tour "Great Rome"
Well, a year has passed and again we did not sit still and we wanted to look at old Europe. A year ago we went on the Elegant Paris tour. This year they planned the "Star Dance of France and Switzerland", but after waiting all summer and postponing the departure date twice, in the hope that the tour would still take place, 2 weeks before the departure it became clear that it was not. The operator offered 3 options for replacement. This “retreat” was already discussed by us and the decision came by itself: we are going again (we were in April 2013) to “Great Rome”. There was some "oversight" after the first time. Somehow before it was thought that we should have one more time, but there were other horizons alluring us, and here “the solitaire came together. ”
Coming to Lviv is like coming home. We are still going for the third time, but even we did not expect such coincidences. The fact that Yura Gorchevich would be the head of the group was somehow not even discussed, by itself, of course, but who else? But the fact that we will go on the same bus as a year ago to Paris! They hugged the drivers and Yura like relatives who had not seen each other for a long time. Joy, honestly! But one more coincidence surprised and put an end to the correctness of our choice. On the way to the Hungarian border, all buses stop at the cafe-restaurant "O Kay" for a snack and a toilet. And so, when Christina Mykhailyak, our escort from last year's tour to Paris, ran out to meet us in it, it became clear that we were going in the “right” direction. I am writing all this lyrical digression to the fact that we really like this travel agency and the people who work in it. We traveled a lot on various bus tours around the country and abroad, but we have not seen such a sincere atmosphere and such an excellent organization anywhere else.
We love Budapest! The first on the way from Ukraine and what a contrast! Cleanliness and good roads! We have already walked on our program. To begin with, we visited the baths, but not Szecheniye, but Rudash. Fabulous! The weather is great, 27 degrees in September. There are places to soak up the sun. Then we decided to stay on the Buda side and finally climb Mount Gellert. From the third visit to Budapest, finally! A very pleasant park, walked up, breathed in the bus.
First wine tasting at Balaton with Hungarian fish soup and stewed ribs. Everyone must visit! Firstly, it is inexpensive, and secondly, after a whole day in Budapest, the appetite is “brutal” and this will definitely not be superfluous. This is how the second day passed.
On the third day we are moving towards Italy and on the way we stop at the capital of Slovenia - Ljubljana. Here is also a city in which you want to settle in retirement. Quiet, calm, respectable.
There, instead of a viewpoint, we climb the castle hill. It is drizzling, and on the Internet it was written that it was hard and long to go, somewhere there is a funicular, but we did not find it. And it doesn’t take long to go: the locals go up the mountain to the park to walk with their dogs. Don't trust the Internet! Try everything yourself!
After walking up, be sure to drink delicious coffee and eat awesome (you won’t try this anywhere else) jibanika. This is a multi-layered pie with apples, cottage cheese, nuts and many more toppings!
And on to Florence.
This is where all the "surprises" begin. On inspection of Florence, from the hotel arrived by bus. The sightseeing tour, which was previously included in the price of the tour, has now become paid. We have already been and we have a strong desire to get into the Uffizi Gallery. At 9 am we are already in line and after 1 hour and 20 minutes, unexpectedly for ourselves, we get there! Tickets can also be booked via the Internet, it will cost 4 euros more, but the reservation is quickly changed at a special box office for a ticket and you skip the line, but we read all sorts of nonsense on the net and didn’t risk it, that’s why we stood in line. I must say that according to experienced tourists, we practically “did not stand”. People wait for 4-5 hours. We are lucky! Recomend for everybody! But the elective to Pisa, which we would have taken with pleasure the second time, did not take place due to the fact that it had to be carried out by public transport (city bus, train, running, and then in the reverse order). And then it becomes clear why the tour is much cheaper than in the prosperous 2013! Hotels are all good, but you need to save on something! So let's walk in Florence, fortunately, there is something to see!
We even went for a walk to the Michelangelo Park on the opposite bank, there are beautiful panoramas from there!
Rome is waiting for us! All roads lead to this. Now I know for sure! I dreamed of returning there for three years! It is Rome that attracts me with its beauty and the number of masterpieces per square meter! And even the same hotel! How to go to your country house.
