29 Comments
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Jim Sarasu's avatar

I always enjoy your Italian travel stories. The vivid descriptions make me want to start packing for another trip trip there. And your last line perfectly captures the adventurous mindset it takes to fully enjoy the country: "Tomorrow anything could happen, and no doubt it will!"

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Yes. That old beat up suitcase still stands at the ready here, too. How I would love to see the Italian lakes again, the Scottish highlands, the Hebrides, Normandy, the glorious state of Maine..... sigh . Life is short, the world, so big...

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Richard Blaisdell's avatar

Food friendly bites, bread biscottis and espresso sips on balcony with mountains beyond. Captures my imagination.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

And only a few thousand air miles away... Andiamo! Thank. you, Richard.

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James Ron's avatar

Beautiful pictures! Great descriptions of both town and countryside.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks, James Ron. I can see you in the hills of Tuscany....

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Kate Henry's avatar

This is the best way to travel... reading on the screen. )))

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Less expensive, no missed trains., none of those exasperating, volatile Italians to contend with!

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Jim J Wilsky's avatar

Sharron, I've been to Europe several times but never to Switzerland or Italy. This was like a tempting ad for a travel agency. I'm ready to book a trip! Wonderful descriptive writing. - Jim

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thank you my friend. That is always my intention. I give no travel advice or itineraries. I just hope to send out a little of the experience and inspiration. The world is wide...

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Sharon Hudson's avatar

I love traveling with you through your beautiful writing, so descriptive! I really feel like I’m there with you! Thanks for another great trip, Sharron!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks, sweetheart. I can see the two of us eating our way across Italy. OMG. We would have to buy new clothes...

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Sharon Hudson's avatar

Ha ha! I'm ready. Pass the bread and alfredo sauce, please.

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Karen Abplanalp's avatar

Thank you, Sharron, loved being reminded of how and why I love the Italian part of Switzerland. I was born in Interlaken, and growing up in New Zealand, life is relaxed,and, like Swiss Italy, not on its ‘Sunday best’. 🙏🏽🤍

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thank you, Karen, for your sweet comment. Welcome! I am glad my story brought back happy memories for you. There are 16 very short Italy stories in my travel section that you might like to explore:

https://sharronbassano.substack.com/s/travel-tales

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Karen Abplanalp's avatar

Oooh yay thank you, I look forward to reading them! 🤍

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Janice Walton's avatar

That was one of my surprises in Beijing, the shower was the bathroom - but that was 35 years ago, though. Things might have changed - or not.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

I wonder.... I am glad we shared a memory!

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Jim Cummings's avatar

I love the prose you use to describe the differences between the neighboring countries. Delightfully done, my friend. It was your writing that inspired us to visit Lucca and it was one of the highlights of our trip in May!

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

I am so glad to hear it, my friend. I always hope my short travel tales will inspire someone to pack a bag and head out! So much to see. So little time.

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Bryan Pirolli's avatar

"Rural northern Italy is like a ragged quilt, carelessly tossed on a lumpy love-worn bed." So cozy. So true. I hope you found the bank, too. :)

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thank you, Bryan. The bank, the bakery and the bar. Wish I were there right now.

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

I loved your metaphors describing Switzerland versus Italy rural places. A lumpy, love worn bed. Mercy! And the stuffing coming out of the rumpled quilt. I've also never heard of Treviso and was surprised by the photo of the canal. It looks so much more pleasant than Venice, which seems like an open sewer to me. Thank you for introducing me to such a place. This was a nice little vacation during lunchtime. Thank you.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Treviso, definitely a less crowded little town. I love Venice and would go back in a minute - but only in winter when there is room to move about. I have been to Venice often in winter and never found the canals to be objectionable. Thanks for your comment, Sue.

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K.C. Knouse's avatar

Thanks for the tour and for the delightful way you drew contrasts between the Swiss and Italian cultures.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks, KC

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Switter’s World's avatar

I love northern Italy. It reminds me of southern Switzerland, except without the hyper lane discipline when driving.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Right. I don't know if there IS a word for discipline in Italian.

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Switter’s World's avatar

I do know that the white lines on the Autostrada are what you line up your 50hp overloaded Fiat truck hood ornament with while driving along at 30kph.

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