Day 6.....

We have left the beautiful country side of the French Alps and made our way to Venice Italy.

We cross the boarder into Italy an easy experience, yet another toll gate where we hand over euros for the pleasure of driving through a tunnel that is 14 kms long. The gates are systematically raised to leave 150 metres between each car or truck.

Through the tunnel you are reminded to driver no less than 50kms p/h or no more than 70kms p/h and maintain space 150m blue lined are placed every 150m to remind us.

Down the mountain and through several tunnels the countryside is very different and industrial in some way.
The driving is easy and I have taken to the right side of the road okay speed limit is 130 and you have to keep up or you will not survive.

Toll gates are my pet hate and I am not having a good experience with them. I them either not close enough and just about hanging out of the window to collect my ticket. Some machines want cash and some only work with a card. One today wanted a credit card and do you think I would get the machine to take the card !! At one stage the card got caught in the machine and I was pushing every help button and the man on the end was speaking only Italian, by this time the cars were building up behind me and I was getting very stressed and those who know me that doesn't happen very much unless things are bad.
Good news finally the machine expects my card and the gate lifts and two relieved Aussies drive on.

We arrive in Venice and try to locate the parking station we are booked into and can't find it. We ask a man who tells us 'don't speak English' so we drive on. We come to a euro car hire place and pull up Brian asks the lovely lady where to go and she simply said I have waiting for you Mr Elliott. Relief, I think someone was watching over us.

We have parked the car and head to the train station next door to get a train over to the island. More fun and games with finding our hotel but finally do. Our room is no bigger than a single bedroom but does have an ensuite with a tinniest shower.

Venice is very busy with tourist we are directed to a lovely restaurant for dinner by our host for the night and are seated next to a couple of retired Aussies that live in Brisbane small world. Have a lovely time speaking with over dinner.

After taking in Venice by night head back to our hotel ( Hotel Lux) which has fabric on the walls and feeling a little uncomfortable. I think tonight I will be sleeping with my valuables and putting the chair behind the door.

Tomorrow we will do what you must when in Venice and take a gondola ride (80 euros) ouch and then head to San Gimangano Tuscany for a couple nights.