Monthly Archives: June 2015

Today we went to the Convent of San Marco. When we got there we started to follow along with a tour but since we only had about an hour before it closed we spilt apart and wandered on our own. It was so interesting to walk along and see all of their chambers. I personally think they looked like prison rooms. It was a a little room with a beautiful painting of course depicting some religious scenes, and every room had a different picture. Only some rooms had a window that looked out to a courtyard and that all. Further down one of the main hall ways lead to their exhibition that showed all books from the thirteenth century. What I found even more interesting besides the impressive books that looked like they weighed at least twenty pounds each is that they explained how they were made. Some of the books are bound with dark leather and have large metal buckles, used to close the book. The pages are made form a lighter animal skin that is stretched and dried out until ready for use. The ink colours are primarily made through minerals. They start off with a basic colour pallet and then expand upon there. There were many different brushes made our of animal fur that were used to depending on the depictions in the page. In some of the books there are pages that have paintings with extremely detailed drawings, I can’t imagine how long it must have taken to not only make a page but to even creat a whole book! No wonder the general public was not able to access them. Some if drawings even had real gold flakes that were stuck on with fish glue. It seems like such an amazing art form that is now nonexistent due to the printing press and today’s modern technologies.

We had some time to kill before we went into the Academia. So we went off to grab a quick bite. I had pershutto?!? And me,on for the first time. Now I was a tad skeptical about meat and fruit together, but After my first bite I can see now why it’s so common here!

Later went to see our boy David! There are actually signs outside the Academia to direct the tourists, but instead of referring it to the Academia its ‘David’s Museum’. There were four really interesting statues known as slaves. Michelangelo believed the sculptor was a tool of God, not creating but simply revealing the powerful figures already contained in the marble. Michelangelo’s task was only to chip away the excess, to reveal. Therefore these four slaves are pieces of his that were never finished. Once we got to David and to say that up close and personal he Is bigger than what I imagined. Seriously the size of his toes is basically as it as my forearm! What is also interesting is that his pupils are heart shaped, now there is no way to actually see this in person since his huge, but I promise that it’s true! There were so many things to see and tell, but something that stood out to me was an exhibition where all there were was busts and statues. Yes of course they are interesting to look at but what I enjoyed was that they explained how they made plasters and created moles of the original statues. I got rather mesmerized and watched the video they had for about a full half an hour. That process is to complex, tedious and messy that there is no way that I can fully explain it. All I know is that it takes precision and patience. Another super interesting thing about the Academia is that for the majority of write ups about the art work piece they had another section that showed and spoke about the restoration that had been done to it.

After heading back to our place and grabbing a bite to eat and resting up. We decided to make the most of the day and hike up to the see the sunset at piazzale michelangelo. Now we didn’t know what time the sunset and as we crossed by the bridge it was such a stunning sight! The water had reflections in yellow, and red hues from the sun. With that in sight we quickly hurried up to the top of the hill and got to see the rest of the sunset. We found a place to sit down of the stairs even though there were hundreds sitting and enjoying view and one another’s company. Even though the sun had set the stairs were still warm from the sunlight that day.

Today Andrea and I went out for a walking tour. Now the interesting thing about Italy is that they actually have made free walking tours illegal, so instead tour guides have set their company or organization as a registered charity. I thought that was a fun fact, and it explains why there isn’t all well know group here. So after a Google search we found where a tour started and headed on over. Sadly, the tour guide was not good, no one was really able to hear him, he seemed so disinterested and was like he was just so scripted. We didn’t really learn much, but it was still interesting to walk around the streets and marvel at all what we would cover later on our stay. One thing that the tour guide repeatedly kept on saying was how those from Florence were born in the shadow of the Dome.

After the tour Andrea and I went on our own little mission to find the best gelato possible in our way backtracking to our place to meet up with her parents. When we finally got back to the house we recharged our batteries and then headed it once again to the Dome. Now the Dome is nothing like I have ever seen before! The marble exterior is in the colours of green, white and red to represent the colours of Italy. On our first attempt to get inside the church we were all sent away for having our knees exposed. Determined to get inside Andrea and pulled down our skirts basically to the point that we were the typical rap stars with low riders. We got inline for the second time and those monitoring attires didn’t even give us or anyone a glance. So we got the view of the church at a stands level and now it was time to stand in line so that we could climb up to the top! Now similar to the climb that Andrea and I did in Munich this would not be up to safety protocol in Canada. I have to admit thing that this climb was a hundred times better than that Munich one! What was really interesting is that here were little glimpses as we progressed fourth up; a sneak peak of what is to come. The further we got up to the top the steeper that steps became. By the end of the climb it was as if we were climbing up out of an attic. What a view we got! The colourful marble stood out from the every out stretching terracotta rooftops. In the distance I could see the lush greenery and behind the high hills that looked like they rolled on forever. We all sat along the edge and took in the view and also rested from that strenuous climb! Once we regained our strength we decided to head on down it seems like everyone thought the same too since the stairs are only one way there was a major traffic jam. About halfway down we walked down out to this circular platform where we were able to see the paintings up close and personal that were on the top of the Dome. Up above I was also able to see the tiled patterns all on the floor.

