Italy: 17th - 22nd Nov part 14 (Venice)

After Murano we headed back to the main island, and took a gondola tour. This was another special Venetian treat, poling through tiny canals and seeing strange and interesting vistas and historic buildings. It was getting dark (night falls at about 4.30pm here already), so the photos weren't great, but the experience was pretty cool.

One disappointment was the Bridge of Sighs swathed in construction works, so it looked rather odd.

After the tour, we grabbed a bite to eat at a restaurant (pizza for the kids, again), and then caught the water bus to Marco Polo airport, and taxi to the hotel where we stayed the first night. This time we asked for a room with two beds, and got a junior suite, which the kids loved as it included a big double bed on a mezzanine floor, which they claimed. Meant I got a very good night's sleep on my own!

Italy: 17th - 22nd Nov part 13 (Venice)

One thing I really wanted to do in Venice was visit the island of Murano, and see the glass blowing. On Friday we packed up our belongings and asked the hotel to look after them for us, and took a boat to the island. We ooohed and ahhed at all the little shops with absolutely gorgeous glassware in them. We saw glass blowing in one of them, too. We sat in a clean, bright (and modern) sandwich shop by the boat dock eating massive pizzas and microwaved spaghetti (which was still delicious), listening to Katy Perry singing her latest hit and thinking the world's a pretty small place (well, I was, anyway).

Italy: 17th - 22nd Nov part 12 (Venice)

The Metropole has a very sophisticated restaurant - in 2005 it even earned itself a Michelin star. We didn't really want to eat there, so I asked the concierge at the hotel, who recommended a restaurant within walking distance, down a couple of alleys. It was amazing to walk around in Venice, as there were all these tiny alleys between ancient buildings, where I was ready for villains to come out and try to mug us, but we just ran into ordinary citizens and I realised that this was where everyone walked, as there was nowhere else. At least, nowhere dry. Because of the time of year, it was also very quiet.

The restaurant was perfect for us. We sat down and I scanned the menu, and realised I could see nothing I thought the kids would like. When the waitress (who I think was actually the owner) came to see us, I said I needed some help with the menu. She immediately turned to Niamh and Oskar, and in accented but perfectly good English said, "pasta, yes, with some rich tomato sauce?" The kids nodded happily and breathed a sigh of relief. Then paper and colouring pencils were brought out while we waited. I had something grown-up and very tasty accompanied by an extremely nice glass of red Italian wine, and we followed up with the usual impressive desserts Italians are expert at.

Italy: 17th - 22nd Nov part 11 (Venice)

Florence had lovely shops, but so did Venice. Here are some of them!

Italy: 17th - 22nd Nov part 10 (Venice)

On our first (and only) evening in Venice (Thursday), once we were settled into our hotel, we went for a walk along the promenade to the San Marco (square). We prowled around the square and the back streets, found a wonderful mask shop, a gondola park, and on our way out of the square, an appealing cafe where we stopped for a hot chocolate and other sweet things.

Italy: 17th - 22nd Nov part 9 (Venice)

Once again, we stayed at an amazing hotel, beautiful rooms. Possibly even more beautiful than Florence. The hotel was close to San Zaccharia boat stop on the southern side of the island, on a corner of the waterfront and a side canal - the Hotel Metropole.

Italy: 17th - 22nd Nov part 8 (Venice)

On Thursday, we took the train back to Venice. It's an excellent train journey - the time went very quickly. We had sunny weather in Florence but half an hour or so out of Venice I noticed the land was covered in what I hoped was fog, and not pollution. It was very hazy and difficult to see more than 1km.

Our first glimpses of Venice were against a shrouded background of fog, which remained for our stay.

Italy: 17th - 22nd Nov part 7 (Florence)

Wed evening we went to a restaurant recommended by the hotel. We were early so were the only ones there for the first wee while. To get to the tables, you walked through a cafe, past the kitchen, past a deli, and then to a long room with walls completely covered in paintings. Niamh had pasta with a tomatoey sauce, and Oskar had lasagne. I had chicken breast with artichoke hearts. Followed by some amazing desserts. The Italians sure like their sweet things.

Italy: 17th - 22nd Nov part 6 (Florence)

The Gardens had lots of cats. Many fat and all very friendly.

Italy: 17th - 22nd Nov part 5 (Florence)

On Wed afternoon, after crossing the Punto Vecchio, we walked to the Pitti Palace, the home of the Medici family who ruled Florence during many years of the Rennaisance. The Palace has an extensive garden and it was lovely to get out of the hustle and bustle of narrow streets into an open, green area. There were lots of statues and a host of pretty views and vistas. Lots of avenues of trees and hedges.

We also went through the Costume Gallery but no photos allowed there. Lots of very old clothes plus amazing painted ceilings.

Italy: 17th - 22nd Nov part 4 (Florence)

On Wednesday I dragged everyone out after breakfast to do some shopping, and then we had lunch at the same pizza restaurant. After lunch we walked down to the Punto Vecchio. Lots of very beautiful shops - in fact, everything is beautiful, including the people. Also lots of old buildings, statues, towers and pigeons.

Italy: 17th - 22nd Nov part 3 (Florence)

We did some exploring the afternoon we arrived (Tuesday 18th). We walked round the corner from the hotel and saw lots of beautiful shops. We also saw the Duomo, which was very impressive. The kids were hungry so we walked to the Piazza del Republica and found an outdoor pizzeria. Oh, that was after Oskar tested out the gelato, which proved very good.
















duomo










gelato

Italy: 17th - 22nd November part 2 (Florence)

We found a hotel very close to the train station, the Grand Hotel Baglione! And very grand it was too. We had the most amazing room, with big, high ceilings and an amazing shower/bath.

lobby















our room






































breakfast room