Thursday, February 5, 2009

Travel Thursday: Venice

Venice Pilings

The Grand Canal with Rialto Bridge in the background. Venice is everything you've heard and more.

More...

Basilica di San Marco

Basilica di San Marco.

Bridge of Sighs

Bridge of Sighs.

4 Red Penguins

Red plastic penguins stand guard above the entrance to the Versace store. They were part of a city-wide art exhibit that was running while we visited.

Not Art

Look familiar? This was also part of the exhibit.

Along the Grand Canal

Along the Grand Canal.

Gondolas

A stereotype, a cliche, sure, but... there's still something romantic about these little boats powered by the men in striped shirts with poles in their hands.

Piazza di San Marco Pigeons

Pigeons in the Piazza. They're everywhere.

Piazza di San Marco

Piazza di San Marco.

15 comments:

Donna said...

you guys are killing me today! in a good way that is.
I was in Venice in late winter -- many days the streets were flooded. we were either wading, with our pant legs rolled up, holding our shoes or doing a balance bean act on those tables (they look like tables) that they put up.

Donna said...

the Bridge of Sighs pic -- wow.

Generik said...

Thanks, Donna!

We were there in late June, and it was hot as hell. I had reserved a hotel that I didn't realize until we got there was way out on the Lido -- which turned out to be a good thing. The hotel gave us beach access, and we spent one whole day just swimming in the Adriatic and cooling off. Our last night there, we had a thunderstorm with lightning like I've never seen anywhere before or since. There must have been fifty or a hundred strikes a minute, and it went on for hours.

The best part, though, was arriving on the train, walking out of the train station and discovering that you're right on the Grand Canal. What an amazing place.

Donna said...

It really is. I'd love to go back some day. Incredible museums there -- hell, the whole place is one giant museum inside and out.

ahab said...

Great city, great shots.

The last time I was in Venice was in Spring 2003, just as Bush was attacking Iraq. As the war approached, hotels kept getting cheaper and cheaper and cheaper and... And I kept going online and canceling and rebooking and canceling and... Well, you get the picture. We stayed way above our station on that trip.

We're heading to Paris in a couple of weeks, so I'm kind of hoping for another war. But since the threat of global financial collapse has already boosted the dollar a bit, I guess I can't complain too much about the peace.

ahab said...

/very bad sarcasm

Generik said...

Heh, I got your drift, ahab.

And I'm totally jealous about you going to Paris! You lucky duck, you. Hope you have a fabulous time there and come back with some outstanding photos to share.

Tom Hilton said...

Lovely pics there.

ahab said...

Hey, G, I don't travel as much as you do, but we should rendezvous across the pond sometime. In fact, let's do a blog field trip. Donna, Tom? Wouldn't it be tax-deductible?

Donna said...

Pixels (and Donna) in Barcelona!!!!!!

Generik said...

I would love that to death!

Tom Hilton said...

I'm way too broke to make it across the pond, but how about Oaxaca? Or Antigua Guatemala?

Donna said...

how about Costa Rica? Friends of mine just moved down there from SF -- I bet they could hook us up with cheap lodgings and show us around. Oaxaca and Antigua Guatemala sound wicked fab too.

Generik said...

I'd love that, but the logistics and cost and such would have to be worked out first, of course.

Donna said...

It's definitely something fun to think about while we all struggle through this wretched economy.