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After a pretty good nights sleep on the ferry - alarm went off at 6am to get organized for breakfast and our arrival in Venice. Breakfast was the same as yesterday with crossaints, yoghurt etc - then packed up our cabin and headed out to the deck to catch our first glimpse of the coast of Venice - old coloured buildings with shutters lined the coast - along with parks, paths, boat docks and the entrance to some of the many canals and foot bridges over those canals that make Venice unlike any other place in the world. The weather on the boat was very windy, cool and quite cloudy... However once we docked and disembarked, the clouds cleared and it turned into a beautiful sunny day - perfect for our 'free' day in Venice.
We walked into the city through the windy skinny streets and foot bridges - No vehicles are allowed in Venice, so it's a complete pedestrian city - with the exception to boats and gondolas in the canals. Some of the group opted to take a walking tour of the city with a knowledgable local - This tour began in Piazza San Marco (or St Marks Square) - the home of St Marks Basilica - beautiful old church with large mosaics in each of the archways, the belltower and Doges Palace - which is now a museum. The population of Venice has decreased from 300,000 when it was a republic to 60,000 now. It is made up of over 100 different islands with over 400 bridges to join the islands. In high tide, water doesn't overflow the canals, rather it seeps up through the cracks in the stone pavers which can sometimes result in St Marks Square being under 1 metre of water - and the lower level of buildings/shops flooding. Restaurants, cafes and shops line the rest of St Marks Square - with lines and lined of tables set up for alfresco dining - a few of the restaurants have string bands set up out the front to play for their patrons - and waiters dressed in full suits with white overcoats. You can expect to pay approx 12 euro for just a bottle of mineral water at one of these places.
As Venice is an island - everything has to be imported - this coupled with the fact that it is a prime tourist destination means everything is quite expensive. If you plan to use w public toilet - you will be up for 1.50 euros.
We went to the famous Rialto Bridge, which is one of only 2 bridges in europe with shops on it (I think). It mainly has souvenir shops on it now - selling a lot of murano glass objects, beautiful masks in every colour and design (which are a huge part of Venice culture/past) and other Venice related parifinalia.
We went to a Murano glass blowing demonstration (specific to Venice) which was amazing - watching the process of this boiling hot liquid being turned into a detailed vase in approx 2 mins - wow. Glass blowing is a skill that can't be taught in schools etc - it must be passed down from father to son and takes approx 20 years to perfect the skill of glassblowing. Was so impressed it just made you want to buy everything (a bit of restraint was required however as the real stuff wasnt cheap- still trying to work out how I am going to get my purchases home as my luggage will definitely be overweight now and still 15 days till I come home!!!) did have to be careful too because a lot of the souvenir shops sold glass objects that weren't necessarily genuine Murano glass made in Venice - but instead made in China, imported to Venice and sold for about an eighth of the price of the genuine things.
We then went to a lace demonstration and learnt about the process of hand making lace - a dying art. Was interesting to see as up until this point - lace to me just came off a roll of material at spotlight (which we had brought to our attention the difference in quality between that which was made in a machine compared to handmade). We were shown a piece - no larger than a metre in diameter - took 7 women 9 months to make - selling for 900 euro. Benefactors in Venice have donated money to ensure that the handmade lace continues to be produced.
We then went on a gondola ride where 6 of us piled into a black gondola (all gondolas are black now as they used to be coloured and different coloured would indicate status - so they are now all painted black with various 'pimped up' features on them). We were provided with a bottle of Bellini and champagne to drink while on our ride - we travelled through a few of the canals (which were a little bit smelly in places) for about half an hour which was nice and relaxing and must be done if you're in Venice. The depth of the canals range from between 2.5m to 5m.
After our gondola ride we explored some streets and shops for a while before having dinner at a cute Italian restaurant. I had fresh gnocchi bolognaise which was absolutely amazing - the gnocchi just melted in your mouth - followed by a shared piece of the best apple pie I've ever tasted (are you jealous dad?)
After dinner we met the group and caught a boat to our campsite here the rooms were for 3 people - just had a quiet night and chose not to go to the bar as the mozzies were the size of birds - and I had been bitten already just walking to our room.
I absolutely love this place and wish we had another day here at least just to explore more of these windy mysterious streets and the little shops and restaurants you find along them. As the buildings get older and more run down looking here - it actually makes them even more beautiful and amazing - they just don't even look real.
All of the campsites we stay at have a special marque which is specifically for contiki groups - for meals and meetings etc. Each accommodation place has contiki on-site team members which live there - and prepare breakfasts and help with things around the sites. Most of our breakfasts are provided at the campsites - along with some dinners when we are at the site around that time. Pretty much all of the sites have bars too - and the on site team members host a themed party if their are contiki groups at the site at night time (ie there are no night activities planned for the groups within the city we are in)
We spent today on the bus to Vienna in Austria and have just arrived in the city on the way to our hostel. Will update again when there is more to say!!
Love Holly xoxox
- comments
Kaz You really have missed your vocation Holly! You write like a 'writer'. xx
Miss G Well I should be doing the reports but decided to catch up on all your blogs .... thanks Merro for resending me the link. You are an excellent writer and I loved each one of them. I am sooooo glad you are having a great time and are experiencing new things everyday. I can't believe you won't eat raw fish but you ate frog legs and snails. Stay safe xoxo
Jodie G I agree - you're definitely in the wrong job! Keep having a fantastic time so we can keep reading your blogs. Can't wait to see the photos too...
Merro You continue to blow me away with your stories....did you swallow the Venice guide book? Love it Love you xxx
G Love the picture honey but I wish I could read so I could some of what the rest are gettin
G Love the picture honey but I wish I could read so I could get some of what the rest are having
CHELCH Im so amazed how much you listen during tours haha i tune out...attention span of a gold fish! I am very jealous of Venice, my parents have been there and said its amazing and you just made it sound even better! I might have to do a sneaky little trip next year :)
Gae Glad you are having a great time. You will appreciate my kitchen curtains and relook at them when you are home. Isn't Venice fantastic. You make me want to go back there.
Aunty Rob This is so great - you are a tremendous story teller! I have been reading each one out to John & Kaine - we all can't believe how much you take in. So happy for you that you are having such a great time, Luv from all xxx