Monday, July 6, 2009

Adventures in Venice


In 2007 I went back to Italy for two weeks but this time with Paul and my cousins, Don and Chris. We flew first to Venice and then traveled south. I had been to Venice once before but for a very short time. I had been reading about the city since my first visit and was very anxious to go back and see more.

This is Paul at one spot where you can access a gondola on a back canal. The flowers all over the city were lovely.

A fascinating and enchanting city, Venice can also be a maddening place to try to get around. As you probably know, the streets of Venice are mostly canals. In fact, there are no wheeled vehicles of any sort in the city. You walk or take a water taxi or water bus to get around. And it can be very confusing with its maze of streets and web of canals and lots of dead-ends. Even with a map, it's a difficult place to navigate. And good luck asking a Venetian for directions!


This is the Grand Canal and truly the Main Street of Venice. This might have been taken while standing on the Rialto Bridge.

No visit to Venice would be complete without a gondola ride, despite the price. These photos were taken from the boat as we glided through the back streets of this unique and romantic city.



Balconies were full of flowers AND hanging laundry in many cases.


You see boats of all kinds tied up to the buildings. They are the only method of transportation other than walking. And, of course, commerce moves on the water as well. Monday morning when we left, there were all sorts of work boats and delivery boats navigating the canals along with the taxis and personal watercraft.


See the flowers. And the crowds! We stayed right in the city which is the only way to really get a feel for Venice. Most tourists come into the city for the day and then leave in late afternoon on the Vaporetta (water bus).

In the gondola on The Grand Canal. That's the Rialto Bridge straight ahead.

This is taken from the Campanile or bell tower which is the tallest structure in Venice. The current tower is a 20th century recreation of the 8th century original which collapsed without warning into a pile of bricks in 1902.

And here we are leaving the city in a private water taxi taking us to the train station for points south. Venice is truly an enchanting place. You have to see it to really understand it.

27 comments:

Michele said...

I've never been but would sure like to go. Lovely photos. The flowers are wonderful.

Alex the Girl said...

Your pictures were post card perfect. I love Paul's mustache in the last photo. It looks all waxed and dolled up!

BONNIE K said...

Those are beautiful pix. I think I would never find my way around, though.

Stereos and Souffles said...

I haven't been back to Venice since my honeymoon 5 years ago, but it is my favorite city in Italy. We stayed on the Grand Canal right next to the Rialto Bridge, thanks for the pics, brings back great memories!

Sandy said...

M, my photos don't do the flowers justice, believe me!

Alex, Paul could pass for a native! The moustache is his trademark...and as I mentioned earlier, his grandparents came from Italy in the early 1900's.

Esther said...

Great pictures! I went to Venice once, a long time ago, and it's truly one of the most beautiful and unique places I've ever seen - like a dream really.

mommakin said...

I love traveling vicariously through you.

Unknown said...

I'm with Tammy, I enjoy your travels and photos, so lovely. I've never left North America, but perhaps if I'm not too old, broke or tired after raising kids Kevin and I can travel.
Thanks for sharing Sandy, just lovely!

Midlife Roadtripper said...

I don't know what it is about Venice. Photos always turn out so well there. We must be alike in quite a few ways - I took pictures of the flowers and hanging clothes also. So easy to get lost in Venice and it's okay. Eventually you wind your way back.

A New England Girl said...

I am so so jealous. This just makes me want to go back to Italy- just to see Venice! Once again, your photos are fantastic. It looks like you all had a wonderful trip together. :)

Gwendolyn B. said...

The pictures are beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

kel said...

So jealous! Great shots!!

Moms On The Go said...

Just hopping by, great blog! I love the design!

Christina said...

WOW! I so enjoyed looking at your pictures of Italy. One day when my children are grown, I hope to travel there with my hubby!!

I'm jumping in off the blog hop and I chose your blog because it was close to the bottom (with mine!) and it seems like those near the top always get the most hits!!

Come on over to We 5 Kings for a visit sometime!!

Shauna said...

I absolutely loved your photos. It's my dream to go to Italy. Thanks for sharing!

Carolyn F said...

Passing through on the Blog Hop - great picture!

FancyPants said...

Sandy - Thanks for stopping by~ I love this post, I have bookmarked it so that when I go - I'll know some places where to go! It looks amazing!!!11

Lindsey said...

Wow amazing photos!!

I have done other yoga videos and they were so hard to follow, but The Biggest Loser Yoga was so easy to follow and such an amzing workout! I was so sore the next day! I read all the reviews on amazon too, and they were all positive! I highly recc it! And you don't need much space at all, you stay in one spot the whole time! Hope that helps!

Donna Gotlib said...

These were beautiful photos. What a fun post.

Cathy said...

Hoppin' by to say "Hi"! Loved the pic and the blog! That's my dream and my niece's dream - to go to Italy. She is going to minor in Italian and try to study there for at least a year. I sure hope she can - then I can visit!

Heather said...

aw, wow, i'm jealous. i'd love to go to italy some day. those pictures are gorgeous.

Robin said...

Those pictures make me ache for a little architecture. Wonderful.

Sandy said...

The architecture of Venice is one of the most amazing aspects of the city....when you consider it's built on water and was started hundreds of years ago, it's hard to comprehend.

Kelly L said...

Beautiful - we are trying to set up an European trip for next summer - a Venice is at the top of my list.. Thank you for making me more excited!

Love,
Kelly

http://www.ivebecomemymother.com

Alicia said...

hi sandy! thanks for coming by my blog! these pictures of venice were breathtaking...i so wish i could be there instead of here right now!! how awesome would it be to just travel by gondola?!

Ginger said...

When we were there we (my students and I) wandered into the less touristy area to see what living in Venice might be like. It was lovely to see mothers strolling with their babies and children playing futbol in the courtyard. We got a real sense of community there.

Sandy said...

Ginger, I wish I had found the type of area of you mention. I always like to investigate how the natives live but I missed anything with kids in Venice.

 

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