Torino to Visit my Italian

As insufferable as getting up at 5:15am to catch my 7:41am train was, the perspectives I saw as we crossed the Alps from France into Italy were stunning. The train crossed through emotional rough mountain crests tidied with a percentage of the first snow of the year. The mountain sides were painted with the shades of  the tree leaves in their dynamic fall colors – a great show of greens, yellows, rusts and oranges. Spotting the farmland were interesting, old towns that enchanted with their stone houses, tile tops and quintessential little temples. It was the most lovely prepare ride I have ever taken… just shocking.

My Italian cousin, Cristina, had said the trains from Paris are constantly late… fortunately I was on one with a period cognizant conductor who got us to the Torino Porta Susa train station right on calendar. Cristina was there sitting tight for me! The last time I went by Torino was in excess of 3 years back with my Mother and Close relative Peggy… .I was late for an alternate visit and get up to speed, albeit short, with my relatives in Italy.

Susanna, my 17 year old cousin, took the 2 days that I was there off of school to practice her English :)… so together with her mother, us 3 young ladies re-investigated the incredible and excellent city

My first cappuccino in Italy! Yay!

Our first morning we headed for a visit to the Royal Palace of Veneria (Reggia di Veneria Reale)…but before heading inside Cristina suggested we stop for a coffee. Brilliant!  I love Italians!

Cristina, Me and Susanna inside the Veneria Palace.

This imposing palace was a former royal residence of the the Royal House of Savoy. It is one of the largest royal palaces in the world, comparable in size and structure to Versailles. It was commissioned to be built in the mid 17th century by Carlo Emanuele II as a hunting base for his expeditions in the hills north of Torino.

Susanna did an amazing job of being my tour guide…I was so impressed with all her knowledge of the history of Torino, and even more impressed with how well she communicated all that knowledge to me in English.