Bassano Del Grappa day two

We got to go up to Asiago where they make cheese of the same name. Fortunately. we rode up in a bus as it was 3000 ft vertical in 15 miles. It would be a spectacular ride, and some riders were doing it. There were 14 hairpin switchbacks and the a town. Then more. We felt fortunate to be on the bus. At the top we found green meadows with grazing cows, a little ski hill, alpine houses and blue skies. The cheese tour was similar to most, with the added issue of language. The cheese is very good, and worth the price.

We then got bussed back to the hotel aand had a break for lunch on our own. We tried to find the elusive internet café and failed. I had a nap, then we had the walking tour followed by grappa tasting. The city has medeval walls and castle, has been part of vincenza then Venezia, and is at a key spot a the end of a pass thru the mountains from Austria. In fact, the area where the cheese factory was Germanic or an independent state until after wwI. So they make the cheese two ways, the german way and the italian way. Bassano was the site of heavy fighting in both wars and it,s famous bridge was destroyed both times.

The bridge is wood, was designed by Palladio, and uses trapezoidal wooded support to resist the water. They are narrow and pupendicular to the bridge. Downstream of the bridge a canal is diverted that goes all the way to Padua. In the 17th and 18th centuries the commerce was by boat.

We tasted the grappa (distilled from grape skins) and other liquers made by the Nardini family, who have been making it since the 1770's.

The grappa is 100 proof so pretty strong. They use it to make some infused liquers.

Aftr the tasting we tried again to find the internet café. Peggy gave up, then I finally gave up. So no photos today. Bassano is very pretty. Like Sound of music pretty. Like Leavenworth and the italian hill towns mixed together.

Tomorrow we ride to Treviso, which is north of Venice. We ride 38 miles wich at the snails pace we rode yesterday will take all day. Since some of the elderhostel participants are in the 80's, we won't be speeding along. Hopefully we'll get ther ewithout losing anyone. anne