I Got You Babe...

Oh Gosh, I've got to run for bit...

But I will leave you in the Golden staircase of the palace.

This is where all the guests entered the palace.

Judy, that looks like handsome David with his shield behind him.

Beautiful ornate work. Expert craftsmen spending hours.. weeks.. or even months.

And if you think you are seeing Gold,
You are very correct! It is painted with 24 carrot Gold!

It was just the beginning of Awe.

Oops for got the photo to last post.

nice photo's judy
patiently wating for the rest lol

Judy that is awsome, your Steve sure loves you! The detail in the buildings are a site to see, and the romantic gondola ride just made the trip. So happy for you, was a trip of a lifetime, Thanks for sharing with us. And yes you are the perfect narator!

awesome Seed! More please! :)

Amazing trip Seed and I have to agree about the narration.
Keep them coming cuz I'm sure I'll never make it there.

Judy, how wonderfully written this is--one can feel yours and Steve's love through your narration! A trip of a lifetime.

Judy, your story and pictures are amazing! Continue please so we can be there with you, and enjoy the scenery.

Happy Anniversary Judy. Twenty five years of love shines all over your posts. Congratulations to you both....now back to the pretty pictures....GRIN

AW Judy, what a beautiful trip you had there. Love the aprons, lol!!! I need one of the speedo's for Doug. Him being a Chef would look soooooooooo cute, LOL.

Will be back to read the rest.

Congrats on 25 years of wedded bliss!!!!!!

Awesome Judy, thanks ever so much for sharing your adventure....and I agree the love shine through ^_^

How Happy I am you are all here and there with us.
Thank you for the Anniversary wishes.

Here is the floor at the base of the staircase.

Because Steve does tile work in his business, We both could really appreciate all the flooring.
He was thrilled to see some of the most glorious tiling of his life. He also took the time too quick sketch a few floors that
he really liked. LOL, the man never stops working.

Once at the top of the staircase we walked a very long hallway.
One of the entrances was closed. It led up to Dodges private quarters, I believe.

Isn't this Gate Gorgeous?

Once we round the corner, We came to these incredible Massive Doors.

This is, I am sorry to say is where the photo's end. And in each and every room, there is a Palace keeper to make sure further camera use was stopped...

Just inside this first door, A Map Room! In the center of the room Two Gigantic side by side Globes.
These were so magnificently detailed that one could stand there for hours.
The first Globe was of the entire European terrain. The other was in fact of the world.
On the Walls were also, Maps painted with detail of Venesia and other places through out Europe.

If you can imagine, Splendour of the rooms all filled with Original Paintings from Michael Angelo and others. Not only, paintings but Carved Wooden furniture. And The fireplaces! Each and everyone room had the most Spectacular Fire places. They were entirely made of stone. Mantles were held up with stone statues, so beautifully crafted to the smallest detail. There were no two alike. There was one very simple one.

We spent hours in the palace and enjoyed every minute. Each room outdid the others as far as were concerned.

When we came to the end of the Palace, we were delighted to see This Gorgeous gondola

Look at how finely crafted it is.

After seeing the Palace, we Walked the Alley's of Venice...

We enjoyed the stroll and the views.

As I told you the night before it rained and the in the morning it was still threatening to rain some more.
However, that was it. And because, it was still early spring, their wasn't much in the way of plants...It was a little disappointing.
But some people had floral arrangements.

As we window shopped and walked, we enjoyed a enjoyed a little quiet time taking in the views.

A view of another portion of the Grande Canal.

A little daily life! This just cracked me up, Though out Venice, we would see peoples laundry out to hang.

An unoccupied Alley.

A pretty window display.

We stopped to have pizza.
OMG, Pizza, is nothing like the American version! I don't know why this surprised me.

Real Italian pizza is devine! It is made of a thin layer of doe, very little sauce and a variety of toppings.
We heard for children they make a pizza covered with hot dog pieces and fries!

Of course we had to try. Steve ordered his first pizza topped with Tuna Fish! He enjoyed it, I took a small taste and wrinkle my nose, did not care for it...
I decided to try a calzone. Made much like the pizza but filled with Ham, cheese. Did I say filled, I mean Stuffed.

After lunch We strolled to the Rialto Bridge.

Rialto bridge is marvelous it crosses over the Entire Grand Canal. Again, Beautifully crafted carved stone.

The photo was taken from the water bus. We took it back to the train station to check on Departure time for the Train to Florence.


