Venice, Italy

Venice has been on my "I can't wait to see" short list since arriving in Germany. I found great deals on flights and a hotel over Labor Day weekend. Before going into Venice for the weekend, we were able to spend a night at the Cadence Hospitality House at Vencenzia Army Post about an hour away via train. 

 ^ On the train from mainland into Venice. 

^ Cappuccino break before a long day of exploring Venice's canals

The Rialto Bridge, Grand Canal

^ Ended the day at the Rialto 

^ A view of the Grand Canal through the Rialto 

^@ sunset 

^ Accademia Bridge

There are over 400 bridges in Venice, but only 4 cross the Grand Canal. 

 ^One of the many gondola drivers... gondola rides are super expensive in Venice - over $100 for an hour. We enjoyed watching them float along and listening to the drivers serenade their riders from the bridges.

^ We got around via walking and vaparettos (water buses). The waiting area was in the floating yellow dock, and then the buses would pull up alongside for you to hop into. 

St. Mark's 

^From the water 

^St. Mark's Basilica 

 ^ St. Mark's Square

^ Another church in Venice, with a great welcome sign! 

 One of my favorite Italian dishes is gnocchi and I got to try some great meals this weekend -

 ^Gnocchi with salmon and cheese sauce

 ^ Pumpkin gnocchi with a butter sauce

^ Our hotel was down the alley to the left of the short yellow building, and just 2 or 3 buildings in. It was about a 5-10 minute walk from St. Mark's square and really close the water.

^ Our hotel was just pass the little brown sign on the right.