Visualizing Venice

Today we took a tour of the Basillica of San Marco. A beautiful cathedral, it faces the Piazza San Marco which is full of trendy shops and tourist traps.

However, no photos are allowed in the basillica. D'oh. However, I did snap a few outside . . .

Following that tour, we were treated to a tour of the Doge's Place. The doge was an elected position, the highest position in the republic of Venice. It is comparable to our Congress and Supreme Court, where laws were both made and enforced.

After that, a quick boat ride to the St. Giorgio island, where things were closed for the traditional two hour lunch. Nice.

So, we took our own two hour lunch. Only ours lasted about an hour.

On our return I spied a Ferrari store tha I just had to stop in. Especially since there was a full-sized Formula 1 racer in the window . . .

Now, if I can only find a Ducati store . . .

Our hotel

In the words of my friend Kurt, uh, yeah, it rocks.

Our hotel, Ca' Segrado, is located on the Grand Canal that winds its way through Venice. Its window overlooks the canal, with a courtyard separating us from the adjacent inn. You can sit on the windowsill watching gondolas, water taxis and all manner of craft slowly floating down the canal.

The cleaning staff tidied up the room while we were out today, and when we returned the windows were open, with a cool Adriactic breeze filling the room. I was rousted from a near nap by a group of gondoliers singing "Happy Birthday" after popping a bottle of bubbly.

It's been great so far! We have a gondola ride planned this evening, and dinner somewhere on our own.

And so it begins!

Finally, we're here!

It's been somewhat troublesome for me to post, which is why this entry is a little late. Our internet service at the hotel is not working, and I forgot a card reader, which made it a little difficult to get images from the camera. With the purchase of a card reader (12 euros for you, not 15, senora) and the discovery of a nearby internet cafe, we're back in bidness.

Five hours in the airport in Atlanta went by fairly quickly. Nine and a half hours on the jet did not.

However, once we landed, it was amazing. Finding yourself in a new culture was almost like waking up in Disneyland. It just didn't seem real.

We spent the afternoon wandering the streets of Venice, which is amazing. Beautiful centuries-old streets wound through, past and between amazing architecture. We were surrounded by a multitude of languages.

Quite a difference after waking up in Arkansas the day before.

Saying goodbye to the kids

Katie and Sarah are now in the care of my parents, who I'm sure will spoil them completely rotten before we return. Katie didn't want to tell us goodbye, and Sarah couldn't stop telling us goodbye. Sarah would like us to return with a "toy that the children in Italy play with." Katie said she wanted some coins - among several things from the designer outlet . . .

It's getting closer. Just a few more hours.

The itinerary

Here's the plan for the trip:

Monday, June 4 - Venice
11:45 a.m. Arrive in Venice - transfer to Ca’Sagredo Hotel
3 - 6:30 p.m. Rest and relax
7 p.m. Welcome Dinner

Tuesday, June 5 - Venice
8 a.m. - 9 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
9:30 a.m. Venice Walking tour (includes: St. Mark’s Square and Basilica. Doge’s Palace and prison).
Afternoon free for lunch and shopping around square on own
7 p.m. Gondola ride through Venice

Wednesday, June 6 - Venice/Florence
8 a.m. - 9 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
9:30 a.m. Departure via motorcoach to Florence
Lunch along the way
4 p.m. Arrival in Florence, transfer to Hotel Executive
8 p.m. Welcome dinner at Buca Mario Ristorante

Thursday, June 7 - Florence
8 - 9 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
9:30 a.m. Tour of Palazzo die Cerci - UCA’s study abroad facility
Interaction with Art and Linguistic classes
12 p.m. Lunch on own
2 p.m. - 6 p.m. Tour of Florence (includes: Florence, Santa Croce, Signoria, Uffizi)
7 p.m. Centennial Reception

Friday, June 8 - Florence
8 - 9:30 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
10 a.m. Tour of Dante’s House with Dr. Charles Baine and English Literature students.
Lunch on own
3 p.m. Choir performance

Saturday, June 9 - Florence
8 - 9:30 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
Ponte Vecchio Bridge - gold and jewelry shops
San Lorenzo Market
**optional Designer outlet excursion - 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 10 - Florence
8 - 9:30 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
Visit one of Florence’s many cathedrals, chapels or churches
Optional excursion to designer outlet shopping center outside of Florence or free to shop/explore Florence.
List of cultural options will be provided

Monday, June 11 - Pisa/Florence
8 - 9 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
1:45 p.m. Day trip to Pisa (includes: Leaning Tower of Pisa and Cathedral)
7:30 p.m. Return to Florence

Tuesday, June 12 Florence/Rome
8 - 9 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
10:30 a.m. Depart for Rome
Check into River Palace Hotel
Evening walking tour of Spanish steps and Trevi Fountain

Wednesday, June 13 - Rome
8 - 9 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
10 a.m. Tour of Ancient Rome (includes Coliseum, Capitoline Hill and Roman Forum)
7 p.m. Walking tour to Piazza Navona, dinner on own

Thursday, June 14 - Rome
8 - 9 a.m. Continental breakfast in hotel
9:30 a.m. Vatican City Museums tour (includes: Sistine Chapel)
Optional afternoon visit to St. Peter’s Basilica at Vatican City
8 p.m. UCA Farewell Dinner

Now, this doesn't include the five-hour layover in Atlanta on our way there, which should prove fun for everyone involved.

Crystal packed her suitcase last night and seems to be more ready than me to go. But, hey, I'm a guy; I can live on the same pair of underwear for 10 days, right?

The countdown begins . . .

Less than a week to go. And it's beginning to sink in.

I watched the Gran Prix of Monaco this weekend, noticing the beautiful, twisting streets around centuries-old architecture, and it finally started becoming real.

In less than a week, our feet will be stepping on Mediterranean soil.

Our passports are in order, we have accomodations for the children and the dog, we have a new international calling plan for Crystal's cell phone, and all the deliveries have been stopped.

Now, we just have to find a way to keep ourselves amused during the five-hour layover in Atlanta before the 12-hour flight to Italy . . .

The reason we're here . . .

The vice president of my wing calls me into his office last week, informing me that I will be accompanying a group of alumni, faculty and staff to Italy for a two-week trip. I want to use this blog to post some of my photos and impressions from the trip.

I'll be leaving June 3, with my wife in tow. I'm excited to visit this historic, beautiful (so I hear) country and hopefully create some art to remember the trip.