In past trips, I have taken many images of doors, windows and unusual hardware.

In smaller villages, bicycles are so common and so unusual - so that is what I photographed!

Mary and I had not travelled out of the country since returning from a South America cruise in January 2020. Last fall we started looking at different places and after numerous Viking River and Ocean cruises, decided on a Rick Steves land tour called Small Villages. We had never been on a RS tour, but with many great reviews and a 25 person limit, we signed up only to be placed on a waitlist.

In March, there was an opening and we took it. We decided to spend five days in Venice before taking the train to Padua to begin our tour. Our VRBO was a find - right on the north side of Venice with a view of the lagoon and Murano and steps to the water taxi. We did many of the usual tourist stops, had many good meals and got throughly lost much of the time.

We took the train to Padua a day early before meeting our group. The tour, the group, our tour guide all far exceeded our expectations. The itinerary does not prepare you for the many unexpected side trips our guide, Cristina, included. The small villages allow you to see and experience life in rural Italy that is far removed from the larger cities.

It is difficult to condense three weeks and 1500 images into a five minute video, but these glimpses and snapshots each take me back to a time and a place and people I will not  easily forget.

(Click on the four arrows for full screen and then the triangle button to start the video.)