Monday, July 7, 2008

Mystery Trip

Today was a mystery adventure starting with Cyndi saying that we had a picnic lunch waiting and that we were heading out. Packing the car with food, cameras, and all, we headed out into the beautiful Italian country side. My job of the day was to guess where we were going.





Having traveled the road we were on once before, my immediate guess was Ferrara, but when the car zoomed by that turn, I knew that "Ferrara" was not the correct answer. Heading in a different direction, and even recognizing where we were, I knew right away that we were going to Comacchio. But soon we turned off the roadway to Comacchio, heading in yet another direction, and I realised that I was zero for two in guessing our destination.

Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye I spotted a beautiful church tower peeking out from behind a stand of umbrella pine trees and asked the Danilo to slow down so I could get a picture. Either he didn't hear me or traffic wouldn't allow him to slow down because we passed the church without slowing. I was hoping that on the way back home we would travel this road again, so I would have another opportunity to take my picture, when I noticed that we were making a right-hand turn. It appeared that we were heading up a drive way to the church entrance. Yeah! Perfect!!



As we arrived we were told that we were at The Abbey of Pomposa and would have our picnic lunch on the grounds before touring monastery.






The abbey was founded in the 6th century AD and in the 9th century the first community of Benedictine monks began to form.


While stationed at this monastery, Guido D'Arezzo invented the modern musical scale that we use to this day.


Walking the grounds at The Abbey of Pomposa



Inside The Abbey of Pomposa



After visiting Pomposa we headed out in the car for a stop in the fishing village of Comacchio. The day was perfect, though hot, with blue sky, riding in the convertible with the top down, and just being together as a family. Talking with Cyndi in the backseat, I realized that we were not too far from the beach. I did the "please can we stop" thing and sure enough my sweet son-in-love, as he likes to call himself, turned off the main road and headed for the Adriatic Sea. This was a stop spent with three of us rolling up our pant legs and getting into the water as much as we could. A welcome relief to the hot day.




We soon were on the road heading for Comacchio, reminiscent of Venice in its history and known today for its canals and its eel industry.

The Trepponti bridge, spanning two of the town's canals.





In the center of town there is an 1824 clock tower.


Maybe I could earn a living in Comacchio?


At the end of the day we stopped by the feast in Alfonsine for dinner.





The end of a busy day.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

SOOO Jealous Want to be there

Miss Kim said...

I'm jealous too! Say HI to Cyndi and the Italian from Kim & Peter!

Anonymous said...

Great photos-thanks!

Jans Funny Farm said...

Son-in-love. That is a neat expression!

Enjoyed the tour. Looks like a good time was had by all. And you all slept well through the night. :)

Angel MoMo and Charlotte said...

What a wonderful time you are all having!!!!!

Pssst, SS says she recognises Pomposa from many years ago. Wooohooo!!!!!