Leaving on a Jet Plane

We are now in Munich and will be leaving out in the morning. It has been a spectacular experience but it is TIME to get back home and all that craziness. Hope to finish up my blog and get photos together within the next year. LOL Seems like it will be awhile with the beach being our next stop.

 

 

 Last Day in Europe we woke up to this sunrise. I think it was the first one I saw the whole time! Took us about 24 hours from start to finish to get home. Loved it but would have to really think hard about being gone 5 weeks again! But the memories made with family, friends and the places we saw were priceless!

I plan on adding at least one more post and some additional info, but I'd like to get this info out before it's next year!!!

 

 

 

Josh at the Adriatic Sea in Italy

We stayed in Cavallino and took the ferry across to Venice. It and Jesolo are very popular vacation spots especially for Germans. Very family oriented and laid back. You can even get a massage on the beach. It is nothing like being at St. Augustine but it was nice at the beach and hotel pool.

Joshua in the Adriatic Sea

 

 

 

All the hotels and apartment buildings get "their" place in the sand. Not such a busy time of the year but it will be packed as the vacation season heats up.

 

 

 

We stayed at the Hotel International with its beautiful pool.

 

Our table was marked for us each morning as we went down to breakfast. It was really different in that you could just leave your key hanging behind the front desk and get it as you needed it. We preferred to keep ours.

 

One evening we went to the only restaurant that served steaks. We were told to be there at 7:00 because we couldn't get a reservation and that was when they opened. We got there about 15 minutes early and couldn't go into the restaurant and there was no on there in the parking lot. We left to drive around for a little. When we got back at 7:05, the place was packed. I've never seen anything like it. Fortunately, we did get a table. AND I was able to get Tiramisu as I did for every night there!

 

The roads were lined with trees. I couldn't figure out what kind.

 

I just loved this fence that someone had created. I want to learn how to weld and make one too!!

 

 

 

 

 

Venice

 Joshua, Gisela, Peter and Bill in front of the Bridge of Sighs that connects the Doge's Palace to the prison as we head toward St. Mark's Square.

The Piazetta
Bell Tower on the left, Clock Tower and St. Mark's Basilica straight ahead and Doge's Palace on the right
Man on right takes photos of you with the pigeons even holding them for 20 euro! I'm thinking I could start that up somewhere!

 

 A view from the water

 

Joshua in The Piazetta

 

A word of advice. The lines to get into the sights fluctuate greatly depending on cruise ships dropping off groups and/or time of day. We were able to go up into the Bell Tower, go in the Basilica and then the Doge's Palace with minimum waiting, but the line into the Basilica was long when we went into the Bell Tower.

 

The Bell Tower is the oldest bell tower in Venice. It was built between 888-912. It collapsed in 1902 and was rebuilt in 1912. Galileo tried out his telescope for the first time in the bell tower in 1609.

 

Video from top of Bell Tower

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAcrt8-inhY

A view from the bell tower including the Doge's Palace.

 

St. Mark's Square
Basilica directly in the front and Bell Tower on the right.

Video of St Mark's Square.
I should've taken the video from here but I took it from the top right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fxw-y7ZpH4
 

St. Mark's Basilica

One of the most celebrated works of art in Venice. The first building dates back to around 832.

 

Inside the Basilica... gorgeous mosaic with an abundance of gold leaf.

 

The Last Judgement

One of five arches on the front

St. Alipus Portal

 

Famous and ancient statue of the Tetrarchs

The Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs is a porphyry sculpture group of four Roman emperors dating from around 300. Since the Middle Ages it has been fixed to a corner of the facade of St Mark's Basilica.

 

Rialto Bridge

The oldest bridge across the Grand Canal, it was originally a pontoon bridge built 1181, it was rebuilt as a wooden bridge in 1255 and then the current brick one in 1591. It also contains shops.

 

Peter, Gisela, Bill, Joshua and on the Rialto Bridge.

 

View from the Rialto Bridge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6lEGBkYtWA

 

Gondolas under the Bridge of Sighs

Hard to believe but the canals have actually frozen over twice in their known history!

 

Church of Madonna della Salute

 

 

 

My little video of the gondolas with music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHvr5ezsCA8

 



 You ABSOLUTELY have to take a ride along the Grand Canal. We went with the public transportation and got a seat outside. We rode the whole route and it was about an hour. It's the only way to see the front of the buildings.