As soon as we got down we crossed the street and entered the Basilica, but not before admiring front door it took twenty six years to make and was designed by Brunelleschi.
It’s intricate carvings told a story form the bottom up. An interesting thing is that in the past those that who wanted to enter the Dome were only able to if they were baptized here first.

Afterwards we had an early dinner and then I was faced to get back to the reality of going back to school. We got back in perfect time for my class registration time. A few clicks later and I have officially signed up to go back to school. I don’t want to think about that, I still about two months before I have to go back anyways, so I am going to make sure that I make the most of this freedom while I have it!

This morning we packed up our things and headed off to the train station on our way to Florence to meet with Andreas parents. Once we met them we headed off to our place to drop off all our gear and then walked to the uffizi Museum. We had some time to kill before our entrance time so we looked at all the statutes outside. There was a replica plaster statues of David, Neptune riding a chariot and others that you could get a close up look if you lined up due to capacity restrictions. I was able to get a good enough view even without having to enter, besides we are going to see the real David soon enough!

Inside there was just covered with paintings and artwork! There was this really cool exhibition where there was photos of the back of a dancer or gymnast. The model’s muscles where so impressive and just so beautiful as he stood in different poses. There was also an music exhibition area where we were able to see all basically anything instrument you could imagine and some that I didn’t even know existed. What was also interesting is that there were pianos and I was able to see the redesign and structure of them throughout the years. Some were actually looked like organs in the sense that they were designed to stand up. Looking at all the art, I always find it interesting how a painting or sculpture is able to depict a story. Thankfully we had an audio guide with us and the Lucy’s were able to pass along some stories from the famous artworks. After working our way through the three levels of the museum we were fairly tired out and slightly relieved when we got to exit sign.

Afterwards we grabbed some dinner in the main square and walked around the streets. Eventually we made our way to the ponte vecchio Bridge and got to look over the Arno River. It is so cool since there are houses that look like they are perching over the bridge. We even got glimpse of the Dome peaking above all the other buildings within Florence. Then we made our way back to our place to rest up and plan out the rest of our time together! Plenty of exciting things coming up :)

Well this morning I was awoken to birds landing on our tent and shaking the whole structure as they perked. I also had some uninvited roommates of ants that were crawling all around and even on me! I somehow managed not to scream and wake up the others in the tent. However, when I left to walk to the washroom I stepped in a lizard! This time I screamed as I heard its tail scrunch under my foot it did manage to runaway afterwards so I hope I didn’t hurt it too bad.,,

Andrea and I then made our way from the mainland back to Venice for our day of Island hopping. Beforehand we sat down for a quick coffee and croissant, but don’t worry no seagulls attacked us this time.

Our first stop was to the island of Murano. It defiantly took longer than we thought it would to get there. We were under the impression that the boats that went through the islands were more for tourists use, but they are sort of like a bus! They have multiple stops typically one for each island, but sometimes two, one on either end. When we got there we followed the other tourists that got off and walked along the perimeter to a glass studio where there was a free demonstration taking place. It was fascinating! The glass master first of all is a job carried on by those in the family and like the profession that is passed down through the generations. Therefore there is no actual place or school you can go to learn. It also takes an average ranging between ten to fifteen years from the age of fourteen before you can master the trade. The glass is over 1000 degrees Celsius and when it is being formed it looks as though it is a soft and tangible plastic. Constant spinning, rotations, pressing onto surfaces and blowing the metal pole are the only things used to make the creations. In the demonstration it took him less than two minutes to make a figurine of a horse and when we were later shown to the store it was being sold for fifteen Euros! After walking around the island which was mainly just workshops and very expensive store filled with glassworks we made our way to the island of Burano.

