Coming Up, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

]]> http://veryhardest26.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/two-fabulous-attractions-in-the-english-lake-district/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:00:15 +0000 veryhardest26 http://veryhardest26.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/two-fabulous-attractions-in-the-english-lake-district/

Gondola is a reconstructed steam yacht which offers a wonderful, nostalgic sailing experience on Coniston Water in the amazing scenery of the ENglish Lake Distroct.

The original Gondola was launched in 1859 and is perefectly recreated in today’s Gondola which certainly reflects the elegance and splendour of the Victorian era. Passengers can relax as they watch the stunning scenery of the Coniston Fells glide past the windows of the opulently upholstered saloon. While evoking memories of a distant era, Gondola glides almost silently along, powered by a very modern eco-fuel: wonderfully clean burning logs made from waste wood chips.

Although a reconstruction, Gondola is part and parcel of the history and heritage of Coniston and the Lake. She plies the lake every year between the months of April and October. The service operates seven days a week, running from Coniston Pier to Brantwood jetty. The round trip takes about 45 minutes and up to 86 passengers can be accommodated comfortably.

In 2008, Gondola’s route was extended to call at Monk Coniston Jetty at the far northern tip of Coniston Water. This gives passengers the opportunity to combine a cruise on Gondola with a gentle walk to Tarn Hows.

The route takes you through the grounds of the Monk Coniston estate, famed for its arboretum and beautiful woodlands, to Tarn Hows and back to Coniston village. This walks enables you to see Pier Cottage, Gondola’s home and Donald Campbell’s base for his world speed record attempts in “Bluebird” in the 1950s and 1960s.

All sailings in Gondola are weather dependent. If the weather looks doubtful, please call 015394 41288 to check whether Gondola is sailing.

A wonderful christmas treat for all the family is on offer at the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, at the Southern end of Lake Windermere. This superbly preserved steam railway is part of the old branch line from Ulverston to Lakeside, where Victorian travellers would embark on the steamers to sail along to Bowness and Ambleside.

Nowadyas, the steam trains chug along from Haverthwaite to lakeside, offering a magical spectacle for youngsters and the young-at-heart alike! And at Christmas, the volunteers who run the railway ensure the trains are extra special, with Father Christmas and his helpers offering seasonal joy and goodwill! There are presents for the children, christmas cake and seasonal drinks for the adults, and carols and a good time for everyone!

All Santa specials depart from Haverthwaite Station, at 10.30am, 12.30pm, and 2.30pm. The round trip takes one and a half hours and tickets are �13.00 per person for both adults and children. Father Christmas and all his helpers board the train at Haverthwaite, where the seasonal fun begins. Each carriage is a hive of activity, as the chief elf and helpers lead the festivities with Christmas songs. There’s a live band to welcome Santa and plenty of Christmas spirit as Father Christmas visits each family in their seats, where he gives a specially chosen present to each child (it even has their name on it).

If you’re a grown-up, you might want to enjoy the ride with alcoholic or soft drinks and a large slab of Christmas cake. Then, to complete the day, you can dine in the station restaurant and have a delicious two course Christmas meal.

Many families make this a special part of their Christmas, bringing all the family, both young and old – all you have to be is ready for a good time!

Contact the railway at Haverthwaite Station, Nr Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 8AL, Phone: 015395 31594

The Tees Transporter Bridge as it is correctly known (or simply the Transporter or Tranny) is the furthest downstream bridge across the River Tees, England. It connects Middlesbrough on the south bank to Port Clarence on the north bank. It is a transporter bridge, carrying a travelling ‘car’ or ‘gondola’ suspended from the bridge, across the river in 90 seconds. The gondola can carry 200 people, 9 cars or 6 cars and one minibus. It carries the A178 road from Middlesbrough to Hartlepool.

History

Following a 1907 Act of Parliament the bridge was built at a cost of £68,026 6s 8d by Sir William Arrol & Co. of Glasgow between 1910 and 1911 to replace an earlier steam ferry.  A transporter bridge was chosen because Parliament ruled that the new scheme of crossing the river had to avoid affecting the river navigation. The opening ceremony on the 17 October 1911 was performed by Prince Arthur of Connaught. The first person to fall off the bridge fell at the opening ceremony; the man (Arthur Darwin) was a relative of John Darwin from Seaton Carew of canoeing fame.

