Venice

Venice

Jan 12th 2011

I arrived in Venice closr to 10pm I took the bus from the airport which was only 3 euros, then I had to catch a waterbus whick was 6.50 euros as I did not know where I was going yet and it was at night.. I found out lster it was about 19 blocks or so but when you are not familair with the place you do as you are directed.. anyway after the boat docked i had to find my hotel .. I knew the general direction to go the streets were so quiet it was little allyways of cobblestone and doorways, I finally found my way to a main street. Leanardo I was on the right street now and found a coupke italian Ladies who helped show me where the hotel was.. It was not a hotel as we know at home this hotel had a small sign that let you know it was there a glass door to the entry a entry amoungst shops and resturants ..very quaint little spot.. I signed in and was shown my room.. aaahhh so much bigger than the one in ROme I could actually move around in this one without touching the walls it overlooks a small courtyard.. and is very quiet here.. as I discovered in the morning the sleepy little street I had walked down last night was now alive with fruit and vegtable vendors as well as many other vendors with thier carts filled with cloths masks and soviners..it was very busy, with people out and about taking in all there was to offer.. I went to the breakfast room that morning it was three flights of stairs up to it.. they do not have elevators here either.. I had a nice breakfast of juice ,yogurt, and a crosannt with cream cheese and cherry jelly..

I then got ready for my first day here in Venice and wanted to explore my new city.. it was foggy and the day was abit gloomy I made my way back to the bus station to familiarise myself with my route back when I leave ... I found many neat buildings and shops to busy my day, I found a map which made things alot easier.. and I could plan where I may go next.. the streets here are very narrow in someplaces and then there are these massive piassa squares the second day I went to St. Marc square often refered to as pegion squre as the pegions flock there and are fed by the many tourists and people even have there pictures taken withthem .. the churh therenis incredable.. unfortunately it was having work done on it so I did not get a picture of the whole place and its magificance.. I made my way down the narrow steets through the shops and piassas back to the hotel.. every one here walks and sometimes that can be hard if you have baggage as there are stairs over all the canals that you have to haul your luggae over there are three briges back to the bus stop or I can do the one bridge near the hotel and the huge bridge by the train station it has close to 35 stairs up it .. I have seen people struggling with thier luggage going up and down even older people..and a guy with a big suitcase and a snowboard(not sure whathe had that here for must be a stopover) but everyone here has the same problem the stairs they have these big carts for getting goods to the stores but often the boats dock near the stores to unload the goods to the guy with the cart .. but I have seen a guy with what looked like a small washing machine on a trolly cart hauling it up and over.. it sets you back a few years here .. the other day I saw some small kids out on push scooters and bikes ( these were little kids) but not a single big bike here either..you think they would have made the provision for a ramp like stair on the stairs to make it easier to things over..anyway I have jumbled a bit of all my days here in Venice into one ..as I do not have internet in my room.. I had one day of sunshine here and was able to get some real nice pictures..I Love the gondolas in the canals and all the old buildings here..but I also Love my home in Candada..and am so thankful for being able to experiance all these wonderful places but there is still no place like home..off to Paris next whooo hooo

Rome

I arrived in Rome after a not so great night at the Airport in Geneva, our flight landed around 9:45 and I collected my luggage and made my way to a shuttle , the guy told me it would take me most of th way into the city , but then I would have to go to the metro and get the rest of the way , ... so I did and when I got off the shuttle I made my way to the Metro a lady helped me fond the right train , she also warned me about pick pockets and the Gypsy's to watch out for them as I had baggage and that made me a target.. I made sure I had everything secure and made my way to Termani station.. from there I had to find my hotel , the street here are real confusing .. but I finally found my hotel , there are so many hotels here and pizzaria's I was so tired I fell asleep for a few hours and then I made myself get up and go have some supper and walk around..so that I would sleep that night I went to a Basilica Maria degil Angeil it was crumbling down on the outside but on the inside it was magnificent.. the fresco painting on the ceilings and the marble colums took your breath away..I then wentplazza delia repubblica before making my way back to the hotel for the evening.. stopped at a local store and bought a few snacks for the evening had a bite to eat and came back watched a little glee and then went to bed..
January 10th 2011
got up and got ready for my day in Rome had breakfast downstairs and then went out walking to find the ruins of old Rome .. it ook a bit of going the wrong way then I fianlly found the colloseum..and the the old city and the forum and what is left of the first city of Rome.. then I made my way past many amazing buildings and landmark ones too.. saw and took pictures of everything..got in trouble twice for trying to take pictures of one a door knob and another one a scroll on building that happened to be police staitions I guess anyway the military has a strong pressence here.. came back to the hotel after having the most amazing McDonalds buger ever it was on a chibati bun and had wild greens and provalone cheese.. it was good.. my feet are a bit sore so I going to rest for the evening and get a fresh start tomorrow and make my way to Vatican City..chow bella
January 11th 2011
well today strted out fairly good I got ready and walked to the Metro , first thing I did was got on the wrong underground .. the guy yold me go to A and I did but he did not telll be to go red not blue line .. I caught it quikly and took metro back to the termini then I got on the red train and of couse I was going south instead of north.. got off and got on right one.. made it to the stop and walked to Vatican Museum . I was wanting to see the sistine chapel and the famous paintings of Micheal Angelo.. what I was not prepared for was all the other fasinating works on the way there.. the walls and ceilings all painted with amasing works.. the sculptures and details made me jump around on the inside as a artist to see such great works was breathtaking.. I toured the whole museum and had to go back to the entry to retrieve my tripod as they would not allow it in the building as you are not allowed to put anyhting down on the floor.. they did not allow you to take any pictures in the sistine chappel either as it is a holy place but the funny thing is all the stuff they sell there is pictures from inside the chappel and Micheal Angelos work so if is so Holy they are sure making alot of money off it..they took pictures.. oh well I got to see it in person.. i could not imagine going there in the busy season as it was enough people and this is not even there busy time..I made it to St.pauls squre and saw the Vatican it is spectacular too.. so I was in another country today as the Vatican is it's own country.. did not get my passport stamped though come to think of it they never even checked me at customs coming here so i did not get a Italian stamp .(sad face) I then made my way to the cadtel st Angelo and across the bridgge back on my way to piassa nueavo going to try a resturaunt recommended by a friend.. the piassa was amasing again .. the center fountain beautifull there were many artists in the square selling threre work.. the resturaunt was closed and I was hungry so I was disapointed to miss it.. I worked my way back towards my hotel .. getting in the wrong direction once again.. but I was able to try some wonderful white chocolate icecream.. delicious..to say the least. my feet had had about all they could by now and I was no where near where I needed to be so I found out which bus to take to get closer to my hotel and hopped on it .. so I am back at my hotel now resting my poor feet(what happens is that you are not walikng on flat sidewalks here and so eventhough I have good shoes for home on they do not help here as your foot goes from side to side trying to walk on the cobblestone streets.. my left fooot the one i have the most trouble with at home is the one bothering me here too..)so I am taking a rest before I go and find some supper as I did not have lunch and breakfst was small and along time ago..I feel like everyone is looking at me here is it because I am not wering a heavy winter parka like them or is it cause I am a bigger woman than they are? things here are made for smaller people that is for sure..well ciao bella for now.