Venezia!

After our cool train ride across Italy we made it to Venice.

Believe it not this is the view when we opened up our hotel window:

And looking the other direction:

This really is historical Disney World for adults.

Let me reiterate what every travel writer says about visiting Venice. Pack light! There are hundreds of bridges linking the islands that comprise Venice. Each bridge seems like it has hundreds of stairs. You cannot have too light a suitcase for Venice. The Vapretto’s can get you close to your hotel but there will inevitably be bridges to negotiate.

I strategically picked our hotel so that it would have an easy walk from the train station and an easy walk to the Cruise ship terminal tram. Four bridges to the hotel, three bridges to the tram!

When you look at the Ponte di Calatrava bridge across the Grand Canal from the train station to Piazza Roma on google maps it looks like it’s few hundred feet but not a big deal. Au contrare! This thing goes UP, and UP and UP! Luggage porters earn their money in Venice.

We start our evening walking tour in the Cannaregio neighborhood (Sestieri) and get some great pictures.

It wasn’t long before our walk was disrupted. We were confronted by the King:

How could this be allowed to happen in Venice?!?!?!?

OK, stop, deep breath, look at the canal…… Let it go……

For our pasta jada we cross the Ponte degli Scalzi bridge and stop at a Cafe by the Grand Canal for an apertivo and Dinner.

I’ve said this before but it bears repeating. Italian food tastes a LOT better in Italy. Especially Venice. We got crazy and got Lasagnae with our Apertivo, Chianti, bread and olive oil. It was totally different than our Roman lasagna but just as good.