USVI-On-Line

Italy Trip Day 9
We had to be up early this morning as we were catching a train to Venice. So we were out the door before the breakfast room opened up. Kathleen grabbed a coffee at Mc Donalds they don't have breakfast like we do here Just coffee and pastries. Since I'm not a coffee drinker grabbed a coke at the train station.
It is about 2.5 hour to Venice watched the weather change from brown fields to snow covered ones back to brown. As we got into Venice there was ice on the water and it is salt water so dig out the extra clothes in the back pack.

We bought the all day pass for the water buses so we can hop on and off as needed. Took the gravy train bus that stops at all the stops instead of paying out the nose for a gondola ride.





Get off at and head to St Marks Square Decide to get something to eat as we haven't yet today. This was the most over priced coffee and saucer sized plate of pasta and a drink of the trip. Tip don't get food close to the big attractions in Venice, we didn't seem to get over charged in Florence or Rome when eating close to things. I had the ravioli I got 3 small ones and a coke for 15 Euro.



Headed over to St Marks church. They had great models on how it was built the statues of the horses that were stolen from France were great who stole them from somewhere else. And the view form the balcony was great. Tip get rid of you bags before trying to enter there is a bag check to the left as you are looking at the front of the church it is down a alley free to check them but you only have I think 1 hour before you have to pick them up.







Went next door to the Doge's Palace from the outside it doesn't look that big but goes on and on the halls where the government of Venice met are huge with great paintings on the ceilings We got to go down in the dungeons don't think I would want to stay there also got to go through armory they had weapons from centuries ago up to early firearms so I was happy would of like to take some pictures of some of the guns for my son but none allowed again.






Hopped the water bus to Murano Island to try and take in some glass blowing. All the artist were shut down for the holidays but we found some in their shops and they showed us their work. Bought a necklace for each of my god daughters. They are getting more stuff this trip then me.LOL We wandered around wishing we had more time here.









We discussed if we should just take the ferry over to the closes point and walk back from there or take it back to the train station and wander around there till it is time to board.



We decided on the train station. Wandered around picked up a sandwich for the train ride back.



We went to the train station and had hot chocolate they don't make it like we do there it is melted chocolate with very little milk in it tastes like you are drinking a melted chocolate bar so Good !!! and I don't even like chocolate.
We get back to Florence and stop at a restaurant just up the street from our hotel with a wood fire oven for their pizzas they are great.

Click on one of the pictures if you want to see what is in my album.

Tom - I must be in a sappy mood but just went through Days 4 till now (was not on the forum for a few days) and I got teary eyed because Rome and Florence are probably my favorite travel places other than STJ. We have been three times.

We have never gone to Venice though. I am interested to see what you think of Venice as compared to Rome and Florence so please share your opinions.

Thank you Tom for bringing back very old memories of Venice. We had dinner on St.Mark's Place a warm evening, surrounded with people from all over the world, never forget that feeling. And we also bought glass there.

Linne

Venice is a very expensive destination - we were there a couple of years ago for a few days and my wife did major research first on restaurants. I thought it was great though and have been dying to go back - just such a strange and wonderful place. And I really didn't get into many of the museums I wanted to see. One of these days...

You don't like chocolate??!!!

Hey, another great report and fantastic pictures!

sea-nile wrote:You don't like chocolate??!!!

Hey, another great report and fantastic pictures!

Ha I was thinking the same thing... soemthing so worng about that.

Great Reports Tom, No floods in St Marks when you were there, I think they arrived a few weeks later, pretty bad this year.

They were there a couple of weeks before that is why we only did a day trip. We had planned 3 days there but didn't want to worry about the floods.

I am loving these reports. It looks so beautiful.

Beautiful pictures. Thank you Tom.

We had a wonderful time in Venice. The weather was perfect in September. The tour company arranged gondolas for the group-ours had an accordionist and a singer! We went to Cafe Florian for lunch with others in our group. It was expensive but Mom and I shared a sandwich. We enjoyed the live music out in St Marks square in front of the cafe. Then we saw the glass-blowers in Murano.

We loved everything except the pidgeons!

Just read all 9 days in one sitting. Thanks so much for sharing your trip. I did not journal our trip to Italy last spring and I really regret it. I hope you save a copy. In years to come it really helps to bring it all back.

Now I'm going back for the pictures!

Tom, I have been catching up and reading all your reports and I really like them and all your pictures.

Italy is one of my favorite countries in Europe and these reports and great photos bring back some memories.

Thank you so much for sharing. Looking forward to the rest.

Karin (preparing a trip report from Thailand)