Now I was super excited to go to Burano as I had seem so many photos of all the colourful houses and wonderful handmade lace that the island is known for. Back in the day when the fisherman use to head back home from a day out on the sea with a bit too much of alcohol there weren’t able to easily identify high house was theres. So as a result, their wives started to paint their houses in outlandish colours so that the husband could easily identify which was their house.Now it was so much more in person! The colours are all in array with different colour window shutter and curtains covering their front doors. There are bridges that allow you to cross the water and boats in the front of the houses rather than parked cars! As we weaved our way through the alleys away form the main drag the colours still continued on. We ventuakly waked the whole side of the island and ended up by a fishing port where all the nets were hanging from a day our in the water. As we walked back to I admired all the lace along the street stands, we got back on the boat and headed over to the island Lido.

Now by the time we got to Lido not only were we bombarded by tourists since this is apparently the resort island we were also starving. We headed into the first restaurant that we could see and watched all the tourists pass by who looked like they were returning from the beach. We went the opposite way of the crowd and magnates to find a beautiful beach. It must have been all imported sand but it was so nice and sort between our toes. After walking along the beach we headed back to the boats and we needed to make sure that we would be able to get back to the camp site before night. As we were on the boat it started to pour of course we were completely unprepared so we wrapped our scarves around our heads for just a little protection. From the boat terminal we dashed to the train back to the mainland and thankfully when we got off then train the majority of the rain subsided. As a out stop on the walk to the camping site we grabbed some of the very best gelato I have ever had and went straight asleep as soon as we managed to make it back to our tent!

Starting off the day we grabbed a croissant to go and headed over to the Doge’s Palace our way there as we were passing through the San Marco square and seagulls flew down and snatched Andreas croissant from her had and cut her finger! I thankfully was able to protect mine, and in the line up the children started to clap in celebration and laugh at the sight! We made it to the castle with no other interruptions and headed inside the castle. Inside was beautiful furniture all lined with gold and then most beautiful chandeliers I have seen. They were glass blown and in colourful and playful designs. Each room had a different chandelier and was painted or covered with wallpaper. What was really interesting as well is that some of the rooms had secret hidden doors that were used by the servants so that they would not associate with the royals and nobles.

After looking through we went off to the market to buy a whole bunch of fruit for lunch. Included in this we bought a quarter of a watermelon for just 2 euros! It was all so messy but so fresh and good! Again we went to our favourite little spot, the steps onlooking the water on the side of the market. Since we were able to get here relatively early unlike other days we were able to see the fish market. Well I was actually able to smell it before I saw it! It was fun to watch the locals buying their food for the day and see the tourists follow suit.

We went back into the San Marco square and went to the Museo Correr, which includes the library, and the Archaeology museum inside there were three other museums all within one building and interconnected. The library portion of it was so interesting, the books were form at least the thirteenth century, there were also maps and globes too. Canada wasn’t even drawn onto most of the maps. Then we went to area that had so many busts all of whom we presume were famous Greek statutes that the Romans obtained. Even though there were so many different types to me all the faces started to look the same! After finishing up we were a bit tired of museums, so we went and grabbed some gelato and sat San Marco Square. We then still didn’t know what at else to do, so we roamed the streets and somehow managed to end up at another gelato shop. With a different flavour of course. We then sat down by a canal and watched gondolas pass through. As dinner time was approaching, or as the Italians refer it to ‘happy hour’ since they eat to late here we went off to a tapas sort of bar where we were able to get all we could eat for just 2 euros. We grabbed our plates and loaded up of bruschetta, pasta and rice. There were so many different types of bruschetta that ranged from deep fried tuna, artichoke, beans, capers and of course with tomatoes and basil. Once we felt we justified our all our can eat we needed to cross the other side of the water so instead of walking decide to get a taste of a gonadal ride by taking a treghetto over to the other side. So technically we did ride in a gondola. We then grabbed our gear and made our way over to the mainland to go to the camping site that we will be staying at for the next few nights. No according to Andrea and the website this is t the typical pitch a tent camping. There are tents along with cabins, big washroom facilities, restaurants, bars, Internet cafe and pools: making it glamorous clamping or Glamping. Of course it wouldn’t be an adventure if we didn’t get lost. We needed up having to ask many local at shops, hotels and on the streets befor we got there. What was suppose to be a half an hour walked turned out to be at least double that amount and walking with our big backpacks in total of three hours lets just say that we were very excited to be able to go to sleep. Now it’s been quite some while since I have camped so we shall see how this night goes…

