Our (NZ) Silver Celebrations…

For our (NZ) 25^th Wedding Anniversary we went to Venice for a few days, arriving in the evening of the 28^th Dec at our accommodation, Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal. We strolled around the immediate area and had dinner out (pizza and Aperol Spritz) at Trattoria Ai do Fradei and a rather expensive drink back at the hotel.

The next day we bought a travel pass for the vaporetto (water bus) and cruised around getting a feel for the city stopping at the Rialto bridge, Academia bridge, St Marks square, Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, walking through the many mediaeval streets and over bridges straddling picturesque canals, and finding many more squares and churches as we went. We had a lovely lunch out on a patio beside the water at OKE and that evening we went back to the area we ate in the night before and had a few drinks and nibbles in the trendy little TiME Social Bar before having a nightcap at a little café near our hotel that was to become a regular for us.

On the following morning we went out to explore the extravagant Doge’s Palace and spent a good few hours there in amazement.

Afterwards that we took the vaporetto out towards the islands, passing the Arsenal and the spectacular Building Bridges sculpture by Lorenzo Quinn of hands clasped over a waterway, and the hospital (conveniently located opposite the cemetery island). We stopped first at the island of Murano famous for its glass making both ornamental and functional (it is thought the Venetians popularised the use of glass to correct poor eyesight). We had a simple lunch at Bar Fornace before catching another boat out to Burano, famous for its lace making and colourful buildings, and there had a snack at Sue-Zo before watching the sun come down over Venice.

Back at Venice we went for a lovely meal at Luna Sentada, a place recommended by the hostess at TiME. I tried cuttlefish with black ink pasta for the first time (it was good but I’m not sure I would have it again).

On New Years Eve we started out exploring the Ghetto area and several noisy, smelly and interesting food markets. We took the boat over to explore the Chiesa di San Giorgio Maggiore church before continuing for a late lunch at Terrazza Dei Nobili (calves’ liver in polenta, calzone). We watched the sun set for the last time this year and had a rest back at the hotel before venturing back out to the promontory opposite St Mark’s to watch the spectacular fireworks display.

For our last day in the city we took a gentle stroll around this enchanting city, stopping at the touristy and expensive Trattoria da GiorgioAi Greci for lunch.

The water taxi back to the airport was rather bumpy and uncomfortable and later, as the plane was about to land at Gatwick, the pilot had to suddenly abort due to the fog obscuring the runway and go around again, getting the computer to eventually land it. We were rather glad to get back home, exhausted from a fabulous holiday.