The 007 Adventure on to Venice Italy

Today started early. Off to the train station, 1 train to Speize- 20 minutes that would take us to Milano. From Milano to Venice it would take 2 hours 20 minutes.  We ran into this couple, Margo and Larry who actually got the same trip at a different fund raiser. We found out we were staying at different places, but our travel time was the same

We walked a bit when we got to Venice, our clocks were off so was our breakfast, lunch and dinner.

We were in a hotel right on the Grand Canal. This made it easyto get our bearings and scoot around the city. This was our second time to visit Venice. The first time was quick we were on our way to Treviso to ride the Pinarello Gran Fondo.

After a great nights sleep we have breakfast right outside our hotel.

This is Francesca. She and her husband own the hotel. The rooms are small and we found out because it is in a building built in the 15 th century so they were limited in space.

There are 6 districts in Venice, the Cannaregio, San Polo, San Marco, Santa Croce, Dorsoduro and Castllo. By the end of the day we walked through all of them.

This is typical of the canals..

This bakery was very inviting. You could taste the aromas as you walked by.

So we wandered about till we got ourselves lost. Honestly you would follow signs and the next thing you know are all catty wampus.This fellow was trying to help us. He was funny he would ask us what language then start talking, then all of a sudden he would ask us again "what language." 

We left the fellow above and walked by a place that had a exposition on Leonardo de Venci.

We sat down to listen to a program in English and then to walk the exhibit.  2 hours later we were so pleased we stopped there. We learned so much about Leonardo and the times he lived in. It was most enjoyable. Below is a chain drive bicycle. The interesting thing about this is he drew it on two separate pages in his journal, 3 hundred years later the pages were put together to reveal the bicycle that you see Jim standing behind. It was a chain drive pedal bicycle.

Themirrored room below,Leonardo built to study and see things from every possible angle at one time.

Crossing over this bridge we spotted this huge sculpture made of bicycles.

All through the city there are artist and street vendors. This little guy was on a platform behind his owner. Opened his eyes for us,then promptly went back to snooze.

What better way to see a piazza, pigeon on top of a pondering philosopher.

Those who have been to Venice know that this is the Bridge of Sighs. It sounds romantic, however it is the bridge between the courts and the dungeons where prisoners would walk. Those windows were often the last time they would see the sky and the light of day

This guy was quite the poser and was hitting up anyone who might give him a snack

This was actually our last stop till we finally made it back to the hotel. At the end of the day we had walked all of the districts of Venice. We ventured to guess it was about 10 miles. With a lot of up and down stairs and bridges.

This morning we are off and walking around. We happened by this street entertainer that was pretty talented. He had a tambourine and moracha strapped to his legs, played the guitar and harmonica.

Whew that was one busy guy.

This was in another Da Vinci exhibit. It was his design for an underwater breathing apparatus.

This graffiti caught my eye while Jim was shopping some scetches. 

The logo for this Resturant was interesting. Not many cats on the street. Thank goodness we never saw a mouse or rat. Lots of dogs however. Many without leashes walking close by their owners. Ever mindful of where they were.

The color in this small canal caught my eye. 

Eating lunch along the canal with my best friend and love in the whole world.

We hired a water taxie and encouraged him to take us on a longer cruise around the islands of Venice.

Franco is his name. As he got more comfortable with us, he  enjoyed showing us interesting islands and sharing information about the area.

This island has the cemetery on it.

The island of Burano is the island to shop for lace. He dropped us off and we shopped around for about a half hour. Beautiful creations there. Notice the bell tower. It really is as titled as it appears.

The island below, Franco tells us is a privately owned island. It was well hidden by tall trees and bushes.

Headed back to the Grand Canal you enter at this beautiful church, St. George 

Making our way into the Grand Canal the architecture of the buildings are all very unique.

This was a good day. We so enjoyed it,

This huge building is the hotel where George Clooney married. There are only 24 apartments in it.

Compared to our room, I'm sure ours was the size of one of the closets

Next to our hotel is this church. We actually look out out window at it. This is the first time we see it from the water.

And this is the front of our little hotel. Very comfy and warm. Tomorrow we fly to Monoco for the third leg of our 007 adventure. There we will stay at the Monte Carlo and visit the Casino Royal.

Fortunately we don't leave terribly early this time.