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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 10, 2017 16:22:59 GMT
Gosh, Tod ~ I think I might have been as thrilled at that first really Venetian view -- the white building at quay Zattere(?) -- as you were to see it in real life! Great pictures of a place I've always wanted to visit and thanks for including the shots of your bordello opulent hotel room. Damn, it's crowded though! Fumobici showed Venice in a rainy April, I believe, and what a difference to your throngs in September. Of course it's obvious why everyone wants to visit, but wow. I love all your water and canal shots -- you really captured the romance. The St. Mark's pictures are a marvel, too. Can't wait to see your report on the islands with the crass hope of finding out what you bought.
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Post by bjd on Nov 10, 2017 17:33:39 GMT
I'm so glad I went to Venice a long time ago. One of the few advantages of getting older!
I wouldn't get too happy about the big cruise ships being banned yet. Only those over 100,000 tons and in 4 years. Given how long it has taken to talk about doing something to prevent Venice from flooding, it's not going to happen in that time.
It's a shame because it is such a beautiful and exceptional city.
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Post by fumobici on Nov 11, 2017 0:15:13 GMT
I realize you lost most of your photos, but I hope you got to wander beyond the Zattare/Dorsoduro and S. Marco sestieri I see in the photos that survived. Cannaregio and (particularly) Castello are both beautiful in their own ways and far less touristic.
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Post by whatagain on Nov 11, 2017 0:47:24 GMT
I can't see your pics on my iPhone. However I always feel dumb when I recall going to Lucca. I went to visit a company based there. They took me to lunch inside Lucca. I climbed down their car. Ate. Climbed back. Saw nothing. Got a claim with these guys. Probably will never go back for work at least. Dumb. Dumb. Dumbo. Dumber.
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Post by tod2 on Nov 11, 2017 6:17:07 GMT
Ag, nee wat - moenie te treurag word You have many years to return to Italy and see Lucca and more!
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Post by tod2 on Nov 11, 2017 6:25:15 GMT
fumobici - Yes, we did get way beyond those touristy areas but only by the water taxis. I will continue my report next as soon as possible.
bjd - we were shown clear evidence of the creeping waters. Steps that should be above the water are forever damned to growing green slimy seaweed. At first I wondered what the heck all those 'tables' were doing stacked in certain areas....now I know they are walkways for any flooding.
Bixa - Thanks so much. When posting I tried to find out what that building was and have. I have inserted it above the photo. Also added a link to Zaterre itself. Makes me want to go back...
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Post by tod2 on Nov 14, 2017 7:49:18 GMT
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Post by bjd on Nov 14, 2017 9:07:18 GMT
These pictures taken from high up show just how much water surrounds Venice. It's not as obvious when you are ground level, even walking around the city.
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Post by kerouac2 on Nov 14, 2017 11:00:58 GMT
The snake looks much better far away than close up.
Tod, your phone takes such good pictures that you didn't even need the camera, but I bet we're missing out on a lot anyway.
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Post by tod2 on Nov 14, 2017 14:22:21 GMT
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Post by mossie on Nov 14, 2017 14:47:52 GMT
Those photos taken from high up are almost like flying, nearer to God?
The glassware is remarkable, so delicate it doesn't seem true, very artistic.
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Post by bjd on Nov 14, 2017 16:43:40 GMT
Burano looks nice with all the coloured houses. The fish looked tasty too.
I can understand that it's known for the lace, but what on earth do you do with a lace owl or ballerina? As for the glass -- once again I can admire it but would never buy any of it. Did most of the people on your tour group buy things, Tod?
A friend of mine went to Venice with her husband for her 50th birthday. On their return, she told us she had bought a chandelier of Murano glass but it was being shipped. When it arrived, her husband had to strengthen a beam in the ceiling to attach the thing, made up of zillions of little pieces that all had to be hung on a frame. I admit it looks nice in her place, even though it's not my style of decoration. And it must have cost thousands of euros.
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Post by lugg on Nov 14, 2017 18:57:51 GMT
Really enjoyed seeing and reading about your trip to Murano and Burano Tod . I have never been to the islands off Venice apart from the large one whose name escapes me but I do remember how wonderful the views of Venice were from it. The views from the Bell tower are wonderful and I enjoyed seeing the pictures with the mirrors - very effective. I do have some Murano glass though bought for me by a friend - its not so delicate but very beautiful and I treasure it. The lace work is so delicate . Burrano looks very pretty I like the colours of the houses.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 14, 2017 23:15:34 GMT
I bought a pretty glass bead necklace on a jaunt to Venice (I was studying in nearby Udine), mostly red. I liked it and wore it a lot but have no idea what became of it. This was at least 30 years ago. No chandeliers for me.
I love the colourful houses. They are quite plain otherwise but it makes the area lively. I guess it works because there is a softness in the hues.
