Our next stop was in Venice, Italy, the city built on water over 1,600 years ago (founded around 400 AD during the dedication of the first church and became an official city in the 9th century). Pretty crazy! We took the train from Florence to Venice, and as you step outside of the train station, you are immediately immersed in the stereotypical Venice view--the Grand Canal is directly in front of you! Beautiful, colorful old buildings (former mansions, mostly hotels and museums today) line the canal on both sides.
On our first vaporetto ride, so fun! The vaporetto is the local water bus, definitely the most affordable and convenient transportation.
Chels is also thrilled, don't let her half-smile fool you!
The Grand Canal snakes through the center of Venice, with smaller canals connecting the rest of the city and surrounding islands (i.e. Murano, where the famous hand-blown glass is made and Burano, where the famous lace is made). Unfortunately, we did not have time to make it to the islands on this trip, next time!
While the gondolas were cool, the cost was not. I am perfectly happy paying a few euros for the vaporetti versus one hundred each for a gondola ride. Definitely fun to see!
Selfie! No, we did not have a selfie stick. There were so many tourists in Venice, and selfie sticks, yikes! I was hoping to see someone fall into the Grand Canal while "selfie"ing, but alas no such luck...
Stairs to nowhere. Hilarious! There were many buildings with steps going directly into the water, and small cobblestone streets that ended with these same steps. Venice is sinking, according to Rick Steves, but not as much as sea levels are rising. He says Venice floods about 100 times per year! San Marco's Piazza has been completely flooded multiple times (there is a picture of the square later on, stay tuned).
Cool hotel on the Grand Canal
There are a few larger bridges over the Grand Canal, and then many smaller ones connecting the streets over the minor canals. A few times we were searching for something on the map, just to come to the end of the street and the Grand Canal, and realize it was on the other side! With no bridge, of course :)
Basilica Cattedrale Patriarcale San Marco
St. Mark's Basilica, so gorgeous! Built in the 9th century to house the body of St. Mark (pretty cool to see the tombs of saints in the cathedrals, we saw St. Francis' in Assisi!). A bit gruesome, but a big honor to have a whole duomo built just to house your body. Goals!
We could not take pictures inside, so you'll have to imagine the beauty; mosaic tiles, gilded paintings, ornately carved wooden crucifixes, the whole nine yards.
Piazza San Marco
This clock actually works! St. Mark's Clocktower, built at the end of the 15th century. Crazy! Apparently twice a year, a trumpet-toting angel and three magi come out of the doors under the numbers and go around Madonna and child in the center of the balcony. This happens in the beginning of January, and 40 days after Easter, so we missed it by a hair's breadth.
Vertical gardens
Every view of the Grand Canal was amazing, and it was a cloudy day.
My hilarious wife at dinner. Since everything is so old, why not light our supper with candlelight in that old gold taper holder, just like the good old days?
Cute little bridges throughout the city
Another duomo, just off the Grand Canal
Tiny streets
Taxis in Venice. You call the taxi and wait on the dock outside of the hotels and businesses to be picked up. Fancy!
Pistachio gelato, Y.U.M.
We had to have gelato everyday. When in Rome (Venice), right?
We had a sunny day on our last day in Venice. Spent the morning and early afternoon walking around, exploring the city on the opposite side of the Grand Canal from our hotel. We stayed in the Cannaregio neighborhood.
Gorgeous city. I definitely recommend it.
Train ride back to the Villa to meet up with the parents and family friends for another few days
Chels perfectly matched the interior of the train, how fashionable.
