Mary Ellen’s Misadventure on Trenitalia and Barry rides solo to Bassano del Grappo
Soave has been a special place for us to visit in spite of Mary Ellen spending part of the time sick in bed. Thirty three years ago, we got married and our choice of wine served at the wedding dinner was Soave Bolla. It’s fate, right.
As well as the wine connection, we like the small, quaint town of Soave surrounded by the picturesque plain and hills full of vineyards. It helped that we were able to stay in luxury for a budget price.
Mary Ellen has become more sick overnight and has a heavy cough. We asked about staying another night, but the hotel is completely booked. Barry came up with the idea for Mary Ellen to take the train and he would ride solo. A good idea.
The hotel transported Mary Ellen to nearby San Bonifacio train station and the hotel printrd out a good connection getting her to Bassano del Grappa by 2:30. Well, that is when the fun started. After a long one sided Italian conversation from the train clerk rejecting the hotel’s print out from the Trenitalia site along with many gesticulations, and saying “not possible today”. After many laloras”, the route became, train 1 to Venice, then transfer to a second train to Bassano. Each train was quite late, little information was given to passengers, confusion seems to the norm, track #’s change with out notice and then when we got within a stop of Bassano, everyone got off, except the tourists. It turns out the line has a problem. So the wait began for another late train to go one more stop. I finally got to the hotel at 6 pm -3 1/2 hours late for a trip of 83 km. We sometimes see travellers touring by train and imagine their trip to be easier. However, after today, being autonomous on your own bike is preferable.
Meanwhile, Barry had a brute of a ride on a seriously hot day of 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit). A steep climb of 15 km to Vicenza began the day , which then flattened out to Bassano. He didn’t arrive at the hotel in Bassano until after 8 pm, tired and very hot. We’ll stay here for 2 nights and try to recover, Barry from his tough ride and Mary Ellen from her cold.
We are staying at the small family run Hotel Brennero in Bassano del Grappa which suits us. We prefer the personal touch and charm of these hotels. It is comfortable, quiet, includes a breakfast buffet and best of all, our room has a killer view of the foothills of the Alps, including Mount Grappa. In a word, it is spectacular.
Barry is a solo tandem rider today, so he has to take his own photo. Thank goodness for reflective doors at the hotel.
The trains are modern and comfortable, but strangely there’s is only one small bench on the platform. Considering that the norm seems to be late trains, more benches would be helpful.
It was interesting to see cyclists waiting for their train. I didn’t see any tandems or recumbents and from what I saw, we might have trouble getting it on. However, the shortage of train workers would give us the possibility of trying.
I feel kind of silly taking a selfie, and I always think that one look so silly, but when travelling alone, how else can you prove that you were really here?
Is it just us, but we see an epidemic of people posing at sights. Most often we see young women in glamorous clothing posing endlessly in front of a point of interest. They show no interest in where they are, rather their interest seems to be self directed. This must be replacing selfies.At least these guys showed a sense of humour. But it can’t be annoying.
Vicenza and the surrounding area is special due to the architectural works of Palladio and these extraordinary villas and Piazzas have made Vicenza a Unesco Heritage site.
