Memories of Venice

Venice is by far the most beautiful city in my opinion. Our time there was well spent even if we only saw a couple of highlights.





We stayed at a fabulous hotel, the Hotel Ala Best Western, which was about 5 blocks from the Plaza de San Marco. I can't say enough good things about that hotel. I brought one small child and two older adults that were cautious about traveling abroad. I scheduled the child in at the last minute, and the hotel was able to accommodate us in a "family" room that slept four people. It was a lovely large room that had a window onto the canal.

The service here was above and beyond expectations. They accommodated our family on short notice. The staff offered us information about a great free boat ride to a glass factory on Murano (don't buy anything if you don't want to do so). When we purchased watercolors on the street, the staff helped me find a flattened cardboard box and packing tape so that I could protect them on the way home. I used the free internet terminal several times during the stay. This is definitely a place that I recommend. If you go, pick this one that is five blocks from San Marco square rather than the Best Western that is on San Marco square --this one is quieter at night. My friends are going to schedule a stay there later this summer based on my experiences. I wish I'd taken a photo of the hotel front.

Breakfast at the Hotel Ala is memorable. They really lay on an amazing spread of coffee, juice, rolls, fruit, scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, yogurt, dried fruit, fruit salad, fruit and cream tart, cheeses, sliced meats, croissants, bagels, and donuts. There's a toaster and lots of cream and milk for tea and coffee. Every time I thought I'd scouted all of it, Dad would show up at the table with something new that I'd missed. The coffee was absolutely fantastic even if it was served in a brew pot instead of made single serving. I still dream about that coffee. We tended to really load up on food at breakfast. For me, that was a major factor in picking this hotel because I'd heard the breakfast was good. My food allergies preclude many basic meal choices (can't have bread). Eating well at breakfast meant that there was a lot of lead time to scout restaurants for possible gluten-free choices.

Italy understands gluten-free, though:



Venice is meant to be seen by water. And that we did. The water taxi from the airport to the hotel stop was our first taste. The free boat ride to the Murano glass factory was the second. Our gondola ride had its own memories. And the water taxi to the train station was our last view of Venice by water.

Here are some of our memories:









The Plaza de San Marco is the big tourist draw. The Basilica itself is quite lovely and covered in gold. Amelia was fascinated by the clockwork men on top of the bell tower. Even more fascinated when I told her that one of the clockwork men killed a workman in the 1600's or 1700's by knocking him off of the building. After that story, she always wanted to see "the evil men" strike the hour if we were near the square.



Venice could have done without the "Bridge of Sighs brought to you by Toyota," though. What fiendish advertising exec thought *this* up?



Yes, that's the Bridge of Sighs surrounded by blue sky canvas with Toyota's logo plastered all over it. It was irritating.

Around the corner in the square, Amelia tried her hand at coaxing pigeons to sit on her hand:



And she found a very old stone lion that needed a friend:





Mom, of course, snapped a lot of pictures:



I spent a lot of time watching my charges wander around with stars in their eyes and gelato in their hands. We fell in love with Venice. I'd go back for a visit anytime.