Day 5 VENICE....on Valentine's day..... :o)

Wow....I've been terribly about keeping up with the posts on our trip, but seeing that we didn't have prolonged availabilty of the internet, I've had to wait til our return to post.

So, we are now back in the great USA. 5 days of Italy. 2 weeks of Israel. And even a little of Germany. Incredible. Currently battling some bad jet lag, but still getting back into everything.... ;o) Including my belated posts, which should follow chronicling the events of the past several amazing weeks.

Venice. WOW WOW WOW. This was definitely a big highlight of our time in Italy. And it just so happened that our stay there coincided with Valentines Day....bummer ;o)

You know it's gonna be good when you're greated with a gorgeous sunset like this.....





Our sweet room only a few steps from the train station and right off the grand canal. Another testament to finding cheap deals online (the day before!). :o)





Our first view of the canal...





The chill of the night air was delighfully punctuated with the smell of salt as we wandered the dreamy streets of Venice, where only foot traffic is allowed. The cobbled paths branch off into many different routes with voices and the sound of steps echo off the stately facades of the time-worn buildings.







The brightly lit shops on the great Rialto bridge, the largest bridge in Venice.




The inspiring view of the glimmering canal, an intoxicating concoction of colors and light and music. Jacob remarked that he could just stand and there and drink in the sight forever. It was quite remarkable. You feel almost like you've been taken back in time....





I think I may have to blow this next one up huge for our house......I just love how the light spills over the gondola onto the water





Live music from this amazing guitarist embraced the incredible accoustics of the landscape....
Wow. It hardly gets more romantic than that: overlooking the Grand Canal of Venice next to the love of my life while being serenaded. I rember thinking "somebody pinch me" ;o)




Had to take this so people would believe we were actually there! :o)




The splendor of St. Marks Square




Another of my absolute favorite captures of the evening. The little canals and bridges are everywhere....




Little adventurous-looking streets tempt at every corner. We threw any sketchy itinerary we had to the wind and decided instead to get pleasantly "lost" among the maze, going where our feet took us, down which ever alley beckoned the loudest.




My first decent sized cup of coffee in Italy. It's giant compared to the one-swig size you usually find. Italians have no meaning of the word Supersize.




Off to explore Venice in the day. Classic.




I couldve taken pictures of doors and windows all day. There was such a colorful and ornate variety.




The famous gondola men (i don't remember what they are properly called, sorry) .... ;o)










People "park" there boats outside their houses. :o) Wild.




Remnants of their grand Carnival still hung around the city




With the splendiferous setting and the coincidental date, we just had to take our own gondola ride. And not only that but we got I think the only "green" gondola in the city - which ya'all who know me well, know that I just adore that color. :o) This only came after we "shopped" around, as Jacob bartered (a pleasurable past-time of his) with several gondola men before he settled :o)




Another "pinch me" moment as the contours of one of the many bridges frames the old world scene before us......
The newest houses here are over a hundred years old, most dating back many hundreds more...we even went past Marco Polo's house...




Again, yep, we were really there. :o)







Jacob was a bit chilly, so he found this warm spot in this square and perched there to sun himself for awhile.









Just had to capitalize on these really cool streets and wanted to capture me and my dear husband in a less-cheesy less-dognosed fashion, so I quick laid my camera on the ground before any more people came and hit the timer and walah! ;o) I feel blessed beyond all reason to have such an amazing husband, and not only because he's willing to put up with my quirkiness and pause for such a picture :o)




More fun in St. Mark's Square where we fed the pidgeons...
















This might be my favorite photo of Venice, with the hazy backdrop of the old church to the timing of the gondola turning in and the seagall caught mid-flight, without any post-camera cropping. Only a photog knows what it feels like when you hit the shutter and want to squeal with excitement with what you just caught. :o) he he










I love the old-world feel to this one










Playing around with the shadows as we waste time as we wait for our sunset train. A perfect way to conclude our perfect Valentine's Day...




So concluded our stay in Italy.....it's back to Rome to the airport.....
Goodbye Wonderful Italia!!!