From my daily journal: Bergamo, Italy to Venice, Italy 4/25/02 Thursday Had a great night's sleep. Elaine likes the style of the bathroom. I'll tape it for future reference. For breakfast we had quiche, chocolate cake, cereal, hard boiled eggs and strawberries over our cereal. We were sitting at our table and Elaine noticed one more tureen that we hadn't opened. I speculated it held scrambled eggs and bacon and Elaine said "and sausage". I went over to look and a dream come true - that's exactly what was in there! As we checked out of our hotel, they were having a parade for the 25th of April holiday. It's like the Fourth of July-it's Liberation Day where Italy was liberated from the Germans in WWII. We stashed our bags in the car parked on the street around the corner and went to get pictures of the Italian Communist Party flags. We happened upon an honor guard of various services where the mayor(?) was about to lay a wreath to the Unknown Soldier(?). We got it all on video. The video news stations were there too taking pictures. I was taping the cops bringing up the rear and they made me stop. I picked up an Italian/English dictionary at one of the few stores that were actually open. So we hopped onto the Autostrata headed for Venice. We hit traffic right away. Ended up going from 0 to 180 kph. That's about 111mph. We stopped in Verona and ended up wandering into the cemetery surrounded by a temple-like structure. Then we went to the top of the Tower Lamberti. The octagonal end of the tower still holds the old 'Rengo' and 'Marangona' bells and overlooks the whole city. Next we went to the Roman Arena- 2000 years old. It was inspiring to sit on the stone seats. It had been partially destroyed by an earthquake in the 80's AD and some of the stone had been quarried out but in the 1200's they began to restore it and continue to this day. We got some gelato then headed back to the Autostrata and Venice. We gassed up for the 1st time just short of Venice. About 3/4 tank cost ¤ 41.00 to fill up. We found our way to the San Marco parking garage that the hotel had emailed us to stay at. We caught the #1 waterbus that gave us a tour around the Grand Canal. Our hotel is behind the Danielli Hotel. A small door that you have to be buzzed into. Our room is on the top floor over looking the little square outside. Now we are at the Al Graspo de Ua near the Rialto Bridge that the person we bought Venisian glass from who lived here recommended to Elaine. Service couldn't have been better. Kept us informed, filled, helpful, happy, and friendly. Check out the flattened chicken. Put a clean tablecloth over our dirty one for dessert course. Plus gave us a plate of Venetian cookies. Bella! Next "Sight": Venice day 2