We must have been tired last night because we slept in till eleven! We both turned off our alarms when we were sleeping, defiantly not the place to sleep in but I guess we needed it! To start off our day we walked over to the market to grab some fruit to eat while we once again just got lost in the streets. We passed by so many local shops all selling a wide array of things; ranging from leather gloves, kitchen supplies to so many baked goods. On both in the middle of the streets and along the sides vendor spent up little shops mainly selling masks, handbags and oh so many different souvenirs. I have no idea how they are able to all be in business since they sell the exact same goods at the exact same price right beside one another. Even though the walls within the maze of the city block most of the sunshine within the city there are still pockets of sunshine that beam down and luminate an alley with an angelic glow. On other streets are fully exposed to the sunshine and were probably a reason why we weren’t that hungry! Making us to be true Italians who don’t eat when it is too hot outside. So instead we opted to gelato! Now this gelato place was set like a frozen yogurt store, self service and all the toppings you could want! We quickly ate our gelato before it melted and headed over to our walking tour.

What was interesting is that the tour focused on the opposite side of the tourist madness where the people of the island live. First and foremost I learned that the shape of Venice is thought to be as of a fish, so it is all around the city. Also Venice is compromised of a 134 islands with over 348 bridges! Liked this fun fact? Don’t worry have more for you! Italy and Venice more specifically was where the first ghetto for WW2 was and ghetto actually comes from the Venetian dialect for dump. Also the houses in Venice are always prepared for flooding. In the front doors there are metal plates that slide onto the front of the door creating a barrier against the water. These metal plates go up to my mid calf; also during the rainy season in Venice there are wooden planks that are all throughout the island so that people can still get about when it floods! Instead of checking the weather Venetians check the sea levels: if the sea level is estimated for anything 80 and above they then can prepare for flooding.

After the tour we went back to the same pizza place as last night and again grabbed it to go and ate it at our spot along the water. Judge all you want, but is was cheap, easy and most importantly delicious! Later on we grabbed our bottled Bellini, (yes that exists and want it back home) and some cherries from our market purchase and sat at San Marco Square. At the square there were three different orchestras playing famous classical music and people dancing,clapping and watching. We watched the sun set behind the square and as dusk set in the lights turned on around the square and what a sight that was to see and just experience.

We have made it it Italy! Our overnight train wasn’t the most comfortable, rather than having a couchette we had seats and needless to say a full train with people drinking the ride the whole ride I didn’t get the best of sleep. At least it was our last overnight train for this trip!

The train drove from the mainland over to the island and for about five minutes we were driving on water. The bridge was at a much lower level so that it seemed as if you were gliding along in boat. Once we we got off the train station just a few short meters away there was a canal and boats all in the water. It hit that I was actually in Venice! Even though it was water all within it, like Amsterdam did it was so different. We checked our bags in the train station grabbed a map and wandered the maze of the city. We only grabbed a map so that we could find our way back to the station. The street of Venice are literally a maze! We unanimously decided that we would not try to navigate our way around and instead let the streets take us around. The brick wall walls are no more taller than four stories and have balconies where baskets of flowers hang and laundry is hung across to the other side of the streets. We weaved our way through ending up at dead ends of brick walls, houses and docks leading to the sea. What is so strange is that on one street there would be no one but Andrea and myself walking. along but as you turned the corner there was every tourist in Venice! We were able to make our way to San Marco Square. St. Mark’s Basilica and the Rialto Bridge was sadly under construction but even then it did not disappoint. Restaurants were along the edge of either side and people were sat along the edges enjoying passing the time and watching the vendors and people walk by. We partook in this and I enjoyed a super cheesy calzone! We walked to this exhibition where all there was was life sized boars with red paint smeared across their face, defiantly contemporary arts that might give me nightmares! Making our way to the train station we went inside Basilica di Santa Maria Della Salute just a few of the many churches on the island.

We were able to find our way back and grabbed our bags and went off to our hotel. Yes hotel not like hostel, thanks to Andreas parents! Thank you Chuck and Bridget :) It was right along the high end shopping street less than a five minute walk to San Marco Square. No doubt that the reception was wondering why in the world two backpackers were checking in. After settling in we went to search for dinner, we ended up at a pizza place and grabbed a huge pizza for less than six months euros! We walked to where the food market was earlier in the day and sat along the pier. After dinner we went for a walk to park. It was so huge and reminded me of Stanley Park the walk was right along the water with plenty of benches looking about to the water with people running by. We sat on a bench with a view of San Marco Square and waited for the sunset. It was stunning, as we walked our way back to the square we set a new conquest to find a Bellini. An absolute obligation since Bellini’s originated here. Afterwards we headed back to our hotel and passed out tired from a long day with not that much sleep.