Tam and Toby ~~ Hunting Zorba .....Take two.

[chaser]

If it was me and you are short of time I would spend a couple of days there and miss Pisa of your itinerary, it's not a patch on Venice.

 

[busby]

You won't believe this but we actually had tea in st marks Square with the violinist paradeing about, the works, cost us £25 for two cups of tea, but the atmosphere was out of this world.
Tam do not miss it now you are so close.

You cant take it with you,,,Memory for life,,BUSBY.

 

[Stonemags76]

I’m not a one for buildings etc, but a water taxi to St Marks Square & a walk round Venice was the best money I have spent on travel in many years! Venice is amazing, come rain or shine! Don’t miss it - miss other bits of Italy, but not Venice!

 

[Langtoftlad]

If it was me and you are short of time I would spend a couple of days there and miss Pisa of your itinerary, it's not a patch on Venice.

Not sure that's a fair comparison - but if it's either or, then Venice definitely.
If you're not going up the tower, or into the museum etc... then a passing hour in Pisa is enough to tick the box.

 

[Langtoftlad]

Venice has it's own leaning towers:

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[chaser]

Not sure that's a fair comparison - but if it's either or, then Venice definitely.
If you're not going up the tower, or into the museum etc... then a passing hour in Pisa is enough to tick the box.

Not really compareing but if he is going to miss Venice to go to Pisa which is on the other side of the country to his ferry it's not worth it.

 

[gpat]

If it was me and you are short of time I would spend a couple of days there and miss Pisa of your itinerary, it's not a patch on Venice.

I'd agree. Pisa is a disappointment and we got pick pocketed there as well

 

[chaser]

Venice has it's own leaning towers:

Having been to Venice many times on package tours to lido De jesolo, which we love , when we got our first motorhome we made Pisa our destination, and got there fine but always thought it was a let down after Venice, and didn't stop after seeing the tower.

 

[busby]

Jesus Tam are you superman I spent 5 days there still didn't get around all of it.
Venice is a gem to be savoured.

Sounds like some friends of ours,,Berlin in 3 hours,,we were there 4 days with a friend who had worked in Berlin for 17 years showing us the sites and still didnt see it all. BUSBY.

 

[chaser]

Venice is not your normal town with a church and a monument to look at, it's total monuments, with hours needed for each, the streets and cafes , the waterways , markets , artists all manner , too much to adequately describe.

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[Podney]

Tam,like others I’ve been to Venice and Pisa (although not with a motorhome).
I would say that,out of the two,Venice is 1000 times more interesting to visit than Pisa. So if you are short of time,leave out Pisa.
I wouldn’t spend just a couple of hours in Venice,that would almost be a crime. Listen to your uncle Lennie savour it over a few days. Miss something else out instead if you can. Lecture over!

 

[berni109]

Probably too late and u may have moved on but I am sure I was reading on here not long ago that u can park more or less at the end of the bridge in venice but very expensive.

 

[gpat]

Yeah. Pisa has the tower. It's a bit smaller than you'd imagine. Pisa has little else going for it

 

[Hymerbell]

Well we have arrived at venice .....or should i say near venice.
This place is a nightmare for parking ....theres a motorhome parking area on the lagoon ....€40 ...no chance.

Theres a sosta round the corner from the carpark im currently in which is €15 i believe.

The carpark im in is free ....but from reviews its mixed ...some have parked with no problems but theres 2 others who have had breakins.

Its 5.6km from venice centre so over an hours walk each way .

Its very foggy today .....

Apparently cant buy bus tickets on the bus and im not sure i want to be on a bus at present. ....also not sure if dogs can go on bus.

Bloody nightmare as id like to see venice but no intention of staying overnight...no carparks closer that you can just pay for an hour or 2 .


Not many options ...dont know what to do

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I stayed on a campsite and caught the boat to Venice about 30 mins....nice way to arrive in Venice as well.

 

[spitfire]

Have stayed for 3 days in Venice on two occasions and stayed both times at Camping Fusina. Boat over just beside the site . Absolutely love the place . Agree Pisa was disappointing.

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[Lenny HB]

You won't believe this but we actually had tea in st marks Square with the violinist paradeing about, the works, cost us £25 for two cups of tea, but the atmosphere was out of this world.
Tam do not miss it now you are so close.

We were there for my 50th took MIL (her 70th day beofe my 50th) treated wife's sister and one of our kids came.
In St Marks sq they all ordered a coffee, I had a G&T. A huge tumbler of Gin arrived with a big split tonic & 4 tiny cups of coffee all €6 each (was 20 years ago) they were most peed off.

 

[Lenny HB]

When we went to Pisa the tower was closed, they reopened it a week after we go back home.
Apart from the Tower and the Basilica not much else apart from pick pockets, they tried but didn't get anything.

 

[Mikey RV]

Get your hand in your pocket you tight git. If you don’t go and see stuff you will regret it when you drive away.

 

[Sasbo]

Another vote for Camping Fusina and agree with other Funsters about Pisa, Venice is far more interesting. Been there a number of times with and without the motorhome and keep finding new hidden gems. Also visited with our previous German Shepherd who was allowed on the water taxis.

Go for it is my advice.

 

[Bilbo Baggins]

I'd have to second Lido de Jesolo. done it twice. Open deck ferry to St Mark's Square.
Pisa has gone downhill as full of dubious street sellers, even interrupting one's meal.

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[Northernraider]

Ok well thats kept you all entertained for an afternoon while i was crawling along the country in the pea soup.

I didnt visit venice.

Why you may scream.

Well for a few reasons to be honest

First off
Going by the dozens of posts on here while it is not a city to be missed its clearly also not a city to be rushed.

