5th September - Vicenza Villa

In the morning, after tasting some delicious local wine, I departed the house to check the sights and sounds of Vicenza with Linda, one of the Couchsurfers staying at the house. Passed first through a carnival, this was pretty much the same as they have back in Australia. Sound, sugar and suckers. Hearing it in Italian did somewhat muffle the effect the carnies had, although I thought that I could still detect the faint smell of cabbage issuing from their small hands, even at a distance.

After this diverting stroll, we ended up wandering through a rather affluent area. I was however, unable to judge the quality of the houses and ended up admiring many a well constructed wall. The well-heeled of Vicenza would seem to be experts in constructing quality, view obstructing walls.

creepy villa

After the wall viewing extravaganza, we decided to follow a path into the forest, without any ideas of neither how far it ventured nor indeed if it would lead us even remotely back in the right direction. With such obvious points in its favour, it was impossible to resist letting my feet led me amongst the trees. The foreboding air permeating the forest increased rather severely, as I spotted a building nearly completely obscured through trees. As we walked closer, the origin of the building became clearer. It had at some distant point in the past, been a hotel, the dilapidated exterior and plant penetrated interior betraying it's age. Intending to plumb the darkened depths, I grabbed a sturdy branch lying nearby and ventured in. However, once inside, my bravado was countered by both my powerful imagination and the signs of semi-recent habitation. Deciding that backing slowly and turning that into a run would be the best way out, I executed said plan perfectly.

Back on the path and in the brighter light of the afternoon, my actions did seem slightly silly...Anyway, the path twisted sinuously down the hillside, small patches of distant houses appearing intermittingly through the network of tree branches. Eventually the path guided us around the other side of the hill and into the town. It was an enticing glimpse into the side streets of Vicenza, just the sort of activity that lures me to path less tread...