As you may know I am actually in Northern Italy on holidays. Yesterday I visited Venice.
13 things I noticed in Venice
1. Last time I had been in Venice was in 1971. The Piazza San Marco was full of tourists
2. Yesterday I was standing on the same place and even in June it was still full of tourists
3. The place didn't look so nice because there were lots of advertising pannels from
Casanova's prison renovated by Sisly
4. even the prison where Casanova was was surrounded by advertising. I couldn't see very much
5. The prices on this place are more for people with a big bank account. One small little Italian espresso only for 10 to 15 € ! Imagine you are 4 like we were.
5. You are not allowed to eat or drink on the place. (you could have brought your own pic nic)
6. Everywhere you go you have to use your feet or a boat.
7. For everything we use a motor vehicle here you use boats. Ambulance,taxi, police, garbadge, transport of food, bus boats etc.
8. If ever you intend to be romantic and use the Gondola, the "Gondoliere" who paddles you through the canals is not romantic at all. You pay 15 to 20 € per person. It all depends how luxious outfit of the boat.
9. But this is the tourist staff. We did it different, thanks to my Italian friend who knows Venice lilke her purse
10. We walked through little side streets, over little bridges, saw the beautiful old houses with a lot of flower decorations
11. We found a very cute little restaurant where you could eat in the garden. The food was delicious and the price very democratic, for a whole menu we only payed 14 € (1$ is a little more)
12. We had sphagettis with seafood, in a delicious sauce, grilled different fish with salad and an Espresso.
13. All in all we had a wonderful day, but you really have to be very careful, sometimes they try to cheat on "stupid" tourists. With us they didn't dare, because we spoke Italian.
A mixed response to the place. I'd certainly like to visit, but I guess I'd have to save up.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteIt is a city I have always wanted to visit, but don't like the idea of joining thousands of tourists.I'm glad you could outsmart the swindlers.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to visit Italy after watching Under the Tuscan sun :-), and wanted to ride the gondola. Thanks for the tip. Coffees there tell me I need to save up. The no. 6 shot is beautiful! Happy T13.
ReplyDeleteNeat photos!
ReplyDeleteHappy TT!
http://iamharriet.blogspot.com/2009/06/thursday-thunks-and-13-items-from.html
Hubby and I agreed that we would prefer the old Venice to the new. I think I could not afford the espresso!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe the prices for an expresso!!
ReplyDeleteI liked the "...who knows Venice like her purse" expression, never heard that and it makes so much sense :)
Flying to Seville tomorrow for 30 hours.
That should give me enough time for a good meal, without horrendous Venice prices!!
Ah! So I am to take YOU with me when I visit Venice! Indeed! This is good! It is beautiful with all the waterways... but I am sure they DO take advantage of ignorant tourists! They gotta make a buck sOMehow!
ReplyDeleteIf I were an artist I would do acrylics of your 2nd, 3rd and 4th pictures down ~ they are masterful
ReplyDeleteis there actually a "piazza san marco"? That explains why the leading brand of frozen PIZZA here's also called SAN MARCO haha!
PS you're German, can you correct a sentence from my Vorsprung Durch Technic entry a few days ago on my blog?...
That blue prison is particularly amazing... unless, I spose, you were locked up there and had precious little else to view...
ReplyDeleteOK here's the sentence; I was trying to translate it and couldn't get a true-sounding rendition for the 2nd part:
Einmal kam Gott zu Besuch, und Eva zeigte ihm ihre Kinder, die er recht hoffnungsvoll fand.
He found the children hopeful?? I don't get it. Can you explain??
ps that desert picture with knackered camel behind you is extraordinarily entertaining also ;->...
ReplyDeletewow, i want to go there someday!
ReplyDeletei would love to visit venice some day. i find the water streets fascinating.
ReplyDelete4 and 7 fascinating sandy
ReplyDeleteYour illustrated list reminded me of MY visit to Venice in 1967 ... but I don't remember lots of advertisements. Guess some things do change.
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings,
Thanks for these reminders of Venice, Gattina. I was there last September. Loved the carnivale masks and the very fashionable Italians in the streets--easy to spot the tourists. We're the ones with cameras wearinf sneakers! Glad you had your own friendly guide.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos really! D*mn! Now I'm even more envious of you! You've been to Venice. It's very high up on my wish list to go, so one of those days we'll go there. Please tell me the name & address of that restaurant if you remember. It sounds like you can be ruined over there.... and that's one of the reasons why we haven't been there yet actually.
ReplyDelete