Lance's Commander's European Trip for 1998


In September 1998 I went to northern Italy and Nice, France to go sightseeing. After a half hour taxi ride, Bellagio was a pleasant surprise. Many gardens, narrow streets and surrounded by Lake Como on three sides, this isolated oasis was worth the trip.
[Bellagio street]
Downtown Bellagio with Lake Como in the background

The next two shots are from the balcony of our hotel room.
[Lake & garden]
Palace garden view
[Marina, lake & mountain]
Hotel room view of Lake Como

Later we went to Venice to find adventures there. It seemed that the tourists favorite attractions were (me included) to ascend to the top of Venice's towers to get the lay of the land and canals.
[tower & canal]
San Marcos Square
[islands & canals]
View of other Venice islands

St. Marcos Square looking in the direction of the main canal.
[Square & gondolas]
St. Marcos Square with gondolas

The Bridge of Sighs where Casanova was led to his incarceration and later escaped.
[bridge]
Bridge of Sighs

At the Pisa train station they had step-in toilets. The lesson I learned quickly is step out before flushing. The question that still in the back of my mind: Do they crap in these things too?
[toilet]
Step in toilet. Notice wet shoe.

What a huge statue!
[David Statue]
Michealgelo's David

Vernazza is a picturesque village. The path I'm on to take this photo is not for those afraid of heights.
[town]
Vernazza

Looks like someone is repairing the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
[tower a leaning]
Leaning Tower of Pisa

We continued on to Nice where the tourist sites are many.
[beach]
Beach of Nice

From the top of the ancient Roman town of Eze you can see a patio below and the beach way beyond that.
[mountain view]
Birds eye view of Roman Eze and Mediterranean

The Romans built a small coliseum in the mountains above Nice centuries before.
[Ruins]
Roman Coliseum in Nice

This European trip was full of sights and adventures even when you least suspected it. It was an exciting trip.
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