Lynne has contracted a mysterious rash that is spreading and itchy. Chuck and Lynne are going to try to find a dermatologist through a pharmicist friend. We left them to it and headed to the city of Belluno.
Now, let me clairfy: we are in the Belluno region, with the city of Belluno being the "county seat" but Nogherazza is located in Castion. Confident with Google maps and Siri's directions we set out. About an hour later we found ourselves parked in front of an appliance store that sells washers and dryers! We dispatched Gary to go in and ask if anyone knew of the closest laundromat. Success! Twenty more minutes and we were in front of a combination car wash/laundromat.
The dolphins look pretty clean, jumping out of that washer.
The washers and dryers were much more complicated than their American cousins. They were all tied into a common "motherboard" to operate. Further, the coin-operated detergent dispensing machine gave no clues as to which was detergent, which was bleach, and where are the dryer fabric softener sheets? There seemed to be a bewildering variety, though.
An attendant came in and noticed we looked like we just fell off the turnip truck. His name was a variation of Jason and he was from Boznia. He was here working at a car wash and sending money home to help his family.
“Jason” was a super nice guy and kept the little laundromat sparkling clean.
The motherboard.
He showed us which was the proper choice for detergent; and how to put it in the washer dispenser. (Four different places! Who knew?) Oh, and how to operate the "mother board." We were in!
These are instructions as to where to put the detergent vs. softener in the washer.
We thanked him profusely and he asked us where we were from. Jack & I had gone to a Las Vegas tourist gift shop before we left home and stocked up on a bag full of Las Vegas trinkets such as magnets and key chains. They have served their purpose well. I gave "Jason" a "Welcome to Las Vegas" key chain. He was most impressed. Later he came in the laundromat with a small Boznian flag. He said it was all he had in his car to give us. I was touched. Jack gave him his business card and asked that he keep in touch, and to let us know if he ever made it to Las Vegas.
Be sure and pay close attention to instruction #5
After the laundry adventure, we were all starving. The parking in Belluno is at a premium and ticketing for parking infractions is very severe. Luckily there's a city parking lot at the base of the hill that Belluno sits on; and what has to be the world's longest covered escalator to take visitors to Belluno city center. We asked the parking attendant what his favorite pizzaria was, and he circled a spot on the city center map. Good deal!
Belluno city center has a little park and is ringed with little shops selling what looked like fabulous pastries (I was a model citizen and abstained) coffee shops, gelato shops, book stores, clothing stores, and tobacco shops. It was all charming and music was piped in. I heard Tony Bennett singing Christmas songs and Louis Armstrong belting out jazz standards. There was also a makeshift ice skating ring. Jack demurely but firmly declined my invitation to go skating.
But it was getting late and we wanted to get home before dark. We got to the top of the escalators just in time to see a spectacular sunset over the river that rings Belluno and saw the Dolomites glowing.
We're in our rooms right now. The bistro does not open until "seven and a half" according to the bistro's server. Chuck and Lynne haven't had any luck with finding a dermatologist but they did get to meet with the mayor of Conegliano. (Mr. Google says it is the center of the prosecco universe...) The mayor told them they would have to be married on municipal property, so instead of being married in Leonardo's vineyard they will be married at a castle conveniently adjoining the vineyard. So at least that much is settled.
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