Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Padua – Rick Steves Tour Begins

I went to Padua by train through Florence. It was a very pleasant trip, all of the connections went smoothly and I arrived at the Albergo Al Fagiano just before the group meeting began. The decorations are a little on the bizarre side, but the breakfast and location are great. And, it has an elevator, which has become an issue as my ankle continues to go downhill. After a meet and greet, our ex-patriot tour guide, Lisa took us on a walking tour of Padua ending with a sumptuous meal - - four wonderful courses and no doggy bags! We walked through various market squares (quiet now, but busy in the morning), churches we will visit tomorrow, and across some of the canals that crisscross Padua much as they do nearby Venice. A nearly full moon had risen over the old Roman racecourse (now a large park).Padua is in the Veneto region of Italy, not far from Venice. I wish I had had time to visit the Botanical Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was created in 1550 to preserve medicinal plants and practice from around the world. It was the first botanical garden and made a profound contribution to the development of modern science, botany medicine, chemistry, ecology, and pharmacy.

No comments:

Post a Comment