Riding a Gondola – NOW we’re tourists!

Chloe and Anneke on a Gondola in Venice

We have to post this on Saturday morning because our internet didn't work last night.

Friday

This morning we decided to start out with the Doge’s Palace. The line was extremely short and we made it in inside of no time at all. We found that it is smaller than Versailles, but reminded Chloe alot of the Chateau Fountainbleu. There were many tour groups and we got stuck behind most.  Anneke enjoyed the armory. She says that she liked the horse armor.   Papa preferred the different weaponry.  Both Chloe and Nonny enjoyed the many massive, and elaborate, council rooms. Chloe pointed out that there were so many different councils that you couldn’t keep track.

After we left the Doge’s Palace we went across the square to the Bell Tower.  We took an elevator up 323 feet, approximately 32 stories, until we reached the top.  From the top the view is spectacular. We were waiting for the bells to ring at 11 o’ clock but found that they did not. We asked a worker and he told us that they didn’t ring till twelve. When we were done taking pictures, we left.  After buying a mask for Chloe, we walked down the pier to look for the boat we would take to get the cruise ship.  Anneke also bought a mask. We took the water taxi to Santa Maria della Salute, a church across the Grand Canal. It was being restored. but we all thought that the high domes and tall windows were breathtaking.

We took another water taxi to the Rialto bridge and walked across trying to get to the Ca d’ Oro area (where Nonny, Papa and Chelsea stayed five years ago).   We realized that we were turned around and crossed back over. We wandered, bought gelato, and fixed Nonny’s glasses.  As we walked over one canal, we  saw a gondolier and decided to go for it.  As we glided along the canals, we saw churches, Cassanova’s and Marco Polo’s houses, other gondolas, and enjoyed the lazier side of Venice. Although it is pegged as a touristy thing to do, it shows you a part of Venice you would not see otherwise. We continued to walk along the Strada Nuova in Ca d’ Oro, until we found another grocery. We were about to get on the water taxi back to St. Mark’s Square when Anneke decided that she wanted one more thing.  It was a beautiful doll that we had seen on our strolls.

We got on a very crowded water taxi and headed home.  After a well needed nap we went out to dinner. We choose the Hard Rock Café because we were tired of eating pasta and pizza for every meal.  We had a good meal with nice waiters and went away perfectly content.