Venice - Part 2

It is the city of mirrors, the city of mirages, at once solid and liquid, at once air and stone.
~ Erica Jong

Someone recently asked me about Venice - if I would recommend it to visit, how do I compare it to other cities in Italy. 

Venice is unique.  "Hauntingly Beautiful" was the description I used.  Nothing else in Italy compares.  You won't get the best food of Italy (although if you know where to look, true Venetian cuisine is very good).  There are too many tourists.  And it can get a little smelly (all that water, with relatively no movement).  But it's one of my favorite places to just walk and reflect, and think about Venice's place in history.

Chiesa de San Moise, right next to our hotel.  Initially built in the 8th Century, the current façade is from the 1600's

Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square).  This is the North side of the square - these buildings are known as the Procuratie Vecchie, or "old procuracies". They were formerly the homes and offices of the Procurators of St. Mark, who were high officers of state in the days of the republic of Venice. Built in the early 16th century, they are now primarily shops and restaurants at the ground level, with offices above.

The Clock Tower (built in 1499) and the South side of the square.  The buildings on this side are known as the Procuratie Nuove, or "new procuracies".  Built in the mid 17th Century.

St. Mark's Basilica.  Under indefinite construction.

So many interesting alleys and hidden corners.

A quick lunch, near St. Mark's square.  I love how they made a simple sandwich (and afternoon cocktail) look so elegant.

Cocktail of choice for a warm afternoon?  An Aperol Spritz

A quiet morning..... My favorite time. 

I love that nothing looks (or is) new.  No mishmash of architectural styles. 

Near Rialto Bridge and market

 

Checking out the goods!

 

Rialto Market is primarily a fish market, and they are open until everything is sold, which is usually by 1PM.  So you need to get there early!

Finally, a few very blurry nighttime shots.  Pat on the left, our friend Dave on the right

 

Dave and Marie...........

The canals of Venice

If you read a lot, nothing is as great as you've imagined. Venice is - Venice is better." ~ Fran Lebowitz

It's very grey and drab here in St Petersburg, so today let's go to a happier place.  They call St. Petersburg the "Venice of the North" because we have a few canals.  And in a way it is (although I would give that title to Amsterdam).  But it's sort of like comparing a red wine from Ohio to French Burgundy.  Or calling monkfish "poor man's lobster".  Nice try, but it's not REALLY the same!

So without too many comments, here's the canals of Venice, taken two weeks ago on a beautiful Friday afternoon when I was playing hooky from work :)))

From the Rialto Bridge

The building on the right was our hotel, the Westin Europe & Regina

View from the OTHER side of the Rialto Bridge.  Stop Mafia!

A few blurry nighttime pictures from a gondola ride with my guy

 

More on Venice coming soon.........

A Roman Christmas - Part 2

Here's part 2 of our Christmas 2013 trip to Rome.  This post is mostly about our visits to St. Peter's and Pope Francesco!  We spent a lot of time here - 4 separate visits over 5 days.  I'm thinking that has got to set me up pretty good for the year!

Big crowds on the Sunday before Christmas, all of us waiting for Pope Francis to appear at his apartment window to give his 12:00 Noon Sunday Blessing.  Although it's not really the Pope's apartment anymore.  Pope Francis refused to move from his old apartment in town.

Loving the Jumbotron TV's that they installed in the square for the holidays!

A view from the apartment window.

Then, we returned on the next day (Monday), to visit St. Peter's.  In my opinion, no trip to Rome is complete without a walk through this amazing Cathedral.  I've seen it 4 times, and there is always something new to see or experience.

 

 

The images speak for themselves.  The dome is breathtaking every time I see it

It was 12 noon when I took this picture.  Notice how the sunlight beam is shining directly onto the alter.  Amazing!

The Swiss Guards.  I think the new Pope is stressing them out

Our 3rd visit was on Christmas Eve.  As I mentioned, we weren't able to get tickets to watch Midnight Mass (actually 10PM Mass) inside the church.  But it was a warm night, so we joined the crowds in the square.

 

There were many manger scenes throughout the city.  But the one in St. Peter's Square was really special.

The 1st 1500 people to arrive in the square were able to get a seat.  Not us!

Our view of the Jumbotron was actually really good.

Our 4th and final visit was on Christmas day, for the 12:00 Noon Christmas blessing.  HUGE crowds!  100,000 people?  More?

The Pope gives the Christmas Blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's. 

There was also a program involving all 250 of the Pontifical Swiss Guards

To wrap up our trip to Rome, a short stop in Ancient Rome and the Jewish Ghetto.  We spend Christmas afternoon in this area, because it was a nice day for walking & because all of the restaurants were open!

It always amazes me to see the ancient ruins mixed in with the modern city.

Lunch, outside on Christmas day.  Fried artichokes, fried zucchini blossoms, vongole clams, and marinated bacala (salt cod).  Yum!!!

 

 

Bye, until next time........