Blogs from Venice, Veneto, Italy, Europe

We just arrived in Venice, but I want to catch up on our hike in the Dolomites. From Salzburg we took the train to Bolzano, the main town of the Alto Adige (if you're Italian) or Sudtirol (if you're Austrian). There's still a very strong German-speaking presence here, even though the area was grabbed by Italy after the First World War. On Monday we took a bus from Bolzano to Selva, a small town in the beautiful Val Gardena, and started our hike. At first it was a pleasant stroll up the gently climbing valley, enclosed on both sides by towering, jagged peaks. Before long the terrain became much steeper and we climbed up on stony trails to the first rifugio, Puez. It sits in a high meadow, just above the cliff over the valley. It's ... read more

Sunday - 30 Apr 23 - Rome Now checked into the NH Collection Vittorio Veneto Hotel in Rome for three nights. Leaving Rome on Wednesday 3 May by train for Venice. The ship docked at 6am right on schedule and we debarked at 7:30am joining Keryn and Garth for the transfer to our respective hotels in Rome. Two other couples in the van and Mario the driver did a great job of stacking the boot with the luggage - see the photo. We all had money on the fact that he would not be able to do it. The transfer took about an hour (70 Euro a couple) and worth every penny to transfer direct from ship to hotel. Arrived at the hotel at about 9:15am and checked in but our room not ready until 3pm. ... read more

GRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Today was SUPPOSED to be a travel day. Due to a 24 hour pilot strike this morning at 4:30 our first leg to Venice was cancelled. Thank you Lufthansa for not negotiating well with the pilots and totally screwing up the front end of our trip. (130,000 passengers world wide affected) Lufthansa has no seats available for 5 days. Frantic phone calls have gotten us booked with Air Canada. We are booked out on Saturday. Stand by....... read more

WED, 24 AUG 2022 – Day 12: Venice - Leaving the churches and basilicas behind, today we head to the canals of Venice! On arrival, we’ll take an orientation walking tour with your Expat Explore tour leader, who will show you the sights including the Rialto Bridge and St Marks Square. You’ll also have the option to explore Venice the traditional way - from the canals on a gondola ride, which gives you a completely different perspective and appreciation for the amazing structure of this unique destination. Overnight – Hotel Venezia Uncle Larry's Note: I met Delia and Nevio during the tour of Wales in late July and early August of this year. We hit it off splendidly, and they encouraged me to let them give me a personalized tour of Venice. Great people, and a ... read more

I didn’t like Venice one bit, the only time I visited it on a sweltering Saturday in July decades ago. I can remember impossible crowds, sickening heat, dirty water, a miserable hostel in a convent. My friends and I got up the next morning and showered under a cold tap, and caught the first train to Switzerland. Today I thought I would give it one more chance this Saturday, but try to be one step ahead. I booked a good hotel 0.9 miles from the train station. I left my suitcase at the train station for 18 euros, and carried a light bag. I got good instructions from hotel staff how to do Venice in a day, plus a map that clearly labeled the hotel. I found the tobacco store where you buy a ticket for ... read more