8549 Ciao a tutti from West Australia

Hello, I hail from Perth, West Australia. Male, aged 62, unattached. Grumpy old man, the terror of teenage shop assistants.

A couple of years ago a bunch of us old fellers were discussing our unfulfilled dreams. Mine was to visit Venice which is a colossal long distance from Perth, and a dozen culture shocks outside my comfort zone. But, I'd always wanted to go there. But to go on my own, not speaking the language and all! None of my mates would come with me, so last year I went on my own. I studied italiano for six months and booked a guided tour of Italy, not knowing what to expect.

I purchased a new digital camera, a new suitcase which I emblazoned with reflective stickers so I could recognize it in the dark, new clothing from sub-tropical to arctic and a jacket and tie, phrase books, a GPS in case I got lost, a medical kit with my haemorroid cream and toothpaste sealed in a plastic bag, and something to read on the plane.

In hindsight I realise that I should have left the GPS at home as it failed to work in the northern hemisphere. I dunno why, I am gonna talk to the manufacturers, I recon that I should get half my money back, because they did not say that it would not work north of the equator in the handbook.
Perhaps it only works in Australia, Well if that be the case then they should say so. Also I did not need something to read on the flight It's a long time since I've been in an international flight. I did not know that they had video screens on the back of the seat in front of you, they should explain "Inflight Entertainment" a bit better.

The travel agent had booked me into Rome two days early at a "minimal cost" because they thought that it would help shake off my jet lag, so I would be fresh for the tour. Not necessary for me as it happenned maybe because I've done a lot of shift work in the past.

Anyhow the next morning, I'm up with the lark, pinging my GPS so I can find the hotel again but to no avail and I boarded the early shuttle to be dropped off in the centre of ROME!

All on my ownsome, I found the Pantheon, which previously I had confused with the Partheon. And my life changed forever. I walked the streets of Rome, and everything is closer than it looks on the maps.
I found the Trevi fountains, and the Spanish steps. Oh and a lot of other stuff, I wanderd the back streets and on every one I found a treasure.
Best day of my life I thought. But more was to come. Milan, Baveno, Assisi.
After visiting places I could only dream about, our tour arrived in Venice.

Sorry to say Venice was a bit of a letdown, herded here and there in gondolas, someone playing an accordian, hurry up and wait. I slipped the leash and got utterly los in the back streets. My own fault. Outside the touristy spots it's a bit drab. Spent two hours following signs that I thought where pointing somewhere interesting but in fact lead nowhere. In the final analysis I thought Venice was a bit oversold. Mia secondo, Venice is worth a visit, but only the once. Just to say that you have been there, show off to your mates.

Anyhow, I'm planning another visit this year because I fell in love with the culture and the people of italia, A week in Roma, and a week in Piedmont, longer if finances allow. Maybe we can meet.

A più tardi.