Be sure to go to the Vatican Museums if you are even a little bit of an art connoisseur! When else will there be such an opportunity!
If you take an elective, skip the line, independent travelers will have to stand for about 3 hours! It was a discovery for us that the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica is not from the territory of museums. Actually, in a completely different place. We thought that after going through the museums, we would smoothly get into the cathedral, but no. However, how not to get there? You have to get in, especially since the line is quite small to the metal detectors, only 15 minutes and we are again in the most grandiose cathedral of Catholicism. He amazes, he delights, he must be seen! And we recommend that the most persistent climb the dome, there is a whole square with cafes, mail and toilets. That's it, unexpectedly!
On the second day of their stay in Rome, the group travels to Naples and Pompeii. This is not to be missed! Pompeii makes an indelible impression. It's not a bunch of rocks! It's a whole big city! Which, by the way, still exists today. Naples is also original, not like all other cities! In general, perhaps, none of the cities proposed in the tour is like the others. Therefore, everything must be seen with your own eyes.
It's a pity, as always, time is short! You need to live in Rome for at least a week! Well, nothing, they will introduce a visa-free regime, then we will!
After Rome, where it was just summer for 2 days: 26 and 30 degrees, we go to San Marino, and there are 15 degrees and pouring rain. And again a surprise: a sightseeing tour in the form of an elective. Who was not, everyone went, and we ran to a familiar store to fulfill the daughter's order - to buy a bag. Bags are everywhere and whatever you want! And so elegant and good quality! Florence is simpler, in my opinion. We bought 2 bags and 2 belts. I'm showing off! It is impossible not to buy a chic leather bag for 33 euros and a belt for 5. But soaked to the skin! It's good that Yura gathered everyone for a tasting of wines and liquors, it warmed us up a little and cheered us up. True, not all drinks are worth buying there, there are places where it is cheaper, but you will not find Tears of Christ wine and Africa cream liqueur anywhere. This is their trademark.
In the evening, around 9 o'clock, we arrive in Padua. All with wet feet we walk in the evening
overview. Honestly, this is the day of the biggest disappointments. Previously, Venice was included in the tour price. We paid only for the boat and lived almost in the center of Padua. Now Venice is offered for 45 euros and people don’t take it, but no one explained to them that if they don’t take this elective, then they won’t get to Venice on their own, because. departure from Padua (and we live in the suburbs) at 14 o'clock. This raises another question: why was it necessary to drive the whole group with wet feet through the evening review? Why couldn't this review be moved to the next morning, knowing that no one was going to Venice? As a result, the group split up. Separate, desperate tourists, having cooperated, take a taxi for 120 euros and rush to Venice after breakfast. There, arriving from the mainland at the railway station, they board a vaparetto and sail to Piazza San Marco (it's about 40 minutes), from there they run in the opposite direction and again return to Padua by taxi. Calculating the movement of electric trains is almost impossible. The money is the same, but without an excursion, around and around. In general, no fun. Venice was supposed to be the "icing on the cake" and we would go there again with pleasure! But, due to the fact that the elective did not get enough, we travel by city bus for 40 minutes on our own to Padua. This is also an interesting city and there is also something to see! We got lost and therefore looked at the life of the city "from the inside", and not from the tourist trail, we saw much more than we planned. Finally got to the temple of Anthony of Padua. Impressive!
What I like about tours through Hungary is that it all ends with the Hungarian thermal baths. On this tour, this is Miskolc-Tapolca. The cave bath is very beautiful, but it got colder outside, and the temperature in the bath is still summer. We frankly freeze the whole group. As a result, many leave early. But still cool! And what beautiful lotuses bloom in the park!
It's a pity, but all good things come to an end quickly and so does our tour. 10 days flew by like one. Transit hotel and we are in Lviv!
We would like to wish you to return Venice to the cost of the tour on this tour. It's not about the price. Your quality is your calling card. Whoever wants to, will go for a higher price.
We hope to visit Switzerland next year with your help!
