"The Devil's Bridge" (Torcello), is still in use.
Day 2 Venice -- Walking Tour; Islands of Burano & Torcello; Gondola Ride
Ruth: "Venice was very different from anything we had seen before, and that's what made it so much fun. Can you imagine -- no cars! We found that very refreshing. On the island's many bridges, we got a good work-out climbing up and down steps. No need to hit the gym!"
Walking Tour
Ruth: "Our group got an early start on our walk. Our lively Venetian guide, Elisabetta, showed us many interesting things about her city. We were impressed by the beautiful old buildings, amazing churches, people walking their dogs, and young people and seniors taking care of their business amidst all the beauty and history. This must be la dolce vita, 'the sweet life,' that we had heard so much about!"
One of the picturesque buildings in Venice
Boating -- a Way of Life
Ruth: "Everything in Venice is done on the water, even collecting garbage (first photo). I never would have thought that a garbage collection boat could be charming -- until now! The photo on the right is an ambulance boat. Everyone in our group was intrigued."
History in a Hospital
Ruth: "The white building on the left holds a secret (at least for us tourists!). Although it has had a colorful history (facade rebuilt in 1485), today it is actually a modern hospital (Ospedale Civile). Elisabetta told us that many Venetian women have had their babies there, including herself. To the right is the Frari Church -- burial place of Titian."
Back Door Savvy
Basilica di San Marco
Ruth: "On our walking tour, we got a closer look at Saint Mark's Basilica. No waiting in a long line -- Rozanne had already purchased our tickets. Walking around the church was a trip back in time. It is Venetian-Byzantine architecture, originally built in 828. The current structure has been in existence since 1023."
St. Marks' Trivia
Saint Mark's remains were stolen and brought to Venice, which gave the city prestige. The church was the private "chapel" of the doge. Now, this must have been one important guy!
Boat Ride to the Islands
We Love Burano!
Ruth: "Burano is the 'pastel island.' It used to be primarily a fishing village. The homes were colorfully painted so that returning sailors could find their way back more easily. The island's residents are noted experts at lace-making and embroidery. Burano even has its own leaning bell tower. Like us, many of our group members didn't want to leave!"
Charming pastel homes on Burano
Ruth: "We had a lively conversation with the owner of a lace and embroidery shop, who was the sweet grandmotherly type. She was very interested in where we came from. Adam and I chose a beautiful embroidery piece so that we would always remember Burano. Then, it was 'back door' time! With our pizza sandwiches in hand (see below), we made a beeline for the residential areas away from the tourists. Everything was neatly kept. The residents obviously take great pride in their homes. We love Burano because it's so unique."
Pizza Trivia
When ordering a slice of pizza to go, Italians just fold it up into quarters and there you have it -- a tidy pizza sandwich!
Two works of art: the beautiful embroidery piece we bought in Burano; a decorative iron gate to one of the residences
More Burano -- A Slideshow
Torcello
Ruth: "Torcello is important as one of the first lagoon islands to be populated during the invasion and fall of Rome. Venice's first cathedral, Santa Maria Assunta, dates back to the 7th century and is an example of Venetian-Byzantine architecture. Entering this church was like stepping into another era. We were amazed by the large Byzantine mosaics and hundreds-of-years-old floor tiles. We were requested not to take photos out of respect. Ancient stairs at the altar that led nowhere left much to our imagination. Next to Santa Maria Assunta is a smaller picturesque church, Santa Fosca, built in the 12th century.
"Having been raised as a Catholic, I was inspired to light a candle in honor of Saint Anthony. I felt a connection to the past and wanted to leave a little of myself behind in the church."
"Having been raised as a Catholic, I was inspired to light a candle in honor of Saint Anthony. I felt a connection to the past and wanted to leave a little of myself behind in the church."
Celebrity Trivia
Princess Diana of Wales and Ernest Hemingway visited and spent time on Torcello.
Click on images to enlarge
Santa Fosca
Bathroom Alert
There's pay toilets on Torcello. Bring your change!
