5C's Que Pasa

Once we arrived in Venice, I did a first day post with a brief synopsis of our trip to Italy .  Click here for that.  My plan was to take notes so that I could recall where we had been, and what we had seen etc.  Things moved way too fast for that.  We just seemed to flow through the day and walk and walk.  Now looking back at my photos ( which are no where near the quality of Colin’s ) but give me an idea of what we had done in one particular day, I am overwhelmed.  How could we have possibly done all of that in one day?

Fortunately we had a very broad daily outline on paper, a sort of wish list of to do’s.  For Monday June 5th it only showed that we were to go to the Basilica.  Looking at my photos ( never mind Colin’s ) I had a better outline of what we had done that particular day.   It makes me tired just looking at them.

Piazza San Marco on Sunday our first night in Venice.  Photo by Colin.  Actually please assume all photos are by Colin unless I say I took it.

The first post as per the link above doesn’t quite explain that we were up for 31 hours before going to bed.  Colin did doze off and on on the flight from Toronto to Venice and I slept a full 15 minutes.  Just long enough to get a sore neck.  From now on we will try and fly out of Vancouver to Europe, much shorter and less of a time difference or we will stop somewhere for a few days to catch up on the jet lag before moving on.  So as per that first post we wandered about in a daze.  After those two spritz at the bar Sunday evening, where we met some wonderful fellow travelers we stopped at St Mark’s Square to listen to one of the three bands playing.  We walked from one to the other and suddenly there we were jiving in the square. We were the only ones dancing but a few others did join in.  Awesome moment.  From there we went straight home and to bed with our first night in Venice completed.  The next night we got lost and wondered around in circles for over 30 minutes.  Such is the beauty and mystery of Venice.

This band provided the swing music that we danced to.  It was always our intention to come by one evening and sit and enjoy the music until we discovered that a glass of wine cost 18 euros.  So instead most evenings we enjoyed the music standing right behind the patrons sitting at the tables

No need for an alarm clock.  A multitude of church bells ring both on the hour and the half hour. They don’t just chime at 7AM but toll on and on.  The sounds of the many church bells will be with us forever.

Venice is made up of step after step. I now have new muscles in my calves.  We had to climb two or three of these and always down the other side, no matter what direction we took,  just to get anywhere from our apartment. We loved seeing what we observed on each side of the bridge as we climbed.  Photo by me.

Monday morning was our day to tour the Basilica. Dress code required long pants for gents and sleeves or a cover up for ladies as well as having knees covered.  We had pre purchased online a go to the head of the line pass for 11:15 AM.  In all of my  research I had found only one mention of the fact that the Basilica interior lights were only turned on between 11:30AM and 12:30PM.  The lights made a huge difference and everything came to life.  My guess is that they don’t want the lights to damage the interior paintings. Of course one can’t take photos inside the Basilica.  Needless to say many did.  Being who I am, I was not hesitant to tap folks on the shoulder and say no photos and point to the signs….yes that means you with your cell phone.  If we could not take photos, nor can you.  What we saw was beyond phenomenal. There is no charge to go into the Basilica itself but if you wanted to go into three extra areas ( the treasury, behind the alter and the museum to see the original four horses ) you had to pay, it came to a total of 10 euro each for all three areas and it was worth every penny.  The free Basilica tour was moved along and you were out within 15 – 20 minutes but we were able to take our time.  From the museum located way high up ( the stairs were very difficult for me, uneven hand cut stones, some very high, some very narrow and others deep ) but there was a hand rail, it was a challenge and I did it there is so much to see both inside and outside on the balcony  From up top there was a view of the entire interior of the Basilica.  We saw the lights go off, so glad that we had booked for that particular time that the lights were on.  So very special to see the ancient paintings with the light gleaming off of them as well as the gleam of the gold painted walls.  This level led to a rather large and unexpected museum as well as an outdoor view to St Marks Square.  By now I was rather done in but it was early in the day.  By the way going down those irregular steps was no easier than going up.  You can Google photos of the inside of the Basilica if you wish.

A Googled interior photo.  The paintings, the gold walls, and the Pala d’Oro located behind the main alter ( it contains St. Marks’s sarcophagus ) which is studded with 2000 emeralds, amethysts, sapphires, rubies, pearls and other gemstones.  Truly magnificent.

