Venice!

In what was to be one of his last weeks at Thomson Reuters, Sloane was asked to go to a conference in Venice (nice going away present if you ask me!). Since he was staying in an amazing hotel (the Hilton Molino Stucky) when he suggested I meet him out there for the weekend it wasn't a hard sell.

October was beautiful in Venice, the weather was as warm as the hottest summer day we had in London, and when I arrived to meet Sloane on Friday night via ferry boat to the island I couldn't help thinking we had it made.


As we waited to be taken across the canal on Saturday morning, the Queen Victoria was making its way through Venice. It was amazing to see how the huge boat dwarfed the city.


We got up early on Saturday and headed to the Rialto food market.


Then we had what we both agreed was the best cup of coffee of our lives. We spent a half an hour searching for the place, but when we finally sat down with our capuccino's at cafe del doge it was more than worth it.

After the cafe we headed over the Rialto bridge...


...and into St. Marks square.




We spent the better part of the afternoon touring the Doge's Palace, walked over the bridge of sighs, and learned more about Venetian history than either of us expected for a weekend trip.

After our day of sight seeing it was time for us to check out of our luxury accommodations at the Hilton to accommodations more fitting of a couple in their mid-twenties...a hostel. On the boat trip to the hostel we saw the most amazing sun set.


While not quite as luxurious as the night before, the hostel was in the perfect location in the heart of Venice which made exploring on Sunday effortless.

Sunday was off to a great start as we grabbed a cup of coffee and pastries at a place across the street from the hotel


And then we hopped a boat to the island of Murano (the famous glass blowing island).


From Murano we tried to take another boat to Lido for a late lunch and a trip to the beach, but a mishap with the boat schedule (just because they say they stop at a certain place doesn't mean they actually do) was enough to throw off even the best laid plans. By the time we got to Lido all of the resturants were closing for siesta and our quest for a pizza lunch (we hadn't had a slice since we'd been there) when unfufilled. We grumpily settled for mediocre overpriced pasta and bad service, but the gelato after lunch was enough to cheer Sloane up.


The boat ride back into from Lido had some of the most spectacular views of the trip. We sat in the back taking in the views as the Vaporetto #1 which wound it's way through the city. We didn't go on a gondola ride and we never had a seconds regret about the decision to pass it up.


When we got back to the hostel to pick up our bags we had time for just one more gelatto before we had to head off to the airport!


The weekend was a perfect escape from rainy London and the perfect way to spend a weekend before we headed off on our next trip...even rainier Scotland!