Menu
Cool Annie's Travels
  • Blog
  • Italy 2022
    • The process before leaving town...
    • About
    • Annie Hart Cool
  • Life as it appears to me
  • Blog
  • Italy 2022
    • The process before leaving town...
    • About
    • Annie Hart Cool
  • Life as it appears to me

Cool Annie's Travels

Picture

Notify Me

His name is Rea...

11/24/2018

2 Comments

 
When he shook my hand he held his wrist. I knew he was Zulu. When I asked his name he put his right hand over his heart and said “REA”.


He is our 24 year old bicycle guide. His smile is bright and I can tell he’s a natural comedian. Every time he said his name his right hand went up to his heart. I had to ask why.


He said his name is a gift from his parents and “i honor them each time I say it by putting my hand to my heart because without their gift I would not have a place in the world. I thank them by touching my heart.”


Ok. So this American shed a few solemn tears under my sunglasses with this poetic and heartfelt explanation. He’s a poet on a bike.


I asked REA what he would like to do with his “big” life and he said he’s saving to go to architectural school.


He walked my bike up a hill to the Richard Branson winery and smiled saying “don’t worry mum, many people have to walk this hill. Particularly after several glasses of wine.”


I didn’t care if it was true or not. I just thought he was a generous kid being very kind to the out of shape old American lady.


Mark was so impressed with REA that he bequeathed a Red Sox hat to the young man. REA knew absolutely nothing about the team but was eager to hear. He promised Mark he’d wear the hat for his American guests.


REA is Great young man.


I touch my heart when I say his name. To honor his parents who must be very proud!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
2 Comments
Chuuuuuuckkkkk
11/24/2018 05:49:18 pm

Rea, you are a fine example of a polite and grateful person to lead my friends on their biking adventure. And now a member of Red Sox Nation!!💟💟💟🚵‍♀️🚵‍♂️🚵‍♀️🚵‍♂️

Reply
Anonymous
11/27/2018 12:53:48 pm

He was a dear old soul

Reply



Leave a Reply.


    Archives

    August 2021
    July 2021
    September 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    November 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Picture

Our Bike and Barge Itinerary!

Day 1: Individual arrival in Mantova


Day 2: Mantova, 21 mi. (35 km)


Day 3: Mantova - Governolo - Zelo, 32 mi. (50 km)

Day 4: Zelo - Ferrara - Adria, 31 mi. by bike + 37 mi. by bus (50 + 60 km)

Day 5: Adria - Po Delta Nature Reserve - Pellestrina Island, 25 mi. (40 km)

Day 6: Pellestrina Island - Venice, 19 mi. (30 km)

Day 7: Venice, free day

Day 8: Venice,
​departure following breakfast
Picture
Mantova is one of the most beautiful towns in Northern Italy as many worldwide know artists have left their masterpieces for us to enjoy, thanks to the famous Gonzaga family! Benvenuti a Mantova!
Day 2: Mantova - round trip tour - 21 mi. (35 km)


This entire day is dedicated to the discovery of this wonderful city and its surroundings, dominated by the wealth and influences left by the Gonzaga family, who owned the city for over 400 years.

Mantova was considered one of the most important cultural cities in the Renaissance and it still maintains a lot of the landscapes and the building that made it famous during that period.

​ In the late afternoon, a local guide will lead you through the most known highlights of the town.

Picture
Day 3: Mantova - Governolo - Zelo, 32 mi. (50 km)

After breakfast, on board, you navigate from the "lakes" of Mantova and cruise through the lush wetlands that lead to Governolo Lock, where Mantova's Mincio River flows into the Po.

​ From here, by bike, you follow the broad sweeps of the levee towards Ostiglia, renowned for its medieval fortress and fierce fighting in 1945, as the Allies drove Hitler's forces back.
Bergantino, home of the distinctive Museum of Fairground Rides and its collection of street organs, all expertly restored (and thunderous!).


This village is also in the heartland of Grana Padano, the arch-rival of Parmesan. A visit to the local cheese factory, sampling some well seasoned Grana, is a must-do.

​You meet the barge in Zelo, a sleepy village on the Canal Bianco, the waterway which runs parallel to the Po.
Picture
Picture
Day 4: Zelo - Ferrara - Adria, 31 mi. by bike + 37 mi. by bus (50 km by bike + 60 km by bus)
Following breakfast, you will start cycling towards Ferrara. Once you have reached the town, which earned the name of "city of bicycles", you will be enchanted by the historical center, still surrounded by the old city walls.

​You will enjoy a guided town tour. From Ferrara, a short bus transfer will bring you to Adria, an ancient Greek port, famous for trading amber coming from the Baltic. It's a remarkable museum that also bears witness to its Etruscan, Roman, and Venetian Heritage.
Picture
​Day 5: Adria - Po Delta Nature Reserve - Pellestrina Island, 25 mi. (40 km)
After a short ride on board, you cycle into the delta of the life-giving Po. This unique wetland is the prime reserve in Europe for herons and home to a sizeable colony of flamingos. Weather permitting, as you continue towards Chioggia, you can also enjoy a stop at a beach and a dip in the Adriatic - not forgetting a hot savory piadina! Chioggia is also known as "Little Venice", a colorful fishing hub. The overnight takes place on the island of  Pellestrina, just in front of Chioggia.
Picture
Picture
Day 6: Pellestrina Island - Venice, 19 mi. (30 km)
Venice beckons, but first another world altogether: Pellestrina, the first of two islands you traverse today – a humble and tranquil fishing backwater, picturesque as ever with its cottages, boats, and nets. A short island-hop by ferry transfers to Lido. Fashionable in high society ever since the Belle Époque, the Lido di Venezia is now home to the International Venice Film Festival and its galaxy of stars.

​ After rejoining the barge, you will enjoy a leisure cruise in front of St Mark’s square to the final destination. After dinner, you can savor Venice at night, now free of the crowds and at her most romantic: Benvenuti a Venezia!
Picture
Day 7: Venice, guided walking tour and free time
A guided walking tour of Venice begins around 11 am and lasts approximately 1.5 hours. It begins in St. Mark square and continues towards the bigger "sestiere" of the city, Castello.

You will visit Campo Santa Maria Formosa where you can experience a characteristic market and then a city hospital and large gothic church in Campo dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo. Later, you will go to Campo Santa Marina and to the Rialto Bridge. During this tour, the guide will explain these sites from the outside, no entrances are planned. 
Picture
Picture

I guess I always knew this… but forgot?

As we prepare to leave on vacation the energy in the house is a mix between excitement and dread. You know the anticipation? The expectation ! And all the things you forgot.

I take a breath and lean in to my suitcase. I don’t know why I fret. The few things I pack can be washed and reworn!

If Covid taught us nothing it taught us sweat pants can last a week if handled carefully! Two weeks in Italy requires comfort clothes and something a little stylish… but wait, I live on Cape Cod!

We have completed most of the requisites. The note to the Dog sitter, the walk about with the gardener, the cleaned out refrigerator… but then it dawns on us…
what about the storage on our phones?

​TONIGHT. Tonight we will be deleting everything. Sorry, but it’s true.
Picture