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Published: April 20th 2008
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It has only been a week since I returned and you would think I could get something posted before now. I did download the pictures earlier in the week, but never got the text typed. I did not have the best weather, but overall, it was a very good weekend.
I would have to agree with those that say you can do Venice in a long weekend. It is not a place I would want to go for more than a few days and now that I have been there, it is not real high on my list to go back. Again, do not get me wrong, it is a lovely city and some place I would recommend to go, but it is also one of those places I do not think you need to back to over and over to see and enjoy it. I am sure if you had a significant other to go with you, it would be better as it is a very romantic city when it is a little warmer out to enjoy sunsets/sunrises on the water.
Besides being romantic, it is just amazing seeing this city built on logs driven into the earth
Water Taxis
From the airport, you can walk (~5 minutes) to the water or take a bus but from there, you must take a water transportation (bus or taxi) to get to Venice. below and because they do not get any oxygen, the wood basically turns to rock, which is how they built the city. Boat, and until recently, walking, are the only two ways to get around this city. I say recently because the bridges are not that old and our tour guide said often times most people had no idea what was on the other side of the island because they never left their section that was enclosed by a canel. Everything is by boat! I took a water taxi from the airport to my hotel, or at least close because the canel my hotel sat on was too small for the taxi boat so from the main pier, I walked. But not only the taxis, but also the emergency services. I saw them taking a lady out of her building to load her on an emergency boat that took her to the hospital that sits on the edge of the water. Everything is by boat!
They say Venice is sinking about 1 cm every 6 years and the water is also rising, but I forget the rate they said it was rising very 10 years.
Like every tourist,
I had to take a gondola ride so I did that on the first day when there was a break in the rain. I really wish I would have waited until after my tour because our tour guide gave us some good advice that I fully agree with. The gondola ride I went on was 90Euro for about 45 minutes and to be honest, it was nothing special. I actual found it sort of boring and enjoyed the water taxi or buses just as well so if you want to save yourself 89.50 Euro yet still go on a gondola ride, find one that is actually used for carrying people across a canel where there is not a bridge. You can find them all around and they only cost 0.50 Euro. Of course, they also only take a few minutes, but you get to experience what a gondola is really used for. If you love it, then I would recommend taking the expensive ride; but if not, you saved yourself a lot of money and can still tell all of your friends and family you went on a gondola ride...lol
The second tour which I took by foot, the
Canel by the Hotel
No, this was not my view from my window, but it was looking out of the front lobby of the hotel. guide claimed St. Mark's Basilica was the prettiest of all cathedral in the world. If it had a little pretty stainglass windows, I might have to agree. The inside was awesome. We were not allowed to take pictures but I posted one from just inside before we had to turn our cameras off. I loved the floors with all of the mosic marbles in 3-D effect/visual. I do not know how to describe it then coupled with all of the gold in the ceiling paintings. WOW!
Then there is the St. Mark's Clocktower. I have to admit, it gives the one in Prague a run for its money and how it differs (and even better) is that is actually does something when it rings at the top of the hour unlike the one in Prague. You can see a lot of similarities to the two. I only posted a few pictures of it, but I took a lot more. I do not know why, but I loved it and just enjoyed watching the time slip away as I sat there.
So again, if you ever get the chance to go, I would recommend it, but do not plan
Gondola Driver
I am not sure he was called a driver and I am sure it is a lot of work, but I was not that impressed with the ride and would not recommend it. more than three or four days and could probably do it in less time if you are limited on time/money. I had a very good time and I am really glad I spent the time and money to go. It is not a cheap place to visit as it is mostly visitors that come to the island so be prepared, but even with that said, I would try to make the time to go and experience, not just see, Venice.
Although it was not part of Venice, but it was part of the trip so I just have to comment on it. I hate the Sheremetyevo Airport (the main one used by Aeroflot in Moscow)! They have to be some of the most unfriendly people that work there and it is never organized in anyway that would make sense to anyone, including other Russians. Do they not realize this is the first impression people get of Moscow and Russia? Then again, they do not care and what is even worse, now that Domodedovo Airport (the other major airport in Moscow) is doing so well as a privately runned airport, the city wants to take it over and start managing
From Rialto Bridge
Looking down from Rialto Bridge at all of the cafes along the Grand Canel. Venice is really just a tourist town. it. For what, so they can make it like the old prison feel of Sheremetyevo.
I should know better than to land on a Sunday evening even all other flights are coming in. There is one flight from Asia that must be a 747 or 777 because there are always a ton of people there and the passport control has to the slowest in the world unless you are Russian then you can get through in just a matter of minutes. I had Dmitry who was taking 2.5 minutes per person unless you were being sent to "the bad boys room" for some problem with your documents than he was averaging 7 minutes each time you tried to come through. I was in one of the shorter lines and had 10 people in front of me. It took me 50 minutes. When I finally got up there, I bet he looked at me and then the picture in my passport 20 times and then finally said, you need to smile. I should have never smiled for my passport picture because I will never smile going through that airport!
Enough about Moscow airport problems, this blog was about Venice!
St. Mark's Clocktower
The weather was not perfect, making it difficult to get the right lighting, but this was awesome and I have many more pictures of it. Unlike the one in Prague, it moves and keeps up with time, date, stars/moon, etc. This blog was all my thoughts/words, but if you want more specific facts, you may want to check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice.
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Margaret
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Venice
I loved Venice. I liked the somewhat fishy smell and the quietness of no cars. The sound of the boats gave a resort feel. Last time I was there it was flooded and we all walked around in waders. Now that's fun! NOT! I liked the food a lot. The islands around Venice are interesting - Murano making glass and Burano making lace. They were amazing and well worth the water taxi ride to get there.