Inspiration: July 2008

I sold my bike to pay for a new (to us anyway) car... which does 63 mpg. Pretty good! It's just a little city car, but with N commuting 40 min each way and an inefficient local public transport system a second car is going to be a necessity when the baby comes. So... bye bye motorbike... hello grown-up life :(

On a happier note, N surprised me with a trip to Venice. This will be our last romantic get-away for many years and it's a great city to do without kids. It's not pram-friendly nor is there much for children to do. So, we spent the time wondering the streets, getting lost, riding the boat-buses, avoiding the tourists, eating gelato and sipping drinks in cafes.

It was wonderful to get away and enjoy each others' company. My favourite parts were sitting in a quiet church reflecting on life, touring the Basilica, listening to an orchestra perform in San Marco's square at night, spending a day on the beach, hanging out with my hubby, sitting on a park bench eating gelato after a day of walking and remembering how wonderful Nick is at dealing with me when I get tired and cranky.

And here are the picture highlights... sorry, but it's such a beautiful place that there are a lot of picture highlights!

The bus service (as packed as London buses and the bus drivers drive away as you are still getting on (like London). But, unlike London, these drivers actually hit the bus stops!)

San Marco Piazza (square) and Basilica (cathedral) consecrated in 1094:

The Venicians have beautiful mosaics. This is an icon on the Bacilica. It's made up of little tiles. Most of the Bacilica art were mosaics. Including the ceiling. It's not fresco paintings. It's the first I've seen of this style and I loved it.

This is a modern sculpture made from smaller pieces of junk metal - another mosaic.

The Bridge of Sighs which was named because of the sounds the prisoners made when they crossed this bridge leading from the court house to the dungeons.

Gondola on the Grand Canal

Our hotel - Ca' Bonvicini:

The view from our room. Every time a boat went past, N ran to the window like a young boy. He was most excited to see the fireman boat and ambulance boat (as there are NO roads in Venice). Cute.

Our room. We had breakfast every morning on that little table and opened the window and wooden shutters to overlook the canal.

Along the winding streets:

Food

this is better...

Roman gods:

Murano. An island close to Venice and famous for its glass products. Check out the giant glass abacus in the photo.

Burano. An island close to Murano. Famous for it's coloured houses.

My view on the beach in Lido. Another neighbouring island... It was in the sea here that I was bit by a jelly fish... twice! Ouch. Nick didn't believe me until he was bit while making fun of my whining :)