That is "street gelato". It fell off someone's cone.
That is Mike, retrieving the top layer of the street gelato. It wasn't even his.
That is Mike with a satisfied look after consuming the street gelato. I tried to explain to him that there would be more gelato on the trip as this was only our first night in Italy, but gelato has an addictive quality for Mike. Meagan does not look impressed.
Randal prefers pastry to gelato, and doesn't like that everytime we stop for a treat, it is gelato. He shouldn't take it out on the Santa Maria Formosa church though.
The somewhat-organized-for-the-picture ladies of Europe. Except for Charlene, who has already gone home.
The birthday boys.
In St. Marc's square.
On the Grand Canal, facing the Rialto Bridge.
Over the bridge that leads to our Palazzo.
Our navigators deftly guide us through the alleyways and bridges of Venice. Russ actually did lead us from Roma square to the Rialto bridge following the signs.
On the gondola with our singing, slow talking, VERY relaxed gondolier.
In the Doge's courtyard.
Nightime in front of St. Marc's Basilica.
That's our Palazzo (palace) to the left. It's the best youth hostel in Italy.
Mmmmm... gelato in front of the Rialto.
The men of Europe suck in their guts and flex their pipes in the Doge's courtyard.
My favourite thing about Venice this year was not being yelled at by the lady who runs Foresteria Valdese, the youth hostel we stay in. We were on time this year. We had a great dinner at an AutoGrill (Italian truck stop) on the way into Venice, and sauntered in slowly (though I heard some of the parents complaining that perhaps my idea of saunter is not the same as theirs) from the Piazzale Roma, over the Rialto, past Campo Santa Maria Formosa, to the canal side 16th century palace that houses our youth hostel. Foresteria Valdese is far better than the HOTEL we used to stay in near the fish market, and is the first place I booked way back in May. After dropping our bags, we went for an evening stroll (again, some parents apparently didn’t agree that it was a stroll, but I guarantee you that I have not gone “Bresett speed” at all on this trip) to see St. Mark’s Square after dark, and then to have gelato at the Rialto.
Our full day in Venice started with some promising sun, and though it clouded over for most of the afternoon, it never rained. We visited the Doges palace, seeing some of the great art of the Venetian masters Tintoretto and Veronese, imagining the senate room and the hall of the great council in Venice’s heyday, filled with representatives of the wealthy Venetian merchants in their flowing robes and cool hats. The armoury was a popular part of the visit, and it was interesting to see some of the kids trying to figure out the chastity belt. Over the bridge of sighs, and down into the dungeons we trudged, wondering what it would be like to leave the beauty of Venice and be stuck in this cold, dank prison. St. Mark’s Basilica was next on our itinerary, and it never fails to impress, with its huge Byzantine gold mosaics decorating the inside of all the many domes. After a walking tour of less touristy Venice, we all parted ways at the Rialto bridge for an afternoon of pizza, shopping, gondola rides, pizza, shopping , and just wandering around this unique city. The groups converged at the Rialto at 8:00 PM, after dinner, and had some gelato before retiring to our palace for the evening. I was supposed to be there to purchase the gelato and walk everyone back to the hostel, but I had taken Randal, Bob, Neil M (who were “spares” today) and my wife on a wild goose chase to one of the outlying islands, Murano, to see a glass blowing demonstration. After a long and very loud vaperatto ride out past the cemetery island, we disembarked at Murano to find out that all the glass blowing demos were done for the day. Some of the stores were still open, and we made some purchases, and then headed back, but we were running late, so I called Mr. Johnson who was able to meet the rest of the group and make sure they got their gelato before heading back to the hostel. A few of the groups took gondola rides, and Randal was quite surprised to find out our gondolier was celebrating his birthday today just like him. Our gondolier spoke a very slow, easy English, and sang some great songs (I just called, to say, I love you...) as he casually manoeuvred our boat down the canals. In recognition of Randal’s birthday, we went on a pastry tour of Venice. He was searching for the ultimate pastry – light, flaky, with a whipped cream and sausage filling. Venice was great – I mentioned to the kids in the morning of our full day in Venice that they seemed more excited than usual – you can’t go to Venice without it leaving an indelible impression.
Our full day in Venice started with some promising sun, and though it clouded over for most of the afternoon, it never rained. We visited the Doges palace, seeing some of the great art of the Venetian masters Tintoretto and Veronese, imagining the senate room and the hall of the great council in Venice’s heyday, filled with representatives of the wealthy Venetian merchants in their flowing robes and cool hats. The armoury was a popular part of the visit, and it was interesting to see some of the kids trying to figure out the chastity belt. Over the bridge of sighs, and down into the dungeons we trudged, wondering what it would be like to leave the beauty of Venice and be stuck in this cold, dank prison. St. Mark’s Basilica was next on our itinerary, and it never fails to impress, with its huge Byzantine gold mosaics decorating the inside of all the many domes. After a walking tour of less touristy Venice, we all parted ways at the Rialto bridge for an afternoon of pizza, shopping, gondola rides, pizza, shopping , and just wandering around this unique city. The groups converged at the Rialto at 8:00 PM, after dinner, and had some gelato before retiring to our palace for the evening. I was supposed to be there to purchase the gelato and walk everyone back to the hostel, but I had taken Randal, Bob, Neil M (who were “spares” today) and my wife on a wild goose chase to one of the outlying islands, Murano, to see a glass blowing demonstration. After a long and very loud vaperatto ride out past the cemetery island, we disembarked at Murano to find out that all the glass blowing demos were done for the day. Some of the stores were still open, and we made some purchases, and then headed back, but we were running late, so I called Mr. Johnson who was able to meet the rest of the group and make sure they got their gelato before heading back to the hostel. A few of the groups took gondola rides, and Randal was quite surprised to find out our gondolier was celebrating his birthday today just like him. Our gondolier spoke a very slow, easy English, and sang some great songs (I just called, to say, I love you...) as he casually manoeuvred our boat down the canals. In recognition of Randal’s birthday, we went on a pastry tour of Venice. He was searching for the ultimate pastry – light, flaky, with a whipped cream and sausage filling. Venice was great – I mentioned to the kids in the morning of our full day in Venice that they seemed more excited than usual – you can’t go to Venice without it leaving an indelible impression.
Got it! 3 years to get up to 'Bresett speed'.
ReplyDeleteChristine