Venice Days 1 + 2

Tuesday 3.13.12

We took a 7:05 train to Florence. From there, we experienced our very first Eurostar, high speed train. The train was filled with mostly businessmen and middle age travelers. We all had seats assigned to us and it was way nicer than the regional trains we are used to. After about a 2 hour train ride we began coasting into the train station and noticed we were surrounded by water. It was interesting. All three schools boarded a private boat taxi with our backpacks and luggage to the island of Lido where our hotel was located. Venice is composed of islands and their main methods of transportation are these boat buses that cruise around between them.  After a quick lunch we regrouped for a walking tour of Venice and saw all the major aspects. This included lots of bridge crossing and stairs over the canals of Venice. By these bridges, there were often gondoliers trying to get you to take a ride on their boat. They would be dressed in the gondolier attire and all. After the activities we dined via a grocery store near our hotel named Billas’. We bought salami, cheese, and crackers.

the boat stops

San Marco Basilica

Wednesday 3.14.12

Our hotel provided breakfast every morning. It was here that I had cereal and milk for the first time since I have left America. It was refreshing. We met our tour guide in Piazza San Marco on the main island of Venice. From there, we toured the Doge’s Palace and armory. A Doge would be equivalent to a governor of sorts. We did not know this for most of the tour.  The apartment within the palace had some of the most beautiful interiors we have seen so far in Italy; however, we were not allowed to take pictures of course. The armory was interesting because we walked through a covered bridge that had windows to the canal below. This is where the prisoners would have their last bits of daylight before going in. The prison quarters were a bit nicer than you would expect and they were designed with the prisoner in mind. Not luxurious by any means but less harsh that expected. We did a very quick tour of San Marco Basilica due to timing with our tour guide. After, we went with our professor to find the Carlos Scarpa Museum and got lost on the way. Eventually, we found it next to where we started to get lost. We were able to finally have lunch before going on to the Peggy Guggenheim museum and Ando museum. The Guggenheim museum was Peggy Guggenheim’s house with art that she had collected over the years. The Ando museum was more modern and housed some very different and startling art exhibitions. We had a quick break to get dinner and come back to the main island for a concert at San Vidal. The concert was actually very entertaining and different. It was a symphony production of about 8 musicians. We tried to find activities after the concert but the city was literally a ghost town around 10 pm.  Tourists in Venice outnumber locals 4:1.

Doge's palace-view from boat ride, chopped off top of building accidently

leading into Doge's Palace

inside San Marco Basilica

kabobs for lunch by the water

people put locks with their significant other's name on it and lock to bridges, some bridges will have tons. this is the thing to do all over Italy

dinner for two--crackers, apples, cheese and wine juice boxes (standard meal for the Venice and Spain trips)

helloooo there