 

 

 

 More locks on a bridge

(sometimes written, sometimes engraved with couples names and

sometimes wedding date)

 

 

Venice is an amazing place. Small canals between the buildings, no cars, you can just wander around and see so many interesting places and things.

 

Venice - Doge's Palace

I decided to make a separate post for the Doge's Palace. Just really thought it was quite grand. It's amazing how many photos and video are shot inside when there are signs that tell you NO photos or video.



Doge's Palace
This is one of my most highly recommended places to visit. I'm glad that I talked to a guy in line at the bell tower. He said it was better to see than the Basilica. You see one room and think it can't get any more magnificent then you go to the next room and it's even grander. You just cannot fathom the craftsmanship and artistic ability that went into the rooms. The Doge's (basically an elected King like a Noble selected by Nobles) ruled the Venetian Republic from 1150-1550. It served as the Doge's living place, governmental offices and Palace of Justice including prison.

Rick Steve's Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLsGE3_kqsc

Another longer Video but good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh7lPFe12ao

Courtyard

Sala del Maggior Consiglio
The massive painting on the back wall, the largest in the world, depicting the Paradise, was painted by Jacopo Tintoretto and his school. AND then there are all the other paintings on the other walls and ceilings in addition to the beautiful frames created by Venetian craftsmen and artists.

Paradise by Jacopo Tintoretto

 Sala del Senato

Bridge of Sighs
Prisoners would walk across from to the prison.

Italy

Well our first encounter was McDonalds as we came into Cavalino. The best potty break place and a snack for Joshua. Found out there is a transportation strike today so we may or may not make it to Venice today. If not, we will sit by the Adriatic Sea and utilize the beautiful hotel pool. Then Venetia tomorrow! Ciaò baby

Goodbye Nurnberg

We took our last trip into town today. Goodbye Nurnberg! Tomorrow we go to Venice!

 

 Joshua got his Swiss pocket knife

 

 Goodbye Nurnberger bratwurst.

 Goodbye pretzels!

GOODBYE Andrea, Markus and Hendrik; Renate and Rudi; Gisela and Peter; Hans and Christa; Sylvie, Bernhard and Yannick. We will miss you all!

Würzburg

Wurzburg is a beautiful city not so far from Nurnberg.  

 

The former residence of the Würzburg prince-bishops is on of the most important baroque palaces in Europe and today is on UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list. Originally designed for the Prince-Bishop, Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn (1719-1724), it took 60 years to build, 1720 - 1744. I go into some detail here but it had that much of an impression on me. The beauty of it all. The painting, the carvings, the stucco work... 

 

 Bill, Joshua and Deb
 

This photo does not do it justice. For me it was worth seeing the largest fresco in the world created by the Venetian artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (18 x 30 meters). INCREDIBILE!!! There is no way to capture how immense and beautiful this is. No photos or video allowed so I'm using others from the Internet.

 

A little shorter video without description but very good overview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfPlAtGnyLQ

 

This is a little long but it gives you a better idea of the magnificence of this if you are interested. LOL (probably only you mom)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fx8V2x6PpU

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xb0deQmXXs

 

 Garden Hall
 With the painting and the stucco and carvings.

 

 White Hall
Most everything is created with stucco even the curtains.

Imperial Hall
Includes a painting of the wedding of Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa and Beatrix of Burgundy by Tiepolo on one side. His second marriage so he could have children and they had 12. The other side has a painting of Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa granting the Duchy of Franconia also by Tiepolo. Too much info and hard to relay but as you know the church was most powerful and this formed an alliance. Then Napoleon came along...


Mirror Cabinet
This just blows one away. Completely made of mirror panels with paintings on the back, this room was destroyed by the bombing in 1945. It was completely restored from 1979 - 1987. Also some beautiful stuccoing.

Interesting church... has skeletons and skulls decorating it. A reminder of how we are all going to die. Better think about doing the right thing by the church.

The Falken's House (1751)

With Gisela and Peter at a café in the nice weather.. finally.

 

Wurzburg Church of our Lady

 

 

Still have cigarette vending machines. Crazy to come across these!