The Tees Transporter Bridge has an overall length (including cantilevers) of 851 feet (259 m), leaving a span between the centres of the towers of 580 feet (180 m), the beam of the bridge being carried at a height of 160 feet (49 m) above the road. This combined with an overall height of 225 feet (69 m), makes this bridge the second largest example remaining in the world; the largest being the bridge across the River Usk, at Newport in South Wales.

During World War Two the superstructure of the bridge was hit by a bomb. In 1953, the gondola got stuck half-way. While it was stuck, gale force winds lashed water to within inches of it.

In 1974, the comedy actor Terry Scott, travelling between his hotel in Middlesbrough and a performance at the Billingham Forum, mistook the bridge for a regular toll crossing and drove his car off the end of the roadway, landing in the safety netting beneath.

In December 1993, the bridge was awarded the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ highest honour, The Heritage Plaque, for engineering excellence, in recognition of the Council’s efforts in keeping the bridge in good working order. Its historical importance was also recognised in 1985 by its listing as a Grade II* Listed Building and its prominence as a local landmark was further enhanced in 1993 by the installation of flood lights that operate during the winter months.

It has featured in films and TV programmes including Billy Elliot, The Fast Show, Spender and Steel River Blues. In the millennium celebrations of 2000, fireworks were fired from its length. The storyline of the third series of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, saw the bridge dismantled to be sold to and re-erected in the USA. The local council received calls from people worried that the bridge was really being pulled down, with the BBC adding a disclaimer on the end of the final episode of the series stating that ‘The Transporter Bridge remains in Middlesbrough’.

The Transporter Bridge has a safety announcement, and until recently, it was a southern voice. Middlesbrough council decided it was time to change the voice, and held a competition for the new voice. The competition was won by a Middlesbrough man, Brian Hall, who was one of the last few finalists in the competition for thespeaking clock  in 2006.

The bridge is currently owned by Middlesbrough Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. Middlesbrough council has control of the day-to-day operations and maintenance.

www.davidlewins.co.uk

This blog is very popular in Asia and I was not surprised at all when my post on gondolas  aroused the interest of many gondola manufacturers in the region. Of the countless proposals I selected a few to forward to the Tourism Board of Pie in the Sky Projects. See samples below

Luxury Model from North Korea

Two for the price of one from Taiwan

Mass Transit Platinum model from China

By noon of the following day, everyone’s all packed up for their flight back to Saudi Arabia .  By noon we all checked out of Hotel Mozart; while they were bound to Malpensa airport, I’ll be bound for Rome .  I bade goodbye to everyone and soon I was alone again at the hotel lobby figuring out how I could get to Rome .  The front desk guy told me that it will be about 8 hours from Milan by road or 4-5 hours by the train at the Milano Centrale.  He told me that Rome is a big city and a day or two will not be enough considering the small amount of time I have until I leave Italy in 2 days.  After going about the pros and cons I got to conclude that he’s right- setting aside the total travel time, a day and a half in Rome might not really be practical afterall.  However, Venice he said is the next best option for it is also a beautiful city only 2 hours away by train.  He lent me the hotel’s tourist guide book and after seeing the pictures and going through the information, I was convinced to go there instead.  Half an hour later, I was back in Milano Centrale for a two-hour trip to Sta. Lucia, Venezia.  I moved around confidently this time for I know the station already and I know where I was going.  There were long lines of passengers buying the tickets eventhough there were about 10 or so counters in the ticket area while in the automated bigglieteria there were few.  I wanted to try it but I’m not about to let another possible complication (like my credit card getting jammed or pressing the wrong options) to ruin my trip, I decided to try my patience in the ticket area which wasn’t so bad afterall because the turn-over was quicker than I thought.  Soon I was  inside the neat express train of about 10 coaches or so moving at least 110 kilometers per hour.  After going through more stops than I can recall, we finally arrived Venice- Sta. Lucia station on a 30-minute delay.

The first thing that I saw upon stepping out of the station was the water!

  There was a wide canal separating the side where I was and the other side and between the gap is a huge bridge.  Looking around, I felt like I was in another world-   centuries-old structures, water everywhere, no motorized vehicles on solid grounds, bridges big and small, Roman Catholic churches, gondolas, water buses, lovely people- I’m afraid I might describe such an unimaginably beautiful city in an understated fashion.  It was like I was in a small town floating in a big body of water in the 16^th century.  Along the main (brick) road called the Strada Nova are closely-knit shops, restaurants, pharmacies and authentic Venetian handicrafts!

