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Final Thoughts

Another full disclosure:  if you hadn't noticed already, all the posts beginning with the second day in Dubrovnik were written and posted after we got home.  There just wasn't enough time in the day to get everything in.  Or I was just too tired. Gate 1 Travel is a great way to go and I'd recommend them to anyone.  I've said it before but our guide was really good and we saw a lot.  I was worried that we wouldn't have much time on our own but as you've seen, we were able to explore some by ourselves.  Also, the hotels we stayed in were more luxurious than what we do on our own and there were things (like the water taxi) that the company could arrange easier than I could.  All our fellow travelers in the group were very nice--we made some new friends on the way. All the places we saw were great, but I would have liked to spend more time in Pula, Zagreb (to give it more of a chance), Ljubljana, and of course Venice--a day and a half isn't enough time the...
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Goodbye, Venice (Day 13, May 29)

First I want to post a picture I forgot to upload last time: Venetian Door The door itself isn't the interesting part (to me).  Look closely at the lintel above it--the Roman numerals read "IXXXX," or 41.  I was told this was from a time when the numbers were read right-to-left instead of left-to-right and before they started using subtracting numerals.  This would be written "XLI" later. So, today we got up early--earlier than I even usually do--at 1:30 am to be ready to leave the hotel at 3:30.  What was cool about this is that the ride to the airport was via water taxi.  Not too many pictures of it (since it was dark) but it was quite the experience. Fe and I on the water taxi The taxi parked at the airport. Venice airport is on the mainland.  I didn't time the ride, but it may have been 15 to20 minutes--we really hit some speed on the way, unlike the more sedate canals.  I noticed that our taxi driver stayed in a lane marked by wooden posts across ...
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Venice, Part 2 (Day 12, Mar 28)

 So much for hope--it's still raining today.  Today we have our guided tour and gondola ride.  First we went to Murano island, famous for its glasswork. The glass factory This is only that last bit of what the craftsman did, but he finished this in less than a minute. Murano Lighthouse Rainy square   Walking on the platforms (that I thought were for taking pictures). Another leaning tower in Italy--San Giorgio Dei Greci I'm glad we pushed ourselves yesterday to see the square when there was sun because today there was none--the rain was actually worse.  We got to the gondolas and while i saw none that were running, they were willing to take us out in the downpour.  What really killed it though was that the stone steps you needed to get into the gondola were at least a foot underwater.  So we decided to cancel it and we should be getting a refund from Gate 1. We did get to look around the city some and we had a nice lunch and dessert. Fe's tiramisu and...
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Road to Venice (Day 11, Mar 27)

 After another great buffet breakfast (I am trying to behave myself) at Park Hotel, we boarded the bus for our final destination--Venice.  Our group was now a cozy dozen and while the original group was not the typical size of 40 or so since we're off-season, we knew everyone by then and it was kind of nice.  Our guide was probably glad to get a break by not having to herd as many people around. We were headed toward the Italian border--the opposite direction of Ljubljana and toward the coast, so the terrain was getting flatter.  There were little towns along the way that you could see from the highway.  I'd've loved to visit them, but... My iPhone says this is Ajdovščina . This is Vrtojba . We stopped at a rest area in Slovenia (before the above pics were taken) and tragedy struck!  It was rainy and wet and when I got off the bus and I pulled a hamstring stepping down.  Never did that before and it hurt, but I'm glad it wasn't a joint or tendon proble...
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Bled and Ljubljana (Day 10, Mar 26)

Our hotel is only steps away from Lake Bled .  So naturally, I was up early to take a walk around the lake. Bled Castle Assumption of Mary Church .  You're going to see a lot of these. Bled Castle View of the Julian Alps Sunrise behind the church Crucifix in a carved niche on the side of the mountain. Another view of the church Our hotel (Hotel Park) is the darker building.  Not much to look at, but the location was great, the buffet was good, and the room was comfortable. Morning view I'm glad I got up early to do this but while flat and easy, the walk around the lake was longer than I thought at 6 km (3.7 mi).  I had to hustle towards the end to make it back in time for breakfast.  And I'm not much of a hustler. After breakfast we got on the bus which took us to Bled Castle , the oldest castle in Slovenia.   View from the castle Fe and I at another castle viewpoint   Inside the castle courtyard.  The "Bird of Paradise"  is a symbol of ...
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