Second
The weather today isnt the best ...its not cold and its not raining thankfully but its also really foggy and the forecast for tomorrow was more fog with patches of rain.

Third
Im concerned that i have just 8 days to travel down through italy avoiding motorways and toll roads while trying to still see things and not spend all day everyday driving.

This wasnt the original plan ....my plan was to drive to greece overland taking till the start of December to do so ....then spending december and january in greece and returning via italy on the way home ...taking a month or 6 weeks up through italy.
That plan was buggered ....so as i hate doubling back and to do the camping on board ferry that ends on 31st october i have to make do with visiting the down leg of italy in just 8 days.

Venice will still be there to visit later when i can spend more time there .... possibly on the return route if things have calmed down a bit with covid and i can do my planned route in reverse and come back through albania and croatia etc ...then i can possibly do venice then ....and park over the other side as chaser suggested.
If i cant do that route then i plan to retirn through Bulgaria Romania etc instead.
I dont plan to get ferry back from greece to italy unless ive no other option.

It might sound mad to some to have been so close and not visit ...but then my planned few hours seemed madness to some anyway so i can't win either way.

Im disappointed I didn't see it today ...but it remains on my list of places to visit.

As for pisa ...i don't expect much from it to be honest but as Florence is on my list and comes highly recommended i figured pisa isnt a million miles away so not a big detour to see the tower on a flying visit.

No intention to spend much time in big cities and im trying to avoid crowded places and public transport etc as much as i can ....covid is still rife here and while masks are mandatory many wear them around their chin etc or covering mouth and not nose.

I certainly dont want to take the chance of getting it here and not being able to get to greece.

So i moved on ....im currently here for tonight. ...

 

[Northernraider]

What this trip has made me realise again ....and to be honest i was having thoughts before i left is when i get back im going to change vans again. I want a 7 metre 2 axle with a garage and on a heavy 4.2 -5 tonne chassis.
So i can carry a scooter again and a push bike. And while im at it id like left hand drive and automatic if i can get it.
Not fussed whether A class or coachbuilt and id rather not have a drop down bed at the front. As much as i love Toby i dont want a bike on the back and i dont want to tow when abroad.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Ok well thats kept you all entertained for an afternoon while i was crawling along the country in the pea soup.

I didnt visit venice.

Why you may scream.

Well for a few reasons to be honest

First off
Going by the dozens of posts on here while it is not a city to be missed its clearly also not a city to be rushed.

Second
The weather today isnt the best ...its not cold and its not raining thankfully but its also really foggy and the forecast for tomorrow was more fog with patches of rain.

Third
Im concerned that i have just 8 days to travel down through italy avoiding motorways and toll roads while trying to still see things and not spend all day everyday driving.

This wasnt the original plan ....my plan was to drive to greece overland taking till the start of December to do so ....then spending december and january in greece and returning via italy on the way home ...taking a month or 6 weeks up through italy.
That plan was buggered ....so as i hate doubling back and to do the camping on board ferry that ends on 31st october i have to make do with visiting the down leg of italy in just 8 days.

Venice will still be there to visit later when i can spend more time there .... possibly on the return route if things have calmed down a bit with covid and i can do my planned route in reverse and come back through albania and croatia etc ...then i can possibly do venice then ....and park over the other side as chaser suggested.
If i cant do that route then i plan to retirn through Bulgaria Romania etc instead.
I dont plan to get ferry back from greece to italy unless ive no other option.

It might sound mad to some to have been so close and not visit ...but then my planned few hours seemed madness to some anyway so i can't win either way.

Im disappointed I didn't see it today ...but it remains on my list of places to visit.

As for pisa ...i don't expect much from it to be honest but as Florence is on my list and comes highly recommended i figured pisa isnt a million miles away so not a big detour to see the tower on a flying visit.

No intention to spend much time in big cities and im trying to avoid crowded places and public transport etc as much as i can ....covid is still rife here and while masks are mandatory many wear them around their chin etc or covering mouth and not nose.

I certainly dont want to take the chance of getting it here and not being able to get to greece.

So i moved on ....im currently here for tonight. ...


View attachment 435254View attachment 435255

I'd have done the same. A pandemic is not a great time to be messing about in cities and you want a nice sunny day.

 

[Podney]

Well,you’ve disobeyed orders and so you will be Court Marshalled in the morning.

But actually,yes,I think your reasoning is sound...........not that what I think matters!

Onwards and Upwards! Enjoy the next stage!

 

[Northernraider]

The few photos i did take today ...a stop we did for doggy walk and coffee.

Then a couple from the road when it wasn't as foggy ....its been dull and cloudy all day
Oh and milo trying to lick the bottom of a yoghurt pot

Italian drivers are nuts...thats my overall opinion ...they can't stand you doing 2km under the limit and will squeeze past at any opportunity...the limit changes about 10 times over the space of a mile , and there are speed cameras everywhere.
And the road surfaces are a mix between brand new and cattle tracks

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[Leith Laddie]

some images from Venice October 2019.

 

[Lenny HB]

Italian drivers are nuts...thats my overall opinion ...they can't stand you doing 2km under the limit and will squeeze past at any opportunity.

Greek drivers are just as bad.

 

[busby]

I'd have done the same. A pandemic is not a great time to be messing about in cities and you want a nice sunny day.

Agree ,,we have not entered a city at all this trip and greatly reduced our touring.Much prefer nature anyway, beaches hills forest and mountains. Felt very safe especially in Spain.BUSBY.

 

[Northernraider]

Greek drivers are just as bad.

Aye i know .... basically every other nation bar british

 

[Lenny HB]

Right decision Tam enjoy the rest of Italy.

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