Full Day in Venice
I am having some issues with getting pictures loaded. I will add them as soon as I can. In the meantime, I want to keep up with the writing!!
The forecast for today was for the rain to start at noon. We started out this morning with a local guide taking us on a walking tour. We started at the famous Rialto Bridge (our hotel is conveniently nearby). This bridge crosses the Grand Canal and is lined with beautiful gold shops (we didn’t stop to shop). It is prettier to see the bridge from along the canal. Our guide continually reminded us to “stay to the right” to allow for the locals to pass by. The locals really dislike the tourists because they block the narrow streets and slow them down on their quick walk to work or wherever they need to be. If the tourists are blocking the way the locals walk by and say nasty things to the guides (in Italian)! We are here in the “low” season and already there are some areas that are quite busy. Imagine what it is like in the summer time!!
We strolled through the streets and saw and heard many interesting tidbits from the guide. We ended up in the Piazza San Marco. We visited inside the spectacular St. Mark’s Basilica and then went to a glass blowing demonstration. The demonstration was very fascinating. Of course, we then went into the showroom to see the many beautiful creations!! A few people walked out of there with lighter wallets!!
Throughout the morning it drizzled off and on but was certainly pleasant enough. We had the rest of the day free to explore Venice. Some people took the opportunity to return to the hotel for a rest, others went to tour through the beautiful Doges Palace and others chose to wonder the streets of Venice. Venice is a city where you don’t follow a map. You just set out, let yourself get lost in the maze of streets and alleyways and bridges and then figure out how to get back to the hotel. That simple!! Of course, there are plenty of shops and gelato stands to “lure” us!!
Later in the afternoon most of the group met in the lobby and walked with Laura to see the Jewish Ghetto. It was very interesting to see the area of Venice that is an island accessed by two bridges that were blocked off to contain the Jews during the war. Although it is no longer a “strictly Jewish area” it has a very serene feel to it.
The rain did pick up (not pouring, just a bit more steady) in the later afternoon. We made our way back to the hotel to dry off and relax. We are on our own for dinner tonight so we will find restaurants near the hotel. It is pretty hard to find “bad” food in Italy!!
Ciao for now! I will post pictures soon....I hope!!
The forecast for today was for the rain to start at noon. We started out this morning with a local guide taking us on a walking tour. We started at the famous Rialto Bridge (our hotel is conveniently nearby). This bridge crosses the Grand Canal and is lined with beautiful gold shops (we didn’t stop to shop). It is prettier to see the bridge from along the canal. Our guide continually reminded us to “stay to the right” to allow for the locals to pass by. The locals really dislike the tourists because they block the narrow streets and slow them down on their quick walk to work or wherever they need to be. If the tourists are blocking the way the locals walk by and say nasty things to the guides (in Italian)! We are here in the “low” season and already there are some areas that are quite busy. Imagine what it is like in the summer time!!
We strolled through the streets and saw and heard many interesting tidbits from the guide. We ended up in the Piazza San Marco. We visited inside the spectacular St. Mark’s Basilica and then went to a glass blowing demonstration. The demonstration was very fascinating. Of course, we then went into the showroom to see the many beautiful creations!! A few people walked out of there with lighter wallets!!
Throughout the morning it drizzled off and on but was certainly pleasant enough. We had the rest of the day free to explore Venice. Some people took the opportunity to return to the hotel for a rest, others went to tour through the beautiful Doges Palace and others chose to wonder the streets of Venice. Venice is a city where you don’t follow a map. You just set out, let yourself get lost in the maze of streets and alleyways and bridges and then figure out how to get back to the hotel. That simple!! Of course, there are plenty of shops and gelato stands to “lure” us!!
Later in the afternoon most of the group met in the lobby and walked with Laura to see the Jewish Ghetto. It was very interesting to see the area of Venice that is an island accessed by two bridges that were blocked off to contain the Jews during the war. Although it is no longer a “strictly Jewish area” it has a very serene feel to it.
The rain did pick up (not pouring, just a bit more steady) in the later afternoon. We made our way back to the hotel to dry off and relax. We are on our own for dinner tonight so we will find restaurants near the hotel. It is pretty hard to find “bad” food in Italy!!
Ciao for now! I will post pictures soon....I hope!!
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