We arrived at the Venice station with a few minutes of planning necessary to finish our next day travel plans to Interlaken. As Tim worked on this, the girls stepped outside for Susanne and Christyn's first views of the busy Grand Canal. How fascinating to watch the variety of floating vehicles of various sizes shuffle around each other, loading and unloading passengers and small cargo deliveries. Tim and Michelle worked their magic to figure out which water bus, Vaparetto, to crowd onto to tour the Grand Canal and stop at our first destination, San Marco. While on this ride we listened to our audio guide as Rick Steves pointed out the history of this beautiful floating city.
We hopped off and joined the crowds in the St. Mark's Square/Piazza. According to Rick, Napoleon described this place as one of the most elegant drawing rooms in Europe surrounded by the Doge's Palace, Campanile-the bell tower and the Correr Museum. Our hope had been to see the inside of the Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs but given our timing and the crowds, we observed from afar. (This will give Tim and Michelle something to do on another trip.)
I must add that the next event occurred merely by chance and is the beginning of two unfortunate events for Christyn. Spoiler alert: the day was still a good day with extra gelato to top it off.
By this time in our day of scurrying, we decided to grab a 'take away' sandwich. We were eating as we quickly hustled to the next vaporetto to San Giorgio Maggiore's Tower when, unbeknown to us, we had attracted a few seagulls overhead. One gutsy seagull swooped down on Christyn's sandwich as it was right in front of her from her recent bite and flew away with it. What a shocking assault!
We hopped on a vaparatto to cross over to San Giorgio island and a ride up San Giorgio Maggiore's Tower. The Church was beautiful with high ceilings filled with murals of detailed depictions of Christ and priests. One notable difference was the large paneled mirrors in a circle formation displaying a particular modern artist's message of service. This work was intriguing but out of place in the center of the church. Where we would typically expect an area for worshippers they were demonstrating art. We went past the display and to the ticket booth to purchase our ride up to the top of the bell tower. We also passed a WC, and we all took advantage of the free toilet as we waited for the elevator. (A note to those that haven't traveled to Europe, public bathroom are few and restaurant bathrooms are for customers only. So, if you see a free bathroom, use it.) into the top of the tower...The views were breathtaking of Venice! Susanne was in full picture mode. Then Tim called Susanne and Christyn over just as the bell overhead rang 1:00. It's not fair that Tim recorded the moment of surprise on video. What a brother!
Onto another vaparetto from the tower to the island of Murano and into a glass presentation. Perfect timing! This wasn't the typical tourist presentation, we had lucked into a real glass manufacturer. It was a great viewing of how the master and his apprentice make the large leaves on their famous chandeliers. Then we enjoyed a private conversation from a masters grandson on the evolution of their techniques while walking through the factory shop. After, we were off to shopping and to grab some gelato.
This is the second unfortunate incident that occurred to Christyn. We were walking along enjoying our cones and headed towards a water fountain when a bird overhead dropped a mess on Christyn and some others nearby. Thankfully there was a store around the corner where we bought Christyn a new Venetian shirt. Plus more gelato shops to replace her cone. This might be the moment that affects our animal-loving Christyn to only love birds from afar!
We caught the vaparetto back to the main island. We had two hours to wander In the general direction of the train station. We took the back streets to the Rialto Bridge and when we were lost we just asked "dové Rialto"...which we did several times. Of course along the way we stumbled upon more shopping, kabobs, cannoli and generally enjoyed "getting lost" while exploring the fascinating streets and waterways of Venice. Plus, Tim found a wine shop with Fragolina which was perfect on this warm day with a little ice in a plastic cup. As we were leaving the Rialto market we stumbled upon the local traghetto stop.
To finish our day we hoped onto a 2€ traghetto, which is a little larger that a gondola, to cross the canal. What a thrill! Arriving at the train station with a few extra minutes, we sat on the steps watching the Venetian world go by. Then we were off to catch the train back to Padua.
To finish our day we hoped onto a 2€ traghetto, which is a little larger that a gondola, to cross the canal. What a thrill! Arriving at the train station with a few extra minutes, we sat on the steps watching the Venetian world go by. Then we were off to catch the train back to Padua.
Ariella met us at the station with a big Italian hug and we were off to their house again. We attempted to swim but the weather changed and it was rather cool but not to cold for Tim and Carlo Alberto.
After swimming we enjoyed another delicious meal of noodles and sauce with bacon from a region that suffered from an earth quake several years ago. Then Ariella brought out sliced cantaloupe and prosciutto and taught us how to eat them together. An odd combo from an American standpoint, but the flavor combination was delicious. We have enjoyed the history and pride their family has shared with us. We cheered "Ching, Chene!"
After swimming we enjoyed another delicious meal of noodles and sauce with bacon from a region that suffered from an earth quake several years ago. Then Ariella brought out sliced cantaloupe and prosciutto and taught us how to eat them together. An odd combo from an American standpoint, but the flavor combination was delicious. We have enjoyed the history and pride their family has shared with us. We cheered "Ching, Chene!"
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