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Day 3 and for the most part, it went quite well. It seems that so much of our travels we spend walking in our children's footsteps. Today they were Sarah's when she spent some time in Conegliano studying Italian when she was at Swinburne.
Up and after breakfast at a civilised time, we arrived set to take the train to Conegliano, which initially was running 10 mins late but that's no big deal, only a little later it was cancelled. Still no problem as the next train came 10 mins after that so we arrived ready for the days exploring.
Conegliano is another one of those Italian gems not infected by the tourist hordes. Friday in Conegliano is market day and the streets were packed with the normal array of stalls selling clothes, cheese, fish, just about anything you might want to buy but not need.
Sarah's footsteps took us on a hike uphill to a former 15th century convent now language school. Sitting in the cloisters on a hot summer day is really the only place to be, but we couldn't linger long, the castle in the clouds awaits us, so it was onward and upward. A mix of stairs and pathways designed to crippled the fittest calf muscles took us to the top where we had the most breathtaking view of the prosecco hills. On a clear day.... You can see Venice.
A quick climb up the castle keep and then lunch in the gardens. I think we saw at least 6 other people which is not good training for our upcoming day in Venice.
Next challenge was to get back down the hill and get the bus to Valdobbiadene. Easier to spell than to say.
Slow being the order of the day we skipped the 12:30 and opted instead for the 1:30. Big mistake!!! School finished at 1:15 and 100s of kids poured into the bus station, a large asphalt bus parking area with very little shade and it was now around 30C.
It has to be pointed out here that Italian kids have learnt from a very early age the uniquely Italian art of horizontal queues, a mad surge parallel to the point of entry.
It also has to be said that at the scheduled departure time, a bus with the name of our destination drives straight by us, not really an ideal scene setter after our time in the sun and crowds.
Anyway another bus approaches also going to Valdobbiadene and kids go into action. Bus driver screams "rigazzi calmo calmo" all to no noticeable effect. With well honed skills from our days in Italian ski lift lines, we join the crush with elbows and shoulders out and get a seat.
There is something special about taking the local bus, in this case a 60 seat coach, though the Italian country side. 1 hour of rolling hills, grape vines and narrow streets and we see it all for 3€ each. Very special.
Valdobbiadene is a town at the foot of the pre alps and so of course there is a spectacular view 400 metres above the town, 3 or 4 kms along another road through the forest, but not before a gelati to build up the sugar levels. As we walk, cyclists pass us and I really don't know how anyone can ride up a hill like this and have enough breath to still keep talking, but they do.
Finally at the top and the view was worth the climb. So too was the exercise, for the bike riding in Slovenia. Taking a more direct and vertically challenging route back down we arrive and find a bar to relax with some prosciutto panni and a glass of the local prosecco. Perfetto!
Another local bus for the one hour trip back to Treviso and another day over.
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