Waterland: Venice

An American friend that lives up the street from me, Amber, invited me to go with her to meet up with friends in Venice for the day. I spent a week there in college for a study abroad program and got to experience all the tourist high points, sketch, and take a gazillion 35 mm pictures but was more than happy to go back without an itinerary, with her friend that lived there until he was 15 as our guide. We tried to catch the early train but realized once we got to the station, Amber brought the Dave Mathews tickets she purchased the same day as the train tickets, oops! A bit of a glitch in the plan but we made it just a little later than expected.

The delay gave me an opportunity to soak in all the fantastic detail of the Centrale train station while she went to retrieve the tickets from her flat. It's a mixture of many styles including Art Deco and Liberty. Frank Lloyd Wright said it and Grand Central Station in NY were the most beautiful train stations in the world and I agree. After a lunch of squid covered in ink and polenta, Micheal gave us the insider's tour of Venice.

Micheal, his two friends visiting from the US, two Italian friends, Amber (in yellow) and I on one of the many bridges.

I'll let the pictures do the "talking" for the most part.

So many interesting water alleyways an charming walkways along the canal.

An icon of Venice...masks.

The window shopping was excellent from vintage boutiques, to high fashion, to fine textiles, glass....

(photo by Amber)

The grande canal....the widest and busiest of the waterways.

This is the only woman gondolier that could pass the rigorous test for the job.

The guys decided it was way more fun to take jumping pictures. I concur:)

I felt like a dramatic "Hollywood dip" was a good idea for such a romantic, charming city. I think it would have been more successful with a guy/ girl dip/kiss, ha,ha!

Michael's famous skater pose.

Josh with mad style points.

Incredible textiles....would love to use them on a project!

The infamous San Marco at dusk. There used to be a bazillion pigeons in the piazza but now there are very few. They have been working on getting rid of the flying rats. Which is nice to not have to worry about poo on your head or one dive bombing you for food.

The Doge's palace, beside San Marco basilica, a "triumph of Gothic architecture".

"The Bridge Of Sighs" connected the prison and the Doges's palace. It was the last glimpse outside before the prisoners went to trial.

San Marco and the Doge's Palace.

A corner of the Doge's palace and the sight of a great find on a scarf:)

Gondolas bobbing in the water by San Marco Piazza at night.

This restaurant had different style and size lamps for each of their tables outside. Cute and interesting, neat concept.

We made it home by train about midnight. After all that walking, I fell into bed and had dreams of "waterland". Magical, sigh.

Mia Famiglia in Italia: Milano and Lago Maggiore

After arriving back in Milan, I showed my family around the city and we took a day trip to one of the two major lakes, Lake Maggiore, only an hour north. We arrived in Stresa, strolled along the decadent hotels and palm trees by the water then took off in a ferry to island "Isola dei Pescatori". On the ferry...

We enjoyed lunch with a view at a restaurant recommended to us, "Lamalghera". The owner, Matteo, one of the 30 inhabitants of the island, waited on us. He liked practicing his English (yay!) and loved living in Hawaii and Cali for a short time...who wouldn't? He gave us the most warm, helpful service that I've seen here. We started off with strawberries, shaved Parmesan drizzled with balsamic vinegar. He gave us a complimentary wine to correspond and then brought out fish that the fisherman had just caught in the lake. Then I had a crepe with fish and crab and fresh linguine and sauce. Fantastic!

We explored the very small island a bit then headed to "Isola Bella" on a ferry.

This is the grand hall of the Borromeo family palace. It is an enchanting mansion filled with 17th century decoration and furniture. Napoleon stayed in one of the bedrooms and it contains a music room where Mussolini met British and French officials in 1935.

The Italian style gardens boasting rare plants turned out to be a great place to goof off....I mean explore:)

Do I blend?

Stache and glasses...haha!

Which of these statues does not belong?

View from the top tier of the garden.

Back on Stresa, in this decadent hotel, we found a little niche, great for conversation....Italian style.

One of the many grand hotels along the lake.

Horse noogie. Just because. Back in Milan....

Coffee/ pastry break along Via Dante, the pedestrian only street.

Fashionistas we are not.

I really didn't want a flying rodent pecking at me but was entertained watching Michelle screech as they landed on her.

Mom and Michelle atop the Duomo.

My American friend, Amber, invited us over for midday coffee, pears, and brie topped with honey and walnuts....very Milanese. She lives just up the street from me, very cool girl....also a North Carolinian!

I was still juggling some of my nanny duties while they were here. Homework time for Gabe.Before I knew it the visit was over and I was saying goodbye:( We had such a nice time...just too short!