"So this is where the infamous masques came from..."

 So this is where the infamous masques came from.  Outside these shops were mannequins dressed like they just came from the Phantom of the Opera afterparty.  The ambience of what I’ve seen so far is like a creepy  old town yet in its own goodness.  Creepy because it looks like the place where Jack the Ripper prowls at night in one of those dark narrow alleys or a troll might be lurking beneath the murky water and ready to pounce on you when you’re passing by one of those bridges.  In a good way because the peculiarity of the lovely Venice   adds to the excitement of being in a totally new dimension.  For me, the people here are not as uptight as  those in Milan- in most aspects like fashion, attitude, they tend to be the more relaxed breed.

"Creepy because it looks like the place where Jack the Ripper prowls at night in one of those dark narrow alleys..."

There were small 2-star hotels along Strada Nova but none of them has suited my taste as of yet so I decided

Hotel Tintoretto

 to walk further.  The small streets were crowded with obviously tourists mostly in groups.  To my right is a rather wide waterway where people take the waterbuses and water taxis.  The mainroad closed in to more narrow walkways after crossing the first bridge.  Now there were old buildings congested on bothsides and I couldn’t really decipher which are ones the residentials because it seems to me that everything, everywhere are commercial establishments.  I came upon a hotel housed in an old brick structure with a petite tower serving as the main attraction along with the antique well in front.  Attached to the hotel is their small small resto with tables outside.  Though it has been less than an hour’s walk only, I was rather tired after going up and down three bridges (have to carry my big trolley bag everytime) I decided to check in at this hotel.  The name of the small hotel was Hotel Tintoretto.  A pretty young  Italian lady was manning the front desk as soon as I entered.  It was a really small space (from the door to the frontdesk) that only one person can be accomodated each time.  Three average sized persons would already crowd the entire space.  The (what’s supposed to be) lobby was even smaller than the living room in my previous apartment.  Anyhow, I still thought the place was lovely, neat and cozy.  Comparing it to the amenities of Hotel Mozart, I bet bed and breakfast here is cheaper.  But no, they quoted me a 100 Euro per night, single room.  Probably because this is Venice , I thought as I was handing out my Mastercard.  The lobby doesn’t lead you to where the hotel rooms are, we had to literally go out and enter a glass and steel door next to the lobby entrance.  I asked where the elevator was and she politely said that they didn’t have one installed as the building is that of an old-16^th century mansion or something- I believed her as I climbed my way two floors up to my room.  The wooden stairs and floorings are carpeted and right at the end of the hallway would be my room.  It was the only elevated room in that floor and just before you to take 3 steps up to the room, there’d be a room to your left and right like they were guarding mine.  The “16^th Century” thing that the lady gave me for info added to the spine-chilling ambience and if that were so, what could this room have been centuries ago?  A torture chamber?  Just a thought though, of course I know it has been refurbished from what it was ages ago.  As expected, the room is small but just right for me.  The wooden walls, bed and nightstands are coordinations of pastel colors and the bathroom has complete facilites except bathtub (I don’t need it anyway).  After having the feel of the room, I just freshened up and went back to the front desk to ask not for some more “16^th Century” infos but for tips on getting around the place.  She was very nice and helpful that she gave me a map (I still have it).  Accordingly Piazza San Marco is very near the hotel about 15 minutes walk, she confidently said.  That’s great, I thought as she drew on the map the direction I should go.  When I looked at it, my eyes grew big looking at it for the line she drew went from end-to-end of the map.  She got what I was hitting at so she softly chuckled and said it looks far from the map but in the actual, it’s really not that far. 

"I came across the Rialto Bridge- one of Venice ’s landmark"