This message was edited May 1, 2010 2:31 PM

and some Grande Canal Scenes.

another...

Steve and I.On the Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal.

We were somewhat shocked at the Train station to find we had just missed the last Train to Florence.

Oh this was not to good. Steve was also a bit peeved because the Train guy was rude. LOL, The guy shook his head at Steve asking if he was Amercian, then proceeded to Talk in Italian something about Americana's.

Oh but now we had a small problem, We now needed to get back to the hotel and figure out how we were going to get to Florence. We had to be there the next day because we had pre-ordered tickets! So hiked back to the hotel and retrieved our bags, went back to the Water bus and return to the airport, We decided to take a cab to airport in order to get there in better time then waiting on the bus..

We originally ordered a rental car for a week, but our plan was to drive from Florence to Tuscany area. Fortunaltey, the Rental place was still open, We had to change the plans and get the car now and drive to Florence.

On the way I did get to see a sunset. Although, we were on a train at the time, but I did get to see my Sunset in Venice and it was the end of our memorable day in Venice.

Judy, wish I could have snuck in your luggage to all the beautiful places! Wow, the wood work, the carvings all so beautiful!
When I spent 6 months in Belgium, no one had a washing machine, and there were no laundry mats to be found. Everyone done thier laundry in the sink or tub, with thier hands, and hung it out the back window, or around the house to dry!

Well LK, my sister who lives in Nice, France was overjoyed when she found I have a dryer!
Dryers and airconditioners are luxury items. At least she has a washing machine!

Hello!
Giggling as I say I can totally relate to the Belguim ways Linda Kay!

One of the things that we learned to appreciate was the simplicity of life in Italy.
I enjoyed very much watching the people. They gathered together and conversed with all the time in the world.
Mostly this was the observation we made while in the Country. The time there was our most favorite and I think we
spent our time the with same casualness as the people in the village.

LOL, I also giggle about your sister in France too Jaye. I suppose with some a dryer is a wonderful thing to have too, LOL, I miss mine horribly wen it went out!

But there was this feeling of, loving comfort as I watched people hanging out there laundry.

And I do have a little laundry tale to tell, but that will come in a little bit.

Once we we made the choice of driving to Florence, my fears didn't start revealing themselves until we got to our litlte car. By this time it was growing dark. We were both starving and we still had 3 hours travel. And we were armed with a GPS system to help guide the way. Steve literally had to fold himself in half in order to fit in the cute little Fiaht, which he was not to happy about. Then we had words over setting up the system, but once figured out and followed the turn by turn instructions, Steve decided it wasn't such a bad little system after all, and of course we might just have to pick one of these up! Well now, it being Monday and also there wasn't too much traffic,my fears started to diminish and as my honey explained is would be just like going to house in Wisconsin, all highway with little traffic. We were on our way again...Well, yes it was all highway, three lanes and indeed very little traffic. Now it was dark within the first hour and all i can see was the silhouette of Mountains. On the highway, were many great curves. I had my hand grasping the handle so hard hanging on for dear life. The speed limit we were traveling was at only at 75 KM. but riding these mountains i was sure we going at least 125, it was like driving a roller coaster, and my heart beat wildly with every curve. I even begged him to slow down, Palease! He looked at me and calmly says Babe, you know I can handle this drive, I am driving the speed limit. I am not gigling as he is. Exasperated I said "fine, just quit looking at me and keep your eyes on this crazy road." Again he enjoys his little laugh as we enter the first of many, many tunnels! Now, I was worried, They were long and we wondered since we couldn't see, it they were mountains we were driving through. We decided by this time we must be in the Tuscany area and to take my mind off the road discussed how beautiful the area probably was. We also encountered a touch of traffic. All the while, Still having vise grip on the handle these cars were whizzing past us! OMG I was sure we were going to die in Tuscany. On the GPS, Thelma, as we called her, was showing that we were driving along side a body of water here and there. After we came out the last very long tunnel, Thelma had to re-adjust her signals, but we laughed she told to us continue straight.

Those tunnels were actually pretty cool, There were very well lit with the headlights hitting the White arrows the forged on what seemed to be a never ending curve one way and then another. It actually gave me comfort seeing the direction the curves would take us.

Once we past through the last tunnel, We were awarded with the most magnificent sky. Not a cloud and one could see the vastness of the stars. This kept me occupied again until Steve started asking me for things I had to dig out of the back seat, grrr. LOL, he has the patients of a Saint when it comes to driving in the dark, on mountains and other drivers zooming past without a care in the world, with me his most wonderful passenger. lol, he asked me more then once where was my solitare game.

