We left Parma yesterday and headed up to Padua (or Padova). This is to be our last stop in Italy before we head over to Croatia. Once again, Padua proves to be a real gem - the sum of its parts turns out to be greater than its individual attractions. We spent the whole afternoon getting lost in the maze of its inner city streets. We must be getting accustomed to the nature of Italian cities - no matter how much we got turned around we always had a sense of the direction we needed to take to get back to where we started. When we finally got back to where we parked the car there was a surprise waiting for us - our first parking ticket (who new that parking in front of a bank of post office boxes wasn't allowed?). Must remember to pay the fine before we leave.

Today we've decided to do a day trip to Venice. Even though we were there a couple of years ago, we think it's time for another visit. This time we decided to wander the "back streets" instead of sticking to the main attraction - the Grand Canal. So, with map in hand (and the occasional help from Google Maps), we set about navigating the labyrinthine streets and canals. It proved to be easier than we first thought. As we passed through piazzas, crossed over bridges, we experienced a side of Venice we weren't aware of - a place where real people lived and worked despite the fact they were living in what is considered to be one of the great treasures of the world. We came across artisans going about their trade repairing cobbled streets or renovating houses, elderly men and women gathering in piazzas to catch up with each other, bakeries putting out their wares for the day. it all proved to be much more interesting than the multitude of churches and museums that abound in the city.

To cap off a wonderful day of exploring, we visited the San Marco Basilica. If you had to visit just one thing in Venice then this would be it. In a word - breathtaking. Words don't describe it, you have to see it for yourself. you have to hand it to the Italians - they don't do things by half measures.

Tonight we went to a local restaurant and had probably our best meal of the trip so far. Julie had a bowl of gnocchi and I had a plate of tagliatelle. Both dishes were simply superb - made from fresh ingredients and served with a variety of sauces, mushrooms and olive oil. note the picture of the "knob" of butter. There were about 30 tables in the restaurant, and every one of them had this great slab of butter on it - cholesterol sufferers would have had a heart attack!!

Tomorrow we leave Padua (and Italy) and head across to Croatia. Our first stop will be in Pula, a town on the Istrian Peninsula.