 The supposed 15-minute walk to San Marco was extended to about an hour brought about by the countless stops at souvenir shops and other attractions.  Along the way, there were about 4 Roman Catholic churches within the cramped streets.  It would be hard not to get lost without the map as there were  sooooo many small streets that are; I don’t know- intertwined, intersecting, intergalactic (oops, ignore the last one!) with each other and bridges and water canals in-between which seemed to me like the whole of Venice is a big geographical plate of spaghetti (Italian of course!).  Arrows pointing to the direction of the piazza are everywhere even in shops and restos probably because they got tired of being asked by tourists.  It was around 9pm that time and it started to rain (sure I missed the rain back in Saudi Arabia but not here, not now).  I found shelter in one of the shops’ canopy and good thing the rain didn’t last long.  After fifteen minutes’ worth of downpour, the rain finally calmed down so I went on my way.  Although most of the shops started to close, there were still a lot of tourists obviously heading towards the same direction of the piazza.  On the way, I came across the Rialto Bridge- one of Venice ’s landmark.  It spans the width of a very wide canal and along the banks are mostly restaurants and coffee shops and a hotel.  I went up to the Rialto bridge and got a lovely view of the surroundings.  The soft lights gave a good contrast against the night scenery and the dark water in my Lumix digital camera.

It was rather getting late so I continued the march to Piazza San Marco.  Not long, I am standing in front of Basilica de San Marco probably from which, the square was named after.  There were a lot to see in the square but it was already dark specially on the otherside where the gondolas are and there were only few tourists left so I just took pictures of the square and headed back to hotel.  I went back the following day and I saw more of the piazza which I haven’t seen last night.  The servizio gondole’s  are in operation but few took a ride.  Perhaps because 80 Euros per person was not appealing to the tourists at all.  There were a lot of groups each led by a tourist guide.  There were lovers, old folks, children everywhere and of course pigeons all over the piazza.  I took pictures of the Basilica de San Marco from the outside and inside as well.  Bags were not allowed inside but luckily the guards at the door allowed my plastic bags containing the souvenirs I bought.  Duomo was more lenient to photographers unlike here, the “staff” are wary of people taking photos of the basilica’s interior.  Of course, they were not able to reprimand

"The entire concaved ceiling is bejeweled with gold..."

everybody on a 1:30 ratio (the latter being the number of tourists) that

Campagnille di San Marco

everyone still took pictures inside.  And why not when inside the basilica is as majestic as the Dumo (only this is a much smaller version).  The entire concaved ceiling is  bejeweled with gold (real or not, I don’t know) mosaic tiles that it was actually sparkling- I was in awe at the sight of it!  There were paintings (by I don’t know who) and other stuffs similar to what I found inside Duomo.  I was only able to get a few shots when the staff called my attention for a reasons I know already so I placed my camera back in my bag before they confiscate it, if they really do that.  Just in front of the basilica is the Campagnille de San Marco- the basilica’s bell tower.  For 8 Euros, you get to go to the top so I did.  Good thing, there’s an elevator where tourists enter in batches of about 10 each time.  On the way to the top, (again) my claustrophobic tendencies signalled a feeling of discomfort to my brains that I was having a hard time breathing in that very cramped space.  As the elevator door opened, a blast of cold wind blew inside.  It was really cold out there at the top. 

A breathtaking view of Venice from the top of the campagnille.

Piazza di San Marco

At the top of the belltower

There were two uber gigantic bells and being there gives you a breathtaking view of Venice . You could  actually see from all sides of the campagnille.  The one that I liked best is the view at the west where The Great Canal lies- I took a nice shot of this!  There’s a coin operated binoculars on all for sides and in the middle just beside the elevator is a vendo type souvenir coin dispenser.  I took one for 3 Euros I think (right now I can’t find it- must have placed it in one of my clothes’ pocket). 

Basilica di San Marco

The gondolas of Venice

I could still vividly recapture the moments of my entire trip to Italy to date as I am writing this down at this very moment.  It was like I was in places where I could only see in the postcards before.  Being there goes beyond admiring a place you’re just viewing in Google Images.  Although, travelling could be a taxing and costly endeavor but that’s just a portion of the entire cake.  Along with it comes the exhilarating experience that even for once in your life you might want to try- don’t ever forget to bring your camera!  The icing on the cake?  I would say lots and lots of screensaver!

"I was able to take a picture of the beautiful sunset and that was the last of the beautiful pictures of Venice not only in my camera’s memory card but also in my mind."

On a college to the Venice Biennale 2009, this is we got up to besides seeing mindblowing art (installations, video work, sculpture, and very few paintings!)

Enjoy!

Whistler Blackcomb is getting set to premiere their new film, “On the Shoulders of Giants” online at  on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at noon, Pacific Standard Time.

The 22 minute doco gets in ahead of the December 23 screening of the story of the construction of the PEAK2PEAK gondola on the Discovery Channel.

