Leaving Croatia, September 8, 2019 (sad face)

On Sunday Sept 8, we left the Hotel Niko (same time as our friend Eddie) - he headed home and we headed to Italy.  Not much time to get too far, we elected to visit Treviso which according to an article we read earlier this year is the Venice (Venezia) alternative.  An old city, not crowded, picturesque with several canals and just a few miles from Venice.  OK, here we come.
                                  

We drove several hours through spectacular scenery, from Croatia through Slovenia, many rocky hills and at least twenty five tunnels, short and one over 5000 meters long. The last two hours of our trip we proceeded VERY carefully through violent thunder, lightning and pelting rain so loud it sounded like hail.  Unlike in California, ALL the drivers slowed down and trucks left the highway, parking at rest stops.

                                     

Happily we arrived safely and were directed by the Mezzaluna Hotel manager to a small family restaurant a 15 minute walk down the road.  After a day's drive it felt good to walk - the sun was out and we enjoyed a great meal and were pleased to be able to walk it off going back to our little hotel.

Monday, Sept 9, we walked to the "Old City" section of the town.   Treviso is in the Veneto region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has a population of about 85,000.   About 3,000 live within the Venetian walls (le Mura, the ramparts) or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, with another 170K living in the metro area of the city. The city is home to the headquarters of clothing retailer Benetton, Sisley, Stefanel, Geox, Diadora and Lotto Sport Italia, appliance maker De'Longhi, and bicycle maker Pinarello. Treviso is also known for being the original production area of Prosecco wine and radicchio, and is thought to have been the origin of the popular Italian dessert Tiramisù.


We entered the Old City here, from the main street. 

                                        

Water fountains to be seen all around the town, some of which ran perpetually and others like this one had dragon head faucets which could be turned on and off.

The old section was banked by ramparts and a park on one side, with several canals running through. No boat tours as the bridges over these canals were quite low - perhaps a kayak could go through - but perhaps not!

Here is a fragment of old wall with an interesting pattern.

There were many alley ways, some which dead ended around a corner.

                                  I love metalwork and found this doorway to be quite beautiful.

          

More view of the canals and some flowered window boxes on an old building.

                          

              The swan family was feeding in the swiftly running river which surrounds the Old City.

  

                              Spotted this Dog water bar near the ramparts outside of a cute cafe.

Had lunch next to this canal at a small place called Capatoast - multiple varieties of fillings on special bread made by this new company, it's only store.  We overlooked a waterwheel, one of a few which have been restored, plus this mermaid - hard to get a good photo of her due to the sunlight and shadows at the time.

                           

Saw this gaggle of geese and less visible, a hen and rooster in front of the tree trunk, from the sidewalk outside the ramparts.

Tomorrow, we go to Venezia - a day trip from here - will take the train since parking apparently is quite expensive.