Venice to Venice

To be more specific it was Venice, FL in December/January to Venice, Italy April.

Friday was a travel day. We took a train from Rome's train station to Venice via Florence and Bologna. Every mile of Italian countryside was breathtaking for the 3.5 hr trip. I highly recommend if you have the time, to make this journey via train versus by air or by car (as the car gets grueling after 7 hrs). Every moment I wanted to take another photo of the mountains with tiny Italian towns tucked away, surrounded by olive groves and vinyards. We passed through the Alps and came out on some planes dominated by cypress. I had a book with me, but didn't feel like I could take it out once since I didn't want to miss a single sight!

We finally pulled into Venice in the late afternoon. You arrive across the sea, and pull in with land on one side and azure water on the other. As I exited the station, I wondered if Iàd stepped back in time, to another world. There really aren't words that can justify the majesty and the sheer beauty of Venice, The City on the Sea! I will do my best though. You enter onto the Grand Canal with its famous gondolas and rosy pink buildings and Venetian windows. We took a water taxi to our hotel and passed by the Rialto Bridge. Our hotel is lovely, situated just off of the Grand Canal. Our room overlooks an inner courtyard garden with a fountain bubbling away.

After dropping off our luggage, we made our way to San Marco's Square. There, the piazza buzzed with tourists, but was underlayed by a soft melody from various bands playing various tunes at each of the restaurants that overlook the square. The church, itself, is ornately decoarated with gold and bright mosaics. The domes of the church are truly impressive. The rose tower, that's so iconic towers above all the other buildings. All the rosy pinks are tied-together by the pink glass street lamps that decorate the square and the rest of Venice. The scenes were made all the more lovely and dramatic, as it was sunset on a perfectly beautiful day.

From the square, we made our way to Harry's Bar and enjoyed a cocktail before dinner. We then took the water taxi close to the restaurant. We wandered over several bridges and inner piazzas, struck by its tiny moments of historical grace. The architectural details seem so delicate and yet the decay adds to its charm. Dinner was delicious, at a restaurant Samira had enjoyed on a previous visit to Venice. My favorite part of the meal was a cheese and honey platter, and of course dessert...chocolate mousse and cookies, with a great house red wine!

After dinner, we decided to stroll back to the hotel. We enjoyed admiring the various store window-displays and the serene scenes of boats moored in the light of a full moon.