Venice - Day 1 Getting Settled

 When I came out of the Ferrovia Station (Train Station) this was the first thing I saw.

Then I looked left and there were the ferry stops. They're the two little buildings with the roofs ringed in yellow. When you buy a ticket from Ferrovia, 7 Euro for one direction, you'll need to get in the box to the right if you want to go in the direction of Rialto Bridge. If you want to head towards open water, go into the box on the left. (I learned this the hard way...) No matter where you are in the city the box on the left goes right, and the box on the right goes left. Makes sense... right?

Then you get on the ferry and it will take you down the grand canal.

 I got off at Rialto so I could get to my hotel. Which, by the way, was on the same side as the ferry exit. I then walked through this square.

 And turned right before the Disney store. Yes Jared, Jordan, and Josh, (and all other members of the Rimeschussel family that are obsessed with Disney,(sorry if I spelled your name wrong,)) there is a Disney store in Venice. And no, I didn't buy you anything. It was all exactly the same as the stuff we have in the Disney store back home.

 After the Disney store I continued down this narrow alley that led to this! Cool. I continued straight, past a church that looked like it was closed down.

 This was my first indication that I was indeed going in the right direction. Although, I will say that Venice is very tourist friendly. It's quite easy to get around and it is marked with signs everywhere. I tried to get lost on several occasions but couldn't.

 My hotel! The Hotel Caneva.

 I took this picture from reception. If I had taken a water taxi they would've dropped me off right here. Most hotels in Venice have a water entry, but taking a taxi is very expensive. 

 My room. The hotel was super old fashioned, as you can see, but it was clean and comfortable.

 Check out the proximity of the shower and toilet... that was fun.

 It's a hair dryer, in case you were wondering. I even used it. Quickly though, because it was too hot! That was my one and only complaint about this hotel. There was no air conditioner. I would stay here again though, just not during the summer. I spent a lot of time with my feet in the shower, with cold water running on them, just trying to cool down, and that was at night even. Blah, miserable.

 After I got settled in I went to dinner at this cute outdoor cafe. It's in the same square that I have pictured above. The servers were very friendly and the food was delicious!

 Spaghetti Carbonara.Mmm mmm good!

Chocolate cake for dessert. I have to admit I didn't love this, but it was pretty to look at. 

I ate here the next night and got some dish with mushrooms in it and it was so good! I wasn't super hungry because it was so hot out, but the dish was so delicious that I ate it all anyway. I cursed myself later for not having my camera with me to take a picture of it. It was just so good.

Rome - Pt. 5 Street Art

This is obviously not street art, but check out the bathroom sign. Is it just me or are their people more butch than ours? Especially the women...

Rome - Pt. 4 Trevi Fountain and All the Rest

Trevi Fountain was only about a two minute walk from the bus station, but there weren't any signs and I walked in the wrong direction. That was actually how I came upon the Piazza Di Spagna. Go figure. If you take the bus remember to walk down hill when you get off. I also found that most of the people working in little shops were more than happy to help you with directions. If you ask, they will point you in the right direction. 

Aside from the Colosseum this fountain was what I most wanted to see.

Pictures of it make it seem like the space it's in is much bigger, but like everything else in Rome it was crammed in. 

You might not be able to see it but I caught a bird landing in the lower left hand corner of the picture. his wings are extended out behind him.

There were a lot of Gelato shops near Trevi fountain. The one where I got this also sold pizza. I got a slice for dinner. This Gelato was delicious! Mango and raspberry. Perfect for a hot day. 

Trajan's Market and Trajan's Column.

A big important looking building. I have no idea what this is...

Ruins...

Ruins...

More ruins...

The Arch of Constantine. It is located directly next to the Colosseum. 

Another picture of the Colosseum. I like this more than the others I had. 

Isn't there one like this in D.C.? Only the symbols are all worn off?

So, Rome wasn't built in a day but I think I did a pretty good job of visiting it in a day. So what if I almost died from heat exhaustion, and who cares if I became somewhat homicidal trying to figure out how to get around. The point is no one died and I made it. Still, I wouldn't recommend this method...

Rome - Pt. 3 Vatican City

These guys would move a little when you'd put change in their cup. It was kind of cool. It was kind of creepy too. 

 The street to the Vatican. I have to say that Rome really isn't tourist friendly. I'm pretty good at finding my way around but I have friends, who shall remain nameless (you know who you are,) who would either be totally frustrated and lost, or broke from taking taxi's everywhere. I took the subway and there happened to be signs pointing to the Vatican. First time I saw really obvious signs to an attraction. Anyway, when you get to the edge of the Vatican, the wall in the picture, there will be two options. You can go up and to the right or straight. 

GO STRAIGHT! 

I went up and to the right first, which is an option on one of the signs. What they failed to tell you is that the up and to the right option is for tours booked online. I walked all the way up this big old hill, in the blistering heat, past guys trying to sell me purses, umbrellas and key chains, in direct sunlight, only to be told that I had to walk all the way back down and another couple of blocks and to the entrance for those of us who did not make a reservation. I don't know if you can tell, but I was not a happy camper. Especially on the second round past the purses, umbrellas and key chains. Apparently they took my first no as a challenge.

P.S. Kathy, I was tempted to buy you a purse, but I couldn't figure out what on earth I was going to do with it. Plus I decided that it looked too much like the one you already have. Lets face it--I am useless when it comes to purses. I tried though. Do I get an A for effort?

The entrance, finally!

 Check out the size of those pillars!

 St. Peters Cathedral.

 A fountain in the smallest country in the world.

 Maybe it's just me, but I am having a really hard time being intimidated by these guards. Not sure why...

I saw them on my first time out of St Peter's. You read that right, first time. I thought it was the Sistine Chapel... ahem... oops. When they told me it wasn't, I left. Then I was told that the Sistine Chapel closed at four and it was five, so I decided to go back to St. Peters. I had to get back in the long line, in the sweltering heat, and go through the metal detectors again. 

Which I have to tell you isn't that easy. Turns out that there are metal springs in my shoes, so every time I go through a metal detector I beep. Then I get frisked, and then they use one of those beepy wand thingies on me and then I have to take off my shoes and send them through the x-ray... Not fun. Airports have been especially tiresome.

 This was in the dome of St. Peters.

 Must have taken forever.

 View from the dome. They were having a service.

Main floor. 

Michealangelo's Pieta. There is a copy of this in Utah, which I like to go see every once and awhile,  so I was especially excited to discover the original was in St. Peter's and not in the Sistine Chapel like I thought. 

Anyone totally impressed by my carefully researched trip?

 It really is a lovely building.

Once again, I offer proof that I was there.

Rome - Pt. 2 Piazza Di Spagna

The Spanish Steps. You know I didn't take one photo of them straight on...  I blame the heat.

I wanted to jump in. Still do just thinking about how hot it was.