Park Hotel Junior Quarto D'Altino

... Ages through the Renaissance, and connects the works on canvas to the sculptural works that preceded them. We were glad that we visited here last , because it tied together everything that had come before. (The Rick Steeves audio guides helped tremendously!)

Tomorrow, we set out for our road trip through Tuscany and, hopefully, a couple of days at a less hectic pace, visiting the hill towns on our way back to Rome.

Can't believe we only have two days left!

... man in order to attempt to salvage his dead father’s soul. Regardless of the intent, it is an amazing site for both artistic and religious reasons.
The rest of the day was spent driving the Autostrada from Padua to Florence. Up and down mountain with gigantic trucks weaving across the lane lines, everyone at maximum speed and tailgaiting like nothing you would ever see in the U. S. And, yet,

... they no longer swarm the tourists. But it you still have to watch out for the Pigeon Poop! The Basillica was another feast for the eyes - and ears! As we approached the central altar, imagine our surprise as the “theme” from Phantom of the Opera suddenly blasted from the organ!
Next, we toured the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. This wealthy American woman, who lived in an palatial home on the Grand Canal, had two great loves: her dogs and modern art. After her death, her ...

... What a magical place this is: unique beyond description. Our first stop was the Accademia Museum, home to a nearly overwhelming array of Venetian Renaissance Art. Next, we headed to the Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. This church, built over two centuries, is typically Gothic in architecture style, but inside the aisles and every nook and cranny hold a succession of art treasures, each more surprising than the last. It is one of the ...

... of fruit, and waited until we could check in.

When the owner got there, he informed us that the hostel had been shut down for winter, so he was housing us in hotel rooms. He gave a 3 person room to the girls, and Steve had to stay in a room with another guy, but he was only staying for one night so he didn’t really care. We were all very pleased with our rooms, but so tired from the ...

... about is there is graffiti EVERYWHERE! It seems Venice is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating and charming cities in the world (Is it a floating city, or is it a sinking city?) ..I personally think it's sinking! but it is more dirty than I remember it being when I was here with my parents, but I guess that was almost ten years ago! It seems around every corner there is something charming to see, along with ...

... more modern - restaurants. The major church has some fantastic mosaics and from its belfry you have a great view over the lagoon, all the way to Venice on the horizon. Dinner, back in Venice, was great. I went to a restaurant recommended by a Venetian colleague of mine and the food was just wonderful. But I also enjoyed it because I got to talk to my table neighbours, a Swiss couple. She is a doctor and he is a violin maker ...

Hi everybody, I am now in Slovenia but I thought I would update you on my travels around Venice. DAY ONE We arrived on a train that skims over the water on a little railway line, and the lagoon is very pretty. But finally hauling our backpacks off the train and finding the bus station, we realised there was a problem...we did not have any directions for the campsite we were meant to be staying in! We ended up taking a bus to the airport, getting lost at the airport and finally ...

... marriage, they were back in Venice to take a gondola. We thought of regret, and whether we would be sorry for not taking the ride once we left more than having to end our trip a few days early. But most important for me was considering the conversation I had with a gondolier earlier in the day. The gondolas all have identical decorations on their bows, and the whole time we were in Venice, I wanted to know what it symbolized. It turns out the comb-like formation represents ...

... are on an island. Yesterday afternoon we toured a 18th C. mansion along the Grand Canal. Today we are going to the Jewish Museum and we will walk around the former ghetto. Tomorrow we will try and check out Moreno to see the glass blowing. Having Natalie with us at 4 1/2 months has not been a problem at all when it comes to sight seeing during the day. But at night, she is ready to sleep ...