Day 3 - Venice!

The next leg to our adventure was Venice, Italy, the city with all the canals.  Woo-hoo!!

We got a late start due to the extra bottle of wine at the Eiffel Tower (ugh) but took the metro to Charles de Gaul airport where we flew to Venice, Italy.  It was a short flight, only a few hours.  We landed at Marco Polo airport just outside Venice.  It's a very small airport so I talked to the bus ticket lady while Brett got the luggage.  She said we could take the bus to the terminal in Venice and then take a water taxi right to our B&B.  Sounds good to us so we do that.  Bus ride was simple and we get let off at the edge of Venice.

Now, looking back at our planning, we should have researched how to get from airports to hotels better.  Or at least had maps.  But we didn't.   So, we are standing in the 95* heat with our bags at the edge of a canal connected town, without a map or any clue how to get to our B&B.  We do find a water taxi and show him the address.  He quotes us 60e!!!  What!!!???  We walk away to regroup and find an ATM.  This is when an English couple approaches us and asked what he had quoted us.  They had just been told 50e.  We debate and decide to see about riding together and splitting the cost.  Now the taxi guy wants 80e because it's two stops, even though both stops are in the same "neighborhood", San Paolo.   We argue some to which Mr. Water Taxi informs us that "walking is free."  Huh.  Well, the lady in the couple and I look at each other and basically tell our husbands that we're not pulling luggage behind us, up and down bridges on cobblestone streets,  searching for our hotels.  So, we pay up.

We are dropped off right at the dock that's at the end of the alley that our B&B is located at.  It felt a little weird to wander down the alley but the addresses were right and we soon found the Ca' Angeli B&B, a very nice B&B run by two brothers.  We were warmly greeted (by the owner and the local cats) and showed our room, which was on the top floor and had a private roof top patio.  

The private rooftop patio at our B&B

We unpacked and freshened up.  I talked to the owner about what he recommended that we do in our short time in Venice.  He recommended St. Mark's Plaza and the Rialto Bridge area.  So, we set off to explore.  

Venice is made up of 6 neighborhoods and like 200 islands.  The Grand Canal separates the two sides of Venice and there are only 3 bridges that cross the Grand Canal.  But each little island is connected by 180 smaller bridges.  This is not a city that is handicap accessible, not a ramp to be seen and each bridge had at least 10 stairs up and down!  They don't allow bikes, skateboards, roller skates or cars.  Nothing with wheels.  The roads are maybe 8 feet wide and most are narrow enough that you can touch both sides with outstretched arms.  There are so  many dead ends and T's that you really feel like you're in a maze!!  And I loved it.  I really, really did.  I have a good sense of direction and am really good with a map so this was like the ultimate test for me.  It was awesome.   

We decided to explore  and find some dinner.  We soon found our way to the famous Rialto Bridge.  I was so disappointed that it was under a major re-construction project so we didn't get a good view of it.  So here is a picture of what it normally looks like:

 We figured we'd be very touristy and pay the premium to eat at an outdoor cafe' on the canal.  I mean, come on, we are tourists and we wanted to do it!  I ordered spaghetti, which came in a garlic butter sauce (so good!!) and Brett ordered what we thought were scallions but ended up being very thinly sliced pork chops with ham on top.  He was disappointed but drowned his feelings in his very large beer (even after the waiter asked twice if Brett was sure he wanted the large beer).  I got a Spritz, which was like orange fango with white wine mixed in.  It was ok.

After dinner, we explored the area around our B&B some more. It seems to be off a "major" road with lots of tourist type shops.  I did find some gelato while Brett found some pizza and beer.  We were a happy couple as we wandered our way back to the B&B.  Time for some much needed sleep.