Hotel Splendid, a Raddison hotel, was splendid in many ways, but maybe not the way you would think. We decided as the weather was still cold and wet in Bologna to visit a terme (spa retreat) near Padua, about 1 hour drive north. We arrived at noon, but the room was not ready, so we got changed into our bathers and proceeded to the heated pools. The boys and l were eager to get warm so we arrived and were straight in. To get to the pools you left the hotel through a walkway that took you through the treatment area, which strangely looked like a mental asylum, not that l have spent time in one! But there was one room with brown stained thick rubber gloves on a chair, some rooms had sunken baths, and l thought l saw electric cables going into one, but then again l see alot of things that done really exist. Once you get through the ward without being admitted you begin to feel the humidity of the indoor pool. The pool is surrounded by maybe 60 lounge chairs, everyone walks around in their white gowns, ( we along with many others hired one each for 10 euro each) must buy one for next time!! You enter the pool by small sloping steps gradually enjoying the 38 degree temperature. You then swim out through an opening to the pool that continues outside. This is a huge pool with spa jet areas, the water is 150 - 175cm deep so you often paddle about, unless you are fortunate to get a noodle to slide around you. I have learnt there are many ways to put a noodle around you to float in particular ways, you could actually do a book on it.
If you dare you can get out of that pool walk a short 10 meters to another pool that is a bit cooler, but you can swim in that, and of course it is empty of people. The main pool with the heat escaping into the cool air causes a mist to sit over it. I can only imagine that some ex war veterans may have flashbacks to river crossings in enemy territory, and so maybe it was a mental asylum.
The boys loved the pool and covered every square inch of it. I found the second day when the sun came out it was much more enjoyable sitting outside in my white gown and a blanket that was provided enjoying the warmth.
Now most people there where Italian but there was the odd German, and that did not help hearing them talk in the mist over the water. We were told about this place by our friend Elisabeth, who also put us onto the Asta Hotel in Milano Marritma, you can read that early on in the blog. And both places had similarities, basically they were stuck in a time warm around the 70's. The room at the Hotel Splendid was actually very good, and over looked the pool area and the adjoining golf course. It was the dining area that the word splendid came to life. The smorgus board was a joke with a pitiful array of food! So l decided to order a meal instead, and the waiter asked subito? (now) and l said yes. Well, this was the fastest thing in Italy, 2 minutes later, and it took him 30 seconds to get to the kitchen my meal arrived. So what to do both options are shocking, but l seemed to be the only person who worried about this. The other thing was as soon at it hit the table he began scribbling on paper and got me to sign for it, just in case l wanted to return it or maybe it was an indemnity clause in case l got sick!
So the food, drinks are over priced but l guess you expect that in a hotel, you come there for the flashbacks of war, mental electrical treatment and a white gown. Now speaking of the white gown, it was like a gold pass , you can go anywhere you want if you where the white gown, There were people at reception in white gowns, people at the bar drinking in white gowns, there was a man chasing a child in the park in a white gown, but he may have been a catholic priest. I have decided if we ever return we will turn up in the car wearing our own personal white gowns, and walk into the hotel in our white gowns, sign in and walk straight to the pool. It's important to get a white gown with a hood, it makes you look cooler, more street wise, and maybe with some styling in the cut, as they can look average.
So we had a splendid time, the next day we left and Jayne and Ewan saw an incredible villa and garden owned by the same family for 6 generations called Villa Barbarigo, it had some amazing water features , dozens of original statues and a typical splendid! villa. The pools were full of the common toad, from the family of cane toads, but here they are protected, but obviously some Australians drove by and squished a few on the road as the crawled across from the forest.
Later we went into Padua and saw an exhibition of an artist called DeNittis, who l have not heard of, but is rather skilled , was in Paris during the impressionistic period, but there are better painters. The best works were small plein air pictures done around Naples.
We arrived home , a quick detour to pick up Hunters school bag full of his homework that he had left in the drive area of the apartment, thankfully our good friends Angelica and Vali went and got it.
Ohh l forgot to mention, after dinner we went and put the boys in bed and went down to the bar. Well two blokes , lets call them Larry (Liberaces brother) and Luigi were singing classic english songs in Italian, and not well to the back up tracks, occasionally hitting a few notes on their keyboards. But by the look of the music set up you presumed they were accomplished musicians. But it was not so much Larry and Luigi, but the few couples who got up and danced, and the happy ever lovable barmen ( who got his skills from watching the Love Boat) who clicked wine glasses with a spoon along to the music.
A man came to the bar, dressed as inspector Gadget or Inspector Clusoe with a dog on a leash , l don't know if the drink was for him or the dog. But he left soon afterwards, with the dog!
Quotes from the trip from Hunter as he sat in the spa area of the pool, "ahh this is the life" and mum do you want me to turn down the bubblies. Also later saying "dad l really think this hotel is a 5 star"
