Venezia, Italy - September 6-10, 2018

****Luke blogging***

Hello again.  We have travelled over the Atlantic and made it to Italy.  We took a night flight from Toronto and with a quick stop in Lisbon we made it to Venice none the worse for wear.  If anyone reading this is planning to fly with kids I have one word for you.  Benadryl!!  We don't condone regularly drugging your kids but for their sake and your sanity, a little help getting them asleep for an eight hour flight helps.  Luckily we had some extra seats so the boys could lie down and sleep somewhat comfortably.  None the less flying with 16 month olds is a test in patience and resolve, and should not be taken lightly.  TAP turned out to be an excellent airline for kids and helped out as best they could.

Venice
San Marco Square with the tower of Venice on the left and San Marco Cathedral on the right.


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                                                                  The V-man loving the view.

Venice is a beautiful city.  A world heritage site and therefore expensive.  Everything is a few more euro here.  The sights are also so unique that I'm ok with the throngs of tourists bumping into one another in the small alleyways.  I could walk all day through the winding alleys and alongside the canals.  I can see how Hemingway and the countless other artists were inspired here.



The three adults ignoring the children for a pic on the Ponte Rialto.

Mom and Dad looking sweaty but happy.




A word of caution to parents looking to come to Venice with their kids.  Venice has a lot of stairs.  It has a million bridges and each one has stairs to climb up and over the canals with.  Getting young children around the city with strollers is hard going.  We weren't the only ones but you could see the frustration on all the other parents faces who were pushing strollers.  I would bring some sort of carrier if I came again with small kids.  The other option is to take turns watching the kids and have an afternoon or just a few hours to explore the city alone, you will get a better appreciation when you can stop and take it all in without worrying if your 16 month old is going to fall into a canal.  

One of many beautiful churches scattered throughout the city.


Here are the famous Gondolas looking out onto the lagoon from St. Marco Square. 80 Euro a ride.  



The Doge's palace or Pallazo Ducale. The Doge was in charge of Venice when he lived here, built in Venetian Gothic style opened in 1424.  There is a charge to enter.  

Italy's answer to tapas are called cicchetti.  Cicchetti is a variety of small bites offered at certain cafes.  It is a great way to snack with a drink in the afternoon, or a cheap and quick dinner while hanging out front of a café.

Everything in Venice is a few more euro than outside it.  We stayed in a small town called Mestre that is just across the lagoon from Venice city proper.  It is close to the airport and has great public transit to Venice.  It is three euros and 20 minutes to get into Venice but only one euro fifty to get home. 

Image result for mestre italy

Venice isn't for everybody.  I loved the city.  Jackie says its too crowded and expensive.  Isabel loved how different it was.  The boys just smiled and ate everything they could get their hands on.  I think its worth a visit.  
Archer says he will see you in Tuscany!!! Ciao







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