WB’s story focusses less on the technical feats, and more on bigger context, exploring the way the challenge of Whistler Blackcomb’s terrain has inspired generations of visionaries, athletes and innovators to keep raising the bar.

“The original motive for this film was to document the building of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. As filming progressed and interviews were captured it became clear, the way Whistler inspires people to constantly do things bigger and better was really the story we needed to tell,” says Stuart Rempel, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Featuring trailblazing icons like Eric Pehota, Mike Douglas and Jim McConkey, the film’s production also tapped the local talent well, with Jim Budge directing, Lisa Richardson developing the script, Christian Begin joining the cinematography crew and Sean Horne providing editing and animation expertise.

Tune in to Whistlerblackcomb.com on Tuesday, November 10 at noon (PST) for the world premiere. The film will remain available on-line for those interested, following the premiere.

I felt more nervous about the gondola ride than parasailing.  The gondola itself can be claustrophobic and reaching an elevation of 9,000 feet sounded scary.  It’s hard to know how your body or mind will react but knew I could do it.  The same friends from parasailing went and it comforted me to have them there.   The gondola went up slow and when you looked down you saw trees and big logs.  I began to feel queasy but kept myself together.  There were two different stops and first up was the deck.  The deck was a 14,000 square foot observation platform where people admired the spectacular views.  I was a little uneasy still but captured some photos and walked around.  One woman asked me to take her and her husband’s picture.  I held her fancy camera and snapped a few shots.  She asked me to take several because she wanted to make sure her husband was smiling and she instructed me on what to capture in the background.  I should have acted like Tyra Banks on America’s Next Top Model and said show me fierce, show me sexy, now smile with your eyes.  Instead, I was being directed and mind you, I was still nauseous at this time.  I took the photos and moved along.  We boarded the gondola and went to the next stop.  The second part of the incline wasn’t as bad.  The ride was more gradual and not straight up like the first part.  My friends and I were starving and looked forward to grab a bite to eat at the final stop.  We were disappointed to find out there was a small selection of food options none of which sounded good so we pressed on to explore.  The second stop was more level and we had to hike to the look-out points.  It was hot and we went on a trail less than a mile.  There was a chair lift that you could take even higher for an additional fee but appeared to be not much further.  We had to walk underneath an area with cables that said DANGER: High UV zone and was scorching hot.  It felt like you were walking through a tanning bed and I knew that couldn’t be good.  The temperature seemed to rise the further we walked and the trail was never ending.  We continued on to see what lied ahead and saw a woman dressed like a belly dancer.  She had on a tight velvet purple long sleeved top with her stomach showing and velvet purple bellbottom pants.  I was puzzled that struck her to be appropriate for hiking and managed to capture her ensemble on film.  The picture doesn’t do it justice but you can check it out yourself at the link below.  We reached the destination and saw more trees and another chair lift.  Whoopee!  Then we headed back to catch the gondola down and I found a humorous sign that said, easiest way down.  There was only one way down and thought it was randomly placed.  The trip down wasn’t so bad but we did stop for a minute which was unsettling for a second.  It was weird one minute I felt like I was in a time machine like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (last scene of the movie) and next minute felt like I was in a scene of War of the Worlds.  While in the gondola all you saw was other robot like gondolas and no human life below in the wilderness.  It was strange.  I was glad I did both adventures while in Tahoe and thankful to share the experience with friends.  View photos

My trip was so brief in Italy, therefore I made sure to capture all of the moments I could while visiting there.  Hence wanting to share more of my photographic love of this beautiful country and countryside. 

I captured more than 130 photos between the cities of Venice, Verona, Montecchio Maggiore and Vicenza.

Here are some more of my favorites from the trip.

Some of the beautiful residences among the Rialtine Islands within Venice.

There are more than 400 bridges throughout Venice. I can’t imagine visiting them all in one day…although I wished I had.

Welcome to Piazza San Marco, main square for tourists from all over the world- home to the Basilica, Companile, the Clock Tower and the Doge

and some of the beauty down by the Lagoon which is part of the Grand Canal and leads into the Adriatic Sea. 

Here you can also catch the Servizio Gondole and take a romantic ride around the Lagoon.

Arrivederci!

