The pictures post: the first

We've been here for a few weeks now so I've been able to take a few pictures of some of the places near our apartment in addition to those that have already been posted here.  We'll do this quickly.

First, il Prato della Valle, which has been discussed in this place already.  This is generally a place that people like to hang out during lunch, after lunch when everything is closed, during the evening before and after an aperitivo, and on into the night.  So, I guess anytime then.  It is, in particular, a popular hangout spot for the high school students.  Our place is just a few steps to the northeast from the prato, down the street in the first image.  In the backdrop of the image you can just make out the top of the towers at the basilica di sant'antonio, the place that I will never tire of walking near.

 As far as I can tell, there is a two hour window when everyone in Padova heads to the Prato to do some laps (it must be about a half mile around).  Ben has gotten into this as well and regularly will want to go out and get a few in himself, typically when I'm right in the middle of cooking dinner oddly enough.  It is nice that it is possible to go exercise him while something is on the stove.  It's also nice that he enjoys the same things that an energetic puppy might.

Morning, night, midday, the prato always looks nice and feels nice to be around.  There are interesting buildings in both the foreground and in the background from most sides.  As already mentioned, the basilica di sant'antonio is very close.  There is another basilica (sant Guistina) even closer to the south east.  Haven't been inside yet though.

There is more to see of Padova than just the prato though.  If you leave our place and head north/northwest, you are heading down the corridor that encloses centro.

I have goals to take more pictures of this area soon, but it is large and there are lots of interesting things to see.  When you talk to the locals and tell them how much you love Padova, a typical response is "yes, it is a good city.  Not too big but not too small.  Very walkable."  which is all quite true and one of the reasons that we like it here.  Walking around the city is really enjoyable.  I don't particularly like shopping, but I do like walking past all the shops and checking out what is inside.

In particular, I have an affinity for macelleria (butcher), of which there are many.   In the center of centro there is an ancient structure called the Salone.  Sotto il Salone (under the salone) there is a pretty amazing market filled with all sorts of meat and cheese shops with roots that go back hundreds of years, as well as a bunch of other interesting places including cafès and bars.

I haven't done the place justice as I caught the above images during the afternoon break, but it's spectacular.   Il salone is surrounded by several markets where you can buy fruits and vegetables, rice, beans, clothes, simple home goods, and all sorts of stuff.

One of the best parts of living here is my walk to work.  Parts of the building that I am in, marked by the famous tower, are 1000 years old.  But in addition to that, its just in a nice area of the city- just on the edge of centro, a half mile west from our apartment.  I will write more about the Osservatorio Astronomica at some point.  For now, I'll just showcase a few pictures from the first few weeks.

The one on the right was on my walk the first day that I went to the office.  More things that I wont get sick of.  There are canals in and around the city that were built to help ease flooding issues many years ago.  The observatory sits right on one of these.  Nearby there are very nice bridges that provide a view of the buildings that line the canal.  The image on the left is a view just around the corner from our apartment.  On the right, next to the observatory looking to the east.

I even like the stairs that I climb each day to get to my office!

All in all, still so far so good.  We'll do some more adding of images from time to time.  For anyone that likes skinny canals, I'd expect a Venice montage pretty soon!