There's pay toilets on Torcello. Bring your change!
Gondola Ride
Adam: "Our gondolier was not singing Italian songs to us, but he made our group laugh when he sang an American song, Hotel California. Later, we wished we could hear an Italian song. My mom can carry a tune, so I encouraged her to sing. (I thought I could get her to do that, since we all had a little wine in us.) She sang Santa Lucia. Gotta love my mom! The photo on the left is us on the ride. On the right is the Rialto Bridge at night."
Ristorante, followed by a Passegiata
Ruth: "After our gondola ride, we had free time. We checked out our restaurant options, then decided to give 'Rosa Rossa' a try. This turned out to be a memorable dining experience for us. Besides being charming and cozy, rumor has it that actor, Johnny Depp, likes to eat there when he's in town. Nice!
"After dinner, we took a passegiata (evening stroll). We loved taking part in this Italian custom of eating dinner late and strolling about the piazzas (squares) and narrow streets while people watching and enjoying life. I felt safe. Exploring Venice by night was totally different than in the daytime. This was one of the very wonderful times that my son and I shared that we will always remember."
Adam: "I really enjoyed our dinner together. My mom and I were eating dinner in Venice Italy -- how cool is that. A couple from Brazil noticed our Rick Steves' tour book and asked to see it for some ideas. We were happy to share. Walking around Venice at night (passegiata), with my mom is one of my best memories. Venice was great by day, and it was even more meaningful to explore at night. The crowds were gone and locals were out. Musicians play music in piazzas. It's a relaxing, fun and warm atmosphere. Everything takes on a different ambiance at night."
"After dinner, we took a passegiata (evening stroll). We loved taking part in this Italian custom of eating dinner late and strolling about the piazzas (squares) and narrow streets while people watching and enjoying life. I felt safe. Exploring Venice by night was totally different than in the daytime. This was one of the very wonderful times that my son and I shared that we will always remember."
Adam: "I really enjoyed our dinner together. My mom and I were eating dinner in Venice Italy -- how cool is that. A couple from Brazil noticed our Rick Steves' tour book and asked to see it for some ideas. We were happy to share. Walking around Venice at night (passegiata), with my mom is one of my best memories. Venice was great by day, and it was even more meaningful to explore at night. The crowds were gone and locals were out. Musicians play music in piazzas. It's a relaxing, fun and warm atmosphere. Everything takes on a different ambiance at night."
Bacinella Story (pronounced bach' i nella)
Ruth: "A couple months before our trip, I had broken my ankle. It was bit sore, so I thought I would soak it. First, I needed some epsom salts and a small plastic or metal tub. Our pensione didn't have one, so thus began our search. We learned that the green crosses on buildings were a symbol for pharmacies. We were able to buy the epsom salts, but no luck with the tub! We asked advice: 'Mi scusi, parla inglese?' meaning, 'Excuse me, do you speak English?' Adam and I used sign language to describe what we wanted and pointed to our feet. We were sent from one pharmacy to the next followed by several grocery and general merchandise stores.
The Kicker: "In the end, we ended up at a hardware store. As we tried to describe our item, customers crowed around us, trying to decipher our hand and foot language. Adam was pointing to his feet and standing on one leg. It was very funny! Everyone got into the act and it felt like we were in an I Love Lucy episode! There was much laughing and smiling as shoppers and owner alike tried to figure out exactly what we wanted. Finally, the owner went to the back of the store where he keeps gardening supplies and produced my tub -- a bacinella a piedi ('tub for the feet'). Well, now I was a happy camper!"
Adam: "The whole experience was a lot of fun.The hardware store was small and distinctly Italian. I got into the act, pointing to my feet and doing all kinds of gestures. It was like playing charades. We all laughed and had the best time.
"At that point on the trip, I started settling into being in Venice. I was able to communicate, even though I didn't know the language. Most communication is non-verbal. I remember Rick saying in his videos to work on our non-verbal skills. Another one of Rick's tips is to speak in broken English so that people can understand. This experience with my mom is one I will always remember."