Nothing better than getting to the airport in time to have a glass of champagne at the Sheraton before we board our flight. We are flying Air Canada Rouge and it turned out to be an amazing flight. Still didn't sleep, but we did rest. Just too excited.
If you only speak one language, English is a good one to have, pretty well everyone we asked directions from spoke English. As we get off the plane we are not sure where we are going, but thankfully the signs are pretty easy to follow. We grab a cab into Roma Square. OK didn’t really know that Venice is a total walking or boating city, no cars, so we get dropped off at the Piazzale Roma - the land transportaton gateway. From here on you are either on a boat or walking, we were told it was about a 20 minute walk to our hotel so we opted for the water bus (7.50 euro a trip). 30 minutes later we are still tooting about. Finally we come to Piazza San Marco (Saint Mark’s square) and hop off with our suitcases. Oops wrong stop.
"The Square" is the hub of Venice. The Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basicila, some of the most expensive hotel real estate to stay in are all situated along this part of the Grand Canal. There are tourists everywhere (yes including us).
We now push our suitcases up and down steps, over cobblestones for 25 minutes (yes it would have been a closer walk from Piazzle Roma) before we end up at the Hotel Rialto right by the Rialto bridge and right beside a water taxi stop. LOL This bridge was modernized in 1591, leading architects of the time, didn't think it would ever last. Now it is constantly filled with tourists and the most dangerous part is watching out for selfie sticks as you try to cross over.
Our Hotel - the Hotel Rialto feels as old as the bridge. The rooms are huge and it is an amazing location with great dining just steps away. Yes these are the keys to our room. Everytime you leave you hand it back in. Luckily Jim had big pockets.
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Although I have been imagining what Venice was like and thought I had a good idea (from my many James Bond movies), it still totally shocked me. There are big canals, little canals, big alleys, little alleys, hotels, motels, shops, opera houses, churches along with people and porters walking or boating - non stop motion. Every single item in every single store had to come in by boat. Everything you ate or drank had to come in by boat. Mail delivery was by boat. Everything broken, every bit of garbage had to then go back out by boat. All the tourists travelled back and forward by boat or else walked. It was a mass of movement every second. All these hundred year old buildings on the canals were being whacked constantly by the waves from the boats. I think the most fun I had was just sitting with a glass of wine waiting for someone to crash or fall off one of the many boats. They all seemed to drive like Jim down the DVP - people will stop for me, if Jim wants to move over he moves over. It was magical. The water buses have floating docks tied to the streets, when they stop, they just crash into them. The people on the boat all get jarred and the people on the floating dock all get jarred. They are steel so it's impossible not to be startled. Again just waiting for someone to fall off.
On every corner there were artists practicing their art. What a great way to travel the world and bring back your memories.
The vendors were busy along the main part of the Grand Canal. They weren't pushy at all. This was one of my favourite stands. Jim was having a wee bit of culture shock, North America is so focused on the female form whereas Italy loves the male form (me too). Can't wait for him to get to Florence :)
Even with all these touritsts, artists, vendors, porters, etc you would every so often turn a corner and find yourself alone - for a second. Here is one of the few pictures I took without a group of people in it. lol
Even with all these touritsts, artists, vendors, porters, etc you would every so often turn a corner and find yourself alone - for a second. Here is one of the few pictures I took without a group of people in it. lol
Our first dinner in Venice was at an unbelievable little restaurant in a little alley just minutes away from our hotel. I decided to be adventurous and try something fishy. Not being a fish person I was being pretty brave my first night out. There was a homemade fettuccine with scampi, when I asked what exactly scampi was the waiter told me it was like shrimp. Perfect I actually like shrimp. The meal was amazing, after my first reaction of shock, there were lovely little pieces of scampi cut up in the pasta but there were also 3 big scampi with all their bits on top. Quick as could be they were popped onto Jim's plate.
As excited as we were jet lag was starting to hit us so off to bed we went with this amazing view. Such a magical city.
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