susan
100+ Posts
This trip report details the Udine part of my 2017 trip to Italy. If you are interested in my full 2017 trip blog as well as seeing more photos of the Udine part of my trip, you can find the beginning of my 2017 trip blog HERE. At the bottom of each post is a link to the next page of my trip report in my blog.
Day 1 ~ Arrival in Venice & Travel to Udine
After my flight arrived in Venice, I passed through the passport security and retrieved my luggage. After a bit of searching, I found the ATVO counter where I bought a ticket to Piazzale Roma. I decided on purchasing a ticket for Piazzale Roma rather than a ticket to the Mestre train station. If I had to wait for a train, I would rather wait while enjoying a beautiful view in Venezia rather than spending time at a boring train station in Venezia Mestre. The bus took only 20 minutes to reach bella Venezia.
It was a short walk to the train station, although over a big bridge with many steps. I purchased my train ticket at one of the automatic ticket machines at the train station and then went to have my first caffè macchiato. Only one euro! The coffee at the train station was 10 times better than any coffee you will get at a Starbucks! Always amazing to me! Here's a photo of the view from the train station...
The regional train took about two hours to reach Udine. When I arrived, the taxis were right outside the train station. My taxi driver was very nice, providing me with some tips about Udine as he drove me to my hotel.
I checked into my hotel (Allegria), unpacked my luggage and headed to the Vodafone store. I was very fortunate to find someone who spoke English as my transaction was extremely complicated. After dozens of questions and two trips, I finally sorted out my Sim card issues and successfully obtained an Italian phone number with a data plan for my phone.
In between my two visits, I visited the tourist information center in Udine to pick up some maps and get some other information about the area. The two ladies at the information center were extremely nice. While there, I decided to purchase the FVG tourist card, which provides free entrance to many museums in the area, free bus rides in Udine, a free train ride to/from Cividale del Friuli, as well as many other benefits. I purchased the 1 week FVG card, which cost 29 euros. *I highly recommend purchasing an FVG card if spending time in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. There are numerous benefits and cost savings with this card!
Jet leg was really setting in and it was just about dinner time. I wandered a bit looking for something simple for dinner. I ended up eating at Ristorante Pizzeria Al Gelso. This restaurant was not too far from my hotel. I ordered a delicious seafood salad, and was pretty much a zombie at this point. The waitress was a little concerned thinking that I didn’t like the food. I explained to her that I had been traveling for 24 hours and I was just very tired. She offered to put the rest of my salad in a to go box. I took her up on the offer and then became very lost trying to find my hotel again. Fortunately google maps saved the day.
Because the skies were sort of gray in Udine and I spent most of my time getting settled in. The only photo I took that day was the view from the Venice train station BUT, here is a peek of Udine. I took this photo in (I believe) Piazza XX Settembre at the end of one of my days in Udine.
Day 1 ~ Arrival in Venice & Travel to Udine
After my flight arrived in Venice, I passed through the passport security and retrieved my luggage. After a bit of searching, I found the ATVO counter where I bought a ticket to Piazzale Roma. I decided on purchasing a ticket for Piazzale Roma rather than a ticket to the Mestre train station. If I had to wait for a train, I would rather wait while enjoying a beautiful view in Venezia rather than spending time at a boring train station in Venezia Mestre. The bus took only 20 minutes to reach bella Venezia.
It was a short walk to the train station, although over a big bridge with many steps. I purchased my train ticket at one of the automatic ticket machines at the train station and then went to have my first caffè macchiato. Only one euro! The coffee at the train station was 10 times better than any coffee you will get at a Starbucks! Always amazing to me! Here's a photo of the view from the train station...
The regional train took about two hours to reach Udine. When I arrived, the taxis were right outside the train station. My taxi driver was very nice, providing me with some tips about Udine as he drove me to my hotel.
I checked into my hotel (Allegria), unpacked my luggage and headed to the Vodafone store. I was very fortunate to find someone who spoke English as my transaction was extremely complicated. After dozens of questions and two trips, I finally sorted out my Sim card issues and successfully obtained an Italian phone number with a data plan for my phone.
In between my two visits, I visited the tourist information center in Udine to pick up some maps and get some other information about the area. The two ladies at the information center were extremely nice. While there, I decided to purchase the FVG tourist card, which provides free entrance to many museums in the area, free bus rides in Udine, a free train ride to/from Cividale del Friuli, as well as many other benefits. I purchased the 1 week FVG card, which cost 29 euros. *I highly recommend purchasing an FVG card if spending time in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. There are numerous benefits and cost savings with this card!
Jet leg was really setting in and it was just about dinner time. I wandered a bit looking for something simple for dinner. I ended up eating at Ristorante Pizzeria Al Gelso. This restaurant was not too far from my hotel. I ordered a delicious seafood salad, and was pretty much a zombie at this point. The waitress was a little concerned thinking that I didn’t like the food. I explained to her that I had been traveling for 24 hours and I was just very tired. She offered to put the rest of my salad in a to go box. I took her up on the offer and then became very lost trying to find my hotel again. Fortunately google maps saved the day.
Because the skies were sort of gray in Udine and I spent most of my time getting settled in. The only photo I took that day was the view from the Venice train station BUT, here is a peek of Udine. I took this photo in (I believe) Piazza XX Settembre at the end of one of my days in Udine.
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