Planes, trains and pasta...

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>> So here we are in Merano, aptly called "the city of flowers" or should I say "the city of two countries"... Merano is a beautiful jewel nestled in the foothills of the Alps, about a three hour ride from Verona. The area is lush and green with huge craggy mountains surrounding the city.
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>> We arrived on Friday, having left very hot Verona at 30+ Celsius. Merano was blustery and wet and the temperatures had plummeted to 16 Celsius overnight. We felt a bit confused - not an unfamiliar feeling to experience when traveling thru Italy. The feeling continued as we tried to figure out how to telephone for a taxi while standing outside the train station in pouring rain!

Merano or Meran, depending on who you speak to or where you are, is a city of split personality, which only adds to the confusion when one is new to the ways of Italy. Apparently the region, Trentino Alto Adige, which Merano/Meran is a part of, was originally Austrian in roots prior to the second world war. It was at that point that the Italians claimed it (perhaps in exchange for a good plate of pasta?) At any rate, while in Merano you can ask for an insalate or a salat; a kaffee or a cappuccino; kase or fromaggio. All of the cities, street signs, etc., are in both Italian and German. And you just never know which language you should speak (that is assuming one knows how to speak either)!

The good news is that however you ask for it, the food is great and the sights are wonderful. Tourists apparently flock to this place and one landmark of particular fame is the natural thermal baths/pools found in the center of the city. We found ourselves floating outside under a blue, sunny ski this afternoon with many other Italians (or were they Austrian?) The temperature of the pool waters were 34 Celsius which was rather pleasant and quite relaxing.

Tomorrow (Sunday) we climb aboard again - this time headed for Zell Am See, Austria. We are hoping to feel more comfortable with our "train legs" after this journey. As I may have already mentioned, sometimes things don't go the way you would expect them to go while in Italy!! Did I mention our maiden voyage (so to speak) to Venice, via the train...when we boarded the wrong train... Perhaps not. Needless to say, it was an interesting trip and we learned that the conductor is not always right, or helpful for that matter! But I digress...

And so for now, I say ciao/servos for now. We're off to the land where things are simply Austrian!!
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>> Sent from my iPad