Venice
Day 8-Day One in Venice
Day Run-Down
-Hotel Check Out and Back on the Bus to Venice
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Scenic drive through the countrysides of Germany, Austria, and Italy
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Colleen gave us Mozartkugel, an Austrian chocolate on our drive.
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Lunch Stop at a Restaurant in an adorable Italian-Tirolean village
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Our first slice of authentic Italian pizza!
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Total Time on Bus: 8 Hours
-Arrival in Venice!
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Hopped off the bus and took a water taxi through the Grand Canal toward our hotel- the best possible introduction to Venice!
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Arrival at Hotel Ala- elegant hotel in a fantastic location (my window overlooked a canal!)
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Check into hotel, get room assignments
-Down Time to Get Settled In
-Orientation Walking Tour of Nearby Venice Led by Colleen
-Dinner Together at Trattoria Alla Scala
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My favorite dinner of the tour! We had all of my favorite dishes!
-Gondola Ride Under the Stars
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Bucket list moment! Unforgettable!
Sights We Saw
Constitution Bridge, Church of San Simeone Piccolo, Church of San Geremia, Natural History Museum,
Church of San Stae, Ca’Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art, the fish, fruit, and vegetable markets, flags of Venice with the lion of St. Mark, Rialto Bridge, Gallerie dell’Accademia, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Palazzo da Mula Morosini, Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Church of Santa Maria del Giglio. Church of San Moise, St. Mark’s Square and il Campanile, Museo Correr, I Musei di Piazza San Marco, St. Mark’s Basilica, Piazzetta San Marco, Doge’s Palace, two towers topped with St. Theodore and the Lion of Venice respectively, Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Bridge of Sighs, New Prison, St. Mark’s clocktower.
Memorable Moments
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Water taxi ride through the Grand Canal- this was truly one of the most magical moments of my life and one that I will remember forever. It was as if stepping into a dream.
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Walking into St. Mark's Square- a symbol of Venice that I had dreamt of visiting for years.
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Adventure getting to the Gondola Ride-it was quite an adventure to get there as we experienced, as true Venetians do, the flooding of the streets. The water in St. Mark’s square was the deepest Colleen had ever seen it. It seemed as if every which way we went the streets were flooded. I thought it was funny, and a cool thing to experience first hand while in Venice.
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Gondola Ride- it was a truly beautiful ride along the canal with our striped-shirt gondoliers steering the way and a band of fantastic musicians serenading us. It was an surreal experience, one you dream about your whole life. And Venice at night is just magical and picturesque.
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Honestly, every moment in Venice was a "pinch-me" moment!
Overall
My favorite day of the entire trip! A beautiful, wonderful, magical day in what became one of my favorite places in the world. Our first day was a fantastic introduction to the city and its wonder, full of activities and moments that I will remember forever!
Day 9- Day Two in Venice
Day Run-Down
-Walking Tour of Venice with Local Guide
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Explored and got to know different corners of Venice, learning about its history and future.
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Mask-making demonstration by owner of Ca Del Sol!- so incredible!
-Tour of St. Mark's Basilica
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No photos were allowed inside
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An exquisite, grand, ornate Basilica
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Visited St. Mark's Museum on an upper level of the Basilica as well as an outdoor balcony on this level with beautiful views of the piazza.
-Free Time for the Rest of the Day including Dinner On Our Own
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Wandering the streets of Venice (part of the experience of being there is getting lost in the winding streets and alleys!)
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Got my first Italian gelato (and proceeded to stain my shirt with it)!
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Shopping on the Rialto Bridge
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Dinner in St. Mark's Square while enjoying the bands playing and watching the pigeons wander the square (another classic part of Venice!)
Sights We Saw
Teatro la Fenice, Campo Manin with the Statue of Manin, Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, Rialto Bridge, Grand Canal, equestrian state of Colleoni in the Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo, Scuola Grande di San Marco, leaning bell tower of San Giorgio di Greci, Bridge of Sighs, Venetian water well, St. Mark’s Basilica, St. Marks Museum, St. Mark's Square, Horses of St. Mark, Campo San Bartolomeo with the Goldoni Statue, Campo San Giacomo di Rialto, Campo Erberia, Campo Cesare Battisti gia della Bella Vienna, Campo della Pescaria, Chiesa San Giorgio Maggiore
Memorable Moments
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Mask-Making Demonstration- it was fascinating to watch the process of making Venetian masks from an Italian Venetian mask maker. It was a great, authentic cultural experience. Our local guide translated as the mask maker explained the process of making masks and taught us about the different Venetian characters and types of masks he made. He had some members of our group put on the masks representing the different characters and act them out! We then got to explore his mask shop which was so magical, with masks of different kinds, shapes, and sizes. Being among the Venetian masks was another ""pinch me" moment when I realized I was really in Venice.
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Wandering through the city’s winding alleys and streets, walking over gorgeous, picturesque canals, the colorful buildings, the boats and gondolas. It felt like another world. I tried to walk slowly and take it all in as I walked around. I loved just walking along the water, appreciating the architecture and the scenes going on around me. I enjoyed just people-watching. It was very peaceful and calming. I just wanted to take the afternoon to explore the city, not see to many of the sites, just enjoy what was around me. It was my ideal afternoon!
Overall
Being in Venice was just a dream come true! Day Two had a great balance of group and free time. I really tried to slow down and take everything in; just enjoy this mesmerizing city. It was a hectic but incredible two days.
