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| Erin's Venice Journal #3 4-03-02 Wednesday we decided to start getting down to the business of seeing museums. Glenn set an ambitious schedule of 3 museums and routed out our way to get to them, and we set off. We found our way to the section of town we wanted to see, then stopped to take a picture of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, another immense and beautiful church we can see across the water from our part of town. After that, we managed to wander our way lost again. I think 'lost' is the universal term to apply to tourists in this city. My advice, to those who should venture here (and you definitely should!!!), is to get a good map - that means not free - and be able to enjoy the things you find while you're lost. That way when you finally wander past a street that you do recognize on the map, you can start getting a picture of the city in your head and recognize landmarks on your next journey through town. We enjoyed being lost for a while - we were wandering alongside the Canale di Guideca, which is a larger expanse of water than the Grand Canal and not spanned by a bridge, and the sun and breeze felt wonderful. When we reached the Port Authority and were not allowed to cross the bridge to get to the street we wanted, we had to change plans, and ended up making a wrong turn. This was ok, because we got into the really residential part of Venice, where the shops were all to service the locals and you could see really old women hanging out their windows talking across the alleyway as they hung out their laundry. Very authentic and fun to experience. Finally we found our way back to the place where we'd turned the wrong way, and stopped for food. Meal times are still a little of a problem for me, as we've been having breakfast late and consequently wanting lunch late, so we can make it to the late hour for dinner. But by almost 3pm when we were searching for food, most places were done serving lunch! We found one that agreed to still serve us though, which was nice. I figure, with as great a role as tourists play in the financial survival of this city, they'll mostly be willing to accomodate people, wild as it may seem to eat at 3pm! After lunch, we found the Renaissance museum, the first on our agenda for that day and the only one we made it to. The furnishings and decor of the place were just amazing. So completely ornate, all handmade pieces, all color-coordinated by room, and all rooms with scenery on every wall and the ceilings. We spent a few hours wandering through there, reading about what we were seeing (once again, they had cards with the English translation that helped us understand a little better what we were looking at). Afterward, knowing it was too late for the other museums, we contemplated walking back, and were about to head over one of the only 3 bridges crossing the Grand Canal, when we passed a couple of men dressed in 18th century garb, selling tickets for an orchestral group that night. We'd seen the fliers on the earlier days and were interested - we'd even overheard one such group practicing in a church near our hotel, and thought they sounded heavenly. So we got tickets, in the front row, and hurried home to change for the night out. Later, looking much better than our baggy travel pants allow, we set out at a run for the boat to take us to the church where the orchestra would play. We made it with about 1 minute to spare, and sat down to enjoy an 8-piece string orchestra, accompanied by a soloist on violin for some pieces and a soprano on others, with a couple of dancers dressed in period costumes dancing for a couple of numbers as well. The accoustics of the church accentuated the sound so well that even those in the back had no trouble hearing every note. And it was gorgeous, the whole experience. I felt again like I was someone in a fairy tale, off to a night on the town in an ancient city. I slept really well that night! |
| The churches here are absolutely amazing! There are over 200 churches in Venice alone. |