On our way up towards the Mont Blanc tunnel, we encountered snow, and a wait to get into the tunnel. The kids are happy as long as they can play on the Ipad. | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4030.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4033.jpg) | Our first stop was at Issognes Castle. It was a bust - you had to be part of a guided tour to get in, and the guide spoke almost no English. Plus, no photos once we got in. | | In Torino. |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4050.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4053.jpg) | Eric took the kids to the Egyptian Museum while I was at our apartment, suffering from norovirus or something. | | I thought this poster was interesting - it says "NO to expensive funerals!" |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4055.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4067.jpg) | At the Cinema Museum in Torino | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4085.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4087.jpg) | | | Peter signs the guest book |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4090.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4093.jpg) | This is the building that houses the Cinema Museum. It's a former synagogue. | | In the market. We bought some tasty fruit there, at much better prices than the supermarkets. These wagons look kind of archaic, but were in use. |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4096.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4107.jpg) | Interesting looking artichokes. Not sure I understand the price...it can't possibly be 10 for 1 Euro? | | We stopped for hot chocolate at a cafe. It wasn't the hot chocolate we're used to, though - it was the same VERY thick, eat with a spoon chocolate with whipped cream on top that we got in Madrid. |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4109.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4116.jpg) | This fancy old-fasioned place is actually a hardware store | | The kids got some chocolate eggs with surprises inside for Easter |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4123.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4124.jpg) | The new pope is a big deal here! | | Via Garibaldi - they say it's the longest pedestrian street in the world |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4126.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4129.jpg) | At the Piazza Castello | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4135.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4137.jpg) | | | At the Po river. Previously you were able to take a boat trip (30 hours) to Venice from here |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4143.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4148.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4149.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4155.jpg) | Peter got really into picking flowers everywhere we went. | | At the monastery Sacra di San Michele, in Avigliana, built on a huge bluff. Supposedly this is where Umberto Eco got the inspiration for the book The Name of the Rose. Luckily it was a sunny day and we had some great views. |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4166.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4170.jpg) | | | The kids and I thought this shadow looked a lot like a dragon |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4171.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4187.jpg) | | | Parts of this old monastery are from the 11th century |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4194.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4210.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4222.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4240.jpg) | Inside the church, we saw a proposal of marriage occur. I guess she said yes - they looked very happy! | | View from the top. You can also see the ruins of the old monastery. |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4241.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4259.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4262.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4281.jpg) | | | In the apartment we stayed at in Turin |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4283.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4285.jpg) | Next, we drove to Verona. We stayed in an apartment there as well, the Residence all'Adige. There were some American college students staying there for a study abroad program. | | Peter makes another bouquet |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4289.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4291.jpg) | Walking towards the old city along the river Adige. In the background is the Castelvecchio Bridge | | The kids like getting these ice creams that look like bananas, to the point of being able to "peel" it |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4293.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4301.jpg) | | | An old roman wall in Verona |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4309.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4313.jpg) | Verona was beautiful - lots of little courtyards everywhere | | The ladder is a symbol of Verona - you can see it in the wrought iron gate here |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4321.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4324.jpg) | Saw this guy in the streets. An interesting twist! | | The old Roman ampitheater. We didn't go in, but apparently the outside is more impressive anyway |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4328.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4329.jpg) | | | We found a way home that led through the Porta Catena |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4333.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4336.jpg) | Next day - towards the city through Parco delle Mura | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4340.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4342.jpg) | At Ponte Pietra, an old Roman bridge | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4347.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4369.jpg) | At the Roman forum | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4373.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4375.jpg) | Peter took this one | | Great views of the city from the museum on the above the forum |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4381.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4415.jpg) | | | At the Santa Anastasia church. I don't think I've ever seen those wooden support beams being required for the arches in other churches |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4419.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4443.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4454.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4456.jpg) | Verona was so picturesque I ended up taking a lot of street shots that I thought were particularly pretty. | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4462.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4464.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4465.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4469b.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4477.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4480.jpg) | Kenny also got into the flower picking with Peter | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4483.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4491.jpg) | Back at the apartment Peter sorted all the flowers he picked | | Day trip to Venice - on the boat along the Grand Canal to San Mark's Square |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4492.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4494.jpg) | This guy looks like he's rowing for exercise | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4498.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_0333.jpg) | This is how containers get transported in Venice | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4507.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4510.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4511.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4513.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4523.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4554.jpg) | | | In St Mark's Square. The actual basilica had a lot of construction going on |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4561.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_0382.jpg) | The line to get in moved pretty quickly | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4591.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4592.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4593.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4598.jpg) | | | Sheesh, there's just so many beautiful spots in Venice! |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4599.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4601.jpg) | | | There's frequent floods in Venice. In many public areas there are elevated walkways set up just in case of flooding. |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4610.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4603.jpg) | | | The kids loved the little amaretti cookies you can get in Italy |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_0400.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4622.jpg) | The bridge of sighs (headed towards the prison) | | Peter really enjoyed feeding the pigeons |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4639.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4658.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4649.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4664.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4670.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4674.jpg) | The famous Rialto bridge. It's covered in grafitti, hard to imagine why they don't paint over it. | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4677.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4682.jpg) | | | DHL delivers in Venice, too! |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4687.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4708.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4710.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4711.jpg) | | | I noticed a store selling refills of cleaning fluids, etc. I wonder if this is popular here because garbage disposal is so expensive? |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4713.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4714.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4715.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4718.jpg) | The COOP grocery store here is a LOT more scenic than the one close to our apartment in Geneva! | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4732.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4734.jpg) | Almost back to the car now... | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4739.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4738.jpg) | We ate at the AutoGrill on the way back. I don't think I've ever eaten over a highway before! | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4742.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4745.jpg) | This little lookout tower was very close to our apartment. Maybe from World War II? | | In Sirmione, on Lake Garda |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4749.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4755.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4756.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4761.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4764.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4767.jpg) | Walking along the perimeter of the island | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4771.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4773.jpg) | The Grotto of Catullus (ruins of a huge old Roman villa). It was an amazing place to walk through. | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4775.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4780.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4784.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4786.jpg) | | |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4791.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4799.jpg) | This old fragment of a wall is held up by a cable | | We had a lot of fun playing hide and seek among the ruins |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4795.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4800.jpg) | | | The stones with the holes in them were used to hold up sun canopies |
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| ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4807.jpg) | | ![](/Pictures/2013/03-28-2013-italy/gallery_img_4798.jpg) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |