Venezia

Venice is absolutely breathtaking. Everywhere we look, there is another amazing scene, so very picturesque. It's a photographer's dream, this city. Bryan and I arrived yesterday and decided to just head over to Venice and just get lost. And get lost we did! We bought a map and tried very hard to follow the winding callas around in some coherent direction, but I admit - we took ourselves around literally in a couple of circles!!

After a few hours of walking, we sat to share a bottle of wine and figure out some semblance of a game plan for last night since we planned to visit St. Mark's and Doge's Palace today. Following the reverse of a suggested walking tour found in one of our travel books, we wandered out to edge of Venice where the islands across the canal were visible. And then we started trying to take as many different artistic photos as possible. Unfortunately, the wi-fi at this hostel is very weak so I'll have to upload a few of last night's adventures another time.

Our hostel is about 5 minutes from the Mestre train station, which is very handy. We have our own bathroom (yay!) in what appears to be an older, small hotel. It's cozy and quiet, so I had a fantastic sleep last night. Called Hotel Belvedere, I would recommend this place to anyone. An added bonus, the bus to/from Venice stops one block away and is also only about 10 minutes from Venice.

Bryan asked that I add how fast I figured out the train and bus system here! My map reading skills were challenged but my sense of direction has been able to help find us pointed in the right direction most of the time!

Today (Wednesday), we slept in a bit since we didn't plan on going back and forth to the hostel in the afternoon. (Bryan seems to be surviving without his afternoon nap.) As mentioned, we've been having mixed experiences with restaurants and last night we tried one located right on a canal. Very pretty and romantic! The food was good but I was disturbed by my sole arriving not only with all it's skin and bones intact, but with the remnants of its face! I think I could see where it's eye had been. This morning, though, we stopped at a cute, small bar/restaurant/cafe by one of the many churches, very nondescript little eatery. It was super! Priced very reasonably, the service was awesome and the food was so tasty. I appreciate that when I order food here the portions are about 1/4 of what I get back home, for example at Boston Pizza.

Highly recommended place!


 

St. Mark's Basilica was very grand and amazing, but so many areas were blocked off and ropes strung up so you had to follow a path around. No photos allowed, a common occurrence here, very different than Rome. It was magnificent but disappointing that we couldn't revel in this and capture our own memories. St. Mark's Square is massive, a very tourist-heavy spot, but I didn't like it nearly as much as Piazza Navona in Rome.

 

Doge's Palace, however, was beautiful!! I fell in love and want one of my own someday. Courtyards and outdoor verandas, with huge, wide staircases...my dream home was all rolled into that one building. Again, photos inside weren't allowed but this is definitely worth the €16 entry price. They opened up the entire palace, including the prisons, for the tour. Bryan and I both were very happy we did this tour.

The Bridge of Sighs connects the Palace to the jails on the other side of the canal. It has two enclosed walkways inside, one for the public, and one for the prisoners getting taken back to fulfill their sentences. Legend is that people could hear the prisoners sighing in resignation as they were taken back to cells in the prison.

Bridge of Sighs

We hopped on a water bus and toured for over an hour. It started to rain so we have found cover inside an English pub called Devil's Forest. Bryan seems happy to be drinking beer and watching sports!!

Rialto Bridge

 

Masks and theater are very popular here. It seems appropriate for me to add a Venice mask to my collection so after the pub I think we will venture out and find a mask and perhaps a restaurant for dinner.