Venice Tip
by lauriejeanne
I pinch myself. Has it finally happened? After years and years of living in Vienna, a mere night train away, am I really finally here? How long have I dreamed of it? How many times did I/we plan it yet it fell through...
It's me, I'm awake. And I am in Venice. I didn't even know when I left for my holiday this summer that I would be coming here. But a last minute translation for the Institute of Folk Music Research at the University of Music in Vienna threw some extra Schillings into my account.
It had been a difficult translation; hence the need to spend the remuneration in style. Now here I sit. Pinching myself.
It's me, I'm awake. And I am sitting in a small restaurant on a narrow canal overlooking zerfallene Haeuser... how do you say that??? It's a residential part of Venice -- not a tourist to be found... Not a word of English to be heard... The couple to my right don't notice another soul -- they are lost in each other's eyes. Across from me a large party order steamed mussles. The plates arrive, hot and stacked high. Everyone laughs and wine pours freely..
It's me, I'm awake. And I am drinking a smooth rich Chianti and eating the single most amazing and creamiest gorgonzola I have ever had, let alone could ever imagine... Is it possible to be able to eat it slow enough? To let it last forever?
It's me, I'm awake. And the breeze from the open window next to me is flowing through my hair, silouetted on the table cloth. I pinch myself. For I simply can't take in how beautiful life, in all its simplicity, really is...
Visit the St. Mark's Basilica,...
by sheryl_tan
Visit the St. Mark's Basilica, the cathedral church of the city. Take time to marvel at the beauty of it all. The beautiful mediaeval mosaic depicts episodes from the bible, both the Old and the New Testaments.
Venice - Views from water bus #42
by Martin_S.
We saw this beautiful pinkish-maroon colored house, it seems that nobody could find white paint here in Venice, although many of the colors are earthen types they are almost all different and livens the streets up. The small wooden bridge on the left was under repairs and a steel bridge had been built over it. I hope that they do not plan to replace it with a more modern structure.
Don't walk in packs...
by mapakettle
We have gone with friends to Venice, and found very quickly that walking together as a group is difficult to manage, plus we are a nuisance to other travellers trying to pass us.
This would be especially annoying to local people who have jobs to attend to, appointments to make, and dinners to prepare, while we are on our own relaxed schedule.
Therefore, go as a group, but separate and meet later. This way, you can swap tall tales, and thus double your enjoyment of a wonderful visit.
Carry Plastic...not paper
by mapakettle
We chose Cash Passport cards, also known as Visa TravelMoney cards, issued by our local CAA club, rather than carry cash. We didn't wish to use our credit cards (easier to negotiate prices with cash in Europe), and DEBIT cards were tied to our bank accounts, allowing us too easy access to funds we didn't wish to spend. Cash passport cards are prepaid, up to $15,000, and are accepted by all ATM machines. We felt that using a prepaid card would help to maintain our travel budget, plus we could access our balance online. We have used these cards exclusively for eight months, and have never been denied funds anywhere in Italy. Check them out.....$3 CDN per transaction.
Also great for younger family members to carry, safer (and not as scary) than providing a credit card for 'emergency' use.
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The facade of Ca' d'Oro (as seen on the vaporetto)
Sauté di vongole.
Gam Gam-my starter
Frescoes in the apse