Deja a trecut o lună de când am fost la Veneţia. Chiar dacă am stat doar vreo câteva ore, am făcut multe fotografii. Am urcat (pe net) câteva dintre cele mai ok ca să le împărtăşesc cu voi, acum la exact o lună după …

Am fost în Veneţia de două ori până acum; credeam ce e mai curată şi mai îngrijită, dar aşa cum e, “ceva” te atrage şi te face să te îndrăgosteşti de … comune di aqua e le gondole. Chiar dacă arhitectura tinde uşor să se degradeze, oraşul e în continuare încântător şi turiştii continuă să apară cu acelaşi entuziasm. Click pe imagine şi veţi putea vedea mai multe fotografii pe care le-am făcut cu exact o lună în urmă.

One of my favorites, “The Gondolier” is parting my company and going to a good, loving home. OK, I realize these aren’t pets but, I will admit, because of the level of pride I take in each of my pieces, when someone wants to hang it in their home, it makes me proud like a mama.

One of my favorite places to visit, as mentioned in previous posts, is Italy and I was lucky enough to go back around this time last year. “The Gondolier” was shot in Venice along one of the back canals, off the main strip of the Grand Canal. I loved exploring back there. You’re far away from the throngs of tourists crowding the main piazza and there are amazing little trattorias, bakeries, shops and homes to take in as you find your way along the canals.

This was one of my favorite shots from the trip and I’m so glad it’s going to a good home. This is a limited edition print that’s available in my online gallery, along with a number of others. Please feel free to check them out!

Ciao!

"The Gondolier"

About the Gunderson 2420

Beginning in March of 1965, Gunderson built nine hundred 2,420 cu. ft. capacity gondolas for the Southern Pacific. With a straight, deep side sill, massive side stakes and a heavy duty top cord, these cars had a distinguished appearance without comparison. The Southern Pacific implemented rebuilding programs for these cars on two occasions, which kept them on the rails well into the nineties. ExactRail has precision captured the beautiful lines of these cars from the full flute side panels to the dreadnaught ends. Accurately decorated in Southern Pacific as well as classic period-era Heritage Decoration schemes, these classics are sure to please modelers from all corners of the hobby.

Retail $19.99     WRH $15.99

Available in the following road names:

SP, ATSF, ICG, GN, SCL, CR

Coming to www.dccinstalled.com November 2nd!

This past weekend I traveled to one of the most amazing and romantic cities in the world.  My boyfriend is currently working over there to support our troops and he had a long holiday weekend hence my making the trip for 5 days.  Fortunately, USAIR flies direct to Venice from Philadelphia.  It was well worth the 8 + hours of travel to get there.

It was a magical place and anyone who is lucky enough to visit should do so and take in all the sites they possibly can while visiting.

We started the morning in Vicenza on Saturday.  In the afternoon we traveled up the mountain to Montecchio Maggiore to see Romeo and Juliet’s Castle.  There was this wonderful old man inside a doorway…he handed us the key and we were able to go up inside the tower and explore all on our own.  To view the landscape of Italy from a 1,200 foot elevation is surely a sight to behold. 

Following that Castle, we walked up the mountain past the vineyards and headed to another Castle which was redone into a beautiful restaurant and bar surrounded by outdoor seating an area for open air shows and music.  They often cater to weddings there as well and I could certainly see why.

I sat for a moment and enjoyed some of the home made wine from the city of Verona which is nearby.

The end of the day was followed by a wonderful dinner of pasta and drinking Prosecco.  Later we headed down to the square in Vicenza where friends and lovers meet to drink Sangria, dine and listen to the sounds of the city around them.

On Sunday, we woke up to a picture perfect day to sight see in Venice Italy.  It’s convenient by train or by bus, however we chose to drive down there, park in the square and begin our journey through Venice…

The best way to see Venice is by foot.  Plan on doing a lot of walking because you won’t want to miss a thing.  There are literally hundreds of little streets and alleys leading to quaint shops, pastry shops  designer clothing, artists’ crafts, jewelry and of course shoes.  You can smell the Italian pastries in passing as you walk by some of these beautiful store windows.

Glass jewelry is abundant by local artists and to see the craftmanship and artistry is a sight filled with beauty. 

We made our way through Rialto Square and headed down to St. Mark’s Square which was yet another mystical place filled with tourists from all over the world.  The painted architecture was something you only see in books and paintings. It was very surreal walking through the square and looking up at the beautiful arches, painted walls and sculptures.

The Gondola rides down the canal can be quite expensive but you can always catch a Water Taxi as we did and enjoy the views for a small fee.  Rates are for the time you are on the water, not the location to which you are going.

