June 3rd. Welcome to your dream!

No sleep again. Plus, 8 hour time change, we are so pooped. We arrived in Frankfurt at 6am. The first flight out to Venice departed at 815 and we made it! Things couldnt have worked out better, except that we are in Venice 1 day earlier than expected. I just called the hotel and Im pretty sure he told us we could check in early, same price. Ill have to get out my language translator.

This city is the epitome of charm and beauty! Everywhere, literally e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e I look is a feast for the eyes! Its evertything the movies or magazines make it out to be, only better. Its ancient meets modern. Im SO taken with the beauty and architecture and the pride the venetians take in making everything beautiful with flower boxes in windows, and the most fragrant white flowers sprouting up everywhere. I still cant beleive we are actually here. Im pinching myself.


our first views of Venice coming in on the boat.










We got off the vaporetto at the Arsenale stop in the area of Castello. Our map is proving to be very handy, albeit a sure tale sign we are totally tourists. Its ok. Its a quaint little neighborhood away from the hustle and bustle of San Marco and the Doge Palace. We know our hotel is off Via Garibaldi and over 2 bridges. We walked over the bridges and found Via Garibaldi, except the numbers arent really matching up. There doesnt seem to be an order to them. Turns out we just had to go down some side streets and wha-la! Our hotel, the Corte Contarina is tucked away right off Garibaldi, There are only 10 rooms, we are on the top floor. No lift. The concierge greated us with a very warm "Buon giorno" He said our room is ready now and asked the bellhop to take our bags up. To me, 2nd floor means 2 flights up stairs, but we climbed 4 sets..this must mean we'll have a wicked view. Which we do. The tiled rooftops of the surrounding buildings and the beautiful sky. Our room has a lovely scalloped fabric headboard, open ceiling with wood beams that look like they have been here since the beginning of time, which they probley have. An ornate huge mirror, 2 large windows with shutters, sheer white curtains with a breeze comming through. Im seriously in heaven.



a mailbox on the street of our hotel. We thought it was funny.


Via Garibaldi. This area is so sweet. I love it here!!


After freshening up a bit, we walked around what will be our neighborhood for the next 3 days. We had pizza for lunch. I was a little surprised at the time it took to get the food and the check. But Ive heard eating to the italians is like an experiance here and no one is really in a hurry when it comes to it. After lunch, we grabbed our first Gellato. Fragola (strawberry) and I swear I have not tasted anything so delicious in my life! Like ice cream except creamier and full of flavor and cold sweetness. Love it!




With our Gellato in hand, we walked about 10 min to St. Marks square. San Marco is Awesome!! And the pigeons seems just as popular as the square itself. I have to admit, I was taken with those dang birds! They are fat little guys. A nice woman gave me some of her bread to feed them and up they flew into my hands, on my shoulder. These are not shy birds. It was a fun moment for me. There isnt much to the square. Of course theres St. Marks Basilica and next door the doge palace. The bell tower. Restaurants in the square with the famous "deuling Orchestras" Its impressive to be staning in the place I have heard and read so much about. We plan to tour the Basilica before we leave, but today, we just want to explore.



St, Marks Basilica with the Doge palace on the right



the Capanile di San Marco, or belltower of St. Marks. It has stood for more than a thousand years. It collapsed in 1902 and an exact replica rebuilt in 1912 which is what you see here.


We decided to "get lost" so we took a ton of side streets to get back. Every alley way opens up to a magnificent piazza. There really is beauty everywhere here! This island is wonderful.. The bridges are exquisite. Usually we see gondolas gliding underneath us. Its surreal.










We ended the evening with a cruise down the Grand Canal. We saw the Rialto bridge for the first time tonight. It took my breath away! Its exactly as I pictured it would be.






We made a pact tonight to try a different flavor of Gellato everyday. So after a spaghetti dinner at a sidewalk restaurant, we grabbed a scoop of Lemon and a scoop of Pistachio. Both of which were creamy goodness on a spoon. Pistachio just might be my favorite so far, Lemon is Buddys.



Its amazing to be here. Even after one day, Venice has already exceeded all of my expectations. I adore it here. Tonight, Sleep will be MINE!!