Finally around 11:30 We entered Florence. We thought Venice was a maze, but that was just a little test to finding our way around mazes. Florence was very much the same, full of little alley ways. Since our Hotel was in the middle of the action, we took note that it was probably best to park and walk in. After talking briefly, we decided to leave the luggage and retrieve it after we found the hotel.
The only thing we took was the pack that had our confirmation to the hotel. We had called from the Hotel that morning to confirm. Right after we talked to the kids letting them know we were heading to Florence. We would call when we got there. It was good to hear their voices. They had a very nice time With Grandma and Aunti. And everyone was doing good with their routine. We shouldn't worry, the house was still in one piece and they weren't starving...

We walked and walked the main street trying to locate the Alley that our hotel was on. Again we walked Circles, and up and down the alley's. We couldn't not find it to save our lives. So a small newspaper vendor was still open and we struggled with our tiny little paper of Italian words of survival. The man was wonderful and pointed us in the right direction. We discovered we had walked pass the Alley several time! Once on the right path we needed to walk to the Center and the hotel would be on the right. So we did, and still in the dark Decide to step into a Beautiful hotel and ask directions again. Turns out were were right across the alley! With a sigh of relief and gratitude, we offer our Grazi's and proceed across the street. To this very dark little corner with a big wooden door. It was almost after midnight now, The doors was locked so we ring the doorbell. Again we ring and no one opens the door! So now what to we do?? Steve takes me by the hand and we return to the beautiful hotel we just asked directions from. We explain our plight and they very hospitably rescue us with a nice room. The cost was a little more but we decided we didn't care. We take our pack up to the room and discuss whats next. Food, was very much on both our minds and then get the luggage.





This message was edited May 2, 2010 5:15 PM

Our hotel managers were very helpful in directing us to a pizzerria just around the corner. The corner was in the shape of a V.
So we find it and practically beg them to still be open. We were famished. The owner was nice young guy and we promised all we wanted was a pizza and wine and Berria! So, we sat and enjoyed a wonderful pizza. This time we shared one. It was topped with a wonderful ham slices and something else, LOL. We devoured it in no time and just enjoyed our drinks before venturing back to the car.
We found it with ease and proceeded to relocate the hotel. We decided we should cut down this one alley, as I was pretty sure it would lead us to the hotel...Well it did lead us in the direction, as we roll our luggage along the stone alleyways, well after 1:00 when we come to a rather poor part of town. Along this way was an entire Alley of people sleeping along side a Church. OH Gosh, we kind stepped up the pace as we were sure someone was going to wake up and give us grief for so much noise. To our luck, they continued on with their slumber and we found the hotel around the next 2 alleys.
We deposited the bags in the room and crashed without even thinking for a minute.
Tomorrow would be another full day.

We awoke with anticipation to have wonderful roam around Florenzia! And it was wonderful to start the day with a hearty continental breakfast the Hotel offered. To our delight it was set in a beautiful room and even had a waitress who greeted us with a smiling Bongiornio and a pot of coffee. The tables were set in beautiful table clothes and cloth napkins of yellowish creme in color.
Serving danishes, fruit, cereal and both orange and apple juices. We were very pleased in our decision to stay at this hotel. As others joined us, we happily greeted them with A smiling bongionio and talked some in English and some in light Italian, what plans everyone was venturing for the day.

Our plan was to visit the City and kind of get acclaemated. Our Self guided tour of the Duomo was not until tomorrow. We had ticket to enter The Accademia Museum. it was not until later in the day.

In Florence, we saw some of the tiniest cars and trucks!

The streets of Italy are all very narrow. So, the small vehicles are a must.

We took this Photo for Julia and Anthony who work at UPS.

Taking in the sites we did some shopping at the local street vendors. they lined the open squares and many of the sidewalks.
As soon as we stepped out from our Hotel we rounded the corner and Look what we see first!
So I had to take a picture with Betty in Mind.

We had fun purchasing little items here and there for friends and the kids. We got both girls nice leather purses each to their taste of a bag. For Jake we found a real nice snake skin belt. And for Steve a light weight leather Jacket. I had purchased a small leather purse for myself in Venice so I was set.

In Florence Bikes were plentiful!

as well as motor scooters.

There were area's just loaded with Scooters. They have their own sections of parking.

Or if so inclined you could hire a carriage ride.