Venice Revisited

Forgive me for neglecting my blog for so long. I also realize this post is long long long overdue (special emphasis on the long part. )

breaking news first.

I'm pregnant.

Yes. I'm serious.

No. I'm not joking.

So folks, for the few who read my blog.... I was infanticipating the whole 4 months I was gone from blogging.

So, VENICE. I really love this city. You can't really take a bad picture here.

It's so far from the the "big" city. For one, there are no cars and the streets are really the side of alleyways. Which for me adds to it's charm. (you get trasport from the vaporetto or water taxis)--- which kind of reminds me of the movie "The Tourist"

You can also walk from Rialto to San Marco without getting lost. There are quite a lot of signs on the buildings the have arrows indicating (VIA RIALTO or VIA SAN MARCO)


During the day, San Marco could be a like a marketplace... full of tourists. I also got a sampling of the high tide flood. They set up raised platforms for the tourists to walk on. It was quite interesting to see them. (for one who is so used to floods in our country)

flooding during high tide

I  decided to catch a sunrise while I was there. Boy, I had all the place to myself - except for a smattering of tourists arriving from the airport, I was all alone (give or take 3 people)

sunrise at the grand canal. a cruise ship entering....

early hours of the morning... San marco all to myself

great view of the canal

I had a nice time taking pictures of the square without a lot of people messing up the view. I also had a nice time looking at the store windows and taking in the displays... ranging from mini masks, limoncello and some handmade venetian mini shoes

goodies!!!

I was planning to go the other side of the Rialto to visit the local market but I was pooped from walking for 2 whole days (plus waking up at 5:30 am) so I skipped the early morning wake up and just had a sunset stroll. If you walk enough around, you'll get to see some very interesting shops.

The side if the rialto is peppered with restaurants. You just have to ask if they charge an extra service fee if you eat at the tables. (which could add a bit more to your bill). I found the food in Venice quite excellent. Especially the seafood. We had the local sea bass which they actually prefer to serve grilled, and you can really taste the freshness. We also had a lobster pasta dish at some restaurant on one of the side streets. It was quite good really.

one of the cute "hole in the wall" rests you'll pass by

lobster pasta. yummy!

local seabass. very fresh!

If you're wondering if I did the gondola... the answer is no. (I was with my dad and it costs 100 euros. -- plus I already rode it once. so, that was enough for me)

I just took some nice pics of them and tourists on the various canals I passed by.

One of the things I saw was the amazing selection or glass pens (drool!!!) and the various stationary shops that riddled the city. It was so quaint to just buy these things because I know it will be a long time before I get a chance to but the "real thing" again. They also sell miniatures of the venetian houses (cute, but where do you put them?? unless you have a palace)

journals, paper and all those wonderful stuff..!

If you're wondering... bought myself some wax, stamping seals, some stationary and several glass pens.

Here's a wide view of the city (taken from the top of the cruise ship we were riding) Both of these are from the grand canal looking over Piazza San Marco (you can see the little people swarming all over the place)

For now, I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Ciao!