Arriving in Venice
We took a "water bus" from the train station on our way to the
B&B.
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Our Room at the B&B
We had to carry our bags up three flights of stairs after
dragging them through half of Venice. It was worth it, though.
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A Room with a View
Our room overlooked a canal. In the morning, we could hear the motorboats
going up and down, delivering goods.
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A Room with a View
Another view down the canal.
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Garden Gate
The one thing that Amalia missed while we were in Venice was vegetation.
She wanted to climb trees and walk barefoot in the grass. Most of the
greenspace in Venice was behind walls.
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Boats
Aled and Amalia inspecting the boats.
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Boats
Aled and Amalia continue to inspect the boats.
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Gondolier
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Dancing in Piazza San Marco
Restaurants along the Piazza hired bands to play classical music.
One of the bands started up a Strauss waltz, so Rachel and I (naturally)
started dancing. Aled snapped the picture.
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Standing on the Well-Cap
The piazzas in Venice all have wells, which have been capped (for safety
reasons, I assume).
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Gondola Ride
We decided to go ahead and indulge ourselves. It was worth it.
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Gondola Ride
We wanted to take our gondola ride at dusk, which turned out to the best
time. The canals were quieter, and all of the buildings were lit up from
inside.
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Our Gondolier
He spoke several languages, told us stories, and was able to answer all
sorts of questions. He even sang to us. We should have asked for his
name.
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Another View from our B&B
It was foggy in the mornings, which highlighted the view across the
rooftops.
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Another View from our B&B
A church spire in the distance, through the fog.
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Yet Another View
Along the canal, with windowbox.
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Amalia's Hair Needed Braiding
Aled and I were a bit nervous about Amalia's decision to sit on the window
ledge.
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Amalia's Hair Needed Braiding
Hold on tightly!
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Amalia's Hair Needed Braiding
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Water Bus
Sunday morning. We decided to visit the Jewish Ghetto and tour the
synagogs. We took the water bus in the fog.
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The Ghetto
The word "ghetto" is a corruption of the Italian word
"getto", which is pronounced with a soft 'g' ("jetto") and
means "foundry".
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The Ghetto
On the right-hand side you can see a sukkah.
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The Ghetto
On Sunday, the line to get into the museum was quite long. The building
to the left of the museum entrance housed a synagog, which can be
identified from the outside by the line of five windows on the fourth
floor.
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Dishes
Rachel liked this shot of dishes drying on the windowsill. The spikes on
top of the streetlamp are to prevent pigeons from landing (and pooping on
the passers-by).
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Patrolling the Ghetto
A sign of the times? We rarely saw police outside of the ghetto. Within
the getto, they were unobtrusive, but definitely present.
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Gheto Novo
The oldest ghetto was built on the sight of what had been the "new
foundry", so it is called "Gheto Novo" (New Ghetto). The
ghetto was expanded twice, and eventually incorporated the old
foundry...so the old ghetto is newer than the new ghetto.
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Walled Island
One of the walled islands we saw from the water bus.
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Piazza d'Soaking Wet
On our way to the cruise ship, we stopped in this Piazza for a moment to
rest and be rained upon.
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Double Doors
Identical sets of doors, but one leads to a stairway over the canal and
the other leads to wet socks.
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Rain
We're all grumpy because Rachel wanted us to stop in the rain and have our
pictures taken.
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Costa Mediterranea
Our first view of the ship.
(Yes, that's a waterslide at the top.)
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Cabin 6281
A very nice cabin...
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Cabin 6281
...with a great view.
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Cabin 6281
A luxurious bathroom...
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Cabin 6281
...though the shower had a habit of spraying all over the floor.
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Venice
View over Venice from the deck of the ship.
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Venice
The sun was setting through clouds and rain.
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On Board
Chris, Aled, & Amalia on deck.
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Rainbow over Venice
I think half of the people on the ship were trying to get a picture of
this rainbow...with varying results.
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Rainbow over Venice
Rainbow, Rachel, Aled, & Amalia
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On Board
Closeup of Rachel, Aled, & Amalia
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Rainbow over Venice
Yet another attempt at capturing a rainbow.
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Tilted Tower
Pisa has competition.
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