Arriving in Venice..........

Awaking from sporadic naps,(following what were the worst airline food offerings ever - come on Delta, you'll have to do better to keep us as customers), the long but thankfully smooth night flight to Venice went well and I was greeted by the majestic Swiss Alps shimmering in the early morning sunlight. What a magnificent sight for tired eyes.......snow-covered peaks, deep green valleys with many lakes, and small towns and mountain villages just visible here and there......and Venice almost within reach.

Entering Italy through Venice was surprisingly easy. Before we knew it we were hauling the baggage along a rather long, bumpy walkway to the waterbus to ride to our hotel in the Cannaregio district. It's incredible to think that just about everyone who goes to Venice has to approach by water taxi of some type. When we saw the thousands of tourists in the following days, especially the Sunday day-trippers, I was amazed that most had come by water.

The vaporetti/waterbus plied its way slowly across the lagoon. The number of craft around us in the cool morning air were many. Traffic lanes are well marked by these wooden pilings, often punctuated by large seagulls.........some speedboats zoomed by, higher priced private water taxis passed quickly, whereas we enjoyed the slow (like in cheapest!) ride awed by the scenery which appeared out of the mist as we got closer to our disembarkation point, the Madonna dell'Orto Pier.

Our hotel had it's own boats for guest transportation to the San Marco area..............I'll have a future story about that memorable boat ride!

........the Boscolo Venezia Hotel - entrance under the red awning above - was everything one needs in a city hotel, PLUS on the lagoon looking across to San Michele Island in back, and with a small busy canal at the front door.

Our lovely, spacious suite was actually in the lush garden in back. Built at the end of the XVI century as a family palace, it later became a monastery and then the embassies of France and Savoy.

Arriving at the Boscolo Venezia Hotel - behind me the first of the 400 bridges crossing canals all around the city. Large bag for clothes, including everything for the cruise, small one for the cameras, laptop and incidentals. Don't ask me how I got it all in!

Note: I did not take my bulky Canon 7DSLR on this trip, used my two older Olympus and Canon point and shoot digitals. I am pleased with my pictures and it was easier to use the lighter cameras with my recent hand problems due to Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR). I felt extremely well on the trip, the meds. seem to be keeping me pain free. Many thanks to all who enquired about my health.

As soon as we were unpacked - we had three nights at this hotel and our friends were arriving from England and California the next day - we were out and walking, walking, walking. Who could possibly think of napping when there was so much beauty awaiting us.

We crossed bridge after bridge.................

....squeezed our way through some very narrow alleys.... 

....all the time mesmerized by the buildings reflected in the canals - yes some were smelly, a known fact in Venice, but all spectacular.....

....and soon were sitting on the edge and enjoying a light lunch..... 

......healthy grilled veggies, fresh baked bread, a beer for Bob and a glass of crisp house white for me.........

.......and being serenaded by this happy Italian gentleman.

Back to strolling the neighborhood, something of interest or beauty around each curve.

This was the restaurant we picked later in the evening for a delicious pizza Margarita and salad....and we went back again another evening when our entire group got together and enjoyed a really good meal. Loved sitting by the canals to eat......and fortunately the pleasant weather made it comfortable.

Next time...........Bob and I venture further into the heart of Venice for breakfast, shopping, and sightseeing.