Venice, Italy!

Sunday, August 16 we boarded our first leg to Venice in Cedar Rapids at noon to Chicago, then Frankfurt, Germany and finally arriving in Venice.  The Chicago to Frankfurt was about eight hours and we took off at 2:15.  Usually we fly overnight so this felt a bit strange and we REALLY did miss a night of sleep.  We arrived at Frankfurt about 6 am their time, had a two hour lay-over and then to Venice.  From the airport we had to take a water taxi to the hotel.

We are staying three nights at the Boscolo Hotel in Venice which is a Marriott autograph collection.  This hotel was once a palace in the 17th century.

Front entrance (by land or water) of the Boscolo Hotel

Lobby of our hotel

View from our second floor room looking out over
the canal entrance to our hotel.

View to the other way.

We walked around our hotel neighborhood as we waited for our room to get ready.

Filling up the water bottle.

Love the laundry hanging out from the homes.

Madonna dell'Orto church

A wooden nativity set in the church

This famous statue that the church was named
after - Madonna del'Orto

Many canals and bridges to cross around here.

We had a LONG nap and showers before heading out for the evening.

Canals and laundry over it.

Bought fresh fruit cups at the outdoor market.

Relaxing with a glass of wine!
We ate outside at Trattoria Alla Palazzina along a canal.

Hooray!  We found our way back to the hotel.
TIME for BED!  Long 2 days/1night without much sleep.

Day 2 in Venice - Tuesday
We had a great breakfast at our hotel and then caught the 10:30 water taxi shuttle from the hotel to San Marco Square.  We spent the rest of the morning walking around that area and had lunch in the square.

Arriving at San Marco Square by water taxi.

Entrance to San Marco Square
Granite columns of San Marco and San Teodoro

San Marco Basilica, the campanile, and Doge's Palace

Basilica San Marco

Venice!  Canals and bridges

Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal

Rialto Market

View of the Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge

Lunch at San Marco Piazza
pizza and cokes

At 2:00 we enjoyed a 2 hour guided walking tour.  We made our way through the labyrinth of alleyways to churches, the opera house, the ornate Bovolo spiral staircase, Marco Polo's house and over many bridges.  We were given history and architecture information.

After the walking tour we continued with a gondola ride.

After the walking tour and gondola ride we walked the area in search of one of the other Grand Canal bridges - Accademia.

Chiesa di San Moise - 1668

We caught a 7:00 water taxi shuttle back to the hotel.  We walked to a restaurant in a nearby square/market area where Don had lasagna and I had seafood spaghetti.

Water taxi trip back to the hotel

Day 3 - Wednesday
Today was predicted to be a rainy day and it was!  We had breakfast at the hotel and rode the 10:30 water taxi to San Marco before it started raining.  We immediately went to get in the line to visit Basilica San Marco (yesterdays line was very long) and it moved quickly.  We got in and up to the balcony just before it started raining.  

Waiting on our water taxi

And here it is!

We taxied by the Bauer hotel this morning

Pulling up to San Marco square.

Basilica San Marco
First we went up to the terrace.  Great view over the square, close up view of the frescoes inside, and museum pieces displayed.

Inside on the terrace level - not supposed to be taking photos!

Main floor - didn't pull out the camera

We had lunch at a restaurant on the square.  We received a call that our 4:45 tour of the Grand Canal was canceled due to the rain so we caught the 3:00 water taxi back to the hotel.

Lunch.  Beautiful chandelier

Another gelato before we go!  

We relaxed at the hotel (duly noted that I had a nap - I still haven't found the seven hours that we've lost in flight to Venice).  We decided to eat at the hotel to avoid getting caught out in the rain.  We had a five course meal and it was fabulous!

1st course - Amuse Bouche del giorno
salmon and a berry

2nd course - terrina di polipo alla marinara
very unusual - octopus salad

3rd course - Ravioli
it was a vegetable ravioli with eggplant and tomatoes

4th course - Manzo bollito "brasato"
braised beef with yummy potatoes & spinach

5th course - la raffigurazione della spugna
sponge cake (with creamy frosting in middle) with gelato

We've had 2 1/2 great days in Venice!  Goodnight.  Tomorrow we are off to Solvenia.

Thursday, August 20
We had breakfast at the hotel and caught the noon water bus to the Venice airport where Al and Vonja picked us up to go to Slovenia.

On our walk to the water bus

This cat was a frequent visitor at the hotel.
Today we saw him near the canal.

And we are off to the airport to meet Al and Vonja.