Venice Graffiti

Graffiti at Venice

On my walk around Venice, I spotted graffiti here and there. After traveling in Italy extensively over the last five years, it just doesn't bother me anymore. It is a form of expression that goes back to Roman times. Below is an example from the Roman Colosseum. I found the Colosseum graffiti photo on a blog, Makenzie's blog.

Graffiti at Roman Colosseum

Some more photos of graffiti I found on Venice.

By the way, the first graffiti says "Ti amo" which must mean the same as "Te amo" in Spanish, or I love you!

Down the Grand Canal from Venice Wow Wow Wow

Leaving Venice on the Zuiderdam

I have to say that leaving Venice via the Grand Canal was one of the most thrilling moments of my life. I arrived on Venice a few years back around 4am and slept right through it. I was super sad I didn't wake up in time, but at that time of morning I can't imagine it would compare to what awaited me this time.

First of all, as reported in other blog posts, I just love Venice. Each time I go to Venice I love it more. It is just so interesting, seeped in history and who wouldn't love a city that is falling in to the sea so gracefully? The cruise down the Grand Canal lived up to every expectation I had.

Approaching St. Mark's Square is such a highlight. All the activity with boats scurrying here and there, everybody waving to us on the Zuiderdam was just a rush.

Going by all the landmarks and bridges and seeing all the people and the gondolas and other boats is just amazing.

Rounding the bend and ready to go out to the ocean, see you next time Venice! I highly recommend as well the itinerary I went on, Med Dream on the Holland America Zuiderdam.

Walking Around Venice Part 2

Venice canal

There is something so mesmerizing about the water of the Venice canals. Like a deep lagoon of green water, you can't see in to it. I have been told it is dirty. I have been told it even smells at times. Never when I was there has it smelled bad. To me though, Venice is mystery and passion and excitement. I just love it, and I love her canals. I love all the activity and buzz. I love that I felt welcome.

I love the frivolity and fun. There is just something in the air in Venice. I guess it is a sense of mischief. All the masks and decked out creatures!

Restaurant at Venice

Hats for sale at Venice

Around every corner is some amazing architectural feature that is to die for, including these lovely grates on a bridge with the crumbling buildings beyond.

Walking Around Venice 2015

On my one full day in Venice, I took a walk in the early morning from my hotel near the Piazzale Roma to St. Mark's Square. Took over an hour one way. It was a gorgeous walk. The sun was out. It wasn't too hot yet. 

There are just so many wonderful things about Venice - all the stuff going on and how it is all done on the water, the buildings crumbling in to the sea with such grace, and the most delightful architectural features. 

When I finally reached St. Mark's Square at 9am, it was already mobbed with people. Long lines waiting to get in to the Cathedral. I didn't see the need to tour inside again. I was happy to people watch.

Way more photos and architectural goodies to follow!

Gargoyles & Graffiti 2015

me in Monte Carlo

So it is now March of 2015. In June, my blog will be four years old. Gargoyles and Graffiti ... wow, it is hard to believe. I am having a severe case of writer's block, but I have a trip coming up in June. So hopefully I will get some inspiration from that. I will be attending the wedding of my beloved niece, Sarah, in Norfolk, England and then on to an Eastern Med cruise.

Terrace house walls at Ephesus

I was able to upgrade my room this week from an inside cabin to an oceanview with windows facing front, a few floors under the bridge. Pysched about that. Not only was it not more money, I saved a whopping $32 dollars. I am going with my all favorite line, Holland America, so I couldn't be happier. It is on the Zuiderdam, which is a Vista class ship just like the Noordam. It will be getting out of dry dock the month before we sail.

my niece Sarah in Santorini

My niece, Sarah, and I did the Roman Empire cruise on the Holland America Noordam in 2008. It included Ephesus, Santorini, Malta, Olympia, Corfu and Dubrovnik, that began and ended in Rome ... well really Civitavecchia. We stayed in Civitavecchia at the beginning and ended with a few days in Rome.

Ephesus

This time I will sail from Venice and visit Olympia, Nafplion, Athens, Ephesus, Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini and Naples. The cruise ends in Rome. I have never been to Nafplion, Mykonos or Rhodes ... so I can't wait to see some new sites.

Owner and his son on a boat trip from Malta harbor

Most of these great photos my niece took. Thanks, Sarah!

Funny Faces Part 2

Venice funny faces

This is the typical funny faces of tourists who are completely lost and trying to act like they know where they are going, but their faces give them away.

More funny faces at Venice

Not quite sure what the guy in the bright green sweater is trying to convey. Every face in this photo looks tense and not sure of themselves. But since I don't know them, maybe I am reading their faces completely wrong.

Funny face of our tour guide from Naples

My all time favorite funny face is the one of our tour guide from Naples. He did not have just a funny face, but he looked like he was dressed as a pirate. i think the guide we were supposed to get must have called in sick or something, as he said he was only used as a fill in. He was totally crazy and would just dump us out in the street to fend for ourselves at each stop. He never took us on our promised walking tours, but he was really fun and comical. He also shamelessly flirted with every woman on the bus. 

