestra, just 6k outside Venice, and right across the street from the train station into Venice. It was a lovely, very well appointed room in a 3* hotel, and the bathroom was exquisite; such fine detail – marble everywhere. The hotel clerk was delightful, and most helpful: when asked about parking, said park wherever you want! And if we get a ticket? What a face he made! Then he said shook his head, and said ‘Pfhhhh’ (and made dramatic hand motions) – just tear it up’!
And all the woodwork was beautiful. We arrived around 2pm and took the train into Venice and walked around for about 5 hours! We had a nice dinner there too. What a beautiful city – the colors are so vibrant, and the woodwork and stonework done with such care. Not sure what I was expecting, but it seemed both larger and smaller than I imagined. According to Jim, the city is dying due to ‘creeping damp’ – the lovely buildings are deteriorating from the water up. I did not realize it is an island – I thought it was actually just on the coast, but nope…we crossed a causeway to get there. I think it is 800 years old?

In Verona, the gelatto was artwork! And the old coliseum (arena) is the 3rd largest in Europe – 1200 years old, I think? I loved this city. Check out the marble of the streets! One of the most amazing sights for me was the gelatto – yes, the ice cream… it is carved and decorated like a fine scuplture in every shop! FYI, Verona is where Romeo and Juliet lived and loved, and we saw Juliet’s house and her balcony. It is customary (now) to do two things… Irena did both, I did only one: she wrote “Jim & Irena” on the wall of the passageway, and we both put our hand on Juliet’s breast – for happiness! LOL!!

That was a mid-day stop on our way to Turin. We were really shocked that no one we encountered in Turin spoke English, and I didn’t get any photos, because it was evening when we arrived, and we were driving when we left the next morning. The buildings are huge and so old and beautiful, and – I’m not kidding here – there was a gelatto shop on EVERY corner, and sometimes two per block! Jim and Irena love it for its ‘ordinariness’ (Venice and Verona city centers are certainly NOT ordinary – tourists everywhere).

Getting out of Turin was an adventure in itself, despite the fact that Jim and Irena had the same problem the last time! There are NO signs directing traffic how to get to France – only about 50k away. And our hotel owners, in Italian, tried to tell us how to get to the autostrada, but gave conflicting directions, so we drove around and around, back and forth, for an hour!! We had to look for signs to the Freus Tunnel that crosses the French border, and we finally did see a sign for France, very close the the border! What a hoot that was!

Then, just before going through the tunnel, we passed by a famous cycling climb on the Giro d’Italia, Mt. Sestriere, and then early into the Alps, we passed two more famous mountain climbs of the Tour de France… the most famous – the Col du Galibier, and the Col de la Madelaine – so cool and so awesome to see *where* they ride!!!