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Padova (Days 1 and 2)

 

I arrived in Padova one day before the tour began.  With Rick's Italian phrase book in hands, I set out to explore this wonderful college town.  I pinched myself as I strolled down cobblestone streets.  I could not believe I was finally in Italy!

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The botanical garden is conveniently located a short walk from our hotel.  It was a perfect place to spend my first afternoon in Italy and to recover from the jet lag.  The next morning brought me to the Piazza delle Erbe.  I unwittingly committed a faux pas by touching the fruits.  I had a pleasant chat with the fruit seller and tasted delicious plums.  Armed with a slice of mushroom pizza, I parked on a stone bench in Piazza Signori and practiced people watching.  I rounded out the afternoon by visiting the Duomo before the first meeting with Sarah and other tour members.  We had an incredible Italian meal after getting acquainted.  The Antica Tratorria dei Paccagnella is run by two brothers, Raffaele and Cesare.  Rick eluded to the brothers' passion about local hens in his Italy guidebook;  He was not kidding!  It began with a simple question: "What kind of chicken did you use in this pasta dish?".  We spent the next 15 minutes learning about the different variety of hens, accompanied by illustrations from a book.

 

The walking tour with local guide, Carla, the next morning brought Padova to life for me.  I viewed the same brick buildings and alleyways with different eyes.  Carla's tales about the Jewish ghetto and the rich academic history of the University of Padova were enlightening.  The highlight of the day was the Scrovegni Chapel.  Seeing Giotto's frescoes in situ was a dream come true.