Gondolas, Kids and a Barking Dog

Gondola service at Venice

On my walk around Venice, I came across the Gondola Stand shown above. I walked out on the pier and admired the three guys preparing their gondolas for the day. They were all dressed so nicely and were briskly shining their boats, and in a split second, one of them fell in the water. In Spanish, I yelled out as I saw him pull his drenched phone from his pocket - "apaga el telefono" or turn off the phone. I had just read about how to save a cell phone that had gotten wet on the internet and that is the first step. Normally people in Venice can understand Spanish as their dialect of Italian is so close to Spanish, but I assume he didn't understand. Granted he was really upset for falling in. His friends were laughing and the water is questionable. One could get a horrible eye infection minimum from the water. He made a rude gesture to me and basically told me to you know what. I really was only trying to help, so that is why I don't have any photo of the gondoliers. At that point, I was afraid to take their photo.

School children crossing a bridge at Venice

I kept walking across the bridge and admired a group of school children. They were like any group of school children, running and loud, but they all stopped to admire the view from the bridge.

Venice school children admiring the view

After we crossed the bridge, I came across the funniest little dog. He barked at each and every person that came by. I wondered how many years he had been doing that, as it appeared that he belonged to the owner of the little stand near by.

Barking dog at Venice

Walk Around Venice Part 2

DHL Venice

One of the most fascinating things about Venice is that everything that is normally done by truck almost everywhere else in the world is done by water. Above is DHL's solution to Venice waterways. 

Venice Bridge

There are also an enormous amount of bridges. Above is a photo of the large bridge that connects Piazzale Roma to the area by the Santa Lucia train station. This area is definitely worth a walk around. A hotel I once stayed out is across the water from here, the Hotel Carlton Grand Canal. 

Hotel Carlton Grand Canal

There is also an amazing Church right by the train station. I am so sorry I didn't go inside. It is the only all marble facade Church in Venice, and the interior photos I've seen now that I am back look incredible. It is the Church of Santa Maria di Nazareth. 

Detail of the Santa Maria di Nazareth Church at Venice

The entire facade is marble and very intricate. Gargoyles would love living here! More information on this beautiful Church can be found on wikipedia here.

Walk Around Venice Part 1

From my walk around Venice

Probably I could have taken 1000 photos in one morning walking around Venice. There is just that much to see. Venice is so busy and frenetic. Even early in the morning, there were so many people out and about. In two hours, I saw a Church with a Priest standing out front, a fake beggar (I swear the guy had legs that looked in great shape, yet he was walking around with a shawl over his head and all bent over with a cane) and all kinds of transporation vehicles on the city of water. 

Note the beggar in the background

Musicians playing. Garbage heaping.

Musicans playing

Garbage day at Venice

Some graffiti, but compared to most places we visited, it was very limited.

Graffiti at Venice

Venice: Italy's Charmer

Venice waterways

Venice never changes. With the insane amount of people and activity and the fact that most places must be reached by boat or bridges, it would seem that Venice would be a frustrating place. The first time I went, I felt overwhelmed by its insanity. Who builds a city on water? But this time, my second visit to Venice, I appreciated it so much more. Definitely a gargoyle-inspired city and also a working city.

Arriving at Piazalle Roma by the bus station

I got off the ship at 8am, which gave me plenty of time to get in to Venice and walk around a bit before having to go to the airport. I walked to Piazzale Roma, which I don't recommend. The People Mover would have been a better option, but I was in a hurry and there was a big crowd heading that way as we exited the ship. If you take the People Mover, you end up right by where you need to be to drop off luggage at $7 euros a bag. There is a green awning right next door to the luggage place. If you don't know where it is, the local people can't help you. They have no idea, but a tourist happened to overhear me asking at the bus station and she got her husband to point out the place. 

Early in the morning, the line had about ten people waiting. When I came back around 11am to pick up my luggage, there were probably over 100 people waiting to store luggage, so the place gets crazy.

Venice by Piazzale Roma

I didn't venture too far from the Piazzale Roma, just took in some small canals and walked around by the train station. Having been to Venice before, I had done the major squares and even though it would have been great to see San Marco again, I knew I would get lost and not find my way back. Just venturing out a bit was really quite fun. I was a bit tired from the cruise, so instead of walking the two hours, I found a place to sit down and have breakfast and people watch. 

In true Venice style, a group of four musicians came by and played for us. It was amazing. For a few euros tip, we enjoyed some wonderful music. 

Musicians by Hotel Papodopoli

I also discovered a hotel that looks really great. It is walkable from the bus that comes from the Venice airport, which by the way was $6 euros and really easy to use and a nice ride. The other option is to arrive by train. The hotel is far enough in to walk everywhere, yet close enough to bus and train options that you don't need to take a private water taxi to your hotel, which will set you back anywhere from $80 to $100 euros. 

Hotel Papodopoli at Venice

Information on this hotel can be found here