Ciao d'Italia!! I arrived in Venice on Monday after what seemed like a never ending flight trip from sf-->ny-->venice. We had pretty bad luck with seating and so on the way to ny i was stuck in the window seat beside my dad and a guy from Armenia...i hate the window seat because whenever I have to use the bathroom, everyone has to get up. After a 3 hour layover, during the flight to ny I sat on the aisle next to a larger sized business man who was a pro traveler. He had no problem sleeping, while I was restless and easily scared by the turbulence. Oh well! We got here, and let's just say, Venezia is everything I'd hoped it'd be!! It's gorgeous!! There are winding, narrow streets with cobblestones lined with three or four story high buildings. Everything looks old, aged, and sometimes decrepit, but in a good way...like good old cheese :) There are no direct routes anywhere!
First day, we wandered somewhat aimlessly to San Marco piazza and the Rialto bridge/shopping area, and to get there we were largely reliant on the little signs with arrows posted on street walls, "Per S. Marco --->". There are so many canals here and every few streets you cross a bridge over the brackish green water, where you catch a glimpse of the colorful houses lining the canal. Anyway, on the first day we visited St. Mark's Square, which, after the claustrophobia of the streets and alleys, is a huge expansive space filled with tourists. The edges of the square are lined with shops and overpriced cafés with waterfront views. We went into St. Mark's Cathedral and they made me buy a table-cloth-like cover for my legs "out of respect"...i guessssss. It was beautiful though, and I'm loving Italy so much already because, everywhere you turn there's a painting, fresco, or work of art!! In San Marco there was also a relic room filled with creepy holy relics like saints hands, fingers, bones...skulls!!! Oh Catholicism. Also in the square is the Doges' Palaze, where the dukes of venice lived and conducted business. The Doges had it good...and as an art history nerd, I basically had mini-strokes every time we entered a room!
Second day, we visited another church (forgot the name), which had a lot of old tombs for famous people back in the day. While most stuck to the conventions rectangular marble tomb...some were a little out there. One, that framed a side entrance had sculptures of black slaves holding the tomb instead of columns, and their bodies were clothed in white, except for black marble marble peaking out of their knees and for their faces. There were also creepy skeleton sculptures holding inscriptions, and glaring down at us menacingly... these were larger than life size, and more then creepy. Next to that tomb was the artist Canova's (who I've never heard of) tomb. His tomb was shaped like a pyramid!! And surrounding the partially opened door (which supposedly houses his heart) were life-size figures of cloaked women, mourning his death. Apparently he designed the tomb before he died...and was quite imaginative. That day we also went to the Scuole di San Rocco, which were once academic schools. This building and the church beside it was full of paintings by the renaissance artist Tintoretto!
Yesterday, we checked into a new hotel, which unlike the other hotel, is located in the middle of Venice. It's called Ca' dei Conti, and is nestled near San Marco right on the canal with its own private bridge!! Che bello!! It's decorated in 18th century style, and our room, the "Casanova Suite" (somehow we were upgraded...I think my mom prob told them me or my brother had bad asthma or something) has patterned green clothed walls and rich furniture!! It reminds me of rococo decorations from France (pictures to come later, unfortunately). We spent most of the day resting after traveling and settling in, then wandered out to get dinner. I've been able practice my Italiano speaking a bit here, and am getting more confident!! yay!!
Today, Liam and I went off on our own, no parents :D Instead of going towards the uber touristy San Marco, we headed away from it along the water towards the Arsenale, and the Castello district. This area was pretty empty and the streets widened a bit. The gelato that usually went for 2 euro a scoop here went for 1 euro! We found a street that was covered with clothlines, and had shirts, underwear, and sheets strung out! It was so picturesque, almost like a cheesy movie set. AND we saw Venice's Communist party chapter headquarters...oh boy! haha Out of the red door came three or four older men, grumbling in italian and eyeing us suspiciously.
Right now we're taking a break on the terrace of the hotel and I can smell the dinner of the older lady in the building across from us....mmmm. I'm hungryyyyyyy.
Hope everyone is well, I miss you guys!!! (and I really wish that you came in my pockets)
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