Venice Gondola Ride

We went for it and took the kids on a gondola ride in Venice - you only live once right? Anyway it was so cool. We got on right by the Church that was used in the Indianna Jones Movie and ended in the Grand Canal .

Sophie singing! This about sums up the ride - Olivia was mortified...along with the fact that she was nervous.
Check out the church in the back - it was in Indiana Jones!

Some crazy windowboxes!

How many kids can say they have taken a gondola ride in Venice??

Some of the Canals were pretty narrow. We had to pull over a few times to let other boats pass.

This is one of the few places where the gondolas and other boats have maintenance done.

Another boat repair shop. There were kayakers on the canal as well!

Out in the Grand Canal.

The kids enjoying thier ride.

Another shot of the Canal.

It was just so pretty! This was a great garden out on the water.

Leading out to the Grand Canal

I think Sophie made the Gondolier's day - they sang and laughed - it was really fun!

Venice Day One - Afternoon

In the afternoon we made our way to the Rialto Bridge. The Rialto Bridge (Italian: Ponte di Rialto) is one of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice. It is the oldest bridge across the canal and probably the most famous in the city.

Two inclined ramps lead up to a central portico. On either side of the portico the covered ramps carry rows of shops. It was really really crowded! And Hot so we took some photos and decided to come back the next night for dinner when it was cooler...

The kids on the bridge.

More bridge shots.

The church of San Giacomo di Rialto in the sestiere San Polo is believed to be the oldest church in Venice and was supposedly consecrated in the year 421. It survived a fire in the Rialto in the early 1500s. It is notable for the large 15th century clock above the entrance, a useful item in the Venetian business district.

Jeff on the bridge.

It was pretty croweded around the bridge.

Front the other side...

The kids sitting for a while on the Grand Canal in the shadow of the Rialto Bridge...

This sidewalk deadended....

After the Rialto Bridge we decided to walk over to the Ghetto....We saw a bunch of Italian scouts along the way...

The Venetian Ghetto was the area of Venice in which Jews were compelled to live under the Venice Government. It is from its name, in the the Venetian language that the word "Ghetto", used in many languages, is derived. Here is a bakery storefront in the Ghetto.

The Ghetto

A shot of the Grand Canal . We loved watching the Gondolas.

Sophie posing by one of the many smaller canals that run all thru venice.

Wolfgang was getting hot so we had to get him a gondolier's hat. I think he has a future!

Fun with masks while we were buying Pins for Wolf and Jeff.

We left Murano and headed back to Venice on Day two hoping - being Sunday night and all - that there would be less tourists around and we could enjoy a nice evening and dinner. We stopped first at Il Redentore, also called, Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore, it is Andrea Palladio's great domed church on Giudecca, one of the islands of Venice. We tried to go insides but there was services going on so we just opted for photos on the front steps.

Coming into St. Marks Square on the boat you can see the 2 pillars out front that showed where the entrance to Venice was in years past.

We all thought this boat was pretty cool - it was called "Kisses"

We wanted to see this building on day one but I left my guide book in the gondola! So we could not remember were it was at - so we opted to go see it on Day 2. It is Hidden in a small courtyard at the end of a narrow "calle" near Campo Manin. It is called the 'Scala Contarini del Bovolo'. Is believed to be the work of Giovanni Candi, employed by Pietro Contarini to make a unique addition to his late-gothic palazzo. It is not easy to find - thank goodness Jeff can pretty much find anything.

Wolfgang in the alley leading up to the staircase.Olivia cannot be outdone by her brother!

A shot of the Rialto Bridge at dusk. We had a fantastic dinner in the shadow of the bridge. Wow - dinner at the Rialto bridge in Venice - who what have ever though I would get to do that!! It started to thunder a bit - with a few flashes of light as well so we decided to head back on the boat - what a great day!

A shot of the canal where there was a crooked bell tower - "can't the Italians build anything straight" Wolfgang said!

Murano

On the second day of our great Italian adventure we bought a 12 hour water bus ticket and started the day by going to the Island of Murano. It is the island famous for its Glass - only about 10 minutes from Venice. Since it was a lot less crowded than Venice we really enjoyed it.

It was Sunday so there was not much action (which was fine by me) but we did catch one brief glass blowing demonstation of a horse. We did some shopping too and we all got some cool glass momentos to take home!

Loved the Flowers on this house!

The kids at the Glass Museum.
Kids taking a break.

Enjoying lunch by of the Canal Grande di Murano.

I love this - Glass flowers in the window boxes!

Some glass in the window of one of the many shops on Murano.

The church of Santa Maria e San Donato on Murano.

A shot of the Grande di canal Murano, lighthouse and way in the distance St. Marks Bell tower on Venice. I shot this out the museum's second story window.

Another Museum photo.

Awwww Livvy & Jeff on the boat to Murano.

Cute Amos Kids on a bridge over the Canal Grande di Murano.

This was called the Comet star. Jeff liked the tower in the back better than the glass.