http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Italy , Veneto , Venice en-us Fri, 24 May 2013 13:58:46 +0000 Fri, 24 May 2013 13:58:46 +0000 Carnet has the best suggestions for romantic outings during your getaway to Venice One idea is to take a motorboat across the Venetian lagoon to the island of Torcello. Visit the ruins of the old Byzantine Cathedral and have a late lunch under the shady pergolas of the gardens of Locanda Cipriani. You might be seated at the table where Ernest Hemingway wrote Across the River and into the Tree http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-787322.html Well finally i am able to get on the internetWe arrived in Venice on Sat by train and it took no time at all. Found our hotel which is right beside the Danieli hotel which is very elaborate. Deb Paulides had arrived early on Sat and was there waiting for us. After Julie and Julia arrived we went to San Marco sq and treated ourselves to a bubbly music and sunshine at Florian Caffe in the square. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-787219.html In an effort to escape the feeling that we are in an adult amusement park I walk into the farther reaches of Cannaregio known as the original ghetto. In old times Jews were second class citizens but as merchants and jewelers it was more efficient to have them in the city but they were relegated to the outskirts. The area was quiet and some facades were crumbling but it still has charm.We deci http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-786078.html Goodbye lovely Florence hello exquisite Venice. From the moment the train seemingly skims over the water to pull into Venezia St Lucia it is apparent that the city likes to make entrances. You never know what might lie around the next corner though it is a sure bet in some areas that you will have high frequency of mask fine glasswork or jewelry shops.Our mediocre hotel is on the edge of the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-785904.html Today we got to explore the city of Venice and guess what mum I did not see any dog poo Venice is a beautiful city but was originally a swap land. The people moved to the swap land to escape the barbarians and then started to build the city of Venice. Over the years Venice39s population has actually decreased as it is a hard place to live. There are no cars or bikes the only way to get aro http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-785640.html GregVenice... if this is how the rest of Italy is going to be i don39t think we will make it any further we have fallen in love already with the food people waterways food wine basilicas and food. Getting there was slightly longer than expected as we sat on the tarmac for an extra two hours in Hong Kong due to their airport not letting us take off. We did however take the opportunit http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-784122.html Tuesday 30 April 2013. Venice Veneto Italy Day 2We disembarked the ship and walked to Piazzale Roma where returned to the same cafe as yesterday posted our blog for Split.We then embarked on a walking tour of the nearby locale using the guide and map we bought yesterday. D put his tour guide hat on once again. First we went to St Rocco Church and the Guildhall of St Rocco. The church was fo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-783914.html Monday April 29 2013. Venice Veneto ItalyThe ship entered the Canale Di St Marco early in the morning around 6.15 am. D got up and disappeared off with the camera. As M was awake she decided to follow suit and made her way to the top decks to watch. There weren39t many people around at all. We met on deck 9 by which time the ship had entered the Canale Della Giudecca. We had a pretty http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-783912.html The bad weather continued into our trip to Venice as we witnessed the heaviest snowfall the first evening there snow in Venice really. Thankfully it turned for the better the next 2 days as we headed out to explore the sinking island. Little introduction was needed as we read about this city since young and sights of the numerous canals and bridges just excites us as we started wander http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-781184.html Apparently I took quite a hiatus from writing almost a month it seems. Once again I seemed to have gotten sidetracked and caught up in the busy routine which is daytoday life haha. Even in Italy it seems that the daily schedule is one packed full to the brim and always keeping me running here and there. I do appreciate that however it is good to know that even on the other side of the globe http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-780311.html I can39t tell you how many times I have second guessed my decision to come to Italy.. all the money I spent to get here all the countless hours sitting in disorganized offices shuffling through mounds of endless paperwork to make it a reality.. today I finally realized why it was all worth it. I had to fly half way around the world to discover that all I could ever need and want was right ther http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-776387.html We had decided on getting out of the busy centre of venice today and visit some of the surrounding islands. Once ready we walked to the main stations ferry dock to buy our continuous 12 hour passes which cost us 18 each. This is extremely expensive for a ferry though less than cable cars but it was our excursion for the day and we definitely got our moneys worth.First stop was Murano. a li http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-773708.html Today we had a great sleep in eventually waking to the sounds of the distant bells and pigeons outside our window. We showered and tried to dry our hair best we could without a hairdryer. we finally set off before midday to find it was such a beautiful day outside. We had marked a few places of interest on our map and set off for the first one. After stopping for gelato we wondered down to Scoula http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-773706.html We had to set off early at 6.30 for our 7am train back down the mountain to interlarken for our second train to spiez then to brig and then finally our last train to Venice. A total of 8 hours travel time the first few trains were pretty standard normal trains that we had become used to catching. The last one through Italy however was a nightmare We boarded at Brig with many other people and t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-773705.html Once again and this a rare thing for me.. I am almost lost for words to describe the absolute magic that is Venezia especially at night. Now if I had written this blog Monday morning you would have heard a very different tale. Unfortunately as sometimes happens in life I was hit with a pretty bad case of the Mondays. Everything sucked I was tired I was cranky and I was about ready to throw http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-773341.html There are few things that can bond females together faster than the topic of men accompanied by a cocktail. It39s really nice to know that at least no matter where you are in this world this method of relaxation is a proven success. The Sex in the City women perfected this creating an entire hit TV series surrounding the love women share for complaining time and time again about a man http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-772544.html When you wake up after a fantastic evening spent with friends vino laughter I must say it is a nice surprise to not feel hung over. However when you can barely roll out of bed because you are still so full from the amazing Italian feast you devoured the night before there really is no sense of complaint. I am delighted to say last night I was cooked one of the tastiest meals I have had here http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-772452.html I came back in the Europe in the hopes to regain my sense of adoration after having been dragged away unwilling when my Camino Trip 2011 ended. I knew without a doubt that I had to return to the continent that had taught me so much in such a short time. Whether it was the people the food the culture.. or a combination of all these things I can39t quite be sure. But regardless when I st http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-772061.html Have you ever had the feeling of being in the momento perfetto perfect moment and then suddenly your favorite song comes on Or more specifically the right song. It39s a very simple sensation I realize but some how to me I am in awe of these rare occurences. It39s as if someone above is watching you basking in the glow of your wonder and says you think you39ve got it good right http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-771478.html I was up at 8 am today for our full day in Venice After breakfast we all got on the ferry that would take us to the city. It took 45 minutes to get there. It39s not actually that far of a distance but there are really strict rules regarding the speed of boats as they come close to the city. Apparently the waves created by ferries are actually eroding the sides of the buildings.Another thing http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-771188.html