| Family Travels Venice |
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| Ok...we figured everyone needs to visit Venice...it's just one of those tourist spots you need to see. However, we were not ready to fall in love with Venice....it truly is a special place. You may not feel the same if you have visited Venice by bus trip or by cruise boat....You need to stay in Venice...stroll the streets at night...shop the little alleys by day and find the magic that is there. |
| The Rialto Bridge |
| San Marco Square |
| Make sure you spend an evening at San Marco Square listening to the music. |
| Scala Contarini del Bovolo Venice's non-leaning Tower of Pisa |
| Not pictured At the other end of San Marco's Square is the Correr Museum--Canova's statues, Bellini's painting...and lots of Venetian Art |
| Venice offers a Museum Pass--a very good deal if you want to see it all Doges Palace, Correr Museum, and Murano's Glass museum and Burano's Lace Museum |
| Scuola San Rocco and Friari Church San Rocco offers some of the best of Venetian art....called Tintoretto's Sistine Chapel--a great audioguide is included with admission. |
| View from INSIDE the Bridge of Sighs |
| Take a cruise on the Grand Canal Use Venice's awesome water transportation system. Take a ride on water bus #1 or #82 and enjoy The Orange Card...(includes the Museum Pass mentioned above...and includes unlimited travel |
| St. Marco Basilica and the Doges Palace Strict dress code...no shorts and no bare shoulders...plan ahead |
| Venice offers a Museum Pass--a very good deal if you want to see it all Doges Palace, Correr Museum, and Murano's Glass museum and Burano's Lace Museum and more |
| Of Course...you need to take a Gondola Ride. Negotiate (er...haggle) a firm price before getting in the gondola |
| Locanda Novo Venezia just off Campo dei S.S. Apostoli Square This cute little B&B is ran by Claudio and Ivan who gives great suggestions and brings breakfast to your room on a tray. We have stayed here twice. In the Family room available at the top of steep staircase From Campo dei SS Apostole head down Salizada del Pistor, take first right on Calle dei Preti to #4529 Tel. 041-241-1496 www.locandanovo.it |
| Venice at night was beautiful... everything was lit up along the canals and the reflections bounced off the still water. Erica, age 15 |
| Warning....Italians love blondes ...well actually all women. Erica had two marriage proposals and a rose from an admirer....she was only 15. |
| I remember feeding the pigeons in Venice. I was scared so I would just drop the food. I like chasing after the pigeons better than feeding them. Amanda, age 9 |
| Travel Alert!!!! We have been extremely lucky in our family travels and have had only a few mishaps. Of course, we have a story to tell. If you are staying in Venice, the night before confirmed traveling plans (especially before a early morning start home on an international flight) You need to be aware that the canals of Venice are just like the roads of the USA....subject to travel delays and construction. We awoke at 4:00 and left by 4:30 to find a water taxi on the Grand Canal....ONLY to discover that the GRAND CANAL WAS CLOSED due to bridge construction. Of course, there are no signs or notices...but we figured out after 30 minutes of waiting that we needed a plan B quick With the clock ticking, We took trusty Water Bus #1 to the bus station to grab a taxi... only NO TAXIS in sight. There is a phone. You can call for a cab....and wait and wait and wait. When the cab arrived...it only would take only four passengers. We are a family of Five! We are starting to panic We need a Plan C quick ...and we almost missed the 7:00 bus to the airport. So many other stranded passengers....standing room only with all of our luggage. We finally made it to the airport with only 40 minutes to spare for an international flight. By the grace of God, we made it through check-in, passport control and security with 5 minutes before flight time. We gave ourselves four hours....and needed every minute Moral of the story...don't assume you can always grab a taxi....have a back up plan. Even if it is a water taxi in Venice. Ask your hotel or B&B owner for latest info and advice. |
| One of Mom's major regrets was not indulging in buying Venetian glass jewelry on our first trip. We went back to Venice with shopping in mind. OK...we found OUR jewelry store Segreti Veneziani On the top of Rialto Bridge We had a great time shopping. Cash in hand, we asked for and received a cash discount. Helpful, friendly, willing to bargain, and designing and altering jewelry sizes and clasps on the spot We had so much fun...we shopped there three times |
| Rick Steves talks a lot about Venetian Cichetti in his guide books...so we decided to try it. It is like a happy hour, appetizer bar. You have to be brave and act like a local...if you don't know the words...simple point and ask for un etto (or 100 grams) or du etti (200 grams) or order by the piece. Take you goodies and grab a glass of wine and enjoy. |
| Waiting on the floating dock for our water bus to San Marco Square |