Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Ciao!
Okay, so Italy was amazing. We only visited Venice on this trip since we only had a fews days and decided the "big" Italy trip will have to wait for an anniversary or when the kids are grown.... and can send us on it. Or something.
Going back, we spent a few days in Paris, where I had a work obligation for a couple of days, which meant that Watersyne was on her own for the most part. She did pretty well, actually, and ventured around Paris more than I think she would in most other cities -- even American ones.
After my client obligations ended, we hopped a plane from Paris to Venice, which was about an hour and twenty-five minutes. It's one of the few times in my life I've flown from one country to another with neither being the United States. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
After landing in Venice, we had a car service from the airport to the hotel, which was provided gratis by the hotel, all thanks to Watersyne's hotel points. Which, as mentioned a few posts back, also got us four free nights at the hotel -- in a suite, no less. We're really not the high-rollers we appear to be. Honest. We shop at Target, for pete's sake.
The hotel was not an quaint little Venetian place, but actually a global chain. But so what? We were there.
We actually had a 25 minute train ride to get into Venice, which was interesting by itself since waiting on the train and riding it, etc., was very reminiscient of Metro North or NJ Transit back in the NYC area.
We rode into Venice each of the three days we were there, and on the first day, we rode in, saw a some of the city as we cruised in, and then exited the train station... which opens up right out into Venice and the Grand Canal. It's kind of breathtaking. And my darling Italian Princess was almost in tears at seeing the motherland for the first time.
We then spent those three days walking around Venice. It's probably the most unique city I've ever visited in my life. Sure, Paris is cool and New York is amazing, etc. But there's nothing even remotely similar to Venice. It's all water, just like you've heard. There are absolutely zero cars -- because there are zero streets. The "streets" are actually just walkways and alleys, etc. The main arteries of transportation are more canals. Water, water, everywhere. Side streets are just side canals. You walk the city and are constantly walking over little footbridges over small canals. When you need to cross the Grand Canal, you have to walk to one of the three major bridges over it, or else you need to take a boat.
The traditional and cool way to cross is on a Traghetto, which is an old-fashioned gondola, rowed by two gondoliers. There are maybe a half-dozen Traghettos along the canal and it's just 50 cents (Euros) to hop on and be rowed across. Usually about 5-10 people hop aboard and ride over, with natives standing on the short ride. We sat.
Another water-traveling method we used was the Vaporetto, or "water bus." And it's just what it sounds like. All along the Grand Canal are Vaporetto stops, and there are tons of different "lines" -- the 1, 2, 51, 52, 3, etc. Different lines went in different directions and made different stops, just like real buses or subways. And you're riding on a large boat with standing room as well as seats. They kind of remind me of a ferry in New York. Those passes can be bought in daily, two-day, three-day and seasonal varieties. And it's rare that someone checks to make sure you're legit to get on the Vaporetto. It's largely on your honor. We never cheated, but we easily could have.
And what a way to see the Canal. You can ride it from top to bottom (of the Canal) and then out to Lido, a long, narrow island where Venetians go for R&R. We went there, too, and walked on the beach and in the water. Watersyne collected some awesome seashells that we can display in our house. Until the animals living in the shells crawl out and go, "Wait, what the hell? Where are we?"
We ate well, no doubt. But I have to say honestly that I've had better pizza in New York. Maybe I'm picky because of where I grew up... maybe if I'd grown up in the midwest or here in Texas I would have been blown away by the pizza. But I wasn't. It was good, but not mind-blowing. Same with the pasta -- very good, but nothing I would say I've never had anything better than. My theory is that Venice might not be the best place in Italy for Italian food -- it might make sense to reserve judgement until we get to Rome, Florence, Sicily, Capri and the Tuscany Coast someday.
The gelati was great, too, by the way, and very plentiful. Seemed we were always walking by an ice cream place. Not a bad thing. Especially for a fat guy like me.
Speaking of that, the exercise was awesome... tons of walking, to the point where we were truly exhausted each night.
All in all, an awesome place to have seen.... incredibly touristy, but still amazing and it's great that we were there.
Going back, we spent a few days in Paris, where I had a work obligation for a couple of days, which meant that Watersyne was on her own for the most part. She did pretty well, actually, and ventured around Paris more than I think she would in most other cities -- even American ones.
After my client obligations ended, we hopped a plane from Paris to Venice, which was about an hour and twenty-five minutes. It's one of the few times in my life I've flown from one country to another with neither being the United States. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
After landing in Venice, we had a car service from the airport to the hotel, which was provided gratis by the hotel, all thanks to Watersyne's hotel points. Which, as mentioned a few posts back, also got us four free nights at the hotel -- in a suite, no less. We're really not the high-rollers we appear to be. Honest. We shop at Target, for pete's sake.
The hotel was not an quaint little Venetian place, but actually a global chain. But so what? We were there.
We actually had a 25 minute train ride to get into Venice, which was interesting by itself since waiting on the train and riding it, etc., was very reminiscient of Metro North or NJ Transit back in the NYC area.
We rode into Venice each of the three days we were there, and on the first day, we rode in, saw a some of the city as we cruised in, and then exited the train station... which opens up right out into Venice and the Grand Canal. It's kind of breathtaking. And my darling Italian Princess was almost in tears at seeing the motherland for the first time.
