We left Venice this morning, and picked up our rental car. With Juanita, our tour guide, and Pasquel, our marriage counsellor (he doubles as a yodeling pickle on the weekends, but that's a story for another day), we were Rubano bound. Rubano is just west of Padova which is just west of Venice. Our first Italian driving experience was a success. It might sadden you to know that I will not be driving while we are here. It was an extra $100, and I opted to spend that on wine instead. Tomorrow I will let you know what we think of Rubano. Although we are only here basically for dinner, so I won't be able to pass on much info. I will say that so far our hotel is great. Hotel Maccaroni - yes literally maccaroni like KD. Each room is then named a different pasta. We are in the farfalline suite. Farfalline = bow-ties.
Now back to the details I missed about Venice. After seeing the church in San Marco's Square, the next day we rode the very modern "lift" to the top of the bell tower in S. Marco. The views were amazing, but I have to say a touch anticlimactic after seeing the Duomo and S. Marco Basilica. We then headed to Doge's Palace which is located right next to the Basilica. It definitely started out really interesting, but fell off a little after 2 hours. We had hand held tour guides that would tell us about each room, but after describing the 900th painting and the artist that we had never heard of it got kind old. As we are not known as Museumists (people that go to Museums - I feel the need to provide a definition as I just made that word up), are attention span for this type of thing may not be that of seasoned museumists (or even just of normal people for that matter). Then right as we arrived at the really interesting part of the Palace, the prison, they really didn't provide much info on it. Oh well - it was still worth going to as there were some really amazing things in the Palace. Plus now we have met the quota for Museums on the trip. Museums....check. Kiss a pigeon.....not yet Joe. However, we did see a kid kick one right in the head - does that count? As I mentioned yesterday, we gave into temptation and went on a gondola. What's worst then doing it? Well we both really like it, and asked the guy to go for another 1/2 hour. Touristy or not, it was a great way to see the "streets," and not something we can experience anywhere else, so we figured it had to be done. We then headed to the Opera. Yes I convinced Trevor to go to an Opera. Don't ask me how, and I wasn't asking questions. I don't want to ask after the fact as I am sure he has already forgotten he went, and I don't want to owe him and have to go to some dumb guy place (like Ferrari). On our way to the Opera, we of course got lost, but that generally goes without saying. To help the evening along Trev dumped an entire beer on me. I am sure you can imagine how impressed I was about that. All dressed up, and covered in beer. With my shoes now glued to my feet (as the dirt and beer made a sticky paste), I still had to wonder - what kind of a person wastes a beer like that? Off to the Opera we went beer shoes and all. The Opera house was as beautiful as all the other buildings we have seen. Full of massive painting, marble pillars and statues. The most incredible thing was the acoustics. I literally could not believe how great the music and singing sounded. All with no microphones. I even checked out each performer as I honestly couldn't believe it was possible to be that loud and sound that good without microphones. We stayed for the first act. After an hour and a half we figured we had met the quota for culture for the day (two quotas in one day!!). Really it was 10:00pm and we still hadn't eaten dinner, and this was headed in the direction of ending around midnight. Plus Trevor hadn't sat still for 30 seconds in row since we arrived.
This morning we completed our mission of taking every form of transportation possible in Venice. We caught the water bus from the train station when we first arrived. We had walked basically through the soles of our shoes. We had done the gondola ride. All we had left was the water taxi. Pros and cons to both the water bus and water taxi. Obviously the taxi is more expensive, but the bus is crowded and has a stop every 22 seconds. Exactly the same as a regular taxi and bus.
I have to say staying right in S. Marco was an excellent decision. I don't actually know how other people find their hotels after being out for the day. No matter where you are in Venice there are signs directing you to S. Marco. If there is not, walk a little ways in any direction and you will find one. Worst case scenario you can always ask someone. I have to hand it to those staying somewhere in the middle that manage to make it back each night. All and all - I loved Venice. I don't think I could handle it in the hot summer months when there is double the people, but this was a perfect time to be there.
The wine and food have been unbelievable. Even when it's not the best, it's still good!
If I can figure out how to add pics, I will do so!
www.calandre.com
No comments:
Post a Comment