Since this was our last day we had to squeeze in some museums. We started with St. Mark’s Basilica museum. The church is amazing and filled with mosaics. Imagine 43,000 square feet of Byzantine mosaics. It was breathtaking. We also walked upstairs to get a view of St. Mark’s square.
After the church we went to the Correr Museum which was an overview of Venetian history and art. Next on the list was the Doge’s Palace which was where the Venetian government met and the ruler or doge lived. It showed off the power and wealth of the Republic of that time (which was what it was meant to do). Other highlights of this were the armory area, the senate room, the hall of the grand council and the bridge of sighs and the prison. The view is better outside looking into the bridge of sighs. The view from inside is not as good as the story would make you believe.
It was time to get our things and take a bus taxi back to the train station. I have realized Italians are much nicer to older people than other cultures. Typically you are suppose to give your seat to elderly people or those who are handicapped etc. But in most countries, people seem to pay little attention to that, but in Italy this is paid close attention to.
We found a train and a place to stay in Rome. We left at 3:30pm and will arrive at 8:30pm. We’ll be staying three days since there is so much to see in Rome and we’re tired of squeezing in so much sight seeing. It becomes tiring.
* Currently we are in Rome in a back alley stealing someone’s wifi to post this. We have to go…there is free pasta in the hostel tonight.
E
4 comments:
When in Rome... Say WHO DAT !
SAINTS 28, seasquawks 17
So did you go by the old monastery that we both studied at in Giudecca? I'm so glad you guys got to go to Venice. It's my favorite place in the world. I love it sooooo much!!!!!!
I agree Ryan. Venice is the best! Even one day in Venice would be like a day in heaven (as long as the tourist crowds are avoided). This is an odd numbered year, so if one appreciates modern art, the Venice Biennale exhibit should be open. If you wanted to go back and stay longer, you could probably get an inexpensive room in Lido. You can get a month long picture id vaporetto (water bus) pass at the Venice transportation administration office that costs about the same as a two day tourist pass.
Watch out for the street urchins while walking in Rome. A gaggle of kids will swarm around you, try to distract you, put their hands in your pockets and steal whatever they can grab. One of our guys was almost a victim of this scheme. Petty theft use to be common in many of the crowded cities. While in Naples, another friend of mine had his camera on the seat of his vehicle and a motorcyclist reached in the window and rode off with the camera.
Have you had to put up with any strikes yet? In Italy and France, it is inevitable that you will have that experience.
Actually there have been a few strikes but we have been lucky enough to miss it by a day or so.
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