Visiting Italy

The first portion of the trip is behind me, and now we move on to Italy. First of all, let me make a comparison about the train systems in Switzerland and Italy (from my brief and limited point of view.) Both train systems are wonderful and easy to navigate, once you figure out the times tables, etc. This is an over-generalization of course, it but seems that the Swiss Rail system is “efficient” and the Italian Rail is “functional.”

Our route followed the Alps through Switzerland down to Lugano where we crossed into Italy near Lake Como. The scenery is too beautiful for words, and I’m afraid I’ll bore everyone to death with 5000 photos of mountains. I’ll try not to do that. Once we hit Lake Como – the land became very flat. Good-bye mountains (but not for long)!

Rolling through Italy, we headed to Milan where we could transfer trains to Cremona. Here's a random photo of the Milan train station. Cremona is in the middle of farm country south and east of Milan, but before you get to Verona. The countryside looks a lot like Indiana. Miles and miles of cornfields! The city of Cremona is very much a working city and did not have many tourists. People spoke very little English, but our limited Italian (very limited) did the job. We didn't starve (at all) and we found bathrooms when needed! Life's essential skills.

The town dates back to Romans days, founded in 218 BC! During the Renaissance, it was the birthplace of Claudio Monteverdi (who composed our first real operas and many, many choral works) and of course, the workplace of the great violin makers, Amati, Guarneri, and Stradivari (that’s me standing by the statue dedicated to Stradivari) Cremona is still the violin making capital of the world and has hundreds of luthier shops throughout the city.

We visited the Town Collection of Bowed Stringed Instruments (Le Collezioni de Strumenti ad Arco)

housed in the town center, along with the mayor’s offices, etc! No photographs were allowed and we were escorted by two armed guards into a locked room of 12 priceless instruments made by these masters. We were the only two people looking at the collection. Amazing.

The photo here is of the cathedral and bell tower. After two lovely days, we're moving on to Venice. More trains and more gelato!