...Our Gondolier said to us very early in the ride, “I am a Venetian first and an Italian second.”
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| Venetian first, Italian second |
This sense of unique pride was evident throughout our stay in Venice. Having been only part of Italy in the last 200 years, they seem to identify with themselves being part of many islands and unified through the canals.
I must admit, I thought that the gondola ride was going to be a bit overrated. But once having been a form of transport reserved only for the elite (and now for tourists) it was actually great fun.
Stepping into the boat was the beginning of my belief that this was something really special. While the gondolier did not sing, he did give us a remarkable history of Venice and their way of life.
But before all that, we arrived on the water taxi and then embarked on the inevitable maze of streets and bridges towards our hotel. Being a glorious summer day meant that the humidity was equally as glorious.
We spent the evening walking the gorgeous streets around where we were staying (close to St Mark's Sqaure) and then dropped in at Conca D'Oro Ristorante for our first (of many) Diavola pizzas and our first (of a few) Moretti beers.
The following day we checked out the wonders of St Mark's Square... in the stinking heat!
As we were strolling through we were considering going across to the famous island of Murano... then out of nowhere an island rep offered us free tickets across the canal to Murano! Strange timing... but perfect.
We then enjoyed a tour of a glass factory, a bit of shopping and watching a demonstration of glass flowers being made.
It was so hot over there - it didn't matter if we were in the shops, crossing the bridges, watching the (VERY hot glass workers) we couldn't get cool. In the end Dad and I had to dip our feet in the water just to get a little cooler.
Later, we made an epic journey back to St Marks' Square (over an hour) on the vaporetto and then cooled down a bit from the extreme heat with some gelatti.
We then walked down the main shopping walkway to Rialto Bridge.
But as I mentioned before, the day was totally topped off with the gondola ride.
There were a few tight turns and our Gondolier explained about the different whistles and calls to be able to navigate the gondolas around the canals safely.
And then the moon came out (even better!)
Almost hard to believe that with all the illegal traders around, that more of them aren't caught. What's even harder to believe is that my parents fell for the 'have a rose' trick (well kind of). Mum and Dad were waiting for me to finish taking photos and in the meantime were convinced to take some roses (and then hand over some money!) Yet the man disappeared as quickly as he arrived as a policeman came chasing after him! Bit of excitement to finish off our trip!
But until next time... Slainte!
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| Our vaporetto |
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| Some buildings we passed on our way in... |
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| Gondolas galore! |
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| The view from our room |
We spent the evening walking the gorgeous streets around where we were staying (close to St Mark's Sqaure) and then dropped in at Conca D'Oro Ristorante for our first (of many) Diavola pizzas and our first (of a few) Moretti beers.
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| Diavola pizza and Moretti beer! |
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| St Mark's Basilica |
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| St Mark's Basilica |
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| St Mark's Clock |
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| Mum with the St Mark's Clock |
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| St Mark's Basilica |
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| St Mark's Campanile |
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| Birds in the square |
As we were strolling through we were considering going across to the famous island of Murano... then out of nowhere an island rep offered us free tickets across the canal to Murano! Strange timing... but perfect.
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| Water taxi across to island of Murano |
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| Looking back at the square over the water |
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| It's their home too... |
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| Murano |
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| Glass factory |
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| Pressing a glass flower |
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| Glass flowers in window boxes |
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| Murano jetty |
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| Glass dumped in the water |
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| Mum with an awesome blue glass sculpture |
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| Sculpture of gondolas and gondoliers |
It was so hot over there - it didn't matter if we were in the shops, crossing the bridges, watching the (VERY hot glass workers) we couldn't get cool. In the end Dad and I had to dip our feet in the water just to get a little cooler.
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| Dad cooling down |
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| My feet in the canal |
Later, we made an epic journey back to St Marks' Square (over an hour) on the vaporetto and then cooled down a bit from the extreme heat with some gelatti.
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| Gondola gelatti |
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| All smiles with the cooling agent |
We then walked down the main shopping walkway to Rialto Bridge.
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| This miniature glass display was in a shop window on our walk |
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| Rialto Bridge |
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| Tile missing from the path... and the path all wet from the rising tide |
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| Sunset (just before our gondola ride) |
But as I mentioned before, the day was totally topped off with the gondola ride.
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| Mum excited about a lifelong dream coming true! |
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| Gondoliers have it a bit hard (pushing off the wall) |
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| Gondolier with his hat! |
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| Under the 'Bridge of Sighs' |
And then the moon came out (even better!)
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| Dusk - (and the moon's out!) |
Almost hard to believe that with all the illegal traders around, that more of them aren't caught. What's even harder to believe is that my parents fell for the 'have a rose' trick (well kind of). Mum and Dad were waiting for me to finish taking photos and in the meantime were convinced to take some roses (and then hand over some money!) Yet the man disappeared as quickly as he arrived as a policeman came chasing after him! Bit of excitement to finish off our trip!
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