Venezia

Jonathan: I hate Venice
Kristin: I love Venice

We can’t agree on this one. To Jonathan’s defense – Venice is NOT easy to get around in. We arrived via EuroStar train into Venice Saint Lucia terminal and immediately boarded a water taxi. So far so good. We got off at the dock/stop that looked closest to our hotel…not realizing, for well over 40 minutes of pulling 4 bags on cobblestone streets, that we were on the wrong side of the Grand Canal. As my friend Gina would say – GOOD.

Then we’re on the correct side of the canal and we can’t find the street our hotel is on to save our lives. 20 more minutes of walking around – saying “Scussi” to every Rosalia Italiano that decides to stop in the middle of the alley and window shop. We finally find our hotel – a diamond in the rough. Venice is a very beautiful old city… our hotel, Palace Bonvencciati is brand new. The clerk that checked us in said it was finished being built four “hours” ago – we’re pretty sure she meant years.

We dropped off our stuff and immediately headed out to St. Marks Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and Campanile all located in Piazza San Marco. The Basilica closed at 5pm so we went there first – it immediately surpassed anything we have seen on the trip so far (even the Vatican and I hope that’s not sacrilegious since it IS another church?) I realize we are in Day 3 but I don’t know what could top this place. The entire cathedral had mosaic scenes surrounded by plated gold walls. The church has been rebuilt but the first church was finished in 832. For those non-mathematicians that’s 1176 years old. We took the extra tour of the remnants, frescos, paintings, sculptures – including Madonna of Milk and other mosaics (including one that Jonathan touched before an alarm went off,) and ultimately the terrace overlooking Piazza San Marco. To the left of the terrace was a view of the ocean and churches just beyond that on a separate island – with two columns serving as a gateway to Venice. Everything was incredible. (PS: You're not supposed to take pictures in the Church- Jonathan took pictures anyway.)

Venice itself looks like a city that progressed with the times – and stopped. As if, “this is a good way of life right here – let’s not mess it up.” There are no cars, no mopeds, no trains, nor buses. People walk everywhere through crooked streets, alleyways, piazzas and markets. All of this would be incredible… if you knew where you were going. When you are a tourist trying to view the city in just over 24 hours, it is frustrating.

The stay in our 4 hour old hotel has been great so far; though Jonathan will rate the hotel based on the free breakfast we receive in the morning. Tomorrow we plan to go to Mass at St. Marks Basilica before checking out S. Giovanni e Paolo and a few bridges before we head out to the low lying countries.

Hope all is well back home – the only station we can watch in English is CNN and we hear every 14 minutes about the snow hitting the US. (And the Celtics continuing on their 17 game winning streak!)

A domani.

We had wine with dinner :)