So the last travel post was about Turin, after which we drove all the way to Padua and after roaming around at night, eating ice cream
we came back to Tulip Inn, our hotel in Padua. After the complimentary breakfast, we set out to visit
San Antonio's shrine, the shrine where the tomb of St. Antony is located.
We celebrated mass in an adjoining chapel there,
We weren't allowed to take pictures in the main shrine, but I surreptitiously managed to take this one. After walking around and praying in this huge church, we then went to the shrine shop. Among all the places we visited, the stuff I've seen at the Padua shrine shop, is really good. One of the best places to shop for souvenirs, everything is so pretty and well made. I had visited Padua in 2013 with Antonio and Nameeta, and Antonio picked up a really cool looking black ring with the Our Father inscribed on it in Latin...
He rarely wears it, so I started wearing it...
Picked up this cream and chapstick at the Padua shrine shop too, and I still have them... I use them sparingly, the cream smells so good. I don't know whether it is because the smell reminds me of those days... in the bus and being alive... looking at the beautiful and bountiful landscapes passing by, eagerly waiting to see which place we would explore next... the smell of this cream takes me back to that... the happiness, the excitement... the smell of adventure.
The cobbled streets of Padua...
Leaving the shrine for the half hour ride to
Venice, a gloomy overcast Venice. As soon as we reached, we got swindled into buying umbrellas and raincoats; from 3 euros, they started selling them for 5 Euros in a matter of seconds. Walked a bit in the rain and then...
We took the ferry to St. Mark's square, and I just walked around... Again they were doing a lot of unnecessary drama before entering the church, not allowing us to carry our backpacks. I remember in 2013, my sister waited outside while I went inside St. Mark's church. This time I waited it out while the rest of the group went in.
I just walked around clicking pictures
and taking in the scenes of a decrepit Venice.
I don't know why people rave about this place, it is decaying eerily.
Windows seem devoid of curtains, flowers or life... Yet at the surface the city is bustling and everybody seems unaware
that a spell of uneasiness permeates the air... Or, is it just me, I don't know...
Smiling breads, to lighten up the mood...
Shopped for magnets, and other souvenirs, then one last glimpse of Venice before we started on our trip to Loretto.
Stopped on the way at an Indian restaurant for lunch and
drove some more...
Till we reached our destination for the night, Hotel San Gabriele in Loretto.
And at a stone's throw away from the hotel is the Church of the Black Madonna
A small chapel in the hotel
A statue of black Mother Mary with child.
Refreshed in our rooms and then gathered for dinner
Some pasta
with pork, potatoes and wine.
As usual our group of night explorers set out to see Loretto by night...
It was really love at first sight, the whole atmosphere of Loretto at night...
It was captivating...
There were hardly any folks around... it was just our group walking around, drunk by this quaint little place. As usual we bought ice cream and frozen cold coffee, walked and talked in bliss...
View of the dome from our rooms...
Fell, into a deep deep deep sleep here.. wine is always a good idea after a long day on the road.
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