Sunday, August 1, 2010

Venice

Yay! I finally have internet and enough time to breath/relax which always = blogging. Word.

To pick up where I left off from my last blog-we left Thursay AM eeeaaarrrlllly and traveled for 1 million hours. I actually don't know how long it took because I have lost track of days and time here. All I know is Thursday morning I was already running on like 3ish hours of sleep-super pumped for ITALY and FINALLY Friday night Venice time (2 am time at home) I was a hot mess sitting on the waterfront eating dinner. That would be the Venician water front--but you know, no big deal.
But it felt like 100 years passed....and I woke up in a DREAM:




Now for the fun part. Venecia (cause that is right, I speak Italian now)! Un-be-live-able. First, I love how Italians give directions here (more on that later) but when all six of us (Me plus Mr.Z, his parents, grandma and his brother) get off the water taxi with everything we own and little-to-no sleep we are instructed to turn left at the first gelateria (mmmmmmmm) and follow that street until we reach the shoe shop. Then take a right and left down your first alley. Easy Peasy. You would never guess our adorable bed and breakfast was down this seemingly creepy alley-way.





Alberto was waiting for us (the Inn Keeper). Not pictured. Although, Mr.Z's brother does kind of look like he belongs in the floating city. Aleberto, however, looked like he belonged on a sail boat- go figure. "Zingerman, no?" he said as we entered....obviously late. Before we left to wander the city for the night he pulled out a map and marked all the best spots for dinner, pizza, gelato, cafe latte, etc.  We had our first 4 course meal on a side street in Venecia that night, complete with octopus. I would show you the picture, but you don't want to see what I looked like up close this night. I told you- HOT. MESS. However, before dinnter we couldn't NOT stroll the streets doing cute romantic Italian things like this:





Afer dinner it was a special time of night. Gelato time. MMmmmhhmmmm. Heaven on a cone. We bought gelato and decided to walk over to Piazza di San Marco. Keep in mind, the oldest man made building I have ever laid eyes on is probably the 1st Starbucks in Seattle. SO LAME-I know. When we turned the corner, not only was I abosultely floored by the Basillica (church) but also, Venice decided to have a fasion show in the Piazza that night. Old world verses new world looks something like this:





And this:



But that enormous golden beautiful church at night, was most impressive:



And this is just a door! Not even the main entrance door! Just a random off the the side door!

We finally got to go to sleep after this amazing walk. Only 109123098234098324908234 hours later.

The next morning was full of touring. We got to see the church during the day. We were not supposed to take pictures inside but my rule breaking husband does what he wants:



We walked all over the city that day. My feet fell off by the end and I may or may not have fallen asleep everytime we stopped to sit down. But it was totally worth it.

 We "wrapped" up our time in Venice with a nice little GONDOLA RIDE "bow" - because, OF COURSE we did!



So far, everything I have ever dreamed about this place has come true.


Our next hub O' Italian adventure is in non other than a bed and breakfast in Tuscany. Shut up, I know. Much to come-Ciao
Ciao!

Ps. The computer I am on hates me. It takes 100 hours to load one picture and it keeps randomly deleting my stories! UGH. In conclusion, I love you all enough to not get frustrated and stop. And throw this computer out the window. I will not be defeated-adventure on!