Our airport transfer had us to Gatwick airport a little later than we'd have liked but after clearing immigration and security we still managed a coffee and a pastry before jetting away from England. The "mother country" had certainly shown us a good time.
Venice was a little hazy as we flew in but we were excited for the next part (we like to call it Part 3) of our adventure. Our hotel transfer driver was waiting when we cleared immigration and customs (not much to speak of). Guiding us out to her van then through the streets and countryside to eventually meet up with our water taxi. What a beautiful way to experience Venice on arrival. The water taxi is exactly what you'd expect...a little bit "Bond". Beautiful timber boat with leather seating. All the way to the waterfront door of our Hotel Becher. Our Very spacious room on the second floor, decorated very Venetian style, had its own balcony over the canal. One of the biggest rooms we've booked to date. Very comfortable.
Soooo...Venice...
Evening of our arrival: San Marco Square; Grand Canal; Canals & bridges; AMAZING meal with great pasta, chianti and prosecco right across from our hotel.
First full day: Free water taxi to island of Murano to see glass factory. Such incredibly beautiful things from small piece of jewellery to massive chandeliers. Might have done a little shopping. Continued in the water taxi to island of Burano (known for lace making). This little island was very very quiet. It is the low season. And it was reeeallyyy cold and very windy, so after a walk around some of the brightly painted buildings we hopped on a vaporetto (water bus) back into Venice. We weren't sure where it would drop us so we got to see (and get a little bit lost - not really) another area of Venice. Lunch in a little pizzeria on the way and afterwards we found the railway station to organise our next adventure...across Italy. On our way back to the hotel we found the Rialto bridge, wlaked through the Basilica of San Marco, and treated ourselves to another bucket list item...a gondola ride. Then lost EVERY photo I had taken!!! Then found another unique little ristorante for dinner...and prosecco.
Second full day: Up and out to beat the crowds to the Doge's Palace. Don't know why we were concerned about crowds. It's pretty quiet at the moment. Then over the grand canal to check out the area around the Accademia and the Guggenheim museum. We walked and walked and walked. Back across the grand canal, through piazzas and narrow laneways and crossed bridges over little waterways. Back to the Rialto Bridge (to replace some of the photos I'd lost). We enjoyed a late lunch/(very) early dinner beside the bridge...some delicious squid ink pasta (for me). Back over the bridge and wound our way back to San Marco Square and the big water for the spectacular sunset. Then an early night ready for another hectic train day (little did we know just how hectic it would be).