Taken from the outdoor balcony of the Basilica. The Doges Palace is behind us.  My eyes are closed against the sun.

The replica of the four horses stands to Colin’s right and the clock tower to his left.  Photo by me.

We decided that lunch was next on the agenda.  We stopped at the Museo Correr  restaurant for a lovely luncheon.   That gave us the energy to tour the museum.  After 3 hours we were rather worn out but kept on going. It seemed like this place would never end.  In fact it covered the short end and one of the long lengths of  Piazza San Marco/ St Mark’s Square.  So much to see and learn.  What we were exploring had once been the home to Napoleon at one point in time.  So much history in this tiny area of Venice.

A lot of stairs to get up to the Museo Correr which is also known as the Royal Palace of Venice.  These are the stairs that guests ( ladies in their wide dresses ) would have to walk up to attend a ball or just to visit with the owners at the time.

A typical ceiling in one of the public rooms. The private rooms of the family were similar but just a tad less grand.

The ballroom.

The library. These manuscripts and books are all originals and priceless.  Many of the books were hand written.  So very much history.

A selfie in the mirror of one of the Imperial rooms only opened to the public in 2012.  I believe this was the sitting room of Empress Elizabeth.  We also saw her boudoir and bed chamber.  Remarkable.

After many hours we fled the museum ( there was more to see but our eyes were crossing ) and started walking, wondering how far we could go.  We ended up in the Rialto area, one of the most popular areas similar to St. Mark’s Square.  I was too tired to walk up the steps of the Rialto Bridge so I stayed put with a spritz in my hand while he moved on and explored.  Meanwhile I befriended a couple from London ( this was the day of the London Bridge stabbing ) and here we were standing at the foot of the Rialto Bridge admiring the Venetian beauty.  Of course they had been to Venice many times.  Europeans are so fortunate to be able to travel such short distances and enjoy so much culture.  While chatting they gave me some suggestions, one of which triggered a memory.  It was only a few blocks away.  We had no idea we would end up here on this day so I did not have my notes of to do’s for the Rialto area.

My photo from the place I stood sipping my spritz while Colin climbed the Rialto Bridge.

A shot Colin took half way up the Rialto Bridge.

We were headed to a very posh department store which reminded of me Neiman Marcus and Harrods.  The link will show you the exterior and dome spires.  You can take an elevator to the top floor and then walk ( of course ) up another flight and be on the roof top.

Some spectacular views or Venice from high up.  Great shot Colin, it looks like a painting.

Colin likes my photo as it incorporates the famous Rialto Bridge.

The other direction.

I took this photo of the Basilica which was to our backs as we faced the grand Canal.  I loved the view over the various roof tops.

From here we started looking for a perfect spot for dinner which was elusive.  Somehow we ended back at Piazza San Marco where we found many choices and settled on a special meal of day restaurant ( or just for dinner ) which included a spritz and a two course dinner with salad.

It had been a long day, we also enjoyed a 1/2 litre of white for me and red for Colin.  The  primo pasta dish was delicious as was the secondo of fish.

By now we were very tired and wandered back home.  I had stopped navigating and we got lost…we did eventuality get home.

A day time photo of where we lived.  Just another door in one of a thousand alleys.  Colin is waving on the left.  We often came home midday in order for me to change my walking shoes.  My feet and ankles did swell every day but that never stopped me.

Here is the link to our apartment complete with photos.  Click here for the Airbnb link.  You then have to click on the link at the top left of the site to view photos.  Our cost was $1307.00CAD for 6 nights.  At the moment it is showing @ $144.00CAD per night rather than the $217.00CAD per night we paid but our price did include a $75.00 cleaning fee plus the Airbnb service fee.  We were more than happy with our stay at Enrico’s apartment. I can’t imagine a more perfect host.  It was wonderful having a full home to spread out in not to mention the elevator.  Needless to say we will be staying there on our next trip to Venice.  We did save $550.00CAD by staying here rather than the three star hotel that I had originally booked and that extra money purchased our museum passes, our 7 day unlimited transportation and our to and fro on the airport boat plus a few spritz’s here and there.