Friday, August 31, 2012

Venice Due!

Today we visited the Basilica San Marco.  I had made advanced reservations on the internet so we didn't have to stand in the LONG line. . . that was 1euro that was well spent.  It was raining this morning and we were a little delayed in our entrance because they were putting up raised wooden walks because the square floods!  Luckily, we were one of the first ones to enter after the walks were installed so the Basilica was relatively empty.  
Piazza San Marco
The Basilica stands at the end of the piazza, it was originally built in 828AD but burned to the ground in 976AD during a revolt.  What stands now was built in 1071 and was patterned after the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.  There are five domes on the top and there are 43,000 square ft of mosaic on the outside and 500 columns on the outside!!

Mosaic over one of the entrances

Inside of the Basilica (illegally taken)
The most amazing thing about this Basilica is the every square inch of the ceiling and most of the walls is covered in mosaic!  Below is a photo of one face on the wall. . .the pieces of stone, tile, glass are no more than 1/2 inch in length!!  It is mind boggling to think of the number of hours went into the construction of such murals!

Close up of the mosaic detail!

This is another picture of the basilica interior showing the amount of mosaic work found in side.

 This picture is taken from the balcony overlooking San Marco Piazzo from the Loggia die Cavalli.
Loggia dei Cavalli
 These are replicas of the original horses, the authentic horses are inside the basilica in the museum.  They were created in the 1980's and originals restored and placed in the museum.  They are massive!



 The front of the Basilica. . .each of these arches has mosaic murals in them.
 After touring the Basilica when explored more of the San Marco district of Venice.  I love the tiny canals with the boats tied to the walls!
 This is the Accademia Bridge that was built in 1932 by the architect, Miozzi and was supposed to be temporary until something more substantial was built!  Not so much. . .still standing and the next few photos were taken from this bridge.
 This picture was taken to show how the water literally laps up to the front door of the houses on the waterways!
 Heavy traffic on the Grand Canal as seen from the bridge.

 Loved this colored poles. . .very Venice to me!
 This is a very narrow canal that runs between these buildings
This is a picture of the roof line of the Basilica San Marco. . . it should be at the top of the post but I am too lazy to try to move it up there right now :-)!  We are off to dinner at Antico Martini, a restaurant that my sister, Wendy told me not to miss!  We will be meeting up with our hiking partner in crime, Iwa.  Our other hiking buddy is presently stuck in Frankfurt because of whimsical strike on the part of an airline, hopefully she will make it out of there tonight!!

I should also mention if it is not known that each of the streets is packed with shopping. . . lace, murano glass, leather, masks, handmade paper, fountain pens, designer clothing, GELATO, and bistros!  We have been in number of the above mentioned establishments but are actual shopping has been limited because of the question "Do you really want to haul this around for 2 weeks while hiking?" . . .not so much!

Buono sera!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Venice Day 1

The long day and night journey began in Buffalo. . . nice on time departure and arrival into JFK.  We had about a 5 hour layover at JFK because I am a nervous flyer when there are connections . . .so we spent some time in the lounge, played some Angry Birds, poked around the airport, and ate some dinner because they wouldn't be serving dinner until 9pm on the flight. . . way too late for us!  We were finally in line to board the plane and we see someone walk by with an Olympic Jacket on. . so we engage our people watching/stalking skills to figure out who it was - Spike Lee!!!  The Venice Film Festival is being held now and the plane was full of directors and others on the way to the Festival!  So we get boarded on the plane and taxi out to the run way, 2nd in line for take off - the right engine shuts down and the pilot comes on to announce that there is a valve problem.  This guys across from us goes ballistic and is all over the flight attendant to tell him exactly what the problem is and he wants to get off the plane!!!  Needless to say this situation could have gotten very ugly but the flight attendant did a great job of talking him of the ledge!  Anyway, we arrived in Venice about an hour late. . . .then headed to our water taxi!
Jeanna in the water taxi
It was a great way. . .I think the only way to get to Venice is on the water and we had a nice guy captaining our craft!

 The water has lanes of traffic marked off and the taxis drive in the lanes of traffic.  There are many types of boats moving people from one place to the other!
Yachts in the distance
There were quite a few big yachts in town this weekend.  Out captain thought they were here for the film festival.  So we will have all our eyes open this weekend for and fun celebrity spotting opportunities!
Our hotel is across the water from Piazza San Marco so we take a bigger water taxi back and forth.  Our hotel is nice and has a very private expansive garden on the grounds which is rare for Venice.  Venice is mostly water, narrow walking streets, and buildings. . . not much greenery at all.
 This is a typical scene as you explore the streets of Venice, narrow water ways with gondolas transporting people up and down the water ways!
Gondoliers

 Thought the flowers were beautiful on the side of this building!
Jeanna and I on Railto Bridge

Loved these sausages in the shape of pigs!!

We spent the afternoon getting lost in the city and just taking all the different crafts that are displayed from Murano Glass to Paper Machie Masks to Jewelry to Gelato!  We went to a very small restaurant for dinner, I ordered Gnocci and Jeanna ordered the Fried fish - we now know that you must clarify as to what does the "fish" consist of.  Tonight it was sardines, anchovies, and clamari!!
Tomorrow we are going to explore the San Marco Basilica and the Doge's Palace.  Then meet Carole and Iwa for dinner at Anticio Martini and then off to hear some music!

It has been a long day but a good one. . .I am off to bed so I can be ready for tomorrow's adventure . . . .might have to stop and lay on sheets at Frete while I am in town :-)   Ciao!

Monday, August 27, 2012

The Ultimate Dolomites


Well, it is that time again. . . bringing the hiking boots out of the closet and packing up to head out on another adventure.  We are heading to Italy and tackling the Dolomites!  We arrive in Venice on Thursday morning and will spend a few days exploring the city.  The Dolomites were added to the UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2009 and some have referred to them as the 8th Wonder of the World!

We are traveling with our tried and true hiking buddies, Carole and Iwa and joining us are 2 people we met last year on the Haute Route Hike!  The best part of these adventures are the people we meet in our travel groups.

I will try and post often and share the beauty of Venice and the Dolomites with you all!