Italy - Venice

7-05-2011

Very excited to be in Venezia, inspite of all the negative things I have heard.

Guess who else is visiting Venice today, the Pope. Did not know that, so things are going to be busier and security on high alert.

After the bus stop the modes of transport is via the water or walking. The walking is not easy as there are no straight streets, it is literally a maze in there.

It seemed like we crossed every bridge and walked every street in Venezia (unlikely , as there are more than hundred bridges and four hundred islands). The streets are narrow until they open out into the Piazzas, so the streets are really crowded and then everybody seems to disperse at the Piazzas. Numerous shops, designer boutiques, scrumptious looking food shops, gelaterrias and the famous Murano glass stores.

Made our way to Piazza San Marco. Passed Ponte di Rialto along the way, the prettiest and the most touristy bridge in Venice. Stopped in some beautiful churches along the way .

Getting into Piazza San Marco was a bit of a challenge as the Pope was going to hold a mass there in the evening. The Basilica there along with it's bell tower is beautiful but were both closed due to his visit. We actually came back in the evening to see the Pope. He was a bit far away but Jeevan lifted me up so we both saw him, yay. Realized later that on walking away from the crowds it was easier to see him. Also saw a sniper with his spotter for the first time.

Went for a gondola ride. It was in the evening, the gondola driver gave us information about Venice and showed us the sites including Marco Polo's and Casanova's houses. After going through the Grand Canal he took us through smaller canals. There were times when there was nobody else around and the only sounds were of him singing and the church bells in the background. It was very romantic ( and yes very touristy , also blocked out the algae on the sides of the buildings and the one smelly canal we passed). I am glad we did it as the gondola ride in Venice will always be part of our memories.

Ate loads of gelato while walking around , finally had crepes in Italy. Booked our tickets to Paris, nearly time to say goodbye to Italy.





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad