Boy, is 3 days not enough for Venice...actually we got settled in our room the 1st day at about 3pm and then caught the ferry over...so count that as half a day, then a full day yesterday...this morning we woke to a downpour. Our plans were to walk Lido in the morning and then head home about noon or 1...we decided with the terrible weather, we needed to get started home asap. So really we only had 1 1/2 days. We packed up, had breakfast and checked out about 10am...got to the Car Ferry and had to wait until 11 to board, 30 minutes to the port, so we got on the road at 11:30...weather sucked all the way to Orvieto and was really bad heading up and down the mountains around Florence...landed in Alviano at 4:30...very tired.
OK...What can you say about Venice...anyone who’s been there knows what I mean...and if you haven’t, Im not sure I can do it justice (but I’ll try). First, count Venice up there with the best cities on the planet...It is unique, beautiful, historic and inviting. There are 116 churches, all Catholic (zero diversity in church selection)...and around every corner is a story, statue or monument...the gondoliers have the greatest jobs on earth...how easy for them to make tourist happy...these guys offer a distinctive experience, in a city totally unique from anything else and then they get to tell you stories about the likes of Casanova, Marco Polo and Vivaldi...all this sets your imagination soaring...to step into St. Marks square is to behold the greatness that man has created...the buildings, churches and monuments are as fine as you can see anywhere. The inside of the Basilica is so beautiful its no wonder men dedicate themselves to God’s service...I can’t imagine anyone walking into this great cathedral and not being moved...I am not very spiritual but even I was taken by the craftsmanship, artistry, and sheer greatness of the structure. Then to see the whole city built, and woven together, by bridges just leaves you speechless. The Grand Canal is Broadway in every sense of the word.
Yesterday we walked from Piazalle Roma to the Rialto Bridge, went for a Gondola ride, ate lunch, and then walked to St. Marks...from there we headed down the Riva S. Biagio for a walk in the park...an amazing day. As I was sitting at lunch, after my Gondola ride, conversing with my East Indian waiter, in Italian, it struck me...here I am...wow...what an experience.
These Venetians have a unique style of life...it would be hard to find anywhere else...no cars, buses, trains or even bikes are seen very often, they have figured out how to accomplish everything from a water craft. The Ferry system is outstanding, I have made a lot of fun of the train system (deservedly), but the ferries are wonderful, they are there when you need them, easy to understand the routes and ticketing, and fun to ride. The food is great and the fish fresh from the Adriatic Sea. The locals are friendly to tourist and you are treated like a great resource by them....YES, my review of Venice is good! This is definitely a place I will return to...
Lido was a terrific spot to stay, a ferry ride away from Venice but very quiet and quaint. Wish we could have explored it a little more...there was so much we missed, like I said, we just didn’t dedicate enough time. On our second day we discussed how to spend our time and decided to just concentrate on Venice...a lot of you out there highly suggested the other Islands and maybe we should have done that, but we couldn’t do everything and so we gave all our time to Venice herself. I’m not unhappy with our decision...again...we will be back!
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