Living the Good Life: Venice

Hey Guys!

So as mentioned, we headed out on a whirlwind trip to Venice on our way to Sardinia. This involved a very early flight, and it was in the airport that Jared learned we were headed to Venice. I had kept it a secret, all he knew was that we were going somewhere on the way to see Karo and Jaime.

Seth was a little trooper, heading through the airports and the manic pace of the next 24 hours. The first thing we did once we landed in Venice was take a vaporetto (boat) along the Grand Canal to the Plaza San Marco. There was hardly anybody else on the boat and we had the little 'stern' to ourselves. Seth wanted to run all over the place, which was a little terrifying on a boat, but we kept him corralled.

We got a great snapshot of Venice this way, with all the grand facades and boats going by

Looking back at the Rialto Bridge

At the Plaza de San Marco, there was a bit of a line for the Basilica, but Jared walked around with Seth and I chatted with a guy from Spain in the line, which was actually moving pretty quick. I'm so glad I waited, I regretted not going to the Basilica de San Marco the last time I was in Venice (2009). It is hard to find the words to describe how beautiful and awe-inspiring this church was. It is huge, in the shape of a cross. The entire interior is decorated with mosaic tiles, many in gold but also full colour to depict various religious scenes and the saints. There were marble pillars everywhere, the floors were beautiful tile mosaics, and there were lots of carved marble figures.

I paid extra to see the 'Pala D'Oro' which was an altar embellishment, but was really such a spectacle in itself. It was in a massive frame, with all sorts of scenes from the Bible depicted in gold and inlaid with precious stones.

Jared and Seth on a walking tour while I was in the church.

This is the 'Bridge of Sighs' which is the bridge people would take from the interrogation rooms in the Doge's palace to the new prison (Prigioni Nuove). It was many a convicts last look at the beautiful city of Venice before being taken to their cells below. Hence the sighing.