Remembering our last time in Amsterdam

In 2002 we spent a lovely week here in Amsterdam. It was great to revisit some of the places we remembered from 12 years ago. 

Bubbles for everyone in Dam Square

No sun, but still nice to cruise the canals.

We're now on board our cruise boat (the one over Janine's right shoulder) and ready to head off to Germany tomorrow. 

A day of travel ....

The best part about today was the way we left Venice. The Alilaguna water bus is more like a hi speed jet boat. Whilst it sticks to the 5kmh limit inside the city, once they hit the open water, it becomes a speed machine. The route to the airport is marked by wooden pylons - a bit like the edge markers on a road and the airport water buses treat it like a race track. It's great fun and looking ahead and behind your boat you can see boat after boat churning up the water as they race to and from the airport.

Venice airport is modern, but woefully too small and understaffed. However we made it to Amsterdam where we spent a lovely week back in 2002. Sadly the area around Amsterdam Centraal is even tackier and very touristy. 

Tomorrow we board our cruise for seven days down the Rhine. 

A couple of other thoughts.

We had been warned by friends and by seeing signs in many places, Paris in particular, to be wary of pick pockets. The same thing was a problem in Rome so we were told. Thankfully we saw no evidence of this and also saw no 'gangs' of Romanian gypsy girls who apparently mob women in particular to relieve them of their cash. On our first night in Rome we met an American woman who had lost 80 Euros at the turnstiles of the Metro station we used by such a gang but we never saw anything dodgy.

The other scam we were warned about was people grabbing your suitcase at train stations and helping you, without being asked, to put your case on the train. At first this seems like a generous act, until they hold out their hand and ask for 50 Euro. ($65 approx).

Again we never saw anyone trying to do this, although we did meet an Australian guy in Venice to whom this had happened in Rome. 

I'm not saying this doesn't happen but we made sure we were always aware of who was around us.

In Paris and funnily enough on the Venitian island of Burano, we had people asking us to sign petitions. We could never understand of what value a foreign signature would be on a petition. Again, we walked away from these approaches. 

Last day in Venice ....

Today was our last day in Venice. Tomorrow we head for the airport via Vaporetto and then fly to Amsterdam to start our cruise. 

We took Linea 1 to San Marco this morning and just wandered around an area we hadn't been too before. Around every corner is a new scene and we spent the day taking pictures, trying to stay away from the crowds and just enjoying Venice. 

Here's Janine, sitting on our verandah/patio taken from across the canal. It's a lovely spot to sit and watch Venice go by. 

The rest of the blog is some more images from Venice.

The last two pics we're take inside the roof of Palazzo Mora. There's a free, architectural exhibition on there and they've opened up the roof space as well and made it a feature. It was great to see the 'underwear' of a 15th C building.

Ciao

Burano, Murano and Torchello ....

These are three islands in the Venitian lagoon, accessed by Vaporetto. Murano is famous for Murano Glass, but we decided to head further out to Burano and Torchello first. Burano is an artist and photographers dream. It's very small and compact and unlike Venice, each of the houses are painted in bright colours. It's almost as if it was built by a Hollywood set designer. Every angle is a winner. We saw about six English passengers on the Vaporetto carrying small beach chairs. We thought they might be going to get some sun, but they were all aspiring artists and sat around the island on their chairs sketching away.

Even the reflections are gorgeous.

The island also has it's own, 'leaning tower'. (Exaggerated by a slight 

Dutch tilt)

Burano is famous for its lace and these two pictures were taken by Janine. Men aren't allowed in the Lace Museum! (True)

After an hour or two on Torchello, which has a famous church under restoration and the best looking wedding reception place we've seen, we headed to Murano and the glassworks.

A great day on the water with perfect weather and whilst we bought a few things, we didn't break the budget.

Ciao.

A rainy kind of day ...

We woke up this morning to drizzle, but despite that the canal outside still looked magical.

Forecast said it world rain this morning and then lighten up in the afternoon but we decided to make it a day of museums and head for the outer islands tomorrow. Ca Rezzonico is a museum on the Grand Canal where they have recreated the oppulence of 17th and 18th high society living in Venice. The rooms are full of rich tapestry, paintings and furniture. Whilst we probably didn't appreciate every detail, the richness of the Venician nobility was very evident.

This chandelier is the only one of its type in the world - you can see the use of coloured glass here in its centre. 

Despite the rain, the Vaporettos continue to travel up and down the grand canal.

We dropped into our 'local' tonight for a Spritz. A mixture of white wine, Campari, bitter lemon (I think) and an Olive. It's very refreshing and you meet some great characters. We had a fun time.

Tomorrow - we hope to make it to Murano and Burano by boat.

Life in Venice

Although we're only here for five days, our apartment is well out of the tourist area on a small canal and it's great watching life in Venice. There's a small dock - read two mooring poles - outside our landing and each night three 'tradies' tie up their boat and head off home. Each morning they arrive about 8am, load up the boat with their tools and supplies and head off.

Across the canal, mums with their children running ahead, head off to school on the quayside path.

We have to make sure our 'humid' garbage is put outside every day between 6-8am to be collected. Glass is collected three days a week and paper and plastic the other three days.

The seagulls here are a menace, which is why you have to put out the garbage between those hours. Apparently many years ago they introduced hawks to get rid of the pigeons but then they mated with the seagulls to produce a much larger seagull like bird. They're so big they carry off small children .... 

They also love garbage!

The grocery boat has just pulled up across the canal and the guys are unloading the days supplies to the restaurant just over the bridge. Our hosts have suggested we have dinner there as they serve the best Ciccetti in Venice. (A series of fresh seafood dishes). We'll let you know.

There are very few gondolas in our canal - as I said, it's not a tourist area. Just lots of working boats going about their deliveries and getting to work.

Travelling on the Vaporetto

The Vaporetto is the way people get around Venice. It's a water bus and you can get a variety of tickets and travel all day or just one journey. It's a great way of getting around. Today we headed off to check out a few Museums and art Galleries. The problem is that the city itself is a museum and art gallery so we tended to favour walking the streets and seeing as much as we could.

We went to St Mark's Square and I retook a photo my Dad took 53 years ago. (See Facebook).

We came across a gondolier maker with two almost completed boats on his slipway.

We tasted a great Gelato made only by Nico at one of the Vaporetto stops, we drank Spritz with Cicetti under the Rialto Bridge and saw a bride and groom, although not 'that' couple.

It was a great day and for Sarah, yes, Janine is getting heaps more attention than this blog.

We took a gondola ride - but just a short one across the grand canal for 2 Euro each. Much cheaper than the 80 Euro they charge for 30 minutes.

St Mark's Square.

Enjoying a Spritz - the drink of Venice

Those love locks are here also.