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Post by tod2 on Nov 15, 2017 7:29:39 GMT
Thank you for commenting everyone. Bjd - Yes, a lot bought glass as Brits made up 95% of our group and only had three more days before taking the Eurostar back to UK and home. For me it was just the beginning of our month long holiday so carrying any glass would be a strain. One lady bought an enormous turtle or tortoise with another creature inside of it. I never saw it but it was pretty darn heavy and she had to carry it around for the next couple of days. Too big for a suitcase.
Lugg - maybe you were thinking of The Lido? I'm not even sure if that falls under the city of Venice or whether it is part of the mainland. We did a trip out there and were surprised to see buses and cars again.
Lagatta - wish I had seen the necklaces. Would have made an ideal gift.
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Post by mich64 on Nov 15, 2017 16:19:15 GMT
Tod I loved Murano and am sorry we did not have the time to make it to Burano, it looks even more quaint than Murano was! We walked the island and had one of our best lunches of our holiday there.
We also went to a glass demonstration and we all found it quite amazing and wish we could have stayed longer to see what the expert was creating. At first we thought it was a bowl then a vase then we were unsure of what could be next but it was time to leave. I did buy a gift for Christmas for my mother and mother-in-law, glass earrings with a matching pendant for a necklace and I also bought them bracelets which I gave to them when we returned from our holiday. There were so many beautiful glass pieces and there were many people buying items.
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Post by fumobici on Nov 16, 2017 3:39:33 GMT
This is a special treat for me as I never got to the outlying islands surrounding Venice, I'm glad you made and then took the time to share. I could probably spend an easy decade just boring into the little maze that is the main islands of Venice, so in my five days I never got to see this stuff. So, thank you!
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Post by tod2 on Nov 16, 2017 9:29:34 GMT
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Post by tod2 on Nov 16, 2017 15:02:55 GMT
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Post by lagatta on Nov 16, 2017 16:51:53 GMT
How lovely that you were able to meet up!
I never made it out to the islands either, as I only spent two nights in Venice. Every other time I went there it was a day trip, as I was studying in Udine, east of there, and took the train in, either by myself or with a group of fellow seminar participants. I did get to other places in Veneto and Fruili, and to Trieste, as I had friends in Pordenone (a town between Udine and Venice) and they took me places in their little car.
At the markets, other than the beautiful fish and vegetables, I liked the very practical bags of chopped greens or squash for soup or whatever.
There are far fewer stray cats than there used to be. No, they weren't killed - there was a major spay and neuter effort, and many kittens were adopted out as living "souvenirs of Venice". There are some stable colonies.
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Post by mich64 on Nov 20, 2017 21:04:10 GMT
Lagatta it was a very special evening, we enjoyed ourselves very much. Mr. & Mrs. Tod2 are a delight! and when telling family and friends about our holiday upon our return, that meal together was one of our favourite stories to tell.
As soon as we entered the Hotel area I told my husband excitedly "there she is!" After introductions and hugs Mr. Tod ordered us cocktails and then we went across the way for a lovely dinner. I do have photos as well but I am having difficult navigating a new photo hosting site but hope to post something soon.
Tod we have so many similar photographs! We even have photos of that yacht and the arms coming out of the canal.
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Post by tod2 on Nov 21, 2017 6:07:53 GMT
Mich - Please let's see your Italian Holiday! It would be lovely to see how you saw it all.
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Post by lugg on Nov 21, 2017 18:40:32 GMT
Wonderful - such a small world at times
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Post by lagatta on Nov 22, 2017 20:45:46 GMT
The funny thing is that you almost look like a family (reunion) group!
I remember once arriving in Amsterdam and queueing for tickets to the local train from Schiphol and Amsterdam behind an Afrikaans-speaking couple of a certain age who didn't speak much English, struggling to buy their tickets from the fellow at the wicket (locals there have smartcards). The railway employee immediately switched to slow, careful Dutch (which I could also understand, though I'm far from fluent and have to take care not to pronounce syllables in German or English).
They were really looking forward to their visit!
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 27, 2017 15:14:56 GMT
The funny thing is that you almost look like a family (reunion) group! That was my thought as well! Not even family necessarily, but they definitely look like people who've known each other a long time and enjoy each others company. Tod, I am just knocked out by this report! I'm still frazzled from 13 hours of traveling home yesterday, but the beauty of your pictures shines through and your comments are sprightly and informative as always from you. I will be back to enjoy and give each photo its due, but have to say I would never have known those were phone pictures if you hadn't told us. Proves that it is the photographer and not the camera that makes a good picture.
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Post by kerouac2 on Nov 27, 2017 22:09:10 GMT
The group photo is delightful. I continue to be enthralled by all reports about Venice since I have still never been there.
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 23, 2018 12:44:51 GMT
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Post by lagatta on Jan 27, 2018 18:58:01 GMT
Indeed. I glanced at the blog. By the way, there are some blog posts in English and in German. I think perhaps also in Chinese. Interesting, and very sad how the original population of Venice is being "expelled to the mainland" (Mestre and the suburbs) but they went a bit too far in comparing their fate to those of the "native Indians" in the Americas. gruppo25aprile.org/for-our-many-foreign-friends/25 April is the feast of San Marco, and also Liberation Day.
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