As the sun began to go down across Venice, we dined at a wonderful cafe along the canal…Ristorante Florida.  For 14 euro, we enjoyed the most savory lasagna to start, followed by delectable Calmari and finished with a Salad.  That’s how they dine in Italy. This way, should you feel full toward the end of your meal, you have already enjoyed the best part of it which was the main entree.

I will forever hold the memories of this truly magical international romantic getaway in my heart for all time.

To enjoy all of my photography from this wonderful little weekend getaway visit mindyktravel.shutterfly.com

Arrivederci!

Esteem News – International Day of Older Persons

Special News – Dining in a rotating gondola in the Swiss Alps

Innovative News - Does using the cruise control save fuel?

Society of Esteem – Alternative money system: Living without money

Building the Hogan – Rats with shovels and other pests

LX3 | ISO 80 | f11

click on the image for a larger size

View from the piazetta San Marco. It is not surprising how people equate Venice with romance if you are here. As the evening arrive, the sunlight fall on Venice like a blanket of gold, giving the city a magical glow.

LX3 | ISO 80 | f11

click on the image for a larger size

Take the gondola or simple stroll along the canals to take in the sights, sounds of Venice and most importantly, the feeling that this incredible city will leave you with. You will be left in awe at the experience of Venice, the city of water.

]]> http://ceciliainitalia.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/venezia/ Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:22:50 +0000 ctesdahl http://ceciliainitalia.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/venezia/

Venice was…okay. I didn’t have a bad time or anything, actually it was pretty great, but overall it is really one of those overrated tourists traps. I’m still glad I went because I think it’s a city that everyone should see once in their life, however, compared to Cinque Terre, it didn’t move me in quite the same way.

We took the 3 hour train at 6 in the morning and got in around 9 and then we walked over the grand canal and through some winding walk ways to the Piazza di San Marco where the world famous Basilica is. Although defiantly one of the most beautiful spots in the city, it was slightly ruined by the fact that one, the entire piazza was flooded, and two, the makeshift bridges were totally incapable of handling the tourist overload.

I didn’t end up going into the Basilica, you can see the line above, but instead took a leisurely walk through Venice. I actually discovered a little bit about my traveling style on this trip. I understand wanting to see the main sights in a city, like making sure you see the Eiffel Tower in Paris, however I don’t like my trips to be overrun by an exact schedule. I don’t want to pull out the map every five seconds to make sure I’m going in the right direction, and I would rather drink an espresso on the Grand Canal then fight through crowds and water to see something I only heard about right before I arrived. I’m not saying sight seeing or museum visiting is wrong, it’s just not me. Some of the other girls and I ended up separating from the group and did a little shopping. I got a ring with Venetian glass and a handmade journal. Towards the end of the trip, me and one of the other girls decided to take a break from the sight seeing, got some pizza, and decided to leisurely head back to the train station. Right away we hit a stretch of road packed with people and decided to find away around, of course we immediately made a wrong turn. We passed by this old man, we’ll call him Signore, who watched us hit a dead end and then offered to show us back to the train station. Meeting Signore was the highlight of my trip.

Tracey and Signore

Signore told us that he had lived in Venice all of this life and that he was 90 years old.  He said that he was happy to show us to the train station, that everyday he took a walk while his wife makes dinner, and that that’s what she was doing now. He liked to remind us that we had to walk slowly because he was and old man.. He also told us how when he was young he spoke Spanish, French, German, and English, he was worried his english was rusty, but we assured him it was perfect. Walking with a native Venetian who not only took the time to not only show some lost girls the way, but also tell them about his life, was priceless. I’ll never forget it.

Overall Venice, worth seeing? Sure. Worth staying there for a trip? Not really. It’s a stop over, not a place you need to spend much time in. Also I’m sorry no gondola ride for me. I’m not paying 100 euro. I did take a pretty picture though. Until next time, ciao!

Jon asked Katie to marry him during a gondola ride in Long Beach. They wanted to go back there to do their engagement session. It was a beautiful cloudy day and those two came with their happy faces. I just love their smiles. It’s so warm and natural. I didn’t have to work hard to get them to smile and interact. There’s a lot of love between these two. I can just feel it. Check out Jon and Katie slideshow. The link is below. Have Thursday!!! LOKing Out!!
JON+KATIE SLIDESHOW