Adventure in Italy: Venezia

A substantial breakfast at the Hotel Embassy (very nice BTW) in Firenze, and then virtually across the street to the Termini Santa Maria Novella to catch the 9:30 train to Venezia. We paid scant attention when the train stopped in Bologna, as we had already been there.

Padova is quickly followed by Mestre where many tourists leave cars and book hotel rooms, very convenient to Venezia, 10 min. away by train.

It's when the train crosses the causeway, and then slows to enter Santa Lucia station in Venice that the excitement builds. Then you step out of the station and you're hit with the unique beauty of the city that lives on water. Glorious sunshine today too.

We board the vaporetto and begin the long boat ride through the city, almost to its other end - what a great way to breathe in the sea air and the beautiful surroundings. Off the "bus" at Zaccharia and a very short walk brought us to Hotel Paganelli. We checked into our very comfortable room with an interior courtyard view, but one of us wanted to see whether there might be something overlooking the Grand Canal. Very charming Paolo at the desk had upgraded us to a larger room when we checked in, and when asked about a change, he grinned and said to 'one' of us "You're never happy!" But no, nothing else was available and we are both very happy with the room we have. There is a roof terrace with an incredible view, just up the stairs.

One of us has been very good at checking with hotel staff throughout the trip, for all available accommodation options. In Firenze last night, the result of this person's inquiry was a far superior room. Bless that person's heart.

Furio, not far into our first stroll, we came across this very personal welcome.

And Ronald, the sign was posted in the window of Rosso Pomedoro - we do plan to go for dinner tomorrow. The menu looked great.

OK, I get to defend my self here! Yes I did ask for a room with a view but there's no harm in asking is there? And the room we had last night was wayyyyyyy better than the one they wanted to stick us with.....on the street with trains going by every two minutes. And in Florence I did ask for a quiet room as the guy in the pizzeria accross the street had a very loud party with kids on motorcycles coming and going and revving their engines till three in the morning, inspite of being around the corner from the carabinieri. But I have to say that all of our hotels have been beautiful, well located and with charming staff. In Rome we had a giant suite with 14 foot ceilings and a lovely view of a courtyard.