Virtual cruise from Venice along the river Po with the option to learn some Italian

Because of my situation of needing to avoid lumps in my diet, I eat first stage baby food and microwave rice, together with Alpro no sugars soya drink which I regard as vitamin fortified liquid tofu. A lot of the first stage baby food is organic, gluten-free and vegan. Some of them, such as Ella's kitchen, are more expensive but the Tesco own label ones are cheaper. I love the Tesco green veggies.

I'm happy to eat vegan, veggie or occasionally (very!) meat.

For me, though, I'd enjoy finding some lovely veggie food.

Shall I make it "vegan but with allowance for any non-vegan that arises in the Duolingo course"?

It is interesting that in the river Main virtual cruise the constraint of vegan led to discovery of a vegan restaurant in one place, and we had a coach trip overland to go there.

Joseanne

Yep, maybe. Thanks.
I'm thinking posters are now less interested in the on board cruise bit, but more in the culture etc. So putting the location first gives it more prominence.

Right, I can do that. Thank you for the suggestion.

I have in mind one Duolingo Italian lesson from the learning level of the current "circle" each day. Once we get beyond the first circle there will be lots of practice lessons that become available.

So people who want to do more than one lesson each day yet also stay in synchronisation with one learning lesson each day will have lots of opportunity to do so.

Also, one lesson per day will allow people a good chance of catching up if they miss a day because of being busy doing other things.

And there are places to explore too.

Yep, maybe. Thanks.
I'm thinking posters are now less interested in the on board cruise bit, but more in the culture etc. So putting the location first gives it more prominence.

Joseanne

Part of the thrill of a holiday or a journey is in the planning and preparation, so this thread has served to whet a few appetites, (not just for the cuisine, though I hope that will play a part). Someone early on mentioned the drought stricken waters on the River Po and I got checking. Did you know that previously submerged second world war bomb was revealed in the river this week? Looks like there might be some interesting history elements to discover.
Can we perhaps have a more eye catching title to the thread next time because there are so many "virtual cruise" threads at the moment, I'm getting confused which is which.

Would

Venice and the river Po, a virtual cruise

be better?

Thanks Chewbacca, and for the @23.44 reference. I must have been well asleep at that time and didn't read it the next morning!

Did you know that previously submerged second world war bomb was revealed in the river this week

08/08/2022 @ 23.44

Part of the thrill of a holiday or a journey is in the planning and preparation, so this thread has served to whet a few appetites, (not just for the cuisine, though I hope that will play a part). Someone early on mentioned the drought stricken waters on the River Po and I got checking. Did you know that previously submerged second world war bomb was revealed in the river this week? Looks like there might be some interesting history elements to discover.
Can we perhaps have a more eye catching title to the thread next time because there are so many "virtual cruise" threads at the moment, I'm getting confused which is which.

As this thread is already on page 6 before the intended virtual cruise even gets started I have in mind starting a fresh thread with a slightly different name for the event, starting that thread when the event starts.

Meanwhile there is a thread to move from Bamberg to Venice.

LINK > gransnet.com/forums/culture_arts/1314092-A-virtual-journey-from-Bamberg-to-Venice

Thus linking from

LINK > www.gransnet.com/forums/culture_arts/1312375-Virtual-cruise-from-Mainz-along-the-river-Main

Perfectly put ixion thank you, it certainly was and so very different to today according to eGJ's alert above.

Please take care everyone: heatwave in Italy too. I have just seen
The north of Italy has been the hardest hit, with the Po River at exceptionally low levels

It's when you fully understand the phrase hauntingly beautiful , isn't it?

On a solo trip to Venice in December 2005 it was about 11 o'clock at night and I'd been mooching around near the Fenice theatre when I took a turn and found myself stepping into a completely deserted Piazza San Marco, absolutely no-one there but me. It was spooky, surreal yet magical to have it all to myself, so hushed and mistily empty.

I agree Maw. We have seen his programmes. They are lovely.

Clearly not short of a bob or two, but, boy, he could charm the birds from the trees!

Good call Maw

If anybody is interested in getting g a “true” flavour of Venice, not just the usual tourist stuff, I do recommend looking up Francesco da Mosta (even if he was a grumpy git at your book signing Kate !) There may be repeats of his progs on iPlayer.
Scion of one of the old Venetian families, brought up in a palazzo etc etc, he does give a real feel for life in Italy, and especially in Venice.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007zq9t

Or alternatively (or as well) try the wonderful Guido Brunetti books by Donna Leon who knows so much about Venice you would swear she is a Venetian, but she’s not!

I know! ???

And “that” scene…?
Watched it with Italian boyfriends family, sitting next to his Dad ??

Not to mention “Don’t look now”. Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie ??

The 1971 Visconti film is very atmospheric and beautiful and worth watching, but of course has turned out to be very controversial in the area of the treatment of child actors.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=-pxn49yWVJk

I might have to tag along with people who know Venice better than I do.
Yes, it's the light from above and on the water that seems to give the place its mystical quality. I remember the book "Death in Venice" by Thomas Mann at uni. (Being a cheat I used to read it in English first) and the beautiful whispy cover used to draw me in. Actually if I remember, the story was all about being held captive by something (someone) that is unattainable. I might have to read it again to get in the mood before we explore.

The weekend to explore is a good idea, I've got the Google maps now.