The Cerny Family Blog: Venice, Italy

I know. It has been a long time since we last posted anything. I hope we haven't lost any loyal viewers (like we ever had any)!!

Venice-July 29-31, 2009

Amanda came back to Switzerland with us after our visits in the States. After a day of jet lag recovery, Amanda and I hit the road to Venice. It is an awesome drive heading South through the Alps and the St. Gotthard tunnel (the third longest in the world). We passed Lake Como and drove through Milan and then turning East, drove through the Italian countryside to Venice. It was an uneventful drive, although Amanda did get to witness the craziness of the Italian drivers.

As Venice stretches across 118 small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon, you cross a long causeway and park in very large parking garages before entering the city proper. From there, you take public ferries or private boat taxis to any destination. Luckily for us, we purchased a two day pass for unlimited ferry rides because it took us a few rides before figuring out the ferry schedule. I think we passed the stop for our hotel three times before finally making it!

A picture from our first ferry ride along the Grand Canal

Our hotel. It was located on a quiet canal about a 5 min. walk from the Grand Canal.

The most famous symbol of Venice is the gondola. As a boat fanatic, I was really intrigued them.

The hulls are built asymmetrically to offset the the paddling by the driver. So, if pushed by a traditional motor, they would go in circles to the right.

A driver on the back of his gondola. Notice, the awesomely carved piece of wood for holding the oar.

A couple of gondolas in action

San Marco Basilica, the center piece of Piazza San Marco.

Brother and Sister!

For Thursday morning we booked a tour of the Doge's Palace. It was originally built in the early 1300's. The Doge was the figurehead of the Republic of Venice, kind of like the President but with less power.

A cistern in the courtyard of the palace. Since Venice is built in a marsh on the very salty Mediterranean, they could not have wells. Instead, water was gathered and stored in cisterns.

As a true Republic, Venetians were able to voice their complaints. One way of doing this was to write the complaint down and insert it into the mouth of this plaque, which was later read by the Doge. On either side, there were plaques of Venice's symbol, the lion, that were removed by Napoleon when he conquered the city in 1797.

Because of many priceless pieces of art, we were forbidden to take pictures beyond this point. This is the main hallway with gold and ivory ceiling.

There was no priceless art in the dungeon, so we were able to take pictures again. This is where the world's most famous lover, Casanova, was imprisoned before his great escape.

Amanda trapped while searching for her own Casanova!

Back in the Piazza San Marco. The imposing clock tower

Ever since letting Amanda watch an Alfred Hitchcock movie when she was little, she has been deathly afraid of birds. The thousands of pigeons didn't help.

The Rialto bridge over the Grand Canal. In the old days, was a world famous market place where you could buy everything from slaves to spices.

The Santa Maria della Salute

Outside of the modern art museum, this statue by a Japanese artist was well guarded by this poor policeman.

Onto our gondola ride.

As cheap skates, we tagged along with these two strangers to lessen our bill.

Entering the Grand Canal in our gondola

Gondola traffic jam

A little video of our ride. The gondola drivers were always yelling stuff at each other.

The sun setting down our hotel's canal

Although not a good picture, we found a Jazz festival set up in this square. One of the neat things about Venice was that you could drink alcoholic beverages in the streets. Most bars were no more than a concession stand with the patrons milling about in the streets drinking their beverages. So here, we bought a bottle of wine and listened to some Jazz.