Ahh... the romance of Venice!

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015

Yet another great campsite reserved for our group.  A water view of Venice!  This campground, like all the others, had all the necessary conveniences.

Our group of 10 RV's ( or Caravans ) lead by European Motorhome Tours, drove to our campground on the mainland side of Venice.  We had just driven though torrential rains as we exited the Alps, but by the time we arrived the rain has lessened. It was a very busy but lovely campground right on the water overlooking the Adriatic Sea and the Basilica di San Marco in the distance.  We unfortunately have only a day and a half to soak up the romantic city of Venice, Italy. Our plans were to all go over to Venice as a group on the ferry and have a gondola ride that afternoon; however, all but a few decided to wait until tomorrow, hoping it would be a nicer day.

Norm and I decided it best to take a quick nap and tackle the mountain of laundry.  It would be fabulous to use the internet and work on this blog, as well.

About 3pm the rain stopped, and with the forecast of heavy rain tomorrow, six of us decided to go over and check out Venice and have dinner.  Italy is known for its food, so we just HAVE to take advantage of it!

The Grand Canal in Venice, Italy.  Boat in forefront is a Water-Bus.  Works like a subway or trolley system.

Sometimes in life you visualize a place- probably how you have seen it on television, National Geographic, or in travel magazines.  They pick a perfect day, perfect lighting, no people or trash. Similar to that “Norman Rockwell” holiday.  Ultimately, you are most often, disappointed.  Not here!  Oh my gosh!  Although the weather was damp and raw, (and I was freezing in the attempt to “travel light”) I was so amazed!  Venice is just as I imagined!  My eyes darted back and forth just trying to take it all in, as Norm and I snapped pictures trying to capture the essence of this miraculous place that boasts the world's highest density of UNESCO protected masterpieces.

Look familiar?

Beautiful architecturally designed buildings fastened with huge spikes on pilings that over the past 500 years have settled as the water levels have risen.  Here there are small "city blocks" of buildings (like Any-town USA) but they are completely surrounded by hundreds of canals.  Beautiful arched bridges with walkways cross over every 100 feet or so.  Water buses and taxi’s making very frequent stops carried everyday people from one “street” to the next.  Very similar to public transportation systems that we all familiar with on terraferma.

One of a hundred canals throughout Venice

Call me old fashioned, but when my 'Hunky Gondola guy"
is talking on his cell phone, it just isn't what I fantasized ! 

 Dozens and dozens of ornately decorated gondolas transported those tourists wishing for that romantic experience, as young Italian males expertly guided you along the canals, managing to avoid playing “bumper cars” with the other boats.   Here was my one disappointment.  There were just too many people (all donning cameras of different sizes and shapes many with selfie sticks) in too many boats squeezed into these tiny canals.  I unrealistically expected Norm and I to be practically alone, with this hunky guy singing “ole solo me-o“ as Norm looked lovingly into my eyes.  Yeah, right!  We were just as guilty as everyone else; the only “looking” was through the lens of a camera!  There were some lucky (and obviously more extravagant) people who had musicians and soloists on their boats!  But I wonder, was “love” really in their eyes?

Oh, I want THIS Gondola Guy!

As our small group went to St Mark’s Square, the Bridge of Sighs, and other places on the “must-do” list, it started to rain.  We found a restaurant that we all agreed on, and then headed back to the ferry dock to make sure we made the last boat out.  We made it back to the camper just as the wind and rain picked up, rocking our “home” as we slept.

The Bridge of Sighs.  Built  in the beginning of the 17th century, this famous structure of limestone and windows with bars.
Legend says that prisoners, as they were lead over this bridge to their cells, would "sigh" at their last glimpse of beautiful Venice.  Romantics claim if the kiss while under this bridge their love will last forever.  What is it here in Europe ?Europeans seem to connect Romance with being "locked up"!  Remember the Love Padlocks? Now a trip to life imprisonment? Hmm......

Thursday, September 24, 2015 

We woke up to some rain, with the wind howling at probably 50 mph! I  Our tour leader made the great decision to wait until 10 am for us to take the ferry over to Venice so we could take our very own gondola ride, hoping the weather conditions would improve.  By the time we left, the sun was trying to come out.  The streets in Venice are very narrow, with a lot of twists and turns, each one looking like the other.  Needless to say, it was very easy to get disoriented, but the maps provided were very useful.  Especially if you remembered to bring your reading glasses!

Finally!  Something other than pasta and pizza!

After our very pleasant gondola ride, Norm and I separated from the group to satisfy our gastronomic interests.  We wanted to sample true Northern Italian cuisine in one of the intimate restaurants that were on every corner.  We found a restaurant whose menu looked interesting, and had a marvelous lunch.  Smoked swordfish slices, a fish stew with lavish amount of seafood, and the most incredible eggplant parmesan appetizer I had ever had!  Oh, and a bottle of lovely Italian white wine!
 Finally…… we had the meal we were dreaming about!


We walked what seemed like miles to get back to the ferry and along the way purchased a refrigerator magnet depicting Venice to hang on our Travel Christmas tree.
  
I took advantage of the internet service up in the pavilion and spent several hours on the blog.  Norm spent the time visiting our new friends in the group.  We ate leftovers for dinner, and called it a night.
So far, Venice is our favorite place by far! I would love to come back, perhaps stay at one of the nice hotels right among the canals.