Miscellaneous shots 2012 #3

That afternoon it was Villa Carlotta and more hills to climb. This was a large arboretum garden laid-ed out in sections by the plantings. First picture is the fern garden, third is the bamboo garden, there were large collections of azalea and rody's here as well. Four picture are redwoods and fifth a pretty garden of annuals with boxwood topiary ducks.

There were many jm's here although they were not is good condition which was painful to see and what otherwise was a well maintained garden.

This message was edited Oct 23, 2012 9:58 AM

and a few from out ferry ride back to Bellagio across the lake. First is a James Bond want-to-be that was flying around the shoreline. Some nice views from the boat and the last is a shot of Bellagio from the water.

Last morning before we head off to Milan. We hiked over the hill to a small fishing village in the first 4 images. The last is a good by to Bellagio.

Here is the Duomo Catherdral which is worth the trip as it is bueatiful.

That's all folks...........................

wow, just gorgeous
def got a workout climbing those stairs and all those inclined streets, huh?
Amazing that guy trimming those shrubs

Lake Como has to be one of the most scenic places in Italy....photos brought back a few memories....

Wow
Um, wow

thanks for the great tour Bill.. awesome shots!!

Wow - so jealous, Bill! We are hoping to go next year.

thanks all - I have 600 or 700 more :)

she spent the first week in Austria and then Italy for work - flew on frequent flyer miles to meet her - glad we did and would go back and pack less places to see. Head for the hills for a week (and plan the hiking trails beforehand) and let her choose where ever she wants for the second week. It would not be a city though.

Victor better save some cash, very $$ over there.

I'm sure. Tough with four of us!

Just beautiful Bill!!

How did you get around? Train? Car rental? How did you choose lodging?

Awesome shots, wha. Looking forward to seeing your interpretation of the the rocks as containers for jms. Very inspiring!!!

How was the Chinese food there??

Just lovely Bill, you took me away to a different venue and it was just what I needed. Thanks for sharing!

Glad it was a distraction Celeste, I was just thinking of you and know you will heal in time.


Victor we used the bus/train system in Verona for travel to Venice for the day trip.. Very helpful to speak some Italian which we do not. I had quite a trip alone from Milan to Verona to meet Cindy, I literally did not know I was on the right Metro Train/Train/Bus to the hotel (just outside of Verona) until I walked in the front door. Cindy was calling me every step of the way and even had me speak with her translator for help which he wasn't. She thought I was making up the difficulty and confusion, until we did the run into Milan to see the Duomo Cathedral our last afternoon, a forty minute trip took us 2 1/2 hours because no one we could find spoke english to point us in the right direction or if they did there was a lot of guess work left to interpret. She wanted to head back several times so I had some redemption. It did only take 40 minutes back after we figured it out.

If you want to see Venice stay in Venice. It will cost and worth it. The guide books are very helpful in planning and we used one focused on northern Italy. We did borrow some for all of Italy to decide where to go. I had wanted to use my FF miles for Australia and when that trip was nixed it gave me the leverage to head for the hills so Northern Italy was the destination.

After Verona we picked up a rental car and drove using map quest directions to the hotels. After agreeing on where to visit (and took a couple months) I got on line and found Madonna di Campiglio for hiking, although I wish I had investigated the trails to take. There were comments on-line that claimed the small chalet was very helpful with hiking suggestions which they were not. Could not speak English and did not hike. There was another chalet in the Italian Alps that was our first choice, it was just too far to drive.

Cindy wanted to see George Clooney so Lake Como and Bellagio was the choice. Even without a George siting Bellagio was worth it. I would not head there in peak season as it must be a mad house although spring would be great for the garden tours and besides eating and the shops that is all there is to do. A few days is all that is needed in my opinion.

I can not stress enough how helpful the guide book was for us. I did not really think they would be helpful. The recommended a day trip to Venice which I do not and did not provide info on St. Mark's not allowing bags inside (we did not go in as I did not want to leave my bag with an expensive second lens out of my hands). Small details really. We had a great lunch in Venice and afterward found that it was the guides highest rated hotel so we got lucky. Restaurant in Venice was great and the sightseeing suggestions in Bellagio were very good and the hotel we stayed at was perfect (we used their suggestions for sightseeing to finalize our plans for our three days there.

Food was great! Never saw a square pizza all where round and excellent (Dolomites w/capaccio app's), then there were the dinners (mostly a pasta dish with capaccio app's), and then the wine..........loved the Amore Valpolcella's and a few other heavy red's. We usually relaxed late in the afternoon on our balcony with a bottle and then later the night sampled another vintage during dinner:)

I'd make a special trip to see George too!

i think you have said that twice now :)

hee hee ;)

I cannot imagine altering vacation plans for that, Bill! Shame!!

I wear the pants here :)

Hee hee.

Bike/car show and swap meet last week in PA at a county fair grounds while walking around my daughter picked me a bouquet, she has some talent in flower arranging

Went to Longwood Gardens today
Water lilies and lily pads

They had a train display

Nice shots of the water lily and pads! Love the train display.

very nice Jen!!

Would love to go there.....

Let me know when you're coming down

Would be in the summer & if I could get the train ...or bus....fairly close....

That would be cool, let me know

Loved Longwood! Maybe we can meet up?

Yeah we should plan a NE visit


Pics of the variety of fountains in the children's area in the conservatory

Some more fountains and decorative accents

Nice.

I'm in!

Great statuary.....I'm looking forward to it....

Love everyone's pics here.

Debi and Victor, your pics of Glacier and Yellowstone are fantastic! I have not been to either of those places. I've been to Yosemite several times. I used to live a 4 hour drive from there when I live in Reno. Beautiful place to visit. Wish I had some digital images I could post.

VV, those pics of AZ brought back memories of my trip there a couple years ago, and also when I lived there for four years. I loved it there, but not when the temps were 100 plus. Winter there is awesome. I have been to that Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Nice place. Did you get a chance to go to the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden? I absolutely love that place. Really special in the winter. Here's a link to a thread of pics from my trip there in 2011. This was when you could only post one pic at a time. So much easier now. Anyhow, looking back on that, I noticed I never did post any more pics. Maybe I'll have to add some more, as I had a lot more nice ones from that visit.

Great pics from Italy, Bill. I would have gone hiking in the snow in my younger days. These days, with my bad ankle and knees, I'd be afraid of slipping and breaking something. Would love to go someday. Actually, some places I would like to visit most would be Australia, Ireland, and south Africa. That pic of they guy trimming the shrubs was something else. I can't believe the size of those shrubs. Have you ever seen the documentary A Man Named Pearl? Quite amazing.

GG, nice pics from Coastal Botanical Garden. Hopefully I can get over there someday.

Jen, nice cranberry bog pics, and thanks for sharing more pics of Longwood. I would be in for a trip there to meet up with some of y'all. Would be fun. Been wanting to go back there again. This would be a good excuse. Spring would be a good time with all the bulbs in bloom. Very sweet bouquet from your daughter, Jen. Love it. That pic of the fountain with the pelican with the fish in his beak made me think of Finding Nemo.

Karen

Cannot believe there is still so much color in C Park. Saw a shot yesterday of the entire park that was breathtaking.

http://twitpic.com/beylm1