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Padua Is Only Good for Cheap Pizza and Downtime

Yesterday, we took the train to Padua, a college town in northern Italy. The great thing about a college town is you can find really cheap food. We found margarita pizzas for just three euros.

This morning we visited St. Anthony's Basilica. I immediately remembered the last time I was here because I was so mesmerized by the display of Anthony's tongue, vocal cords, and lower jaw.

We wandered around the university area and sat in the historic Caffè Pedrocchi. We visited Scrovegni Chapel in the afternoon.

Jules and I agreed that if we could go back in time and alter our trip itinerary, we would skip Padua and detour between Amsterdam and France down to Switzerland for a EuroCup football game that would have been going on at that time. There's not much to see or do in Padua. My dad thought it would be a fun young college town, but it seems like many of the youth and students have gone back home or something for summer vacation. At the same time, we don't regret going to Padua all that much because it is a very cheap city to visit, and it gives us downtime to do laundry and such.

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You are reading "Padua Is Only Good for Cheap Pizza and Downtime", an entry posted on 18 July 2008 by Jackie Steves.

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Comments [ top ]

It was interesting hearing your views on Padua. But, glad you see the downside of visiting a less-than-stimulating city in the summer. . Doing your laundry and just breathing w/o being rushed is a good thing. Wonderful to read your blog-I'm enjoying it immensely.

Posted by: Pat - Jul 18, 2008 11:35 AM

If you are still in Padua I hope you see the Arena Chapel (Cappella Scrovegni). I have not been to Padua but it is on my list of places to see just for this chapel. The walls are covered with Giotto's frescoes. Your trip sounds wonderful! Susan P.S. You can see the frescoes online at... http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/g/giotto/padova/index.html

Posted by: Susan - Jul 18, 2008 12:59 PM

Oh, I guess my reading comprehesion is lousy! Just noticed you visited the chapel and I am glad! Susan

Posted by: Susan - Jul 18, 2008 1:04 PM

Gee Jackie, you are doing a great job on your blog. You will remember this trip for the rest of your life it is one of thoses passages in life that some are very lucky to experience!

Posted by: JS - Jul 18, 2008 6:49 PM

Hi Jackie, I am enjoying reading your blog and appreciate your honesty. Even at my age, I know what you mean about it being hard to meet other people. Your dad makes it sound so easy. But it will happen from time to time, sounds like it did in Italy. Well have fun and good luck to you at Georgetown. My son lives in DC and went to American, it is a cool place to live. Thanks for sharing.

Posted by: Chere - Jul 18, 2008 11:07 PM

Jackie, I enjoy reading your blog as usual. It's been nice to read about your adventures in the Cinque Terre. My experience was a lot like yours there. I checked my email at the same place you did in Vernazza. And I was all over the place just meeting people there. Vernazza has to be one of the easiest places to meet people. It's too bad you couldn't visit Padua when school was in. We had the privilege of doing that in October when we went around the university in Sevilla and had lunch in one of the cafeterias. A great experience! And one thing to note. You said that you would have stopped in Switzerland after Amsterdam to see a Euro 2008 game. Switzerland is a great country. However, if a Euro 2008 game was a motivation, the Final was on June 29, while you were still in Amsterdam. It would have been a great environment though!!

Posted by: Jeremy B - Jul 19, 2008 3:33 AM

Please please fix the feed URL pointers. I subscribed using RSS and every day, the feed links to old posts of Rick's instead of Jackie.

Posted by: Jan - Jul 19, 2008 8:15 AM

Jackie I tried to go to Padua one Sunday from Verona. The train went to service in the yard with me on it. I had to walk back for 30 minutes across many tracks and it was quite a morning..........ended up going to Venezia instead......always wondered what I missed in Padua.....was a goal to see Padua for years.....your blog helps paint a small picture.....I'll try again someday.....thanks for the blog

Posted by: Bill27 - Jul 19, 2008 1:19 PM

What, your father gave you poor advice and told you to visit Padua during the summer months! I guess that he doesn't know everything! LOL! I have been enjoying your blog , I usually check on it everyday.

Posted by: Andy - Jul 21, 2008 2:32 PM

Jackie, I agree with Andy, your dad gave you some bad advice....you should be on Spanish beaches, costa del sol or the Greek Islands, plenty of youth and fun and much history and art to see at the same time...Mykonos, Delos, Rhodes, Ibiza, Barcelona ( great youthful city)-...the movie Mamma Mia came out and Skopelos is a happening place right now, you may want to check it out...and Prague would be a wonderful ending to a european vacation....Dad doesn't always know best...LOL...Have fun !!!!!

Posted by: Jim - Jul 21, 2008 5:34 PM