We then spent those three days walking around Venice. It's probably the most unique city I've ever visited in my life. Sure, Paris is cool and New York is amazing, etc. But there's nothing even remotely similar to Venice. It's all water, just like you've heard. There are absolutely zero cars -- because there are zero streets. The "streets" are actually just walkways and alleys, etc. The main arteries of transportation are more canals. Water, water, everywhere. Side streets are just side canals. You walk the city and are constantly walking over little footbridges over small canals. When you need to cross the Grand Canal, you have to walk to one of the three major bridges over it, or else you need to take a boat.
The traditional and cool way to cross is on a Traghetto, which is an old-fashioned gondola, rowed by two gondoliers. There are maybe a half-dozen Traghettos along the canal and it's just 50 cents (Euros) to hop on and be rowed across. Usually about 5-10 people hop aboard and ride over, with natives standing on the short ride. We sat.
Another water-traveling method we used was the Vaporetto, or "water bus." And it's just what it sounds like. All along the Grand Canal are Vaporetto stops, and there are tons of different "lines" -- the 1, 2, 51, 52, 3, etc. Different lines went in different directions and made different stops, just like real buses or subways. And you're riding on a large boat with standing room as well as seats. They kind of remind me of a ferry in New York. Those passes can be bought in daily, two-day, three-day and seasonal varieties. And it's rare that someone checks to make sure you're legit to get on the Vaporetto. It's largely on your honor. We never cheated, but we easily could have.
And what a way to see the Canal. You can ride it from top to bottom (of the Canal) and then out to Lido, a long, narrow island where Venetians go for R&R. We went there, too, and walked on the beach and in the water. Watersyne collected some awesome seashells that we can display in our house. Until the animals living in the shells crawl out and go, "Wait, what the hell? Where are we?"
We ate well, no doubt. But I have to say honestly that I've had better pizza in New York. Maybe I'm picky because of where I grew up... maybe if I'd grown up in the midwest or here in Texas I would have been blown away by the pizza. But I wasn't. It was good, but not mind-blowing. Same with the pasta -- very good, but nothing I would say I've never had anything better than. My theory is that Venice might not be the best place in Italy for Italian food -- it might make sense to reserve judgement until we get to Rome, Florence, Sicily, Capri and the Tuscany Coast someday.
The gelati was great, too, by the way, and very plentiful. Seemed we were always walking by an ice cream place. Not a bad thing. Especially for a fat guy like me.
Speaking of that, the exercise was awesome... tons of walking, to the point where we were truly exhausted each night.
All in all, an awesome place to have seen.... incredibly touristy, but still amazing and it's great that we were there.
Click for mucho size. (Thinking of having that tattooed on my penis.)
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Italia
Last year, my job required me to go to Paris for a couple of days, similar to in 2005. So I checked into my frequent flyer miles and, despite the fact that we were less than two months before our wedding, Watersyne tagged along and got to see Paris for a mere 100,000 frequent flyer miles. Not bad, when you consider my flight and the hotel are paid for by the company. We had a great time and saw all the touristy sights -- which is good, because that's fun to do in Paris, seeing the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Siene River, Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, etc. We loved it.
Well, turns out, this year I have to go back again. So this will be my third springtime visit to Paris since 2005. Which means I've seen enough of Paris. I'm beginning to know the subway system better than I know New York's. Don't get me wrong, I do like the city and it's a great city to walk in and to sit at sidewalk cafes and drink wine. But since I'm going back, we thought maybe we should look into a way to make this kind of an early anniversary trip.
So now, after three days in Paris, we're hopping a flight over to Venice and we're staying there for four nights.
I know, I know, how posh of us. Spending the weekend in Venice!
The best part of it is the way it's working out financially, so I just have to share.
Obviously, my round-trip flight to Paris is covered by work. As is our hotel in Paris. Watersyne's round-trip to Paris is going to only cost me 75,000 miles this time, despite being further away. Then we pay for our hour-long flight over to Venice from Paris. However, my lovely wife has several hundred thousand hotel points because of all her hotel stays as part of her old job in New York, so we're staying at a Crowne Plaza for... nothing! Just reward points! We felt like our luck was kind of incredible. Essentially, all we're on the hook for is our $370 round trip flights from Paris to Venice.
So what does this mean? Well, we're doing Paris and Venice for less than $800. Of course, we'll more than make up for it in restaurants in Venice, methinks.
Well, turns out, this year I have to go back again. So this will be my third springtime visit to Paris since 2005. Which means I've seen enough of Paris. I'm beginning to know the subway system better than I know New York's. Don't get me wrong, I do like the city and it's a great city to walk in and to sit at sidewalk cafes and drink wine. But since I'm going back, we thought maybe we should look into a way to make this kind of an early anniversary trip.
So now, after three days in Paris, we're hopping a flight over to Venice and we're staying there for four nights.
I know, I know, how posh of us. Spending the weekend in Venice!
The best part of it is the way it's working out financially, so I just have to share.
Obviously, my round-trip flight to Paris is covered by work. As is our hotel in Paris. Watersyne's round-trip to Paris is going to only cost me 75,000 miles this time, despite being further away. Then we pay for our hour-long flight over to Venice from Paris. However, my lovely wife has several hundred thousand hotel points because of all her hotel stays as part of her old job in New York, so we're staying at a Crowne Plaza for... nothing! Just reward points! We felt like our luck was kind of incredible. Essentially, all we're on the hook for is our $370 round trip flights from Paris to Venice.
So what does this mean? Well, we're doing Paris and Venice for less than $800. Of course, we'll more than make up for it in restaurants in Venice, methinks.
Labels: air travel, Paris, Venice
