Venezia

Our trip from Rome to Venice was on the Eurostar Italy, which was great. The trip for four of us was under $100 US and it offered a break from airports and airplanes. We got to see some Italian countryside, although that got old after a few hours. The trip from Rome to Venice took about four hours. Once in Venice, things got confusing at the train station. You can't just grab a taxi in Venice. It took a while to determine the right water bus to St Marks Square. Once we got there there was no apparent way to find our hotel, which we knew was just off St. Marks Square. 

     St. Marks Square

Thanks to a helpful FedEx office, we were given idiot-proof directions that got us to the hotel. There are no cars or bikes allowed in Venice, which made walking a bunch easier than in Rome. The whole city is very small and walkable. After we settled in, we took the water bus back up the Grand Canal to see the city at night. 

         Rialto Bridge at night

The next morning, with rain threatening again, we took a gondola ride from our hotel. Many books tell you not to do a gondola ride, but we found it very enjoyable. It cost around $100 US for the four of us for a 45 minute ride all around Venice. The canals don't smell, as the tourist books tell you.

         Gondola ride on the Grand Canal

We spent the afternoon walking through St. Marks and the Doges Palace, both worth the time and effort. The views from the tower are great of Venice and it gives you a feeling of being in a medieval town when you look down on the buildings.

    Grand Stairway at Doges Palace          View from the Tower

We had considerable success eating with kids in Venice, as it is geared toward Pizza and Pasta. The next morning I took a walk at dawn alone and got my best shot of the trip, which I called "Gondolas at dawn". I caught the waves lapping the square with all the gondolas in their parking spots from the night before. Click below to see it at 800x600.

     Gondolas at dawn

We took the airport water bus to the airport for our trip to London. We got into London in just enough time for a quick change of clothes and a taxi downtown for a pub dinner and Starlight Express at the Apollo Victoria. I had arranged front row tickets for the show in advance and that is the right way to see this play. Great for kids and I enjoyed it as well.